James Lovell, commander of Apollo 13, has died at the age of 97. He was recognized for turning the failed Apollo 13 mission into an example of innovative engineering. Throughout his career, Lovell was one of NASA's most traveled astronauts, participating in four space missions. Apollo 8 was notable as the first mission to orbit the moon. The Apollo 13 launch was marked by a major oxygen tank explosion, causing a desperate rescue scenario that Lovell considered a demonstration of NASA's capabilities.
The Apollo 8 crew of Lovell, Frank Borman and William Anders was the first to leave Earth's orbit and the first to fly to and circle the moon.
The Apollo 13 mission had a lifelong impact on Lovell. He described the experience as a success in showing NASA's personnel capability.
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