Legendary astronaut behind ‘NASA’s finest hour’ dies at 97

Jim Lovell, one of the first astronauts to orbit the moon and leader of the famed Apollo 13 mission, has died at 97.

Acting NASA administrator Sean Duffy confirmed the news of Lovell’s passing in a statement.

“NASA sends its condolences to the family of Capt. Jim Lovell, whose life and work inspired millions of people across the decades,” the statement reads. “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. We mourn his passing even as we celebrate his achievements.”

Lovell served as the command module pilot for Apollo 8. During the mission, he and fellow astronauts Frank Borman and William Anders became the first three people to successfully fly to and orbit the moon, paving