Miraculous Survival from Space Crisis... Apollo 13 Captain Jim Lovell Passes Away

During His Second Lunar Mission in 1970, Apollo 13 Suffered a Critical Failure
Dramatic Survival and Return to Earth, Later Portrayed by Tom Hanks in a Film

The captain of Apollo 13, who dramatically survived a crisis that nearly left him stranded in space 55 years ago, has passed away.

On August 8 (local time), NASA announced in a statement that Jim Lovell, the captain of Apollo 13, died at the age of 97 at his home in Lake Forest, Illinois, USA, the previous day.

Captain Jim Lovell of Apollo 13. Photo by NASA

Lovell, a former Navy test pilot, was a key figure in NASA's manned space exploration program, the Apollo Project. In December 1968, he made history as the command module pilot of Apollo 8, becoming the first person to fly in lunar orbit. At that time, Apollo 8 was recorded as the first manned spacecraft to explore a celestial body beyond Earth.

Then, in April 1970, Lovell embarked on his second lunar mission as the captain of Apollo 13. However, on the third day after launch, an emergency occurred when the command module's oxygen tank exploded.

Lovell, along with two fellow crew members, fought for survival in the cramped and cold lunar module, devising survival strategies and ultimately making a dramatic return to Earth. His message to NASA's Houston headquarters at the time, "Houston, We've Had A Problem," has become an iconic phrase in the history of space exploration.

Astronauts of Apollo 13 rescued after a safe return on April 17, 1970. The person in the center is Jim Lovell. Photo by NASA

In 1994, Lovell published a memoir about the return of Apollo 13, titled "Lost Moon: The Perilous Voyage of Apollo 13." The following year, the story was adapted into the film "Apollo 13," directed by Ron Howard and starring Tom Hanks. More recently, it was also featured in the Netflix documentary "Apollo 13: Survival in Extreme Conditions."

For his role in the safe return of Apollo 13, Lovell received the Congressional Space Medal of Honor and the Presidential Medal of Freedom. NASA paid tribute to him, stating, "Jim's character and steadfast courage turned a potential tragedy into a valuable success and contributed to America's achievement of reaching the Moon."