Space Center Houston joins the space exploration community in mourning the loss and celebrating the extraordinary life of former astronaut Captain Jim Lovell, who passed away at age 97. 

Lovell’s contributions to the U.S. space program are monumental. Selected by NASA as an astronaut in 1962, he served on four pivotal space missions and played a key role in shaping the future of human spaceflight. He was a backup pilot for Gemini 4, a backup commander for Gemini 9, and a backup commander to Neil Armstrong for the historic Apollo 11 lunar landing. 

On December 4, 1965, Lovell and Frank Borman launched aboard Gemini 7, completing a 330-hour mission that included the first successful rendezvous of two manned, maneuverable spacecraft in orbit, a milestone that helped make future Moon missions possible. He later served as Command Module Pilot and navigator on Apollo 8, the first human spaceflight to leave Earth orbit, reach the Moon, and return safely. That six-day journey in December 1968 gave the world its first view of Earth from deep space and remains one of the most profound achievements in exploration. 

As commander of Apollo 13, Lovell led his crew through a life-threatening in-flight emergency with steady resolve, ingenuity, and teamwork. His calm leadership under pressure became a global symbol of resilience and problem-solving, reminding us that even in the face of near disaster, human determination and science can prevail. 

Beyond the missions, Lovell’s legacy lives on in how he inspired generations to look up, dream big, and explore further. His story continues to be a powerful touchpoint at Space Center Houston, where more than one million visitors learn about the challenges and triumphs of human spaceflight. 

We are deeply grateful for his service, courage, and commitment to advancing our understanding of space. Captain Jim Lovell brought people and space closer together, and for that, we salute him.