{"id":634270,"date":"2024-03-20T11:27:00","date_gmt":"2024-03-20T15:27:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/?p=634270"},"modified":"2024-03-20T11:27:03","modified_gmt":"2024-03-20T15:27:03","slug":"55-years-ago-four-months-until-the-moon-landing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/history\/55-years-ago-four-months-until-the-moon-landing\/","title":{"rendered":"55 Years Ago: Four Months Until the Moon Landing"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>The road to the Moon landing cleared a major hurdle in March 1969 with the flight of Apollo 9 that tested all components of the spacecraft in low Earth orbit. Astronauts <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/mcdivitt_james.pdf?emrc=8a2c95\">James A. McDivitt<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/schweickart_russell.pdf?emrc=666be8f33403a\">Russell L. Schweickart<\/a> flew the Lunar Module (LM) Spider while <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/scott_david.pdf?emrc=54adfb\">David R. Scott<\/a> awaited their return in the Command Module (CM) Gumdrop. The success of Apollo 9 paved the way for Apollo 10, the next mission planned for May, to test the combined spacecraft in lunar orbit. Preparations for Apollo 10 continued with the rollout of the Saturn V to its launch pad. And if that dress rehearsal mission completed all its objectives, Apollo 11 could achieve the first Moon landing in July. The astronauts for that mission continued their training as engineers tested the spacecraft and assembled the rocket.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><em>Apollo 9<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-1-apollo-9-crew-s69-17590.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" height=\"221\" width=\"280\" class=\"wp-image-634272\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-1-apollo-9-crew-s69-17590.jpg\" alt=\"Apollo 9 astronauts James A. McDivitt, left, David R. Scott, and Russell L. Schweickart pose in front of their Saturn V rocket at NASA\u2019s Kennedy Space Center in Florida\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-1-apollo-9-crew-s69-17590.jpg 8282w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-1-apollo-9-crew-s69-17590.jpg?resize=300,237 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-1-apollo-9-crew-s69-17590.jpg?resize=768,606 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-1-apollo-9-crew-s69-17590.jpg?resize=1024,808 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-1-apollo-9-crew-s69-17590.jpg?resize=1536,1212 1536w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-1-apollo-9-crew-s69-17590.jpg?resize=2048,1616 2048w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-1-apollo-9-crew-s69-17590.jpg?resize=400,316 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-1-apollo-9-crew-s69-17590.jpg?resize=600,474 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-1-apollo-9-crew-s69-17590.jpg?resize=900,710 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-1-apollo-9-crew-s69-17590.jpg?resize=1200,947 1200w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-1-apollo-9-crew-s69-17590.jpg?resize=2000,1579 2000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 280px) 100vw, 280px\" \/><\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-2-apollo-9-crew-patch-s69-18569.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" height=\"221\" width=\"219\" class=\"wp-image-634273\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-2-apollo-9-crew-patch-s69-18569.jpg\" alt=\"The Apollo 9 crew patch\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-2-apollo-9-crew-patch-s69-18569.jpg 5660w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-2-apollo-9-crew-patch-s69-18569.jpg?resize=150,150 150w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-2-apollo-9-crew-patch-s69-18569.jpg?resize=297,300 297w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-2-apollo-9-crew-patch-s69-18569.jpg?resize=768,775 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-2-apollo-9-crew-patch-s69-18569.jpg?resize=1015,1024 1015w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-2-apollo-9-crew-patch-s69-18569.jpg?resize=1522,1536 1522w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-2-apollo-9-crew-patch-s69-18569.jpg?resize=2029,2048 2029w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-2-apollo-9-crew-patch-s69-18569.jpg?resize=50,50 50w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-2-apollo-9-crew-patch-s69-18569.jpg?resize=100,100 100w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-2-apollo-9-crew-patch-s69-18569.jpg?resize=396,400 396w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-2-apollo-9-crew-patch-s69-18569.jpg?resize=594,600 594w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-2-apollo-9-crew-patch-s69-18569.jpg?resize=892,900 892w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-2-apollo-9-crew-patch-s69-18569.jpg?resize=1189,1200 1189w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-2-apollo-9-crew-patch-s69-18569.jpg?resize=1981,2000 1981w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 219px) 100vw, 219px\" \/><\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-3-apollo-9-launch-mar-3-1969-s69-25863.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" height=\"221\" width=\"137\" class=\"wp-image-634274\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-3-apollo-9-launch-mar-3-1969-s69-25863.jpg\" alt=\"Liftoff of Apollo 9\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-3-apollo-9-launch-mar-3-1969-s69-25863.jpg 4944w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-3-apollo-9-launch-mar-3-1969-s69-25863.jpg?resize=186,300 186w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-3-apollo-9-launch-mar-3-1969-s69-25863.jpg?resize=768,1239 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-3-apollo-9-launch-mar-3-1969-s69-25863.jpg?resize=635,1024 635w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-3-apollo-9-launch-mar-3-1969-s69-25863.jpg?resize=952,1536 952w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-3-apollo-9-launch-mar-3-1969-s69-25863.jpg?resize=1269,2048 1269w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-3-apollo-9-launch-mar-3-1969-s69-25863.jpg?resize=248,400 248w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-3-apollo-9-launch-mar-3-1969-s69-25863.jpg?resize=372,600 372w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-3-apollo-9-launch-mar-3-1969-s69-25863.jpg?resize=558,900 558w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-3-apollo-9-launch-mar-3-1969-s69-25863.jpg?resize=744,1200 744w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-3-apollo-9-launch-mar-3-1969-s69-25863.jpg?resize=1240,2000 1240w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 137px) 100vw, 137px\" \/><\/a><br><em>Left: Apollo 9 astronauts James A. McDivitt, left, David R. Scott, and Russell L. Schweickart pose in front of their Saturn V rocket at NASA\u2019s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Middle: The Apollo 9 crew patch. Right: Liftoff of Apollo 9!