{"id":617293,"date":"2024-02-20T12:33:12","date_gmt":"2024-02-20T17:33:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/?p=617293"},"modified":"2024-02-20T12:33:14","modified_gmt":"2024-02-20T17:33:14","slug":"55-years-ago-five-months-until-the-moon-landing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/history\/55-years-ago-five-months-until-the-moon-landing\/","title":{"rendered":"55 Years Ago: Five Months Until the Moon Landing"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Following the success of the Apollo 8 circumlunar mission, NASA believed that it could achieve a Moon landing by the summer of 1969 and meet President John F. Kennedy\u2019s goal. Much work remained to accomplish that objective. Three crews and their backups trained for the next three Apollo missions while workers at NASA\u2019s Kennedy Space Center (KSC) in Florida prepared the spacecraft and rockets for those flights. With Apollo 9 in the home stretch to test the Lunar Module (LM) in Earth orbit in early March, preparations also continued for Apollo 10 in May, a lunar orbit test of the LM that served as a dress rehearsal for the Moon landing, and for Apollo 11, the landing mission itself planned for July.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><em>Apollo 8<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-617294\" height=\"153\" width=\"208\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-1-apollo-8-borman-in-buckingham-palace-feb-4-1969.jpg\" alt=\"Apollo 8 astronaut Frank Borman and his wife Susan, at left, meet the Royal family at Buckingham Palace during the London stop of their European tour\"> <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-617295\" height=\"163\" width=\"218\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-2-apollo-8-borman-paris-degaulle-and-shriver-feb-1969.jpg\" alt=\"Borman, left, meets with French President Charles de Gaulle and U.S. Ambassador to France R. Sargent Shriver during the Paris stop of the tour\"> <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-617297\" height=\"229\" width=\"249\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-4-apollo-8-borman-w-netherlands-queen-juliana-den-haag-feb-10-1969.jpg\" alt=\"In Den Haag, The Netherlands, Apollo 8 astronaut Borman, right, describes the Lunar Module to Queen Juliana\"><br><em>Left: Apollo 8 astronaut Frank Borman and his wife Susan, at left, meet the Royal family at Buckingham Palace during the London stop of their European tour. Middle: Borman, left, meets with French President Charles de Gaulle and U.S. Ambassador to France R. Sargent Shriver during the Paris stop of the tour. Right: In Brussels, Borman, left, presents a model of the Saturn V rocket to Jean Rey, president of the European Commission.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-617297\" height=\"163\" width=\"254\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-4-apollo-8-borman-w-netherlands-queen-juliana-den-haag-feb-10-1969.jpg\" alt=\"In Den Haag, The Netherlands, Apollo 8 astronaut Borman, right, describes the Lunar Module to Queen Juliana\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-4-apollo-8-borman-w-netherlands-queen-juliana-den-haag-feb-10-1969.jpg 480w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-4-apollo-8-borman-w-netherlands-queen-juliana-den-haag-feb-10-1969.jpg?resize=300,193 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-4-apollo-8-borman-w-netherlands-queen-juliana-den-haag-feb-10-1969.jpg?resize=400,257 400w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 254px) 100vw, 254px\" \/> <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-617298\" height=\"163\" width=\"215\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-5-apollo-8-borman-gives-pope-moon-photo.jpg\" alt=\"At The Vatican, Borman, left, presents a photograph of the Moon from Apollo 8 to Pope Paul VI\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-5-apollo-8-borman-gives-pope-moon-photo.jpg 584w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-5-apollo-8-borman-gives-pope-moon-photo.jpg?resize=300,228 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-5-apollo-8-borman-gives-pope-moon-photo.jpg?resize=400,303 400w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 215px) 100vw, 215px\" \/> <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-617299\" height=\"163\" width=\"219\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-6-apollo-8-borman-and-family-in-lisbon-feb-1969.jpg\" alt=\"The Bormans, Frank, left, Susan, and sons Edwin and Frederick, hold a press conference in Lisbon, the last stop of their European tour\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-6-apollo-8-borman-and-family-in-lisbon-feb-1969.jpg 952w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-6-apollo-8-borman-and-family-in-lisbon-feb-1969.jpg?resize=300,224 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-6-apollo-8-borman-and-family-in-lisbon-feb-1969.jpg?resize=768,573 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-6-apollo-8-borman-and-family-in-lisbon-feb-1969.jpg?resize=400,298 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-6-apollo-8-borman-and-family-in-lisbon-feb-1969.jpg?resize=600,447 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-6-apollo-8-borman-and-family-in-lisbon-feb-1969.jpg?resize=900,671 900w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 219px) 100vw, 219px\" \/><br><em>Left: In Den Haag, The Netherlands, Apollo 8 astronaut Borman, right, describes the Lunar Module to Queen Juliana. Middle: At The Vatican, Borman, left, presents a photograph of the Moon from Apollo 8 to Pope Paul VI. Right: The Bormans, Frank, left, Susan, and sons Edwin and Frederick, hold a press conference in Lisbon, the last stop of their European tour.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As President Richard M. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/history\/55-years-ago-six-months-until-the-moon-landing\/\">Nixon announced<\/a> on Jan. 30, Apollo 8 astronaut Frank Borman, his wife Susan, and their two children Frederick and Edwin, set off on their European goodwill tour on Feb. 2, flying aboard a presidential Air Force jet. Borman\u2019s Apollo 8 crewmates James A. Lovell and William A. Anders could not participate in the tour because they had already begun training as part of the Apollo 11 backup crew. The Bormans\u2019 19-day tour took them to London, Paris, Brussels, Den Haag, Bonn, West Berlin, Rome, Madrid, and Lisbon. They met with royalty, politicians, scientists, and Pope Paul VI, gave lectures during which Borman narrated a film from his flight, and held numerous press conferences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><em>Apollo 9<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-617300\" height=\"202\" width=\"257\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-7-apollo-9-crew-in-front-of-simulator-ksc-69pc-25.jpg\" alt=\"Apollo 9 astronauts Russell L. Schweickart, left, James A. McDivitt, and David R. Scott pose in front of the control panel for the spacecraft simulators\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-7-apollo-9-crew-in-front-of-simulator-ksc-69pc-25.jpg 788w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-7-apollo-9-crew-in-front-of-simulator-ksc-69pc-25.jpg?resize=300,235 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-7-apollo-9-crew-in-front-of-simulator-ksc-69pc-25.jpg?resize=768,601 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-7-apollo-9-crew-in-front-of-simulator-ksc-69pc-25.jpg?resize=400,313 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-7-apollo-9-crew-in-front-of-simulator-ksc-69pc-25.jpg?resize=600,470 600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 257px) 100vw, 257px\" \/> <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-617301\" height=\"202\" width=\"252\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-8-apollo-9-mcdivitt-schweickart-in-lm-sim-fisheye-feb-23-1969-ap9-ksc-69pc-15hr.jpg\" alt=\"Fisheye lens view of Schweickart, left, and McDivitt in the Lunar Module simulator\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-8-apollo-9-mcdivitt-schweickart-in-lm-sim-fisheye-feb-23-1969-ap9-ksc-69pc-15hr.jpg 1891w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-8-apollo-9-mcdivitt-schweickart-in-lm-sim-fisheye-feb-23-1969-ap9-ksc-69pc-15hr.jpg?resize=300,239 