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Houston, TX – James “jim” Lovell Jr., the legendary NASA astronaut who commanded both Gemini 7 and Apollo 13 missions, has died at the age of 97. The passing of Lovell, a pivotal figure in American space exploration, was announced by his family on September 12, 2024.
Lovell’s career spanned four spaceflights: Gemini 7 (1965), gemini 12 (1966), Apollo 8 (1968), and the famed Apollo 13 (1970). He is one of only three people too travel to the Moon twice, alongside John Young and Eugene Cernan.Apollo 8, with Lovell, Frank Borman, and William Anders, was the first crewed mission to orbit the Moon, famously reading from the Book of Genesis on Christmas Eve.
The Apollo 13 mission,while nearly catastrophic due to an oxygen tank explosion en route to the Moon,became a testament to Lovell’s leadership and the ingenuity of NASA’s mission control team in Houston. the crew safely returned to Earth after six days, averting a potential tragedy. Lovell’s calm demeanor and precise execution of procedures were critical during the crisis.
born March 25, 1927, in Cleveland, Ohio, Lovell graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1949 and became a naval aviator. He later earned a Master of Science degree in Aeronautical Engineering from Stanford University in 1961. He was selected as a NASA astronaut in 1962. Following his retirement from NASA in 1973,Lovell held executive positions with First chicago Bank and served on the board of several companies.
His family’s statement highlighted his “unwavering optimism,humor,and his ability to make everyone feel that they can accomplish impossible tasks.” Lovell authored the 1994 autobiography, “Lost moon: The Perilous Voyage of Apollo 13,” which was later adapted into the 1995 film “Apollo 13” starring Tom Hanks.
Original source:Quick News/Legends Fall! US “two trips to the moon” astronaut Jim Lovell died at the age of 97