James Lovell commanded Apollo 13, the mission that suffered an oxygen-tank explosion en route to the Moon.
Lovell flew with command-module pilot Jack Swigert and lunar-module pilot Fred Haise. Apollo 13 launched on April 11, 1970, but an oxygen tank in the service module ruptured about two days later. The resulting loss of oxygen and electrical power forced NASA to abandon the planned lunar landing.
The crew used the lunar module Aquarius as a lifeboat while mission controllers developed procedures to conserve power, water, and breathable air. Apollo 13 looped around the Moon and safely returned to Earth, splashing down on April 17, 1970.
Lovell had already flown around the Moon on Apollo 8, making him the first person to travel to the Moon twice. He never walked on the lunar surface because Apollo 13's landing was canceled.