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-8-apollo-9-mcdivitt-schweickart-in-lm-sim-fisheye-feb-23-1969-ap9-ksc-69pc-15hr.jpg?resize=768,612 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-8-apollo-9-mcdivitt-schweickart-in-lm-sim-fisheye-feb-23-1969-ap9-ksc-69pc-15hr.jpg?resize=1024,817 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-8-apollo-9-mcdivitt-schweickart-in-lm-sim-fisheye-feb-23-1969-ap9-ksc-69pc-15hr.jpg?resize=1536,1225 1536w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-8-apollo-9-mcdivitt-schweickart-in-lm-sim-fisheye-feb-23-1969-ap9-ksc-69pc-15hr.jpg?resize=400,319 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-8-apollo-9-mcdivitt-schweickart-in-lm-sim-fisheye-feb-23-1969-ap9-ksc-69pc-15hr.jpg?resize=600,478 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-8-apollo-9-mcdivitt-schweickart-in-lm-sim-fisheye-feb-23-1969-ap9-ksc-69pc-15hr.jpg?resize=900,718 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-8-apollo-9-mcdivitt-schweickart-in-lm-sim-fisheye-feb-23-1969-ap9-ksc-69pc-15hr.jpg?resize=1200,957 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 252px) 100vw, 252px\" \/> <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-617302\" height=\"202\" width=\"136\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-9-apollo-9-eva-briefing-feb-13-1969-s69-19207.jpg\" alt=\"A technician poses in the Apollo A7L spacesuit, including the Portable Life Support System backpack used for the first time during Apollo 9\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-9-apollo-9-eva-briefing-feb-13-1969-s69-19207.jpg 3109w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-9-apollo-9-eva-briefing-feb-13-1969-s69-19207.jpg?resize=203,300 203w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-9-apollo-9-eva-briefing-feb-13-1969-s69-19207.jpg?resize=768,1135 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-9-apollo-9-eva-briefing-feb-13-1969-s69-19207.jpg?resize=693,1024 693w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-9-apollo-9-eva-briefing-feb-13-1969-s69-19207.jpg?resize=1039,1536 1039w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-9-apollo-9-eva-briefing-feb-13-1969-s69-19207.jpg?resize=1385,2048 1385w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-9-apollo-9-eva-briefing-feb-13-1969-s69-19207.jpg?resize=271,400 271w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-9-apollo-9-eva-briefing-feb-13-1969-s69-19207.jpg?resize=406,600 406w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-9-apollo-9-eva-briefing-feb-13-1969-s69-19207.jpg?resize=609,900 609w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-9-apollo-9-eva-briefing-feb-13-1969-s69-19207.jpg?resize=812,1200 812w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-9-apollo-9-eva-briefing-feb-13-1969-s69-19207.jpg?resize=1353,2000 1353w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 136px) 100vw, 136px\" \/><br><em>Left: Apollo 9 astronauts Russell L. Schweickart, left, James A. McDivitt, and David R. Scott pose in front of the control panel for the spacecraft simulators. Middle: Fisheye lens view of Schweickart, left, and McDivitt in the Lunar Module simulator. Right: A technician poses in the Apollo A7L spacesuit, including the Portable Life Support System backpack used for the first time during Apollo 9.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Apollo 9 astronauts <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/mcdivitt_james.pdf?emrc=8a2c95\">James A. McDivitt<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/scott_david.pdf?emrc=54adfb\">David R. Scott<\/a>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/schweickart_russell.pdf?emrc=a7ec6e\">Russell L. Schweickart<\/a> planned to conduct the first crewed test of the LM during their 10-day Earth orbital mission. They and their backups <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/conrad_charles.pdf?emrc=2dbaa3\">Charles \u201cPete\u201d Conrad<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/gordon_richard_0.pdf?emrc=3de1fe\">Richard F. Gordon<\/a>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/former-astronaut-alan-bean\/\">Alan L. Bean<\/a> spent many hours in the spacecraft simulators and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/history\/50-years-ago-apollo-9-spacewalk-preparations\/\">training for the spacewalk<\/a> component of the mission. The planned spacewalk, the first and only one before the Moon landing mission, would not only test the spacesuit and its Portable Life Support System but also demonstrate an external crew transfer should a problem arise with the internal transfer tunnel or hatches. McDivitt, Scott, and Schweickart provided details of their mission to reporters during a press conference on Feb. 8 at the Manned Spacecraft Center (MSC), now NASA\u2019s Johnson Space Center in Houston. They explained that during the mission phase when the two vehicles fly separately, they will use the call signs Spider for the LM and Gumdrop for the Command Module (CM), lighthearted references to the shapes of the respective spacecraft.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-617303\" height=\"192\" width=\"258\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-10-apollo-9-crew-presser-msc-feb-8-1969-s69-25866.jpg\" alt=\"Apollo 9 astronauts Russell L. Schweickart, left, James A. McDivitt, and David R. Scott during the preflight crew press conference at the Manned Spacecraft Center (MSC), now NASA\u2019s Johnson Space Center in Houston\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-10-apollo-9-crew-presser-msc-feb-8-1969-s69-25866.jpg 4662w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-10-apollo-9-crew-presser-msc-feb-8-1969-s69-25866.jpg?resize=300,223 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-10-apollo-9-crew-presser-msc-feb-8-1969-s69-25866.jpg?resize=768,571 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-10-apollo-9-crew-presser-msc-feb-8-1969-s69-25866.jpg?resize=1024,762 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-10-apollo-9-crew-presser-msc-feb-8-1969-s69-25866.jpg?resize=1536,1142 1536w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-10-apollo-9-crew-presser-msc-feb-8-1969-s69-25866.jpg?resize=2048,1523 2048w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-10-apollo-9-crew-presser-msc-feb-8-1969-s69-25866.jpg?resize=400,297 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-10-apollo-9-crew-presser-msc-feb-8-1969-s69-25866.jpg?resize=600,446 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-10-apollo-9-crew-presser-msc-feb-8-1969-s69-25866.jpg?resize=900,669 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-10-apollo-9-crew-presser-msc-feb-8-1969-s69-25866.jpg?resize=1200,892 1200w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-10-apollo-9-crew-presser-msc-feb-8-1969-s69-25866.jpg?resize=2000,1487 2000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 258px) 100vw, 258px\" \/> <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-617304\" height=\"202\" width=\"401\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-11-apollo-9-frr-leadership.jpg\" alt=\"Senior NASA management assembled for the Apollo 9 Flight Readiness Review at NASA\u2019s Kennedy Space Center (KSC): Associate Administrator for Manned Flight George E. Mueller, left, Apollo Program Director Samuel C. Phillips, KSC Director Kurt H. Debus, MSC Director Robert R. Gilruth, and Marshall Space Flight Center Director Wernher von Braun\"><br><em>Left: Apollo 9 astronauts Russell L. Schweickart, left, James A. McDivitt, and David R. Scott during the preflight crew press conference at the Manned Spacecraft Center (MSC), now NASA\u2019s Johnson Space Center in Houston. Right: Senior NASA management assembled for the Apollo 9 Flight Readiness Review at NASA\u2019s Kennedy Space Center (KSC): Associate Administrator for Manned Flight George E. Mueller, left, Apollo Program Director Samuel C. Phillips, KSC Director Kurt H. Debus, MSC Director Robert R. Gilruth, and Marshall Space Flight Center Director Wernher von Braun.