On August 7, at the age of 97, legendary American astronaut Jim Lovell, the first person to fly to the Moon twice without landing, passed away, reports “Adyrna” national portal citing the BBC.
He is best known as the commander of the Apollo 13 mission, the only crewed lunar expedition during which an onboard accident occurred. In a critical moment, Lovell made quick decisions, turning a potential tragedy into a triumph by bringing the crew safely back to Earth.
Lovell initially hoped to join the United States’ Mercury program but was rejected due to health reasons. In 1962, he was selected as part of the “New Nine” group, working alongside renowned astronauts such as Neil Armstrong and John Young. In 1965, he participated in the Gemini 7 and later Gemini 12 missions, proving the feasibility of spacewalks and long-duration flights.
In 1968, Lovell was a crew member of Apollo 8, the first mission to enter lunar orbit. They became the first humans in history to see the far side of the Moon and photograph the Earth rising over the lunar horizon.
During the 1970 Apollo 13 mission, an oxygen tank explosion canceled the planned Moon landing. The crew used the lunar module as a “lifeboat” to survive and successfully returned to Earth four days later. This event captured global attention and became one of the most dramatic space rescues in history.
NASA leadership and colleagues remembered Lovell as a courageous decision-maker with a great sense of humor and optimism.
His wife of more than 70 years, Marilyn, passed away in 2023.
