Astronaut Jim Lovell, Apollo 13 mission commander, dead at 97

Lovell, 97, died in Lake Forest, Illinois. He served as the command module pilot for the Apollo 8 mission to the moon and, along with his crew, became the first to lift off on a Saturn V rocket and orbit the moon. During the nearly disastrous Apollo 13 mission, Lovell helped his crew return safely to Earth.

“NASA sends its condolences to the family of Capt. Jim Lovell, whose life and work inspired millions of people across the decades. Jim’s character and steadfast courage helped our nation reach the Moon and turned a potential tragedy into a success from which we learned an enormous amount,” acting NASA Administrator Sean Duffy said in a statement. “We mourn his passing even as we celebrate his achievements.”