Apollo 13 Commander Jim Lovell Dies at 97
Jim Lovell, the astronaut who led Apollo 13 back to Earth after an onboard explosion, has died at age 97.
Apollo 13 commander Jim Lovell, who transformed a potential space disaster into a safe return in 1970, has died at 97. Nasa praised his leadership after an onboard explosion aborted the lunar landing. Tens of millions watched as Lovell and his crewmates splashed down in the Pacific Ocean, creating one of spaceflight’s most iconic moments.
Early Passion and Navy Career
Raised in a single-parent household, Lovell built makeshift rockets as a teen. He joined the US Navy in 1952, graduated from the Naval Academy, and earned his wings as a fighter pilot.
Path to Space
After a temporary medical setback, Lovell joined NASA’s second astronaut group in 1962. He flew on Gemini 7 and commanded Gemini 12, proving human endurance and spacewalk capabilities.
Earthrise and Breaking Barriers
As the Apollo 8 navigator in 1968, Lovell witnessed the first human journey beyond low Earth orbit and captured the "Earthrise" photograph that united humanity’s view of our fragile planet.
Apollo 13 Crisis and Return
In April 1970, an oxygen tank explosion crippled their spacecraft 200,000 miles from Earth. Lovell’s calm direction in the lunar module, "Aquarius," conserved resources and guided the crew safely home after a tense re-entry.
Jim Lovell’s calm leadership and ingenuity under life-threatening conditions transformed Apollo 13 from near tragedy into a testament to human resilience and teamwork.
This topic was reported by BBC News.
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