Lovell served as commander for the 1970 Apollo 13 mission, which successfully returned to Earth after an explosion two days into the mission, damaged the craft’s electrical and life support systems, and led to an aborted lunar landing and a perilous return to Earth. The mission was immortalized in the 1995 movie Apollo 13.

Actor Tom Hanks honored Jim Lovell, who he played in APOLLO 13, following the astronaut’s death on Aug. 7. “There are people who dare, who dream, and who lead others to the places we would not go on our own.

Once America's most experienced astronaut, Apollo 13's Jim Lovell, who died at 97, was the first to visit the moon twice.