James Lovell is a retired American astronaut and naval aviator, best known for his role in the Apollo 13 mission. Born on March 25, 1928, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, he flew on four spaceflights, including Gemini 7 and Apollo 8, which was the first mission to orbit the Moon. During the Apollo 13 mission in 1970, an oxygen tank explosion jeopardized the crew's safety, but Lovell and his team successfully returned to Earth using their skills and ingenuity. His experiences have made him a prominent figure in the history of space exploration and a respected speaker on leadership and teamwork.