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At 11 a.m. on March 3, 1969, Apollo 9 lifted off from Launch Pad 39A at NASA\u2019s Kennedy Space Center (KSC) in Florida. For only the second time, the giant Saturn V lifted three astronauts into space. Although planned for Feb. 28, managers delayed the liftoff by three days to give the astronauts time to recover from upper respiratory infections. The incident prompted NASA to institute a preflight medical quarantine for astronauts on future missions to minimize their risk of contracting infectious diseases.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-4-apollo-9-launch-agnew-in-lcc-at-ksc-mar-3-1969.png\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" height=\"163\" width=\"213\" class=\"wp-image-634275\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-4-apollo-9-launch-agnew-in-lcc-at-ksc-mar-3-1969.png\" alt=\"In the Launch Control Center (LCC) at NASA\u2019s Kennedy Space Center (KSC) in Florida, KSC Director Kurt H. Debus, left, gives a tour to Vice President Spiro T. Agnew as they await the launch of Apollo 9\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-4-apollo-9-launch-agnew-in-lcc-at-ksc-mar-3-1969.png 1166w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-4-apollo-9-launch-agnew-in-lcc-at-ksc-mar-3-1969.png?resize=300,230 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-4-apollo-9-launch-agnew-in-lcc-at-ksc-mar-3-1969.png?resize=768,589 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-4-apollo-9-launch-agnew-in-lcc-at-ksc-mar-3-1969.png?resize=1024,785 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-4-apollo-9-launch-agnew-in-lcc-at-ksc-mar-3-1969.png?resize=400,307 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-4-apollo-9-launch-agnew-in-lcc-at-ksc-mar-3-1969.png?resize=600,460 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-4-apollo-9-launch-agnew-in-lcc-at-ksc-mar-3-1969.png?resize=900,690 900w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 213px) 100vw, 213px\" \/><\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-5-apollo-9-lcc-during-countdown-s69-25880.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" height=\"163\" width=\"238\" class=\"wp-image-634276\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-5-apollo-9-lcc-during-countdown-s69-25880.jpg\" alt=\"Controllers in the LCC\u2019s Firing Room 2 monitor Apollo 9\u2019s countdown\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-5-apollo-9-lcc-during-countdown-s69-25880.jpg 4659w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-5-apollo-9-lcc-during-countdown-s69-25880.jpg?resize=300,206 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-5-apollo-9-lcc-during-countdown-s69-25880.jpg?resize=768,526 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-5-apollo-9-lcc-during-countdown-s69-25880.jpg?resize=1024,702 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-5-apollo-9-lcc-during-countdown-s69-25880.jpg?resize=1536,1052 1536w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-5-apollo-9-lcc-during-countdown-s69-25880.jpg?resize=2048,1403 2048w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-5-apollo-9-lcc-during-countdown-s69-25880.jpg?resize=400,274 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-5-apollo-9-lcc-during-countdown-s69-25880.jpg?resize=600,411 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-5-apollo-9-lcc-during-countdown-s69-25880.jpg?resize=900,617 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-5-apollo-9-lcc-during-countdown-s69-25880.jpg?resize=1200,822 1200w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-5-apollo-9-lcc-during-countdown-s69-25880.jpg?resize=2000,1370 2000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 238px) 100vw, 238px\" \/><\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-6-apollo-9-mcc-during-launch-s69-25797.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" height=\"163\" width=\"237\" class=\"wp-image-634277\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-6-apollo-9-mcc-during-launch-s69-25797.jpg\" alt=\"In Mission Control at the Manned Spacecraft Center, now NASA\u2019s Johnson Space Center in Houston, Apollo 9 Lead Flight Director Eugene F. Kranz, seated, monitors the flight\u2019s progress\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-6-apollo-9-mcc-during-launch-s69-25797.jpg 3000w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-6-apollo-9-mcc-during-launch-s69-25797.jpg?resize=300,207 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-6-apollo-9-mcc-during-launch-s69-25797.jpg?resize=768,529 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-6-apollo-9-mcc-during-launch-s69-25797.jpg?resize=1024,706 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-6-apollo-9-mcc-during-launch-s69-25797.jpg?resize=1536,1058 1536w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-6-apollo-9-mcc-during-launch-s69-25797.jpg?resize=2048,1411 2048w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-6-apollo-9-mcc-during-launch-s69-25797.jpg?resize=400,276 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-6-apollo-9-mcc-during-launch-s69-25797.jpg?resize=600,413 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-6-apollo-9-mcc-during-launch-s69-25797.jpg?resize=900,620 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-6-apollo-9-mcc-during-launch-s69-25797.jpg?resize=1200,827 1200w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-6-apollo-9-mcc-during-launch-s69-25797.jpg?resize=2000,1378 2000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 237px) 100vw, 237px\" \/><\/a><br><em>Left: In the Launch Control Center (LCC) at NASA\u2019s Kennedy Space Center (KSC) in Florida, KSC Director Kurt H. Debus, left, gives a tour to Vice President Spiro T. Agnew as they await the launch of Apollo 9. Middle: Controllers in the LCC\u2019s Firing Room 2 monitor Apollo 9\u2019s countdown. Right: In Mission Control at the Manned Spacecraft Center, now NASA\u2019s Johnson Space Center in Houston, Apollo 9 Lead Flight Director Eugene F. Kranz, seated, monitors the flight\u2019s progress.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Controllers in Firing Room 2 of the Launch Control Center (LCC) monitored Apollo 9\u2019s smooth countdown. Vice President Spiro T. Agnew, who chaired the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/history\/55-years-ago-president-nixon-establishes-space-task-group-to-chart-post-apollo-plans\/\">National Aeronautics and Space Council<\/a>, attended the launch, escorted by NASA Acting Administrator <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/history\/55-years-ago-thomas-paine-sworn-in-as-nasa-deputy-administrator\/\">Thomas O. Paine<\/a> and KSC Director Kurt H. Debus. As soon as the Saturn V cleared the launch tower, control of the flight switched from the LCC to Mission Control at the Manned Spacecraft Center (MSC), now NASA\u2019s Johnson Space Center in Houston. Apollo 9 Lead Flight Director <a href=\"https:\/\/historycollection.jsc.nasa.gov\/JSCHistoryPortal\/history\/oral_histories\/KranzEF\/kranzef.htm\" rel=\"noopener\">Eugene F. Kranz<\/a> and his team of controllers monitored the launch. Eleven minutes after liftoff, the Saturn V\u2019s three stages placed Apollo 9 in orbit around the Earth. During the 10-day mission, Flight Directors <a href=\"https:\/\/historycollection.jsc.nasa.gov\/JSCHistoryPortal\/history\/oral_histories\/GriffinGD\/griffingd.htm\" rel=\"noopener\">Gerald D. Griffin<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/historycollection.jsc.nasa.gov\/JSCHistoryPortal\/history\/oral_histories\/FrankMP\/frankmp.htm\" rel=\"noopener\">M.P. \u201cPete\u201d Frank<\/a> took their turns along with Kranz leading their teams to monitor the flight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-7-apollo-9-lm-and-sivb-during-transposition-and-docking-fd1-as9-19-2919.