Jim Lovell is a retired NASA astronaut and naval aviator best known for serving as the commander of the Apollo 13 mission, which experienced a critical in-flight failure but was safely brought back to Earth through the efforts of Lovell and his crew. Born on March 25, 1928, Lovell graduated from the United States Naval Academy and went on to become a test pilot before joining NASA's astronaut program in 1962. He flew on four space missions, including Gemini 7, Gemini 12, Apollo 8 (the first manned mission to orbit the Moon), and Apollo 13. His leadership during Apollo 13, when an oxygen tank explosion jeopardized the mission, made him a symbol of courage and problem-solving under pressure. Lovell co-authored the book Lost Moon: The Perilous Voyage of Apollo 13, which was later adapted into the film Apollo 13.