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Senior NASA managers met at NASA\u2019s Kennedy Space Center (KSC) in Florida for Apollo 9\u2019s Flight Readiness Review the first week of February. At the end of the meeting, they set the launch date for Feb. 28. The following week, engineers in Firing Room 2 of KSC\u2019s Launch Control Center conducted the Countdown Demonstration Test (CDDT), essentially a dress rehearsal for the actual countdown. On Feb. 12, McDivitt, Scott, and Schweickart participated in the final portion of the CDDT, as they would on launch day, by donning their spacesuits and climbing aboard their spacecraft for the final two hours of the test. Engineers began the countdown to launch on Feb. 26 but had to halt it the next day when the astronauts developed head colds. Managers reset the launch date to March 3, and the countdown restarted on March 1.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-617305\" height=\"163\" width=\"206\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-12-apollo-9-during-cddt-s69-27089.jpg\" alt=\"The Apollo 9 Saturn V at Launch Pad 39A at NASA\u2019s Kennedy Space Center in Florida during the Countdown Demonstration Test (CDDT)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-12-apollo-9-during-cddt-s69-27089.jpg 4647w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-12-apollo-9-during-cddt-s69-27089.jpg?resize=300,237 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-12-apollo-9-during-cddt-s69-27089.jpg?resize=768,606 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-12-apollo-9-during-cddt-s69-27089.jpg?resize=1024,808 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-12-apollo-9-during-cddt-s69-27089.jpg?resize=1536,1212 1536w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-12-apollo-9-during-cddt-s69-27089.jpg?resize=2048,1616 2048w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-12-apollo-9-during-cddt-s69-27089.jpg?resize=400,316 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-12-apollo-9-during-cddt-s69-27089.jpg?resize=600,473 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-12-apollo-9-during-cddt-s69-27089.jpg?resize=900,710 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-12-apollo-9-during-cddt-s69-27089.jpg?resize=1200,947 1200w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-12-apollo-9-during-cddt-s69-27089.jpg?resize=2000,1578 2000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 206px) 100vw, 206px\" \/> <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-617306\" height=\"163\" width=\"238\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-13-apollo-9-firing-room-2-cddt-feb-19-1969-s69-25880.jpg\" alt=\"Engineers in the Launch Control Center\u2019s Firing Room 2 monitor the rocket and spacecraft during the CDDT\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-13-apollo-9-firing-room-2-cddt-feb-19-1969-s69-25880.jpg 4659w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-13-apollo-9-firing-room-2-cddt-feb-19-1969-s69-25880.jpg?resize=300,206 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-13-apollo-9-firing-room-2-cddt-feb-19-1969-s69-25880.jpg?resize=768,526 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-13-apollo-9-firing-room-2-cddt-feb-19-1969-s69-25880.jpg?resize=1024,702 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-13-apollo-9-firing-room-2-cddt-feb-19-1969-s69-25880.jpg?resize=1536,1052 1536w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-13-apollo-9-firing-room-2-cddt-feb-19-1969-s69-25880.jpg?resize=2048,1403 2048w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-13-apollo-9-firing-room-2-cddt-feb-19-1969-s69-25880.jpg?resize=400,274 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-13-apollo-9-firing-room-2-cddt-feb-19-1969-s69-25880.jpg?resize=600,411 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-13-apollo-9-firing-room-2-cddt-feb-19-1969-s69-25880.jpg?resize=900,617 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-13-apollo-9-firing-room-2-cddt-feb-19-1969-s69-25880.jpg?resize=1200,822 1200w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-13-apollo-9-firing-room-2-cddt-feb-19-1969-s69-25880.jpg?resize=2000,1370 2000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 238px) 100vw, 238px\" \/> <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-617307\" height=\"163\" width=\"204\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-14-apollo-9-crew-w-saturn-v-cddt-feb-19-1969-s69-25478.jpg\" alt=\"Apollo 9 astronauts Russell L. Schweickart, left, David R. Scott, and James A. McDivitt pose in front of their Saturn V following the CDDT\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-14-apollo-9-crew-w-saturn-v-cddt-feb-19-1969-s69-25478.jpg 4143w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-14-apollo-9-crew-w-saturn-v-cddt-feb-19-1969-s69-25478.jpg?resize=300,239 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-14-apollo-9-crew-w-saturn-v-cddt-feb-19-1969-s69-25478.jpg?resize=768,612 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-14-apollo-9-crew-w-saturn-v-cddt-feb-19-1969-s69-25478.jpg?resize=1024,816 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-14-apollo-9-crew-w-saturn-v-cddt-feb-19-1969-s69-25478.jpg?resize=1536,1223 1536w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-14-apollo-9-crew-w-saturn-v-cddt-feb-19-1969-s69-25478.jpg?resize=2048,1631 2048w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-14-apollo-9-crew-w-saturn-v-cddt-feb-19-1969-s69-25478.jpg?resize=400,319 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-14-apollo-9-crew-w-saturn-v-cddt-feb-19-1969-s69-25478.jpg?resize=600,478 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-14-apollo-9-crew-w-saturn-v-cddt-feb-19-1969-s69-25478.jpg?resize=900,717 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-14-apollo-9-crew-w-saturn-v-cddt-feb-19-1969-s69-25478.jpg?resize=1200,956 1200w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-14-apollo-9-crew-w-saturn-v-cddt-feb-19-1969-s69-25478.jpg?resize=2000,1593 2000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 204px) 100vw, 204px\" \/><br><em>Left: The Apollo 9 Saturn V at Launch Pad 39A at NASA\u2019s Kennedy Space Center in Florida during the Countdown Demonstration Test (CDDT). Middle: Engineers in the Launch Control Center\u2019s Firing Room 2 monitor the rocket and spacecraft during the CDDT. Right: Apollo 9 astronauts Russell L. Schweickart, left, David R. Scott, and James A. McDivitt pose in front of their Saturn V following the CDDT.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><em>Apollo 10<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-617308\" height=\"202\" width=\"156\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-15-apollo-10-rocket-awaiting-spacecraft-feb-1969.jpg\" alt=\"The three stages of the Saturn V stacked on Mobile Launcher-3\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-15-apollo-10-rocket-awaiting-spacecraft-feb-1969.jpg 343w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-15-apollo-10-rocket-awaiting-spacecraft-feb-1969.jpg?resize=233,300 233w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-15-apollo-10-rocket-awaiting-spacecraft-feb-1969.jpg?resize=310,400 310w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 156px) 100vw, 156px\" \/> <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-617309\" height=\"202\" width=\"159\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-16-apollo-10-csm-rollover-to-vab-feb-6-1969-s69-19204.jpg\" alt=\"The Apollo 10 spacecraft, the Command and Service Modules and the Lunar Module (LM) encased in the Spacecraft LM Adapter, arrives from the Manned Spacecraft Operations Building\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-16-apollo-10-csm-rollover-to-vab-feb-6-1969-s69-19204.jpg 3804w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-16-apollo-10-csm-rollover-to-vab-feb-6-1969-s69-19204.jpg?resize=237,300 237w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-16-apollo-10-csm-rollover-to-vab-feb-6-1969-s69-19204.jpg?resize=768,972 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-16-apollo-10-csm-rollover-to-vab-feb-6-1969-s69-19204.jpg?resize=809,1024 809w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-16-apollo-10-csm-rollover-to-vab-feb-6-1969-s69-19204.jpg?resize=1213,1536 1213w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-16-apollo-10-csm-rollover-to-vab-feb-6-1969-s69-19204.jpg?resize=1618,2048 1618w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-16-apollo-10-csm-rollover-to-vab-feb-6-1969-s69-19204.jpg?resize=316,400 316w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-16-apollo-10-csm-rollover-to-vab-feb-6-1969-s69-19204.jpg?resize=474,600 