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" height=\"221\" width=\"221\" class=\"wp-image-634281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-7-apollo-9-lm-and-sivb-during-transposition-and-docking-fd1-as9-19-2919.jpg\" alt=\"The Lunar Module Spider still attached to the Saturn V rocket\u2019s S-IVB third stage\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-7-apollo-9-lm-and-sivb-during-transposition-and-docking-fd1-as9-19-2919.jpg 4096w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-7-apollo-9-lm-and-sivb-during-transposition-and-docking-fd1-as9-19-2919.jpg?resize=150,150 150w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-7-apollo-9-lm-and-sivb-during-transposition-and-docking-fd1-as9-19-2919.jpg?resize=300,300 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-7-apollo-9-lm-and-sivb-during-transposition-and-docking-fd1-as9-19-2919.jpg?resize=768,768 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-7-apollo-9-lm-and-sivb-during-transposition-and-docking-fd1-as9-19-2919.jpg?resize=1024,1024 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-7-apollo-9-lm-and-sivb-during-transposition-and-docking-fd1-as9-19-2919.jpg?resize=1536,1536 1536w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-7-apollo-9-lm-and-sivb-during-transposition-and-docking-fd1-as9-19-2919.jpg?resize=2048,2048 2048w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-7-apollo-9-lm-and-sivb-during-transposition-and-docking-fd1-as9-19-2919.jpg?resize=50,50 50w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-7-apollo-9-lm-and-sivb-during-transposition-and-docking-fd1-as9-19-2919.jpg?resize=100,100 100w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-7-apollo-9-lm-and-sivb-during-transposition-and-docking-fd1-as9-19-2919.jpg?resize=200,200 200w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-7-apollo-9-lm-and-sivb-during-transposition-and-docking-fd1-as9-19-2919.jpg?resize=400,400 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-7-apollo-9-lm-and-sivb-during-transposition-and-docking-fd1-as9-19-2919.jpg?resize=600,600 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-7-apollo-9-lm-and-sivb-during-transposition-and-docking-fd1-as9-19-2919.jpg?resize=900,900 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-7-apollo-9-lm-and-sivb-during-transposition-and-docking-fd1-as9-19-2919.jpg?resize=1200,1200 1200w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-7-apollo-9-lm-and-sivb-during-transposition-and-docking-fd1-as9-19-2919.jpg?resize=2000,2000 2000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 221px) 100vw, 221px\" \/><\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-8-apollo-9-schweickart-eva-as09-19-2982.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" height=\"221\" width=\"222\" class=\"wp-image-634282\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-8-apollo-9-schweickart-eva-as09-19-2982.jpg\" alt=\"Apollo 9 astronaut Russell L. Schweickart on Spider\u2019s front porch during the mission\u2019s dual spacewalk \u2013 note fellow astronaut David R. Scott reflected in Schweickart\u2019s visor\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-8-apollo-9-schweickart-eva-as09-19-2982.jpg 2814w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-8-apollo-9-schweickart-eva-as09-19-2982.jpg?resize=150,150 150w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-8-apollo-9-schweickart-eva-as09-19-2982.jpg?resize=300,298 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-8-apollo-9-schweickart-eva-as09-19-2982.jpg?resize=768,764 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-8-apollo-9-schweickart-eva-as09-19-2982.jpg?resize=1024,1018 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-8-apollo-9-schweickart-eva-as09-19-2982.jpg?resize=1536,1527 1536w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-8-apollo-9-schweickart-eva-as09-19-2982.jpg?resize=2048,2036 2048w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-8-apollo-9-schweickart-eva-as09-19-2982.jpg?resize=50,50 50w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-8-apollo-9-schweickart-eva-as09-19-2982.jpg?resize=100,100 100w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-8-apollo-9-schweickart-eva-as09-19-2982.jpg?resize=200,200 200w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-8-apollo-9-schweickart-eva-as09-19-2982.jpg?resize=400,398 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-8-apollo-9-schweickart-eva-as09-19-2982.jpg?resize=600,597 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-8-apollo-9-schweickart-eva-as09-19-2982.jpg?resize=900,895 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-8-apollo-9-schweickart-eva-as09-19-2982.jpg?resize=1200,1193 1200w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-8-apollo-9-schweickart-eva-as09-19-2982.jpg?resize=2000,1989 2000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 222px) 100vw, 222px\" \/><\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-9-apollo-9-scott-in-open-gumdrop-hatch-as09-20-3069.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" height=\"221\" width=\"219\" class=\"wp-image-634283\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-9-apollo-9-scott-in-open-gumdrop-hatch-as09-20-3069.jpg\" alt=\"Scott in the open hatch of the Command Module Gumdrop\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-9-apollo-9-scott-in-open-gumdrop-hatch-as09-20-3069.jpg 5703w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-9-apollo-9-scott-in-open-gumdrop-hatch-as09-20-3069.jpg?resize=150,150 150w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-9-apollo-9-scott-in-open-gumdrop-hatch-as09-20-3069.jpg?resize=297,300 297w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-9-apollo-9-scott-in-open-gumdrop-hatch-as09-20-3069.jpg?resize=768,775 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-9-apollo-9-scott-in-open-gumdrop-hatch-as09-20-3069.jpg?resize=1015,1024 1015w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-9-apollo-9-scott-in-open-gumdrop-hatch-as09-20-3069.jpg?resize=1522,1536 1522w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-9-apollo-9-scott-in-open-gumdrop-hatch-as09-20-3069.jpg?resize=2029,2048 2029w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-9-apollo-9-scott-in-open-gumdrop-hatch-as09-20-3069.jpg?resize=50,50 50w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-9-apollo-9-scott-in-open-gumdrop-hatch-as09-20-3069.jpg?resize=100,100 100w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-9-apollo-9-scott-in-open-gumdrop-hatch-as09-20-3069.jpg?resize=396,400 396w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-9-apollo-9-scott-in-open-gumdrop-hatch-as09-20-3069.jpg?resize=595,600 595w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-9-apollo-9-scott-in-open-gumdrop-hatch-as09-20-3069.jpg?resize=892,900 892w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-9-apollo-9-scott-in-open-gumdrop-hatch-as09-20-3069.jpg?resize=1189,1200 1189w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-9-apollo-9-scott-in-open-gumdrop-hatch-as09-20-3069.jpg?resize=1982,2000 1982w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 219px) 100vw, 219px\" \/><\/a><br><em>Left: The Lunar Module Spider still attached to the Saturn V rocket\u2019s S-IVB third stage. Middle: Apollo 9 astronaut Russell L. Schweickart on Spider\u2019s front porch during the mission\u2019s dual spacewalk \u2013 note fellow astronaut David R. Scott reflected in Schweickart\u2019s visor. Right: Scott in the open hatch of the Command Module Gumdrop.