Legendary NASA astronaut Jim Lovell, commander of the Apollo 13 mission, passed away at age 97. His family announced his death, praising his leadership and inspiring optimism. Lovell's career included setting space endurance records on Gemini 7 and 12, commanding the first crewed lunar orbit mission (Apollo 8), and famously leading the Apollo 13 crew through a near-catastrophic mission, depicted in the 1995 film. Despite never landing on the moon, his contributions to space exploration left a lasting impact, inspiring generations and highlighting the importance of teamwork and problem-solving.

Prepared by Olivia Bennett and reviewed by editorial team.