Jim Lovell: “Apollo 13” commander dies at the age of 97

Jim Lovell (1928-2025) is dead. The former astronaut and commander of the “Apollo 13” mission died in Lake Forest in the US state of Illinois on August 7th at the age of 97. The . She speaks her condolences to the family of the deceased.

Lovell’s life and work has “inspired millions of people for decades,” says a statement by NASA administrator Sean Duffy (53). “Jim’s character and his unshakable courage helped our nation to reach the moon and turn a potential tragedy into a success from which we have learned a lot.” You mourn for the deceased while you celebrate your achievements.

When the pilot of the command module of “Apollo 8” “Jim and his crew members were the first to start with a Saturn V rocket and circled the moon, which proved that the moon landing was within reach,” the statement continued. Lovell later became commander of the famous “Apollo 13” mission, which had to be canceled due to the explosion of a tank. “His calm strength under pressure” contributed to “bringing the crew back safely back to earth”. She also showed his quick thinking that also shaped future NASA missions. He had embodied the determination and optimism of previous and future explorers.

According to the statement, Lovell was also known for his esprit. The other astronauts gave him the nickname “Smilin ‘Jim” because he quickly had a grin on his face if he had come up with a particularly funny answer to something.