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Two hours and 41 minutes after launch, the Command and Service Module (CSM) separated from the S-IVB third stage and pulled a safe distance away to begin the Transposition and Docking maneuver. Scott turned Gumdrop around to face Spider, still attached to the S-IVB, and slowly closed the gap between the two spacecraft, completing the first successful docking of the Apollo program. About an hour later, springs ejected the docked spacecraft from the S-IVB. Over the next few hours, ground controllers twice restarted the S-IVB\u2019s engine to simulate a Trans Lunar Injection, eventually sending the spent rocket stage into solar orbit. Meanwhile, the astronauts pressurized the tunnel between Gumdrop and Spider and connected umbilicals to power the LM while the two spacecraft remained docked. The astronauts next performed the first of eight planned burns of the Service Module\u2019s (SM) Service Propulsion System (SPS) engine, a five-second maneuver that raised the spacecraft\u2019s orbit. The burn validated that the docking mechanism between the two vehicles and that the LM itself could withstand the firing of the large SPS engine. The crew settled down for their first night\u2019s sleep in space \u2013 for the first time in the Apollo Program, all crew members slept at the same time and not in shifts as on previous missions. The next day, the crew conducted three SPS engine burns of varying durations to demonstrate the controllability of the docked vehicles using the spacecraft\u2019s digital autopilot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The third day saw the initial activation of the LM Spider. Schweickart first and then McDivitt floated through the tunnel from Gumdrop. They closed the hatch, brought the LM\u2019s systems to life, and extended the vehicle\u2019s four landing legs. McDivitt informed Mission Control that Schweickart had experienced symptoms of space motion sickness, including vomiting twice, but that he now felt better.  Mission Control, in consultation with flight surgeons and the crew, agreed that the mission could continue as planned, but out of an abundance of caution they curtailed the spacewalk scheduled for the next day. Instead of translating to Gumdrop and back as originally planned, Schweickart would remain on Spider\u2019s front porch to evaluate the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/feature\/50-years-ago-certifying-apollo-spacesuits\">spacesuit<\/a> and the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/feature\/50-years-ago-apollo-suit-backpack-passes-vacuum-testing\">Portable Life Support System<\/a> (PLSS) backpack. Schweickart and McDivitt then began the first TV transmission of the mission, a seven-minute broadcast showing the duo in the confined space of the LM.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>McDivitt and Schweickart moved on to perform the first test of the Descent Propulsion System (DPS) engine, the rocket used to land the LM on the Moon. Although successfully tested during the uncrewed <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/feature\/50-years-ago-the-apollo-lunar-module\">Apollo 5<\/a> mission in January 1968, this test included a CSM docked to the LM. The burn evaluated if the LM\u2019s engine could serve as a backup in case of a problem with the SPS \u2013 in retrospect a very useful test given Apollo 13 relied on the method just over a year later. After the 372-second burn, capsule communicator (capcom) <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/roosa_stuart.pdf?emrc=666be8f334a61\">Stuart A. Roosa<\/a> called up to the crew, \u201cSpider, that was a beautiful burn, man, you were right down the tube,\u201d generating this response from McDivitt, \u201cLooked pretty neat from here, too.\u201d McDivitt and Schweickart deactivated Spider for the night and transferred back to Gumdrop. The crew conducted the 43-second fifth burn of the SPS to circularize the spacecraft\u2019s orbit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Apollo 9 astronauts began their fourth day in space by donning their spacesuits and Schweicakrt and McDivitt once again transferred to Spider. In the LM, Schweickart, fully recovered from his earlier illness, donned the PLSS that provided him with oxygen during his spacewalk. Scott received his life support via umbilicals connected to the CM and McDivitt similarly used the LM\u2019s life support system.  McDivitt depressurized Spider, and minutes later Scott did the same with Gumdrop. Schweickart floated out through the LM\u2019s side hatch onto the front porch, exclaiming \u201cHey, this is like spectacular.\u201d He placed his feet into specialized gold-painted foot restraints dubbed the \u201cgolden slippers.\u201d Scott then opened the CM side hatch and floated partway out of the spacecraft. Mission Control now communicated with three different parties, with Schweickart picking up the callsign Red Rover, a nod to his red hair. Scott retrieved thermal samples from the outside of Gumdrop. Schweickart did the same from the outside of Spider and tested out the handrails near the hatch and found them to be easy for maneuvering. Scott and Schweickart reentered their respective vehicles, having each spent about 37 minutes outside. Mission Control considered this first, and the only one before the Moon landing, test of the spacesuits and PLSS a complete success. After a 15-minute TV broadcast, McDivitt and Schweickart returned to Gumdrop to rejoin Scott for the night.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-10-apollo-9-spider-free-flight-as09-21-3183.