Astronaut Jim Lovell, Famed Apollo 13 Commander, Dies At 97

Astronaut Jim Lovell, champion known arsenic nan commandant of nan near-tragic Apollo 13 ngo to nan moon, died Thursday successful Illinois. He was 97 years old.

Lovell was a seasoned of 4 spaceflights: Gemini VII, Gemini XII, Apollo 8 and Apollo 13.

In a connection released Friday, nan Lovell family highlighted his “amazing life and profession accomplishments” and his “legendary activity successful pioneering quality abstraction flight.”

“But, to each of us, he was Dad, Granddad, and nan Leader of our family. Most importantly, he was our Hero,” nan family said successful its statement. “We will miss his unshakeable optimism, his consciousness of humor, and nan measurement he made each of america consciousness we could do nan impossible. He was genuinely 1 of a kind.”

Acting NASA Administration Sean Duffy said in a news release: "NASA sends its condolences to nan family of Capt. Jim Lovell, whose life and activity inspired millions of group crossed nan decades. Jim’s characteristic and patient courageousness helped our federation scope nan Moon and turned a imaginable calamity into a occurrence from which we learned an tremendous amount. We mourn his passing moreover arsenic we observe his achievements."

The Apollo 8 lunar orbit ngo astronauts, from left: James A. Lovell Jr., bid module pilot; William A. Anders, lunar module pilot; and Frank Borman, commander; astatine nan Kennedy Space Center.NASA