Tributes began pouring in for famed Apollo 13 commander Jim Lovell after his death at 97 years old.

Lovell died on Thursday in Lake Forest, Illinois, NASA announced in a news release. He is survived by his four children.

" NASA sends its condolences to the family of Capt. Jim Lovell, whose life and work inspired millions of people across the decades," acting NASA Administrator Sean Duffy said in a statement.

Newsweek has reached out to NASA via email Friday for additional comment.

Who Was Jim Lovell?

Lovell led the Apollo 13 crew during a 1970 in‑flight emergency that forced NASA to abort a planned lunar landing and instead execute a high‑stakes return to Earth. His leadership during that crisis shaped public memory of the Apollo era and had a lasting influence on U.S. spaceflight

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