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" height=\"211\" width=\"211\" class=\"wp-image-634284\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-10-apollo-9-spider-free-flight-as09-21-3183.jpg\" alt=\"The Lunar Module (LM) Spider with James A. McDivitt and Russell L. Schweickart aboard, begins its departure from the Command Module (CM) Gumdrop, with David R. Scott aboard\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-10-apollo-9-spider-free-flight-as09-21-3183.jpg 4092w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-10-apollo-9-spider-free-flight-as09-21-3183.jpg?resize=150,150 150w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-10-apollo-9-spider-free-flight-as09-21-3183.jpg?resize=300,300 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-10-apollo-9-spider-free-flight-as09-21-3183.jpg?resize=768,768 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-10-apollo-9-spider-free-flight-as09-21-3183.jpg?resize=1024,1024 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-10-apollo-9-spider-free-flight-as09-21-3183.jpg?resize=1536,1536 1536w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-10-apollo-9-spider-free-flight-as09-21-3183.jpg?resize=2048,2048 2048w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-10-apollo-9-spider-free-flight-as09-21-3183.jpg?resize=50,50 50w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-10-apollo-9-spider-free-flight-as09-21-3183.jpg?resize=100,100 100w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-10-apollo-9-spider-free-flight-as09-21-3183.jpg?resize=200,200 200w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-10-apollo-9-spider-free-flight-as09-21-3183.jpg?resize=400,400 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-10-apollo-9-spider-free-flight-as09-21-3183.jpg?resize=600,600 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-10-apollo-9-spider-free-flight-as09-21-3183.jpg?resize=900,900 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-10-apollo-9-spider-free-flight-as09-21-3183.jpg?resize=1200,1200 1200w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-10-apollo-9-spider-free-flight-as09-21-3183.jpg?resize=2000,2000 2000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 211px) 100vw, 211px\" \/><\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-11-apollo-9-spider-ascent-stage-free-flight-as09-21-3236.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" height=\"211\" width=\"211\" class=\"wp-image-634285\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-11-apollo-9-spider-ascent-stage-free-flight-as09-21-3236.jpg\" alt=\"McDivitt and Schweickart aboard Spider\u2019s ascent stage have returned to Gumdrop\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-11-apollo-9-spider-ascent-stage-free-flight-as09-21-3236.jpg 4102w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-11-apollo-9-spider-ascent-stage-free-flight-as09-21-3236.jpg?resize=150,150 150w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-11-apollo-9-spider-ascent-stage-free-flight-as09-21-3236.jpg?resize=300,300 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-11-apollo-9-spider-ascent-stage-free-flight-as09-21-3236.jpg?resize=768,768 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-11-apollo-9-spider-ascent-stage-free-flight-as09-21-3236.jpg?resize=1024,1024 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-11-apollo-9-spider-ascent-stage-free-flight-as09-21-3236.jpg?resize=1536,1536 1536w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-11-apollo-9-spider-ascent-stage-free-flight-as09-21-3236.jpg?resize=2048,2048 2048w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-11-apollo-9-spider-ascent-stage-free-flight-as09-21-3236.jpg?resize=50,50 50w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-11-apollo-9-spider-ascent-stage-free-flight-as09-21-3236.jpg?resize=100,100 100w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-11-apollo-9-spider-ascent-stage-free-flight-as09-21-3236.jpg?resize=200,200 200w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-11-apollo-9-spider-ascent-stage-free-flight-as09-21-3236.jpg?resize=400,400 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-11-apollo-9-spider-ascent-stage-free-flight-as09-21-3236.jpg?resize=600,600 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-11-apollo-9-spider-ascent-stage-free-flight-as09-21-3236.jpg?resize=900,900 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-11-apollo-9-spider-ascent-stage-free-flight-as09-21-3236.jpg?resize=1200,1200 1200w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-11-apollo-9-spider-ascent-stage-free-flight-as09-21-3236.jpg?resize=2000,2000 2000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 211px) 100vw, 211px\" \/><\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-12-apollo-9-gumdrop-seen-from-spider-as09-24-3652.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" height=\"211\" width=\"211\" class=\"wp-image-634286\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-12-apollo-9-gumdrop-seen-from-spider-as09-24-3652.jpg\" alt=\"View of Gumdrop from Spider\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-12-apollo-9-gumdrop-seen-from-spider-as09-24-3652.jpg 4320w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-12-apollo-9-gumdrop-seen-from-spider-as09-24-3652.jpg?resize=150,150 150w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-12-apollo-9-gumdrop-seen-from-spider-as09-24-3652.jpg?resize=300,300 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-12-apollo-9-gumdrop-seen-from-spider-as09-24-3652.jpg?resize=768,768 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-12-apollo-9-gumdrop-seen-from-spider-as09-24-3652.jpg?resize=1024,1024 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-12-apollo-9-gumdrop-seen-from-spider-as09-24-3652.jpg?resize=1536,1536 1536w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-12-apollo-9-gumdrop-seen-from-spider-as09-24-3652.jpg?resize=2048,2048 2048w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-12-apollo-9-gumdrop-seen-from-spider-as09-24-3652.jpg?resize=50,50 50w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-12-apollo-9-gumdrop-seen-from-spider-as09-24-3652.jpg?resize=100,100 100w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-12-apollo-9-gumdrop-seen-from-spider-as09-24-3652.jpg?resize=200,200 200w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-12-apollo-9-gumdrop-seen-from-spider-as09-24-3652.jpg?resize=400,400 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-12-apollo-9-gumdrop-seen-from-spider-as09-24-3652.jpg?resize=600,600 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-12-apollo-9-gumdrop-seen-from-spider-as09-24-3652.jpg?resize=900,900 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-12-apollo-9-gumdrop-seen-from-spider-as09-24-3652.jpg?resize=1200,1200 1200w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-12-apollo-9-gumdrop-seen-from-spider-as09-24-3652.jpg?resize=2000,2000 2000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 211px) 100vw, 211px\" \/><\/a><br><em>Left: The Lunar Module (LM) Spider with James A. McDivitt and Russell L. Schweickart aboard, begins its departure from the Command Module (CM) Gumdrop, with David R. Scott aboard. Middle: McDivitt and Schweickart aboard Spider\u2019s ascent stage have returned to Gumdrop. Right: View of Gumdrop from Spider.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For their fifth day in space, the Apollo 9 crew had a full plate \u2013 undocking of Spider from Gumdrop, testing the LM\u2019s Descent and Ascent Stage engines by conducting separation maneuvers followed by a rendezvous and docking with the CM. This marked the first time astronauts flew in a spacecraft not designed to reenter the Earth\u2019s atmosphere, making redocking with Gumdrop essential. Spider backed away from Gumdrop to about 50 feet and began a slow turn so Scott in the CM could inspect it. He commented about Spider, \u201cThat\u2019s a nice looking machine.