Jim Lovell: Legendary NASA astronaut who said 'Houston we have a problem' dead

A legendary NASA astronaut who was nearly killed in an Apollo moon mission has died aged 97.

As commander, Jim Lovell successfully steered the three-man Apollo 13 lunar mission back to Earth after an oxygen tank exploded 200,000 miles on its journey to the Moon. After a tense four-day ordeal which saw the crew improvise an emergency flight plan, Lovell, Jack Swigert, and Fred Haise splashed down safely in the Pacific Ocean on April 17, 1970. He uttered the phrase "Houston, we've had a problem" in a message over radio to NASA mission headquarters after first discovering the fault in the rocket - a line which has since been widely misquoted. His book 'Lost Moon' recounting the mission inspired the 1995 Hollywood blockbuster Apollo 13, in which he was played by Tom Hanks.

On an earlier mission in 1968, as command module pilot of Apollo 8, he became one of the first three astronauts to fly to and orbit the Moon.

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He also flew with Buzz Aldrin on the Gemini 12 mission in 1966, the tenth and final crewed flight of NASA's Gemini programme.

In a tribute, acting NASA Administrator Sean Duffy said today: “NASA sends its condolences to the family of Capt. Jim Lovell, whose life and work inspired millions of people across the decades. 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.

“From a pair of pioneering Gemini missions to the successes of Apollo, Jim helped our nation forge a historic path in space that carries us forward to upcoming Artemis missions to the Moon and beyond.

“As the Command Module Pilot for Apollo 8, Jim and his crewmates became the first to lift off on a Saturn V rocket and orbit the Moon, proving that the lunar landing was within our reach. As commander of the Apollo 13 mission, his calm strength under pressure helped return the crew safely to Earth and demonstrated the quick thinking and innovation that informed future NASA missions.

“Known for his wit, this unforgettable astronaut was nicknamed Smilin’ Jim by his fellow astronauts because he was quick with a grin when he had a particularly funny comeback.

“Jim also served our country in the military, and the Navy has lost a proud academy graduate and test pilot. Jim Lovell embodied the bold resolve and optimism of both past and future explorers, and we will remember him always.”