Apollo 13 Commander James Lovell Dies at 97

James 'Jim' Lovell, the renowned astronaut and commander of Apollo 13, has died at 97 in Lake Forest, Illinois. A Milwaukee native and former Navy pilot, Lovell flew four space missions: Gemini 7, Gemini 12, Apollo 8, and Apollo 13. As Apollo 8's command module pilot, he became one of the first people to orbit the Moon, and his calm leadership during the Apollo 13 crisis earned him global admiration. NASA and his family praised his courage, optimism, and pioneering role in space exploration, noting his inspiration for future missions like Artemis. Lovell was celebrated for his humor and encouragement to strive for the impossible. Tributes from NASA and international media honor his lasting legacy in the history of space travel.