NASA astronaut James Lovell, best known as the flight commander of the ill-fated Apollo 13 mission, has died. He was 97 years old.
We are saddened by the passing of Jim Lovell, commander of Apollo 13 and a four-time spaceflight veteran.
— NASA (@NASA) August 8, 2025
Lovell's life and work inspired millions. His courage under pressure helped forge our path to the Moon and beyond—a journey that continues today. https://t.co/AjT8qmxsZI pic.twitter.com/jBlxzgrmSk
Here's more from the Associated Press:
James Lovell, the commander of Apollo 13 who helped turn a failed moon mission into a triumph of on-the-fly can-do engineering, has died. He was 97.
Lovell died Thursday in Lake Forest, Illinois, NASA said in a statement on Friday.
'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,' NASA said. 'We mourn his passing even as we celebrate his achievements.'
Lovell was born in Cleveland, Ohio to parents James Lovell Sr. and Blanche Masek. The senior Lovell died in a car accident when James was five. After his father's passing, James and his mother lived in Indiana for a brief period before settling in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where Lovell attended Juneau High School.
Lovell's family also issued a statement:
A statement from the family of Apollo astronaut Jim Lovell on his passing:
— NASA (@NASA) August 8, 2025
"We are saddened to announce the passing of our beloved father, USN Captain James A. "Jim" Lovell, a Navy pilot and officer, astronaut, leader, and space explorer. He was 97.
We are enormously proud of… pic.twitter.com/rz6kbvJ9oa
The entire post reads:
'We are saddened to announce the passing of our beloved father, USN Captain James A. 'Jim' Lovell, a Navy pilot and officer, astronaut, leader, and space explorer. He was 97.
We are enormously proud of his amazing life and career accomplishments, highlighted by his legendary leadership in pioneering human space flight. But, to all of us, he was Dad, Granddad, and the Leader of our family. Most importantly, he was our Hero. We will miss his unshakeable optimism, his sense of humor, and the way he made each of us feel we could do the impossible. He was truly one of a kind.'
After high school, Lovell attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison, studying engineering for two years. In 1948, citing fears of cutbacks to the Navy's preflight training program, Lovell applied to the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland.
RIP to an absolute legend, nobody deserved to walk on the moon more than he did imo.
— Andrew McCarthy (@AJamesMcCarthy) August 8, 2025
Lovell graduated in 1952 and was commissioned as an ensign in the Navy.
Slipped the surly bonds of earth.... touched the face of God.
— Passably Affable (@tbrusletten) August 8, 2025
On June 6, 1952, Lovell married Marilyn Lillie Gerlach, whom he had been dating since high school.
This is truly a loss. Fair winds and following seas, Commander. https://t.co/J3MZxO36yO
— Emily Zanotti 🦝 (@emzanotti) August 8, 2025
Truly a loss.
Lovell and Marilyn had four children together: Barbara, James, Susan, and Jeffrey.
With Jim Lovell’s passing, there are now only 5 out of the 24 Apollo astronauts to have flown to the Moon left alive. https://t.co/cS0Y1OdM3e pic.twitter.com/DAnsdjiadZ
— A. Pettit (@PettitFrontier) August 8, 2025
Lovell applied to NASA during their 1962 recruitment push for the Gemini and Apollo programs.
As you are all well aware by now, Jim Lovell is my hero. He was as instrumental to the success of Apollo and US spaceflight as anyone in the program, maybe more so. If Apollo 13 had a different outcome, the program would have been over.
— Matt Burnell (@mdburnell) August 8, 2025
Fair winds and following seas, Captain. https://t.co/ub5x8xB09v
In July 1964, Lovell was named backup pilot for Gemini 4.
Just a couple of days ago, I watched Apollo 13 with my kids and was happy to inform them that Lovell was still alive.
— Frank J. Fleming (@IMAO_) August 8, 2025
What a legend.
But I'm starting to fear that no one who went to the moon last time will be alive to see us go there again. https://t.co/yvpfSzcTHf
His most notable command was of Apollo 13, where he led fellow astronauts Jack Swigert and Fred Haise on a mission that was meant to land on the moon.
However, during a stir of the liquid oxygen, damage to insulation on wires in the tank sparked a fire and explosion and leak of a second oxygen tank. That scuttled plans to land on the moon and the focus of the mission became returning the astronauts to earth alive.
The mission was captured in 'Apollo 13,' the 1995 Ron Howard film starring Tom Hanks as Lovell.
'Houston, we have a problem' (a slight variation of Lovell's 'Houston, we've had a problem') became part of the pop culture lexicon.
Wisconsin loves Jim Lovell. I last saw him at the Armed Forces Dinner in Milwaukee. Always a class act! 🇺🇸 https://t.co/3ZIgskDozs
— Scott Walker (@ScottWalker) August 8, 2025
Always and forever. A street in Milwaukee is named for Lovell.
And with Lovell's passing, there are just five Apollo-era astronauts with us, including Apollo 13's Fred Haise.
It was so cruel that Jim Lovell was robbed of his chance to walk on the Moon, twice.
— Jake Nichol (@JakeNichol1498) August 8, 2025
With his passing, just five of the 24 who flew to the Moon on Apollo are still with us.
Aldrin, Haise, Scott, Duke, and Schmitt.
Dave Scott is now the last living Apollo commander. https://t.co/mIaiSUXm2e
Lovell's wife, Marilyn, died in 2023 at age 93. He is survied by their children, eleven grandchildren, and nine great-grandchildren.
Our thoughts and prayers are with his family, loved ones, and friends.
Fair winds and following seas, Sailor.
Join the conversation as a VIP Member