474w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-16-apollo-10-csm-rollover-to-vab-feb-6-1969-s69-19204.jpg?resize=711,900 711w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-16-apollo-10-csm-rollover-to-vab-feb-6-1969-s69-19204.jpg?resize=948,1200 948w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-16-apollo-10-csm-rollover-to-vab-feb-6-1969-s69-19204.jpg?resize=1580,2000 1580w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 159px) 100vw, 159px\" \/> <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-617310\" height=\"202\" width=\"158\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-17-apollo-10-spacecraft-stacking-feb-6-1969-ap10-ksc-69pc-30hr.jpg\" alt=\"Workers lift the spacecraft for stacking onto the rocket, the footpads of the LM\u2019s folded landing gear visible\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-17-apollo-10-spacecraft-stacking-feb-6-1969-ap10-ksc-69pc-30hr.jpg 1264w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-17-apollo-10-spacecraft-stacking-feb-6-1969-ap10-ksc-69pc-30hr.jpg?resize=236,300 236w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-17-apollo-10-spacecraft-stacking-feb-6-1969-ap10-ksc-69pc-30hr.jpg?resize=768,977 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-17-apollo-10-spacecraft-stacking-feb-6-1969-ap10-ksc-69pc-30hr.jpg?resize=805,1024 805w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-17-apollo-10-spacecraft-stacking-feb-6-1969-ap10-ksc-69pc-30hr.jpg?resize=1207,1536 1207w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-17-apollo-10-spacecraft-stacking-feb-6-1969-ap10-ksc-69pc-30hr.jpg?resize=314,400 314w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-17-apollo-10-spacecraft-stacking-feb-6-1969-ap10-ksc-69pc-30hr.jpg?resize=472,600 472w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-17-apollo-10-spacecraft-stacking-feb-6-1969-ap10-ksc-69pc-30hr.jpg?resize=707,900 707w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-17-apollo-10-spacecraft-stacking-feb-6-1969-ap10-ksc-69pc-30hr.jpg?resize=943,1200 943w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 158px) 100vw, 158px\" \/> <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-617311\" height=\"202\" width=\"156\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-18-apollo-10-feb-6-1969-s69-19203.jpg\" alt=\"Workers lower the spacecraft onto the Saturn V rocket\u2019s third stage\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-18-apollo-10-feb-6-1969-s69-19203.jpg 3647w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-18-apollo-10-feb-6-1969-s69-19203.jpg?resize=233,300 233w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-18-apollo-10-feb-6-1969-s69-19203.jpg?resize=768,988 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-18-apollo-10-feb-6-1969-s69-19203.jpg?resize=796,1024 796w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-18-apollo-10-feb-6-1969-s69-19203.jpg?resize=1194,1536 1194w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-18-apollo-10-feb-6-1969-s69-19203.jpg?resize=1592,2048 1592w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-18-apollo-10-feb-6-1969-s69-19203.jpg?resize=311,400 311w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-18-apollo-10-feb-6-1969-s69-19203.jpg?resize=466,600 466w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-18-apollo-10-feb-6-1969-s69-19203.jpg?resize=699,900 699w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-18-apollo-10-feb-6-1969-s69-19203.jpg?resize=933,1200 933w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-18-apollo-10-feb-6-1969-s69-19203.jpg?resize=1554,2000 1554w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 156px) 100vw, 156px\" \/><br><em>Stacking of the Apollo 10 vehicle in High Bay 2 of the Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA\u2019s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Left: The three stages of the Saturn V stacked on Mobile Launcher-3. Middle left: The Apollo 10 spacecraft, the Command and Service Modules and the Lunar Module (LM) encased in the Spacecraft LM Adapter, arrives from the Manned Spacecraft Operations Building. Middle right: Workers lift the spacecraft for stacking onto the rocket, the footpads of the LM\u2019s folded landing gear visible. Right: Workers lower the spacecraft onto the Saturn V rocket\u2019s third stage.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With Apollo 9 on Launch Pad 39A and almost ready to launch, workers in High Bay 2 of KSC\u2019s Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) completed stacking of the Apollo 10 launch vehicle. The spacecraft, consisting of the Command and Service Modules atop the LM encased in the Spacecraft LM Adapter, arrived from the Manned Spacecraft Operations Building (MSOB) on Feb. 6 and VAB workers stacked it on the Saturn V rocket the same day. Engineers began to conduct integrated tests on the launch vehicle in preparation for rollout to Launch Pad 39B in mid-March. Apollo 10 astronauts <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/former-astronaut-thomas-stafford\/\">Thomas P. Stafford<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/former-astronaut-john-w-young\/\">John W. Young<\/a>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/former-astronaut-eugene-a-cernan\/\">Eugene A. Cernan<\/a> and their backups <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/former-astronaut-l-gordon-cooper\/\">L. Gordon Cooper<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/eisele_donn.pdf?emrc=4e176f\">Donn F. Eisele<\/a>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/mitchell_edgar.pdf?emrc=2c3b40\">Edgar D. Mitchell<\/a> spent much time in spacecraft simulators and testing their spacesuits in vacuum chambers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><em>Apollo 11<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-617312\" height=\"230\" width=\"316\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-19-easep-deploy-sim-jan-21-schmitt-s69-17209.jpg\" alt=\"Apollo 11 astronaut Edwin E. \u201cBuzz\u201d Aldrin, left, confers with support astronauts Ronald E. Evans and Harrison H. \u201cJack\u201d Schmitt, the only geologist in the astronaut corps at the time, during training for deployment of the Early Apollo Science Experiment Package (EASEP)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-19-easep-deploy-sim-jan-21-schmitt-s69-17209.jpg 2835w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-19-easep-deploy-sim-jan-21-schmitt-s69-17209.jpg?resize=300,219 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-19-easep-deploy-sim-jan-21-schmitt-s69-17209.jpg?resize=768,560 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-19-easep-deploy-sim-jan-21-schmitt-s69-17209.jpg?resize=1024,747 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-19-easep-deploy-sim-jan-21-schmitt-s69-17209.jpg?resize=1536,1120 1536w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-19-easep-deploy-sim-jan-21-schmitt-s69-17209.jpg?resize=2048,1493 2048w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-19-easep-deploy-sim-jan-21-schmitt-s69-17209.jpg?resize=400,292 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-19-easep-deploy-sim-jan-21-schmitt-s69-17209.jpg?resize=600,437 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-19-easep-deploy-sim-jan-21-schmitt-s69-17209.jpg?resize=900,656 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-19-easep-deploy-sim-jan-21-schmitt-s69-17209.jpg?resize=1200,875 1200w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-19-easep-deploy-sim-jan-21-schmitt-s69-17209.jpg?resize=2000,1458 2000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 316px) 100vw, 316px\" \/> <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-617313\" height=\"230\" width=\"349\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-20-easep-deploy-sim-lind-jan-21-1969-s69-18998.jpg\" alt=\"Astronaut Don L. Lind, suited, practices deploying the EASEP instruments as Aldrin, in white shirt behind the dish antenna, oberves\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-20-easep-deploy-sim-lind-jan-21-1969-s69-18998.jpg 4066w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-20-easep-deploy-sim-lind-jan-21-1969-s69-18998.jpg?resize=300,198 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-20-easep-deploy-sim-lind-jan-21-1969-s69-18998.jpg?resize=768,507 