{"id":168472,"date":"2019-02-14T14:00:00","date_gmt":"2019-02-14T18:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/?migration=converted-node-439805"},"modified":"2024-02-13T14:53:34","modified_gmt":"2024-02-13T19:53:34","slug":"50-years-ago-apollo-9-passes-countdown-test","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/history\/50-years-ago-apollo-9-passes-countdown-test\/","title":{"rendered":"50 Years Ago: Apollo 9 Passes Countdown Test"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>With two weeks to go before the planned lift off, preparations were well underway for the Apollo 9 mission, the first to test the critical Lunar Module (LM) with a crew on board. The 10-day Earth orbital mission was planned to launch on Feb. 28, 1969.  Commander James A. McDivitt, Command Module Pilot (CMP) David R. Scott, and Lunar Module Pilot (LMP) Russell L. Schweickart, the prime crew of Apollo 9, were spending time in mission simulators preparing for the first Apollo mission to test all major components of the lunar landing mission. McDivitt and Schweickart planned to enter the LM, which they nicknamed <em>Spider<\/em>, undock from Scott who would remain in the CM, callsign <em>Gumdrop<\/em>, and fly the LM up to 100 miles away, testing the systems of its descent and ascent stages before performing a rendezvous and docking with the CM and reuniting with Scott. Schweickart and Scott planned to conduct the first spacewalk of the Apollo program, the only one scheduled before the spacewalk on the Moon\u2019s surface, to test the reliability of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/history\/50-years-ago-certifying-apollo-spacesuits\/\">Apollo A-7L space suit<\/a> and the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/history\/50-years-ago-apollo-suit-backpack-passes-vacuum-testing\/\">Portable Life Support System<\/a> (PLSS) backpack. The plan was for Schweickart to exit the LM through its side hatch onto the porch, and then using handrails translate over to Scott who would be in the open CM hatch, in a demonstration of a backup transfer path in case there was a problem with the internal transfer hatches and tunnel. Schweickart would then retrace his steps back to the LM.  The crew described the mission to reporters during a press conference at the Manned Spacecraft Center (MSC), now the Johnson Space Center, on Feb. 8.<\/p>\n\n\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-media hds-module wp-block-image\"><div class=\"margin-left-auto margin-right-auto nasa-block-align-inline\"><div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\"><figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-none \"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/apollo9crew_eva.jpg\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"930\" height=\"385\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/apollo9crew_eva.jpg?w=930\" class=\"attachment-2048x2048 size-2048x2048\" alt=\"apollo9crew_eva\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/apollo9crew_eva.jpg 930w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/apollo9crew_eva.jpg?resize=300,124 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/apollo9crew_eva.jpg?resize=768,318 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/apollo9crew_eva.jpg?resize=400,166 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/apollo9crew_eva.jpg?resize=600,248 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/apollo9crew_eva.jpg?resize=900,373 900w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 930px) 100vw, 930px\" loading=\"eager\" \/><\/a><\/figure><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<p>Senior NASA managers met at Kennedy Space Center (KSC) in Florida Feb. 6 to conduct the Flight Readiness Review (FRR) for Apollo 9. Attending the meeting from NASA Headquarters were Associate Administrator for Manned Space Flight George E. Mueller and Lt. Gen. Samuel C. Phillips, Apollo Program Manager. Directors of the three human spaceflight centers were also present at the FRR \u2013 Kurt H. Debus of KSC, Robert L. Gilruth of MSC, and Wernher vonBraun of the Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama. The managers reviewed all aspects of the mission and by the end of the meeting declared that all was in readiness for the flight.<\/p>\n\n\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-media hds-module wp-block-image\"><div class=\"margin-left-auto margin-right-auto nasa-block-align-inline\"><div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\"><figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-none \"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/apollo8ffr.