Apollo 13 mission commander, astronaut Jim Lovell has died. He was 97 years old. 

“It is with heavy hearts that we announce the loss of our cherished father, USN Captain James A. ‘Jim’ Lovell. He was a distinguished Navy pilot and officer, an astronaut, a leader, and a pioneer of space exploration,” the family shared in a statement on Friday.

“We take immense pride in his remarkable life and career achievements, marked by his extraordinary leadership in the early days of human space flight,” the statement went on to say. “For us, he was more than that; he was Dad, Granddad, and the head of our family. Above all, he was our Hero. We will deeply miss his unwavering optimism, his sense of humor, and his ability to make each of us believe anything was possible. He was truly unique.”

Apollo 13 astronaut Jim Lovell has died. He was 97 years old.  (Paul Archuleta/Getty Images)

Lovell was part of a three-man crew in 1970 who safely landed back on Earth following an in-space emergency. 

He was played by Tom Hanks in the 1995 movie.