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-20-easep-deploy-sim-lind-jan-21-1969-s69-18998.jpg?resize=1024,675 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-20-easep-deploy-sim-lind-jan-21-1969-s69-18998.jpg?resize=1536,1013 1536w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-20-easep-deploy-sim-lind-jan-21-1969-s69-18998.jpg?resize=2048,1351 2048w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-20-easep-deploy-sim-lind-jan-21-1969-s69-18998.jpg?resize=400,264 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-20-easep-deploy-sim-lind-jan-21-1969-s69-18998.jpg?resize=600,396 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-20-easep-deploy-sim-lind-jan-21-1969-s69-18998.jpg?resize=900,594 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-20-easep-deploy-sim-lind-jan-21-1969-s69-18998.jpg?resize=1200,792 1200w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-20-easep-deploy-sim-lind-jan-21-1969-s69-18998.jpg?resize=2000,1319 2000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 349px) 100vw, 349px\" \/><br><em>Left: Apollo 11 astronaut Edwin E. \u201cBuzz\u201d Aldrin, left, confers with support astronauts Ronald E. Evans and Harrison H. \u201cJack\u201d Schmitt, the only geologist in the astronaut corps at the time, during training for deployment of the Early Apollo Science Experiment Package (EASEP). Right: Astronaut Don L. Lind, suited, practices deploying the EASEP instruments as Aldrin, in white shirt behind the dish antenna, oberves.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With their historic mission only five months away, the Apollo 11 prime crew of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/humans-in-space\/astronauts\/former-astronauts\/former-astronaut-neil-a-armstrong\/\">Neil A. Armstrong<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/former-astronaut-michael-collins\/\">Michael Collins<\/a>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/former-astronaut-edwin-buzz-aldrin\/\">Edwin E. \u201cBuzz\u201d Aldrin<\/a> and their backups <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/former-astronaut-james-a-lovell\/\">James A. Lovell<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/former-astronaut-william-a-anders\/\">William A. Anders<\/a>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/former-astronaut-fred-haise\/\">Fred W. Haise<\/a> busied themselves training for the Moon landing. Although the primary goal of the first Moon landing mission centered on demonstrating that the Apollo spacecraft systems could safely land two astronauts on the surface and return them safely to Earth, the surface operations also included collecting lunar samples and deploying experiments. During their two-and-a-half-hour surface excursion, Armstrong and Aldrin planned to deploy three instruments comprising the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/feature\/50-years-ago-on-the-way-to-the-moon-lunar-science-announced\">Early Apollo Surface Experiment Package<\/a> (EASEP) \u2013 a passive seismometer, a laser ranging retro-reflector, and a solar wind composition experiment. On Jan. 21, 1969, astronauts <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/former-astronaut-harrison-schmitt\/\">Harrison H. \u201cJack\u201d Schmitt<\/a>, the only geologist in the astronaut corps, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/lind_don_0.pdf?emrc=666c9fa21ea0c\">Don L. Lind<\/a> conducted a simulation of the EASEP deployment in MSC\u2019s Building 9. Aldrin observed the simulation, obviously with great interest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-617314\" height=\"221\" width=\"337\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-21-apollo-11-s69-25928.jpg\" alt=\"Apollo 11 astronauts Edwin E. \u201cBuzz\u201d Aldrin, left, and Neil A. Armstrong during geology training at Sierra Blanco, Texas\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-21-apollo-11-s69-25928.jpg 4032w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-21-apollo-11-s69-25928.jpg?resize=300,197 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-21-apollo-11-s69-25928.jpg?resize=768,503 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-21-apollo-11-s69-25928.jpg?resize=1024,671 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-21-apollo-11-s69-25928.jpg?resize=1536,1006 1536w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-21-apollo-11-s69-25928.jpg?resize=2048,1341 2048w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-21-apollo-11-s69-25928.jpg?resize=400,262 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-21-apollo-11-s69-25928.jpg?resize=600,393 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-21-apollo-11-s69-25928.jpg?resize=900,590 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-21-apollo-11-s69-25928.jpg?resize=1200,786 1200w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-21-apollo-11-s69-25928.jpg?resize=2000,1310 2000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 337px) 100vw, 337px\" \/> <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-617315\" height=\"221\" width=\"330\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-22-apollo-11-bu-crew-lovell-haise-geo-training-quitman-tx-feb-24-1969-s69-25902.jpg\" alt=\"Apollo 11 backup astronauts Fred W. Haise, left, and James A. Lovell at the Sierra Blanco geology training session\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-22-apollo-11-bu-crew-lovell-haise-geo-training-quitman-tx-feb-24-1969-s69-25902.jpg 4108w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-22-apollo-11-bu-crew-lovell-haise-geo-training-quitman-tx-feb-24-1969-s69-25902.jpg?resize=300,201 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-22-apollo-11-bu-crew-lovell-haise-geo-training-quitman-tx-feb-24-1969-s69-25902.jpg?resize=768,514 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-22-apollo-11-bu-crew-lovell-haise-geo-training-quitman-tx-feb-24-1969-s69-25902.jpg?resize=1024,685 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-22-apollo-11-bu-crew-lovell-haise-geo-training-quitman-tx-feb-24-1969-s69-25902.jpg?resize=1536,1027 1536w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-22-apollo-11-bu-crew-lovell-haise-geo-training-quitman-tx-feb-24-1969-s69-25902.jpg?resize=2048,1369 2048w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-22-apollo-11-bu-crew-lovell-haise-geo-training-quitman-tx-feb-24-1969-s69-25902.jpg?resize=400,267 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-22-apollo-11-bu-crew-lovell-haise-geo-training-quitman-tx-feb-24-1969-s69-25902.jpg?resize=600,401 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-22-apollo-11-bu-crew-lovell-haise-geo-training-quitman-tx-feb-24-1969-s69-25902.jpg?resize=900,602 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-22-apollo-11-bu-crew-lovell-haise-geo-training-quitman-tx-feb-24-1969-s69-25902.jpg?resize=1200,802 1200w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-22-apollo-11-bu-crew-lovell-haise-geo-training-quitman-tx-feb-24-1969-s69-25902.jpg?resize=2000,1337 2000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 330px) 100vw, 330px\" \/><br><em>Left: Apollo 11 astronauts Edwin E. \u201cBuzz\u201d Aldrin, left, and Neil A. Armstrong during geology training at Sierra Blanco, Texas. Right: Apollo 11 backup astronauts Fred W. Haise, left, and James A. Lovell at the Sierra Blanco geology training session.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Generic instruction in geology, including classroom work and field trips, became part of overall NASA astronaut training beginning in 1964. Once assigned to a crew that had a very good chance of actually walking on the lunar surface and collecting rock and soil samples, those astronauts received specialized instruction in geology. On Feb. 24, 1969, the two prime moonwalkers Armstrong and Aldrin, along with their backups Lovell and Haise, participated in their only trip specifically dedicated to geology training. The field exercise in west Texas took place near Sierra Blanca and the ruins of Fort Quitman, about 90 miles southeast of El Paso. Accompanied by a team from MSC\u2019s Geology Branch, the astronauts practiced sampling the variety of rocks present at the site to obtain a representative collection, skills needed to choose the best sample candidates during their brief excursion on the lunar surface.