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"934\" height=\"278\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/apollo8ffr.jpg?w=934\" class=\"attachment-2048x2048 size-2048x2048\" alt=\"apollo8ffr\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/apollo8ffr.jpg 934w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/apollo8ffr.jpg?resize=300,89 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/apollo8ffr.jpg?resize=768,229 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/apollo8ffr.jpg?resize=400,119 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/apollo8ffr.jpg?resize=600,179 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/apollo8ffr.jpg?resize=900,268 900w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 934px) 100vw, 934px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<p>The Countdown Demonstration Test (CDDT) for Apollo 9 was successfully completed at KSC on Feb. 12, and involved \u201cwet\u201d and \u201cdry\u201d phases. The first wet phase simulated the entire countdown, including the loading of propellant in the rocket\u2019s three stages, down to T minus 8.9 seconds, the time in the countdown when the first stage\u2019s five F-1 engines ignite. For safety reasons, the crew did not participate in the wet countdown. At the completion of the wet phase, the fuel was drained from the rocket and the countdown recycled to begin the dry phase of the test. The countdown again proceeded to the point of first stage ignition, with the crew was suited up and strapped into the capsule as they would be on launch day. The CDDT involved the Mission Control Center at MSC and the Manned Space Flight Network, a series of tracking stations around the world used to monitor all aspects of the mission. The CDDT was the last major test before the countdown for flight began on Feb. 26.<\/p>\n\n\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-media hds-module wp-block-image\"><div class=\"margin-left-auto margin-right-auto nasa-block-align-inline\"><div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\"><figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-none \"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/apollo10csm.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"921\" height=\"577\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/apollo10csm.jpg?w=921\" class=\"attachment-2048x2048 size-2048x2048\" alt=\"apollo10csm\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/apollo10csm.jpg 921w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/apollo10csm.jpg?resize=300,188 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/apollo10csm.jpg?resize=768,481 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/apollo10csm.jpg?resize=400,251 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/apollo10csm.jpg?resize=600,376 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/apollo10csm.jpg?resize=900,564 900w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 921px) 100vw, 921px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<p>It should be noted that preparations for Apollo 9 overlapped with flight operations of two missions, Apollo 7 and Apollo 8 in October and December 1968, respectively, as well as preparations for the upcoming Apollo 10 and Apollo 11 flights. If all went according to plan, Apollo 10 would test the CSM and LM in lunar orbit in May 1969 and Apollo 11 would attempt the first landing in July. Activities related to Apollo 10 included the rollover of the spacecraft from the Manned Spacecraft Operations Building (MSOB) to the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) for mating with the Saturn V rocket on Feb. 6. The second stage for the Apollo 11 Saturn V arrived at KSC on Feb. 6 and the first stage on Feb. 20. Workers in the VAB began stacking operations with the first stage the next day. In the MSOB, engineers mated the two stages of the Apollo 11 LM on Feb. 14 in preparation for testing in the altitude chamber.<\/p>\n\n\n<div id=\"\" class=\"nasa-gb-align-full width-full maxw-full padding-x-3 padding-y-0 hds-module hds-module-full wp-block-nasa-blocks-related-articles\">\t\t<section class=\"hds-related-articles padding-x-0 padding-y-3 desktop:padding-top-7 desktop:padding-bottom-9\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"w-100 grid-row grid-container maxw-widescreen padding-0 text-align-left\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"margin-bottom-4\"><h2 style=\"max-width: 100%;\" class=\"width-full w-full maxw-full\">Explore More<\/h2><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-row grid-container maxw-widescreen padding-0\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-col-12 desktop:grid-col-4 margin-bottom-4 desktop:margin-bottom-0 desktop:padding-right-3\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/history\/50-years-ago-apollo-9-countdown-begins\/\" class=\"color-carbon-black\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"margin-bottom-2\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-cover-wrapper cover-hover-zoom bg-carbon-black minh-mobile\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"156\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/apollo9_lm-3.jpg?w=300\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium\" alt=\"\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/apollo9_lm-3.jpg 606w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/apollo9_lm-3.jpg?resize=300,156 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/apollo9_lm-3.jpg?resize=400,209 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/apollo9_lm-3.jpg?resize=600,313 600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/figure>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"padding-right-0 desktop:padding-right-10\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"subheading margin-bottom-1\">2 