\u201d A small 10-second burn by the SM\u2019s Reaction Control System (RCS) thrusters increased the separation distance to about three miles. About 45 minutes after undocking, McDivitt fired Spider\u2019s DPS engine for 19 seconds, first at 10% thrust then throttling it up to 40% thrust, to begin the separation maneuver that placed it about 50 miles from Gumdrop before orbital mechanics brought the two spacecraft closer again. The next maneuver in the separation sequence, a 22-second DPS burn, opened the distance to about 100 miles. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To begin the rendezvous back to Gumdrop, McDivitt first fired Spider\u2019s Ascent Stage RCS thrusters for 32 seconds, at the same time jettisoning the Descent Stage. It remained in orbit until March 22, burning up on reentry over the Indian Ocean. The next rendezvous maneuver, lasting three seconds, tested the Ascent Propulsion System (APS) engine for the first time, followed by a second APS burn lasting 38 seconds, putting Spider on an intercept course with Gumdrop. Two small course corrections refined the trajectory and Spider stopped about 100 feet from Gumdrop to begin a pitchover maneuver, allowing Scott to inspect the ascent stage including its engine, commenting, “You’re the biggest, friendliest, funniest looking Spider I’ve ever seen<em>.” <\/em>The two craft docked, having flown separately for six hours 23 minutes. Two hours after docking, McDivitt and Schweickart rejoined Scott in Gumdrop, and then they jettisoned Spider. Mission Control commanded Spider\u2019s APS to fire for six minutes, placing it into a highly elliptical Earth orbit from which it did not decay until Oct. 23, 1981. The Apollo 9 astronauts had met their mission\u2019s primary objectives, and they still had five more days in space.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-13-apollo-9-s065-set-up-in-cm-window-s69-30122.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" height=\"211\" width=\"212\" class=\"wp-image-634287\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-13-apollo-9-s065-set-up-in-cm-window-s69-30122.jpg\" alt=\"Experiment S065 multispectral camera installed on the Command Module\u2019s side hatch window\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-13-apollo-9-s065-set-up-in-cm-window-s69-30122.jpg 3759w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-13-apollo-9-s065-set-up-in-cm-window-s69-30122.jpg?resize=150,150 150w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-13-apollo-9-s065-set-up-in-cm-window-s69-30122.jpg?resize=300,298 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-13-apollo-9-s065-set-up-in-cm-window-s69-30122.jpg?resize=768,764 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-13-apollo-9-s065-set-up-in-cm-window-s69-30122.jpg?resize=1024,1019 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-13-apollo-9-s065-set-up-in-cm-window-s69-30122.jpg?resize=1536,1528 1536w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-13-apollo-9-s065-set-up-in-cm-window-s69-30122.jpg?resize=2048,2038 2048w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-13-apollo-9-s065-set-up-in-cm-window-s69-30122.jpg?resize=50,50 50w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-13-apollo-9-s065-set-up-in-cm-window-s69-30122.jpg?resize=100,100 100w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-13-apollo-9-s065-set-up-in-cm-window-s69-30122.jpg?resize=200,200 200w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-13-apollo-9-s065-set-up-in-cm-window-s69-30122.jpg?resize=400,398 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-13-apollo-9-s065-set-up-in-cm-window-s69-30122.jpg?resize=600,597 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-13-apollo-9-s065-set-up-in-cm-window-s69-30122.jpg?resize=900,895 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-13-apollo-9-s065-set-up-in-cm-window-s69-30122.jpg?resize=1200,1194 1200w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-13-apollo-9-s065-set-up-in-cm-window-s69-30122.jpg?resize=2000,1990 2000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 212px) 100vw, 212px\" \/><\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-14-apollo-9-s-065-san-diego.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" height=\"211\" width=\"214\" class=\"wp-image-634288\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-14-apollo-9-s-065-san-diego.jpg\" alt=\"Multispectral image of the San Diego area\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-14-apollo-9-s-065-san-diego.jpg 330w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-14-apollo-9-s-065-san-diego.jpg?resize=300,295 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-14-apollo-9-s-065-san-diego.jpg?resize=50,50 50w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-14-apollo-9-s-065-san-diego.jpg?resize=100,100 100w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 214px) 100vw, 214px\" \/><\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-15-apollo-9-earth-obs-salton-sea-color-ir-as09-26a-3748a-rotated.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" height=\"211\" width=\"211\" class=\"wp-image-634289\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-15-apollo-9-earth-obs-salton-sea-color-ir-as09-26a-3748a-rotated.jpg\" alt=\"Color infrared image of the Salton Sea area in California\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-15-apollo-9-earth-obs-salton-sea-color-ir-as09-26a-3748a-rotated.jpg 4066w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-15-apollo-9-earth-obs-salton-sea-color-ir-as09-26a-3748a-rotated.jpg?resize=150,150 150w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-15-apollo-9-earth-obs-salton-sea-color-ir-as09-26a-3748a-rotated.jpg?resize=300,300 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-15-apollo-9-earth-obs-salton-sea-color-ir-as09-26a-3748a-rotated.jpg?resize=768,768 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-15-apollo-9-earth-obs-salton-sea-color-ir-as09-26a-3748a-rotated.jpg?resize=1024,1024 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-15-apollo-9-earth-obs-salton-sea-color-ir-as09-26a-3748a-rotated.jpg?resize=1536,1536 1536w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-15-apollo-9-earth-obs-salton-sea-color-ir-as09-26a-3748a-rotated.jpg?resize=2048,2048 2048w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-15-apollo-9-earth-obs-salton-sea-color-ir-as09-26a-3748a-rotated.jpg?resize=50,50 50w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-15-apollo-9-earth-obs-salton-sea-color-ir-as09-26a-3748a-rotated.jpg?resize=100,100 100w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-15-apollo-9-earth-obs-salton-sea-color-ir-as09-26a-3748a-rotated.jpg?resize=200,200 200w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-15-apollo-9-earth-obs-salton-sea-color-ir-as09-26a-3748a-rotated.jpg?resize=400,400 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-15-apollo-9-earth-obs-salton-sea-color-ir-as09-26a-3748a-rotated.jpg?resize=600,600 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-15-apollo-9-earth-obs-salton-sea-color-ir-as09-26a-3748a-rotated.jpg?resize=900,900 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-15-apollo-9-earth-obs-salton-sea-color-ir-as09-26a-3748a-rotated.jpg?resize=1200,1200 1200w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-15-apollo-9-earth-obs-salton-sea-color-ir-as09-26a-3748a-rotated.jpg?resize=2000,2000 2000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 211px) 100vw, 211px\" \/><\/a><br><em>Left: Experiment S065 multispectral camera installed on the Command Module\u2019s side hatch window. Middle: Multispectral image of the San Diego area. Right: Color infrared image of the Salton Sea area in California.