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-617323\" height=\"221\" width=\"174\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-23-apollo-11-s-ic-stacking-feb-21-1969-s69-27109.jpg\" alt=\"Workers mount the S-IC first stage on its Mobile Launcher in the Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA\u2019s Kennedy Space Center in Florida\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-23-apollo-11-s-ic-stacking-feb-21-1969-s69-27109.jpg 3786w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-23-apollo-11-s-ic-stacking-feb-21-1969-s69-27109.jpg?resize=236,300 236w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-23-apollo-11-s-ic-stacking-feb-21-1969-s69-27109.jpg?resize=768,975 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-23-apollo-11-s-ic-stacking-feb-21-1969-s69-27109.jpg?resize=807,1024 807w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-23-apollo-11-s-ic-stacking-feb-21-1969-s69-27109.jpg?resize=1210,1536 1210w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-23-apollo-11-s-ic-stacking-feb-21-1969-s69-27109.jpg?resize=1613,2048 1613w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-23-apollo-11-s-ic-stacking-feb-21-1969-s69-27109.jpg?resize=315,400 315w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-23-apollo-11-s-ic-stacking-feb-21-1969-s69-27109.jpg?resize=473,600 473w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-23-apollo-11-s-ic-stacking-feb-21-1969-s69-27109.jpg?resize=709,900 709w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-23-apollo-11-s-ic-stacking-feb-21-1969-s69-27109.jpg?resize=945,1200 945w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-23-apollo-11-s-ic-stacking-feb-21-1969-s69-27109.jpg?resize=1576,2000 1576w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 174px) 100vw, 174px\" \/> <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-617324\" height=\"221\" width=\"175\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-24-19690212-l69-2199.jpg\" alt=\"Neil A. Armstrong stands in front of the Lunar Module simulator at the Lunar Landing Research Facility (LLRF) at NASA\u2019s Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-24-19690212-l69-2199.jpg 1900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-24-19690212-l69-2199.jpg?resize=238,300 238w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-24-19690212-l69-2199.jpg?resize=768,970 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-24-19690212-l69-2199.jpg?resize=811,1024 811w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-24-19690212-l69-2199.jpg?resize=1216,1536 1216w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-24-19690212-l69-2199.jpg?resize=1621,2048 1621w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-24-19690212-l69-2199.jpg?resize=317,400 317w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-24-19690212-l69-2199.jpg?resize=475,600 475w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-24-19690212-l69-2199.jpg?resize=713,900 713w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-24-19690212-l69-2199.jpg?resize=950,1200 950w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-24-19690212-l69-2199.jpg?resize=1583,2000 1583w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 175px) 100vw, 175px\" \/> <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-617325\" height=\"221\" width=\"279\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-25-19690828-l69-6714.jpg\" alt=\"Aerial view of the LLRF at Langley\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-25-19690828-l69-6714.jpg 2835w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-25-19690828-l69-6714.jpg?resize=300,237 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-25-19690828-l69-6714.jpg?resize=768,608 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-25-19690828-l69-6714.jpg?resize=1024,811 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-25-19690828-l69-6714.jpg?resize=1536,1216 1536w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-25-19690828-l69-6714.jpg?resize=2048,1621 2048w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-25-19690828-l69-6714.jpg?resize=400,317 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-25-19690828-l69-6714.jpg?resize=600,475 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-25-19690828-l69-6714.jpg?resize=900,712 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-25-19690828-l69-6714.jpg?resize=1200,950 1200w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-25-19690828-l69-6714.jpg?resize=2000,1583 2000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 279px) 100vw, 279px\" \/><br><em>Left: Workers mount the S-IC first stage on its Mobile Launcher in the Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA\u2019s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Middle: Neil A. Armstrong stands in front of the Lunar Module simulator at the Lunar Landing Research Facility (LLRF) at NASA\u2019s Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia. Right: Aerial view of the LLRF at Langley.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>By mid-February, all three stages of the Apollo 11 Saturn V had arrived in the VAB, and on Feb. 21, workers stacked the S-IC first stage on its Mobile Launcher in High Bay 1. They finished assembling the rocket in March. In an altitude chamber in the nearby MSOB, on Feb. 10, engineers conducted a docking test between the CM and the LM. Five days later, they mated the ascent and descent stages of the LM for further testing. With the Lunar Landing Training Vehicle (LLTV) still grounded following its <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/history\/55-years-ago-seven-months-before-the-moon-landing\/\">December 1968 crash<\/a>, the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/centers-and-facilities\/langley\/50-years-ago-the-lunar-landing-research-facility\/\">Lunar Landing Research Facility<\/a> (LLRF) at NASA\u2019s Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia, remained as the only high-fidelity trainer for the descent and landing of the LM on the Moon. Armstrong practiced landings in the LLRF on Feb 12.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Lunar Receiving Laboratory and Mobile Quarantine Facility<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To minimize the risk of back contamination of the Earth with any possible lunar microorganisms, NASA designed and built the 83,000-square-foot <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/feature\/50-years-ago-on-the-way-to-the-moon\">Lunar Receiving Laboratory<\/a> (LRL), residing in MSC\u2019s Building 37. The facility isolated the astronauts, their spacecraft, and lunar samples to prevent any Moon germs from escaping into the environment, and also maintained the lunar samples in as pristine a condition as possible. The Mobile Quarantine Facility (MQF) provided isolation for the returning astronauts from shortly after splashdown until their delivery to the LRL, an activity that required transport of the MQF on a cargo jet aircraft. On Feb. 6, following its return from <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/history\/55-years-ago-six-months-until-the-moon-landing\/\">sea trials<\/a>, workers placed the MQF inside Chamber A of MSC\u2019s Space Environment Simulation Facility. The test in the large vacuum chamber checked out the MQF\u2019s emergency oxygen supply during a simulated aircraft pressure loss. Three test subjects successfully completed the test.