min read<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"margin-bottom-1\"><h3 class=\"related-article-title\">50 Years Ago: Apollo 9 Countdown Begins<\/h3><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"display-flex flex-align-center label related-article-label margin-bottom-1 color-carbon-60\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"display-flex flex-align-center margin-right-2\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg version=\"1.1\" class=\"square-2 margin-right-1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" xmlns:xlink=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/1999\/xlink\" x=\"0px\" y=\"0px\" width=\"16px\" height=\"16px\" viewBox=\"0 0 16 16\" style=\"enable-background:new 0 0 16 16;\" xml:space=\"preserve\"><g><g><path d=\"M8,0C3.5,0-0.1,3.7,0,8.2C0.1,12.5,3.6,16,8,16c4.4,0,8-3.6,8-8C16,3.5,12.4,0,8,0z M8,15.2 C4,15.2,0.8,12,0.8,8C0.8,4,4,0.8,8,0.8c3.9,0,7.2,3.2,7.2,7.1C15.2,11.9,12,15.2,8,15.2z\"\/><path d=\"M5.6,12c0.8-0.8,1.6-1.6,2.4-2.4c0.8,0.8,1.6,1.6,2.4,2.4c0-2.7,0-5.3,0-8C8.8,4,7.2,4,5.6,4 C5.6,6.7,5.6,9.3,5.6,12z\"\/><\/g><\/g><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Article<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t5 years ago\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-col-12 desktop:grid-col-4 margin-bottom-4 desktop:margin-bottom-0 desktop:padding-right-3\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/history\/50-years-ago-apollo-9-launched-to-test-the-lunar-module-2\/\" class=\"color-carbon-black\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"margin-bottom-2\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-cover-wrapper cover-hover-zoom bg-carbon-black minh-mobile\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"237\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/apollo-9-crew-s69-17590.jpg?w=300\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium\" alt=\"\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/apollo-9-crew-s69-17590.jpg 985w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/apollo-9-crew-s69-17590.jpg?resize=300,237 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/apollo-9-crew-s69-17590.jpg?resize=768,606 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/apollo-9-crew-s69-17590.jpg?resize=400,316 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/apollo-9-crew-s69-17590.jpg?resize=600,473 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/apollo-9-crew-s69-17590.jpg?resize=900,710 900w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/figure>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"padding-right-0 desktop:padding-right-10\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"subheading margin-bottom-1\">5 min read<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"margin-bottom-1\"><h3 class=\"related-article-title\">50 Years Ago: Apollo 9 Launched to Test the Lunar Module<\/h3><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"display-flex flex-align-center label related-article-label margin-bottom-1 color-carbon-60\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"display-flex flex-align-center margin-right-2\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg version=\"1.1\" class=\"square-2 margin-right-1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" xmlns:xlink=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/1999\/xlink\" x=\"0px\" y=\"0px\" width=\"16px\" height=\"16px\" viewBox=\"0 0 16 16\" style=\"enable-background:new 0 0 16 16;\" xml:space=\"preserve\"><g><g><path d=\"M8,0C3.5,0-0.1,3.7,0,8.2C0.1,12.5,3.6,16,8,16c4.4,0,8-3.6,8-8C16,3.5,12.4,0,8,0z M8,15.2 C4,15.2,0.8,12,0.8,8C0.8,4,4,0.8,8,0.8c3.9,0,7.2,3.2,7.2,7.1C15.2,11.9,12,15.2,8,15.2z\"\/><path d=\"M5.6,12c0.8-0.8,1.6-1.6,2.4-2.4c0.8,0.8,1.6,1.6,2.4,2.4c0-2.7,0-5.3,0-8C8.8,4,7.2,4,5.6,4 C5.6,6.7,5.6,9.3,5.6,12z\"\/><\/g><\/g><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Article<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t5 years ago\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-col-12 desktop:grid-col-4 margin-bottom-4 desktop:margin-bottom-0 desktop:padding-right-3\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/history\/50-years-ago-apollo-9-spacewalk-preparations\/\" class=\"color-carbon-black\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"margin-bottom-2\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-cover-wrapper cover-hover-zoom bg-carbon-black minh-mobile\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"133\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/apollo9_kc.jpg?w=300\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium\" alt=\"\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/apollo9_kc.jpg 608w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/apollo9_kc.jpg?resize=300,133 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/apollo9_kc.jpg?resize=400,178 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/apollo9_kc.jpg?resize=600,266 600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/figure>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"padding-right-0 desktop:padding-right-10\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"subheading margin-bottom-1\">3 min