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NASA acting Administrator Sean Duffy expressed condolences for Lovell’s family and highlighted how Lovell’s character and courage inspired generations of people and helped America reach the Moon. “Jim’s steadfastness turned potential tragedy into success from which we learned an enormous amount,” said Duffy.
Born in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1928, Lovell became an astronaut in 1962. He served as the command module pilot for Apollo 8 and was set to make another lunar mission on Apollo 13 before a critical oxygen tank explosion during the journey. The astronauts faced severe shortages of water and power, along with dangerous levels of carbon dioxide.
Lovell and his crew managed to convert the lunar module into a “lifeboat” using the sun as a guide, successfully navigating back to Earth. Their heroic efforts were later depicted in the 1995 Oscar-winning film “Apollo 13,” starring Tom Hanks.
After retiring from the Navy and NASA in 1973, Lovell joined Bay-Houston Towing Company in Houston, Texas.
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