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-617326\" height=\"192\" width=\"237\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-26-mqf-1-on-trailer-outside-bldg-32-feb-4-1969-s69-18746.jpg\" alt=\"Workers truck the Mobile Quarantine Facility (MQF) into the Space Environment Simulation Laboratory (SESL) at the Manned Spacecraft Center, now NASA\u2019s Johnson Space Center in Houston\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-26-mqf-1-on-trailer-outside-bldg-32-feb-4-1969-s69-18746.jpg 4828w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-26-mqf-1-on-trailer-outside-bldg-32-feb-4-1969-s69-18746.jpg?resize=300,242 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-26-mqf-1-on-trailer-outside-bldg-32-feb-4-1969-s69-18746.jpg?resize=768,620 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-26-mqf-1-on-trailer-outside-bldg-32-feb-4-1969-s69-18746.jpg?resize=1024,827 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-26-mqf-1-on-trailer-outside-bldg-32-feb-4-1969-s69-18746.jpg?resize=1536,1241 1536w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-26-mqf-1-on-trailer-outside-bldg-32-feb-4-1969-s69-18746.jpg?resize=2048,1654 2048w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-26-mqf-1-on-trailer-outside-bldg-32-feb-4-1969-s69-18746.jpg?resize=400,323 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-26-mqf-1-on-trailer-outside-bldg-32-feb-4-1969-s69-18746.jpg?resize=600,485 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-26-mqf-1-on-trailer-outside-bldg-32-feb-4-1969-s69-18746.jpg?resize=900,727 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-26-mqf-1-on-trailer-outside-bldg-32-feb-4-1969-s69-18746.jpg?resize=1200,969 1200w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-26-mqf-1-on-trailer-outside-bldg-32-feb-4-1969-s69-18746.jpg?resize=2000,1616 2000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 237px) 100vw, 237px\" \/> <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-617327\" height=\"192\" width=\"239\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-27-mqf-1-in-chamber-a-oblique-view-feb-1969-s69-18751.jpg\" alt=\"Workers install the MQF in Chamber A of the SESL for a test of the emergency oxygen system\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-27-mqf-1-in-chamber-a-oblique-view-feb-1969-s69-18751.jpg 4869w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-27-mqf-1-in-chamber-a-oblique-view-feb-1969-s69-18751.jpg?resize=300,240 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-27-mqf-1-in-chamber-a-oblique-view-feb-1969-s69-18751.jpg?resize=768,614 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-27-mqf-1-in-chamber-a-oblique-view-feb-1969-s69-18751.jpg?resize=1024,819 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-27-mqf-1-in-chamber-a-oblique-view-feb-1969-s69-18751.jpg?resize=1536,1228 1536w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-27-mqf-1-in-chamber-a-oblique-view-feb-1969-s69-18751.jpg?resize=2048,1637 2048w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-27-mqf-1-in-chamber-a-oblique-view-feb-1969-s69-18751.jpg?resize=400,320 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-27-mqf-1-in-chamber-a-oblique-view-feb-1969-s69-18751.jpg?resize=600,480 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-27-mqf-1-in-chamber-a-oblique-view-feb-1969-s69-18751.jpg?resize=900,719 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-27-mqf-1-in-chamber-a-oblique-view-feb-1969-s69-18751.jpg?resize=1200,959 1200w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-27-mqf-1-in-chamber-a-oblique-view-feb-1969-s69-18751.jpg?resize=2000,1599 2000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 239px) 100vw, 239px\" \/> <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-617328\" height=\"192\" width=\"193\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-28-mqf-1-in-chamber-a-test-subjects-feb-1969-s69-18736.jpg\" alt=\"Test subjects inside the MQF prepare for the emergency oxygen system test in the SESL\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-28-mqf-1-in-chamber-a-test-subjects-feb-1969-s69-18736.jpg 3697w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-28-mqf-1-in-chamber-a-test-subjects-feb-1969-s69-18736.jpg?resize=150,150 150w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-28-mqf-1-in-chamber-a-test-subjects-feb-1969-s69-18736.jpg?resize=300,300 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-28-mqf-1-in-chamber-a-test-subjects-feb-1969-s69-18736.jpg?resize=768,765 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-28-mqf-1-in-chamber-a-test-subjects-feb-1969-s69-18736.jpg?resize=1024,1020 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-28-mqf-1-in-chamber-a-test-subjects-feb-1969-s69-18736.jpg?resize=1536,1529 1536w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-28-mqf-1-in-chamber-a-test-subjects-feb-1969-s69-18736.jpg?resize=2048,2039 2048w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-28-mqf-1-in-chamber-a-test-subjects-feb-1969-s69-18736.jpg?resize=50,50 50w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-28-mqf-1-in-chamber-a-test-subjects-feb-1969-s69-18736.jpg?resize=100,100 100w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-28-mqf-1-in-chamber-a-test-subjects-feb-1969-s69-18736.jpg?resize=200,200 200w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-28-mqf-1-in-chamber-a-test-subjects-feb-1969-s69-18736.jpg?resize=400,398 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-28-mqf-1-in-chamber-a-test-subjects-feb-1969-s69-18736.jpg?resize=600,597 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-28-mqf-1-in-chamber-a-test-subjects-feb-1969-s69-18736.jpg?resize=900,896 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-28-mqf-1-in-chamber-a-test-subjects-feb-1969-s69-18736.jpg?resize=1200,1195 1200w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-28-mqf-1-in-chamber-a-test-subjects-feb-1969-s69-18736.jpg?resize=2000,1991 2000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 193px) 100vw, 193px\" \/><br><em>Left: Workers truck the Mobile Quarantine Facility (MQF) into the Space Environment Simulation Laboratory (SESL) at the Manned Spacecraft Center, now NASA\u2019s Johnson Space Center in Houston. Middle: Workers install the MQF in Chamber A of the SESL for a test of the emergency oxygen system. Right: Test subjects inside the MQF prepare for the emergency oxygen system test in the SESL.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>To be continued \u2026<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>News from around the world in February 1969:<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Feb. 3 \u2013 Ibuprofen launched in the United Kingdom as a prescription anti-inflammatory analgesic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Feb. 5 \u2013 The population of the United States reaches 200 million.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Feb. 7 \u2013 British band The Who record their song \u201cPinball Wizard.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Feb. 7 \u2013 Diane Krump becomes the first woman jockey at a major U.S. racetrack (Hialeah, Florida).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Feb. 8 \u2013 The Allende meteorite weighing nearly two tons explodes in mid-air and fragments fall on Pueblito de Allende, Chihuahua, Mexico.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Feb. 9 \u2013 First flight of the Boeing 747 Jumbo Jet from Everett, Washington.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Feb. 21 \u2013 First launch of U.S.S.R.\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/history\/50-years-ago-soviets-moon-rockets-rollout-to-pad-affects-apollo-plans\/\">N-1 Moon rocket<\/a>, not successful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Feb. 24 \u2013 U.S. launches <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/history\/50-years-ago-mariner-6-and-7-off-to-mars\/\">Mariner 6<\/a> to fly-by Mars.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:30px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n<div id=\"\" class=\"nasa-gb-align-full width-full maxw-full padding-x-3 padding-y-0 article_a hds-module hds-module-full wp-block-nasa-blocks-credits-and-details\">\n<section class=\"padding-x-0 padding-top-5 padding-bottom-2 desktop:padding-top-7 desktop:padding-bottom-9\">\n\t<div class=\"grid-row grid-container maxw-widescreen padding-0\">\n\t\t<div class=\"grid-col-12 desktop:grid-col-2 padding-right-4 margin-bottom-5 desktop:margin-bottom-0\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"padding-top-3 border-top-1px border-color-carbon-black\">\n\t\t\t\t<div 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border-color-carbon-black\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"margin-bottom-2\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"heading-14\">Details<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-row margin-bottom-3\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-col-4\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"subheading\">Last Updated<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-col-8\">Feb 20, 2024<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<div class=\"grid-col-12 desktop:grid-col-5 padding-right-4 margin-bottom-5 desktop:margin-bottom-0\"><div class=\"padding-top-3 border-top-1px border-color-carbon-black \"><div class=\"margin-bottom-2\"><h2 class=\"heading-14\">Related Terms<\/h2><\/div><ul class=\"article-tags\"><li class=\"article-tag\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/history\/\">NASA History<\/a><\/li><li class=\"article-tag\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/the-apollo-program\/\">Apollo<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/div><\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/section>\n\t<\/div>\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\/flag-day-2024-one-small-flags-incredible-journey\/\" 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 fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/flag-day-2024-11-us-flag-after-demo-2-mission-arrival-1.