Astronaut Jim Lovell, who guided the Apollo 13 mission safely back to Earth in 1970, has died aged 97. Nasa said he had "turned a potential tragedy into a success" after an attempt to land on the Moon was aborted because of an explosion onboard the spacecraft while it was hundreds of thousands of miles from Earth.

American astronaut Captain Jim Lovell has died at the age of 97. He was known for leading the ill-fated Apollo 13 mission that became a story of ingenuity and survival.

Nicknamed "Smilin’ Jim” by his fellow astronauts, Jim Lovell was known for his wit and quick grin, said acting NASA Administrator Sean Duffy.