Astronaut Jim Lovell, famed for guiding the Apollo 13 mission safely back to Earth in 1970, has died at age 97. NASA praised Lovell for turning a near-tragedy into a success after an onboard explosion forced the mission to abort its Moon landing, BBC reported.
Lovell, also a member of Apollo 8, was the first person to travel to the Moon twice, though he never landed. Acting NASA chief Sean Duffy hailed Lovell’s role in shaping the US space program.
Lovell’s family remembered him for his optimism, humor, and inspiring spirit. Actor Tom Hanks, who portrayed Lovell in the film Apollo 13, honored him as a daring leader driven by passion rather than fame or fortune, according to BBC.