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\/2024\/06\/flag-day-2024-11-us-flag-after-demo-2-mission-arrival-1.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/flag-day-2024-11-us-flag-after-demo-2-mission-arrival-1.jpg?resize=300,225 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/flag-day-2024-11-us-flag-after-demo-2-mission-arrival-1.jpg?resize=768,576 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/flag-day-2024-11-us-flag-after-demo-2-mission-arrival-1.jpg?resize=400,300 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/flag-day-2024-11-us-flag-after-demo-2-mission-arrival-1.jpg?resize=600,450 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/flag-day-2024-11-us-flag-after-demo-2-mission-arrival-1.jpg?resize=900,675 900w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" loading=\"eager\" \/><\/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\">7 min read<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"margin-bottom-1\"><h3 class=\"related-article-title\">Flag Day 2024 \u2013 One Small Flag\u2019s Incredible Journey<\/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\t1 day 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\/55-years-ago-manned-orbiting-laboratory-cancellation\/\" 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=\"212\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/mol-cancellation-4-mol-group-1-astronauts.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\/2024\/06\/mol-cancellation-4-mol-group-1-astronauts.jpg 424w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/mol-cancellation-4-mol-group-1-astronauts.jpg?resize=300,212 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/mol-cancellation-4-mol-group-1-astronauts.jpg?resize=400,283 400w\" 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\">10 min read<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"margin-bottom-1\"><h3 class=\"related-article-title\">55 Years Ago: Manned Orbiting Laboratory Cancellation<\/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\t3 days 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\/55-years-ago-star-trek-final-episode-airs-relationship-with-nasa-endures\/\" 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=\"217\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/star-trek-final-episode-13-armstrong-at-doohan-farewell-anne-cusack-la-times-2004.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\/2024\/05\/star-trek-final-episode-13-armstrong-at-doohan-farewell-anne-cusack-la-times-2004.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/star-trek-final-episode-13-armstrong-at-doohan-farewell-anne-cusack-la-times-2004.jpg?resize=300,217 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/star-trek-final-episode-13-armstrong-at-doohan-farewell-anne-cusack-la-times-2004.jpg?resize=768,555 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/star-trek-final-episode-13-armstrong-at-doohan-farewell-anne-cusack-la-times-2004.jpg?resize=400,289 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/star-trek-final-episode-13-armstrong-at-doohan-farewell-anne-cusack-la-times-2004.jpg?resize=600,434 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\">15 min read<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"margin-bottom-1\"><h3 class=\"related-article-title\">55 Years Ago: Star Trek Final Episode Airs, Relationship with NASA Endures<\/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\t1 week 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>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Following the success of the Apollo 8 circumlunar mission, NASA believed that it could achieve a Moon landing by the summer of 1969 and meet President John F. Kennedy\u2019s goal. Much work remained to accomplish that objective. Three crews and their backups trained for the next three Apollo missions while workers at NASA\u2019s Kennedy Space […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":74,"featured_media":617301,"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":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_linked_locations":[],"nasa_hds_core_meta_article_related_articles":[],"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":[2671,2713],"news-tags":[],"internal-terms":[12664,11995],"coauthors":[11996],"parsely":{"version":"1.1.0","meta":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","headline":"55 Years Ago: Five Months Until the Moon Landing","url":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/history\/55-years-ago-five-months-until-the-moon-landing\/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/history\/55-years-ago-five-months-until-the-moon-landing\/"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-8-apollo-9-mcdivitt-schweickart-in-lm-sim-fisheye-feb-23-1969-ap9-ksc-69pc-15hr.jpg?w=150&h=150&crop=1","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-8-apollo-9-mcdivitt-schweickart-in-lm-sim-fisheye-feb-23-1969-ap9-ksc-69pc-15hr.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","NASA History"],"dateCreated":"2024-02-20T17:33:12Z","datePublished":"2024-02-20T17:33:12Z","dateModified":"2024-02-20T17:33:14Z"},"rendered":"<meta name=\"parsely-title\" content=\"55 Years Ago: Five Months Until the Moon Landing\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-link\" content=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/history\/55-years-ago-five-months-until-the-moon-landing\/\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-type\" content=\"post\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-image-url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-8-apollo-9-mcdivitt-schweickart-in-lm-sim-fisheye-feb-23-1969-ap9-ksc-69pc-15hr.jpg?w=150&h=150&crop=1\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-pub-date\" content=\"2024-02-20T17:33:12Z\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-section\" content=\"NASA History\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-tags\" content=\"Missions,Apollo,NASA History\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-author\" content=\"John Uri\" \/>","tracker_url":"https:\/\/cdn.parsely.com\/keys\/nasa.gov\/p.js"},"read_time":11,"time_ago":"4 months","featured_image":{"id":617301,"file":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/moon-landing-l-5-months-8-apollo-9-mcdivitt-schweickart-in-lm-sim-fisheye-feb-23-1969-ap9-ksc-69pc-15hr.jpg","title":"moon-landing-l-5-months-8-apollo-9-mcdivitt-schweickart-in-lm-sim-fisheye-feb-23-1969-ap9-ksc-69pc-15hr","alt":"Fisheye lens view of Schweickart, left, and McDivitt in the Lunar Module simulator","caption":"Fisheye lens view of Schweickart, left, and McDivitt in the Lunar Module simulator"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/617293"}],"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=617293"}],"version-history":[{"count":15,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/617293\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":617764,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/617293\/revisions\/617764"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/617301"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=617293"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=617293"},{"taxonomy":"news-tags","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news-tags?post=617293"},{"taxonomy":"internal-terms","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/internal-terms?post=617293"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=617293"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}