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The first major task of flight day six involved the sixth SPS engine. This brief one and a half second burn lowered the low point of Gumdrop\u2019s orbit, to enhance a backup capability to use the RCS thrusters for the deorbit burn at the end of the mission, should a problem arise with the SPS. Shortly after this burn, the crew set up the one formal scientific investigation of their mission \u2013 Experiment S065 Multispectral Terrain Photography, a cluster of four Hasselblad 70 mm cameras mounted in Gumdrop\u2019s round hatch window. The experiment provided photographs taken simultaneously in four specific portions of the visible and near infrared spectrum<strong>. <\/strong>The experiment served as a precursor for the Earth Resources Technology Satellite (ERTS), later renamed Landsat, and for multispectral photography conducted aboard the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/history\/50-years-ago-the-launch-of-skylab-americas-first-space-station\/\">Skylab<\/a> space station in the early 1970s. Over the next four days, the astronauts continued observations with the S065 camera system, exposing 127 complete four-frame sets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-16-apollo-9-splashdown-mar-13-1969-s69-20364.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" height=\"163\" width=\"249\" class=\"wp-image-634290\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-16-apollo-9-splashdown-mar-13-1969-s69-20364.jpg\" alt=\"The Apollo 9 Command Module Gumdrop descends on its three main parachutes just moments before touchdown\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-16-apollo-9-splashdown-mar-13-1969-s69-20364.jpg 4002w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-16-apollo-9-splashdown-mar-13-1969-s69-20364.jpg?resize=300,197 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-16-apollo-9-splashdown-mar-13-1969-s69-20364.jpg?resize=768,504 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-16-apollo-9-splashdown-mar-13-1969-s69-20364.jpg?resize=1024,672 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-16-apollo-9-splashdown-mar-13-1969-s69-20364.jpg?resize=1536,1009 1536w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-16-apollo-9-splashdown-mar-13-1969-s69-20364.jpg?resize=2048,1345 2048w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-16-apollo-9-splashdown-mar-13-1969-s69-20364.jpg?resize=400,263 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-16-apollo-9-splashdown-mar-13-1969-s69-20364.jpg?resize=600,394 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-16-apollo-9-splashdown-mar-13-1969-s69-20364.jpg?resize=900,591 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-16-apollo-9-splashdown-mar-13-1969-s69-20364.jpg?resize=1200,788 1200w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-16-apollo-9-splashdown-mar-13-1969-s69-20364.jpg?resize=2000,1313 2000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 249px) 100vw, 249px\" \/><\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-17-apollo-9-splashdown-mar-13-1969-s69-27919.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" height=\"163\" width=\"208\" class=\"wp-image-634291\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-17-apollo-9-splashdown-mar-13-1969-s69-27919.jpg\" alt=\"Minutes after splashdown, the rescue helicopter from the U.S.S. Guadalcanal prepares to drop swimmers into the water to safe the capsule and retrieve the astronauts\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-17-apollo-9-splashdown-mar-13-1969-s69-27919.jpg 4699w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-17-apollo-9-splashdown-mar-13-1969-s69-27919.jpg?resize=300,235 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-17-apollo-9-splashdown-mar-13-1969-s69-27919.jpg?resize=768,603 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-17-apollo-9-splashdown-mar-13-1969-s69-27919.jpg?resize=1024,803 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-17-apollo-9-splashdown-mar-13-1969-s69-27919.jpg?resize=1536,1205 1536w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-17-apollo-9-splashdown-mar-13-1969-s69-27919.jpg?resize=2048,1607 2048w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-17-apollo-9-splashdown-mar-13-1969-s69-27919.jpg?resize=400,314 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-17-apollo-9-splashdown-mar-13-1969-s69-27919.jpg?resize=600,471 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-17-apollo-9-splashdown-mar-13-1969-s69-27919.jpg?resize=900,706 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-17-apollo-9-splashdown-mar-13-1969-s69-27919.jpg?resize=1200,942 1200w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-17-apollo-9-splashdown-mar-13-1969-s69-27919.jpg?resize=2000,1569 2000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 208px) 100vw, 208px\" \/><\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-18-apollo-9-crew-chopper-egress-closeup-mar-13-1969-s69-27921.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" height=\"163\" width=\"235\" class=\"wp-image-634292\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-18-apollo-9-crew-chopper-egress-closeup-mar-13-1969-s69-27921.jpg\" alt=\"Apollo 9 astronauts Russell L. Schweickart, left, David R. Scott, and James A. McDivitt safely aboard the Guadalcanal\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-18-apollo-9-crew-chopper-egress-closeup-mar-13-1969-s69-27921.jpg 4679w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-18-apollo-9-crew-chopper-egress-closeup-mar-13-1969-s69-27921.jpg?resize=300,208 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-18-apollo-9-crew-chopper-egress-closeup-mar-13-1969-s69-27921.jpg?resize=768,534 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-18-apollo-9-crew-chopper-egress-closeup-mar-13-1969-s69-27921.jpg?resize=1024,711 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-18-apollo-9-crew-chopper-egress-closeup-mar-13-1969-s69-27921.jpg?resize=1536,1067 1536w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-18-apollo-9-crew-chopper-egress-closeup-mar-13-1969-s69-27921.jpg?resize=2048,1423 2048w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-18-apollo-9-crew-chopper-egress-closeup-mar-13-1969-s69-27921.jpg?resize=400,278 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-18-apollo-9-crew-chopper-egress-closeup-mar-13-1969-s69-27921.jpg?resize=600,417 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-18-apollo-9-crew-chopper-egress-closeup-mar-13-1969-s69-27921.jpg?resize=900,625 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-18-apollo-9-crew-chopper-egress-closeup-mar-13-1969-s69-27921.jpg?resize=1200,834 1200w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-18-apollo-9-crew-chopper-egress-closeup-mar-13-1969-s69-27921.jpg?resize=2000,1390 2000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 235px) 100vw, 235px\" \/><\/a><br><em>Left: The Apollo 9 Command Module Gumdrop descends on its three main parachutes just moments before touchdown. Middle: Minutes after splashdown, the rescue helicopter from the U.S.S. Guadalcanal prepares to drop swimmers into the water to safe the capsule and retrieve the astronauts. Right: Apollo 9 astronauts Russell L. Schweickart, left, David R. Scott, and James A. McDivitt safely aboard the Guadalcanal.