Jim Lovell, a pioneering astronaut known for orbiting the moon on Apollo 8 and commanding the perilous Apollo 13 mission, has died at the age of 97. Lovell, nicknamed 'Smilin' Jim,' was a celebrated figure in the space program. His leadership during the Apollo 13 crisis, where he and his crew safely returned to Earth after an onboard explosion, cemented his legacy as a symbol of courage and ingenuity.