James "Jim" Lovell, the Apollo 13 commander, passed away at 97. NASA lauded his courage and contributions, highlighting his role in transforming a near-tragedy into a triumph of engineering. Lovell flew four space missions, including Apollo 8, the first to orbit the moon, and Apollo 13, which faced a catastrophic oxygen tank explosion. Their survival, depicted in the film *Apollo 13*, cemented Lovell's legacy as a calm and decisive astronaut, showcasing NASA's problem-solving capabilities. He is survived by four children.

Prepared by Olivia Bennett and reviewed by editorial team.