read<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"margin-bottom-1\"><h3 class=\"related-article-title\">50 Years Ago: Apollo 9 Spacewalk Preparations<\/h3><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"display-flex flex-align-center label related-article-label margin-bottom-1 color-carbon-60\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"display-flex flex-align-center margin-right-2\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg version=\"1.1\" class=\"square-2 margin-right-1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" xmlns:xlink=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/1999\/xlink\" x=\"0px\" y=\"0px\" width=\"16px\" height=\"16px\" viewBox=\"0 0 16 16\" style=\"enable-background:new 0 0 16 16;\" xml:space=\"preserve\"><g><g><path d=\"M8,0C3.5,0-0.1,3.7,0,8.2C0.1,12.5,3.6,16,8,16c4.4,0,8-3.6,8-8C16,3.5,12.4,0,8,0z M8,15.2 C4,15.2,0.8,12,0.8,8C0.8,4,4,0.8,8,0.8c3.9,0,7.2,3.2,7.2,7.1C15.2,11.9,12,15.2,8,15.2z\"\/><path d=\"M5.6,12c0.8-0.8,1.6-1.6,2.4-2.4c0.8,0.8,1.6,1.6,2.4,2.4c0-2.7,0-5.3,0-8C8.8,4,7.2,4,5.6,4 C5.6,6.7,5.6,9.3,5.6,12z\"\/><\/g><\/g><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Article<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t6 years ago\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-topic-cards nasa-gb-align-full maxw-full width-full padding-y-6 padding-x-3 color-mode-dark hds-module hds-module-full wp-block-nasa-blocks-topic-cards\">\t\t<div class=\"grid-container grid-container-block-lg padding-x-0\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-row flex-align-center margin-bottom-3\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"desktop:grid-col-8 margin-bottom-2 desktop:margin-bottom-0\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"label color-carbon-60 margin-bottom-2\">Keep Exploring<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"heading-36 line-height-sm\">Discover More Topics From NASA<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-row grid-gap-2 hds-topic-cards-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/history\/\" class=\"mobile:grid-col-12 tablet:grid-col-6 desktop:grid-col-3 topic-card margin-bottom-4 desktop:margin-bottom-0\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-topic-card hds-cover-wrapper cover-hover-zoom bg-carbon-black\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"skrim-overlay skrim-overlay-dark skrim-left mobile-skrim-top padding-3 display-flex flex-align-end flex-justify-start z-200\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"hds-topic-card-heading heading-29 color-spacesuit-white line-height-sm margin-top-0 margin-bottom-1\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>NASA History<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg viewBox=\"0 0 32 32\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><circle class=\"color-nasa-red\" cx=\"16\" cy=\"16\" r=\"16\"><\/circle><path d=\"M8 16.956h12.604l-3.844 4.106 1.252 1.338L24 16l-5.988-6.4-1.252 1.338 3.844 4.106H8v1.912z\" class=\"color-spacesuit-white\"><\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"983\" height=\"1223\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/as11-40-5903_alt2.jpg?w=983\" class=\"attachment-1536x1536 size-1536x1536\" alt=\"\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/as11-40-5903_alt2.jpg 983w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/as11-40-5903_alt2.jpg?resize=241,300 241w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/as11-40-5903_alt2.jpg?resize=768,956 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/as11-40-5903_alt2.jpg?resize=823,1024 823w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/as11-40-5903_alt2.jpg?resize=322,400 322w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/as11-40-5903_alt2.jpg?resize=482,600 482w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/as11-40-5903_alt2.jpg?resize=723,900 723w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/as11-40-5903_alt2.jpg?resize=965,1200 965w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 983px) 100vw, 983px\" \/><\/figure>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/humans-in-space\/\" class=\"mobile:grid-col-12 tablet:grid-col-6 desktop:grid-col-3 topic-card margin-bottom-4 desktop:margin-bottom-0\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-topic-card hds-cover-wrapper cover-hover-zoom bg-carbon-black\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"skrim-overlay skrim-overlay-dark skrim-left mobile-skrim-top padding-3 display-flex flex-align-end flex-justify-start z-200\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"hds-topic-card-heading heading-29 color-spacesuit-white line-height-sm margin-top-0 margin-bottom-1\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Humans In Space<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg viewBox=\"0 0 32 32\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><circle class=\"color-nasa-red\" cx=\"16\" cy=\"16\" r=\"16\"><\/circle><path d=\"M8 16.956h12.604l-3.844 4.106 1.252 1.338L24 16l-5.988-6.4-1.252 1.338 3.844 4.106H8v1.912z\" class=\"color-spacesuit-white\"><\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"368\" height=\"560\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/topic-humans-in-space.jpg?w=368\" class=\"attachment-1536x1536 