Astronaut James Lovell, who was commander of the 1970 Apollo 13 mission that managed to get back to earth safely after an oxygen tank explosion, has died. He was 97.

Jim Lovell, the Apollo 13 astronaut known for his leadership in pioneering human space flight, has died at 97 years old according to family statement.

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