size-1536x1536\" alt=\"\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/topic-humans-in-space.jpg 368w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/topic-humans-in-space.jpg?resize=197,300 197w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/topic-humans-in-space.jpg?resize=263,400 263w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 368px) 100vw, 368px\" \/><\/figure>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/the-apollo-program\/\" class=\"mobile:grid-col-12 tablet:grid-col-6 desktop:grid-col-3 topic-card margin-bottom-4 desktop:margin-bottom-0\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-topic-card hds-cover-wrapper cover-hover-zoom bg-carbon-black\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"skrim-overlay skrim-overlay-dark skrim-left mobile-skrim-top padding-3 display-flex flex-align-end flex-justify-start z-200\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"hds-topic-card-heading heading-29 color-spacesuit-white line-height-sm margin-top-0 margin-bottom-1\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>The Apollo Program<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg viewBox=\"0 0 32 32\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><circle class=\"color-nasa-red\" cx=\"16\" cy=\"16\" r=\"16\"><\/circle><path d=\"M8 16.956h12.604l-3.844 4.106 1.252 1.338L24 16l-5.988-6.4-1.252 1.338 3.844 4.106H8v1.912z\" class=\"color-spacesuit-white\"><\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1920\" src=\"https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/as14-66-09277\/as14-66-09277~large.jpg?w=1920&h=1920&fit=clip&crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint\" class=\"attachment-1536x1536 size-1536x1536\" alt=\"\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/as14-66-09277\/as14-66-09277~large.jpg?w=1920&h=1920&fit=crop&crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 1920w, https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/as14-66-09277\/as14-66-09277~large.jpg?w=150&h=150&fit=crop&crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 150w, https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/as14-66-09277\/as14-66-09277~large.jpg?w=300&h=300&fit=crop&crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 300w, https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/as14-66-09277\/as14-66-09277~large.jpg?w=768&h=768&fit=crop&crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 768w, https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/as14-66-09277\/as14-66-09277~large.jpg?w=1024&h=1024&fit=crop&crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 1024w, https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/as14-66-09277\/as14-66-09277~large.jpg?w=1536&h=1536&fit=crop&crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 1536w, https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/as14-66-09277\/as14-66-09277~large.jpg?w=50&h=50&fit=crop&crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 50w, https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/as14-66-09277\/as14-66-09277~large.jpg?w=100&h=100&fit=crop&crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 100w, https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/as14-66-09277\/as14-66-09277~large.jpg?w=200&h=200&fit=crop&crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 200w, https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/as14-66-09277\/as14-66-09277~large.jpg?w=400&h=400&fit=crop&crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 400w, https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/as14-66-09277\/as14-66-09277~large.jpg?w=600&h=600&fit=crop&crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 600w, https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/as14-66-09277\/as14-66-09277~large.jpg?w=900&h=900&fit=crop&crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 900w, https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/as14-66-09277\/as14-66-09277~large.jpg?w=1200&h=1200&fit=crop&crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\" \/><\/figure>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/kennedy\/\" class=\"mobile:grid-col-12 tablet:grid-col-6 desktop:grid-col-3 topic-card margin-bottom-4 desktop:margin-bottom-0\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-topic-card hds-cover-wrapper cover-hover-zoom bg-carbon-black\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"skrim-overlay skrim-overlay-dark skrim-left mobile-skrim-top padding-3 display-flex flex-align-end flex-justify-start z-200\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"hds-topic-card-heading heading-29 color-spacesuit-white line-height-sm margin-top-0 margin-bottom-1\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Kennedy Space Center<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg viewBox=\"0 0 32 32\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><circle class=\"color-nasa-red\" cx=\"16\" cy=\"16\" r=\"16\"><\/circle><path d=\"M8 16.956h12.604l-3.844 4.106 1.252 1.338L24 16l-5.988-6.4-1.252 1.338 3.844 4.106H8v1.912z\" class=\"color-spacesuit-white\"><\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1536\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/Kennedy-VAB.jpg?w=1536\" class=\"attachment-1536x1536 size-1536x1536\" alt=\"\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/Kennedy-VAB.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/Kennedy-VAB.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/Kennedy-VAB.jpg?resize=768,512 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/Kennedy-VAB.jpg?resize=1024,683 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/Kennedy-VAB.jpg?resize=1536,1024 1536w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/Kennedy-VAB.jpg?resize=400,267 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/Kennedy-VAB.jpg?resize=600,400 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/Kennedy-VAB.jpg?resize=900,600 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/Kennedy-VAB.jpg?resize=1200,800 1200w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/Kennedy-VAB.jpg?resize=2000,1333 2000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1536px) 100vw, 1536px\" \/><\/figure>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>With two weeks to go before the planned lift off, preparations were well underway for the Apollo 9 mission, the first to test the critical Lunar Module (LM) with a crew on board. The 10-day Earth orbital mission was planned to launch on Feb. 28, 1969.  Commander James A. McDivitt, Command Module Pilot (CMP) David [...]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":74,"featured_media":174313,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nasa_hds_core_meta_l10n":"en-US","nasa_hds_core_meta_article_editor":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_article_contacts":[],"nasa_hds_core_meta_article_topic":"254332","nasa_hds_core_meta_linked_locations":[],"nasa_hds_core_meta_article_related_articles":["168470","440696","168475"],"hds_migrate_meta_pr_release_id":"","hds_migrate_meta_pr_release_type":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_location_x":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_location_y":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_gallery_images":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[2671,2933],"news-tags":[],"internal-terms":[12664],"coauthors":[11996],"parsely":{"version":"1.1.0","meta":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","headline":"50 Years Ago: Apollo 9 Passes Countdown Test","url":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/history\/50-years-ago-apollo-9-passes-countdown-test\/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/history\/50-years-ago-apollo-9-passes-countdown-test\/"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/apollo9crew_eva.jpg?w=150&h=150&crop=1","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/apollo9crew_eva.jpg"},"articleSection":"NASA History","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"John Uri"}],"creator":["John Uri"],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"NASA","logo":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/themes\/nasa\/assets\/images\/nasa-logo.svg"},"keywords":["Missions","Apollo","Apollo 9","NASA History"],"dateCreated":"2019-02-14T18:00:00Z","datePublished":"2019-02-14T18:00:00Z","dateModified":"2024-02-13T19:53:34Z"},"rendered":"<meta name=\"parsely-title\" content=\"50 Years Ago: Apollo 9 Passes Countdown Test\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-link\" content=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/history\/50-years-ago-apollo-9-passes-countdown-test\/\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-type\" content=\"post\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-image-url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/apollo9crew_eva.jpg?w=150&h=150&crop=1\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-pub-date\" content=\"2019-02-14T18:00:00Z\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-section\" content=\"NASA History\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-tags\" content=\"Missions,Apollo,Apollo 9,NASA History\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-author\" content=\"John Uri\" \/>","tracker_url":"https:\/\/cdn.parsely.com\/keys\/nasa.gov\/p.js"},"read_time":4,"time_ago":"5 years","featured_image":{"id":174313,"file":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/apollo9crew_eva.jpg","title":"apollo9crew_eva","alt":"apollo9crew_eva","caption":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/168472"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/74"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=168472"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/168472\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":614400,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/168472\/revisions\/614400"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/174313"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=168472"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=168472"},{"taxonomy":"news-tags","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news-tags?post=168472"},{"taxonomy":"internal-terms","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/internal-terms?post=168472"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=168472"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}