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>On flight day eight, the crew completed the seventh SPS burn, a 25-second firing to establish the proper trajectory for the deorbit burn. On Mar. 13, 1969, after 151 revolutions around the Earth and while passing over Hawaii, the crew fired the SPS engine for the eighth and final time. Lasting just under 12 seconds, the burn brought Apollo 9 out of orbit. Gumdrop separated from its SM and pointed its heat shield in the direction of flight. During reentry, a sheath of ionized gas formed around the capsule by the rapid deceleration led to a 4-minute radio blackout, after which the drogue parachutes deployed. The three main parachutes opened at 10,000 feet altitude, slowing the spacecraft to about 22 miles per hour at splashdown.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-19-apollo-9-mqf-below-decks-guadalcanal-s69-20385.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" height=\"182\" width=\"276\" class=\"wp-image-634296\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-19-apollo-9-mqf-below-decks-guadalcanal-s69-20385.jpg\" alt=\"The Apollo 9 astronauts, in white overalls, on the elevator deck of the U.S.S. Guadalcanal, with the Mobile Quarantine Facility (MQF) visible in the background\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-19-apollo-9-mqf-below-decks-guadalcanal-s69-20385.jpg 5439w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-19-apollo-9-mqf-below-decks-guadalcanal-s69-20385.jpg?resize=300,198 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-19-apollo-9-mqf-below-decks-guadalcanal-s69-20385.jpg?resize=768,507 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-19-apollo-9-mqf-below-decks-guadalcanal-s69-20385.jpg?resize=1024,677 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-19-apollo-9-mqf-below-decks-guadalcanal-s69-20385.jpg?resize=1536,1015 1536w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-19-apollo-9-mqf-below-decks-guadalcanal-s69-20385.jpg?resize=2048,1353 2048w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-19-apollo-9-mqf-below-decks-guadalcanal-s69-20385.jpg?resize=400,264 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-19-apollo-9-mqf-below-decks-guadalcanal-s69-20385.jpg?resize=600,396 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-19-apollo-9-mqf-below-decks-guadalcanal-s69-20385.jpg?resize=900,595 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-19-apollo-9-mqf-below-decks-guadalcanal-s69-20385.jpg?resize=1200,793 1200w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-19-apollo-9-mqf-below-decks-guadalcanal-s69-20385.jpg?resize=2000,1322 2000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 276px) 100vw, 276px\" \/><\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-20-apollo-9-crew-and-mqf-on-guadalcanal-mar-13-1969-s69-20308.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" height=\"182\" width=\"183\" class=\"wp-image-634297\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-20-apollo-9-crew-and-mqf-on-guadalcanal-mar-13-1969-s69-20308.jpg\" alt=\"The Apollo 9 astronauts, wearing blue baseball caps, peer into the window of the MQF and greet the occupants\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-20-apollo-9-crew-and-mqf-on-guadalcanal-mar-13-1969-s69-20308.jpg 3587w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-20-apollo-9-crew-and-mqf-on-guadalcanal-mar-13-1969-s69-20308.jpg?resize=150,150 150w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-20-apollo-9-crew-and-mqf-on-guadalcanal-mar-13-1969-s69-20308.jpg?resize=300,298 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-20-apollo-9-crew-and-mqf-on-guadalcanal-mar-13-1969-s69-20308.jpg?resize=768,763 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-20-apollo-9-crew-and-mqf-on-guadalcanal-mar-13-1969-s69-20308.jpg?resize=1024,1017 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-20-apollo-9-crew-and-mqf-on-guadalcanal-mar-13-1969-s69-20308.jpg?resize=1536,1525 1536w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-20-apollo-9-crew-and-mqf-on-guadalcanal-mar-13-1969-s69-20308.jpg?resize=2048,2034 2048w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-20-apollo-9-crew-and-mqf-on-guadalcanal-mar-13-1969-s69-20308.jpg?resize=50,50 50w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-20-apollo-9-crew-and-mqf-on-guadalcanal-mar-13-1969-s69-20308.jpg?resize=100,100 100w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-20-apollo-9-crew-and-mqf-on-guadalcanal-mar-13-1969-s69-20308.jpg?resize=200,200 200w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-20-apollo-9-crew-and-mqf-on-guadalcanal-mar-13-1969-s69-20308.jpg?resize=400,397 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-20-apollo-9-crew-and-mqf-on-guadalcanal-mar-13-1969-s69-20308.jpg?resize=600,596 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-20-apollo-9-crew-and-mqf-on-guadalcanal-mar-13-1969-s69-20308.jpg?resize=900,894 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-20-apollo-9-crew-and-mqf-on-guadalcanal-mar-13-1969-s69-20308.jpg?resize=1200,1192 1200w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-20-apollo-9-crew-and-mqf-on-guadalcanal-mar-13-1969-s69-20308.jpg?resize=2000,1986 2000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 183px) 100vw, 183px\" \/><\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-21-apollo-9-guadalcanal-cake-cutting-s69-20341.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" height=\"182\" width=\"181\" class=\"wp-image-634298\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-21-apollo-9-guadalcanal-cake-cutting-s69-20341.jpg\" alt=\"Apollo 9 astronauts Russell L. Schweickart, left, David R. Scott, and James A. McDivitt prepare to cut the cake in their honor aboard the Guadalcanal\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-21-apollo-9-guadalcanal-cake-cutting-s69-20341.jpg 4152w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-21-apollo-9-guadalcanal-cake-cutting-s69-20341.jpg?resize=150,150 150w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-21-apollo-9-guadalcanal-cake-cutting-s69-20341.jpg?resize=298,300 298w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-21-apollo-9-guadalcanal-cake-cutting-s69-20341.jpg?resize=768,774 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-21-apollo-9-guadalcanal-cake-cutting-s69-20341.jpg?resize=1017,1024 1017w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-21-apollo-9-guadalcanal-cake-cutting-s69-20341.jpg?resize=1525,1536 1525w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-21-apollo-9-guadalcanal-cake-cutting-s69-20341.jpg?resize=2033,2048 2033w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-21-apollo-9-guadalcanal-cake-cutting-s69-20341.jpg?resize=50,50 50w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-21-apollo-9-guadalcanal-cake-cutting-s69-20341.jpg?resize=100,100 100w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-21-apollo-9-guadalcanal-cake-cutting-s69-20341.jpg?resize=200,200 200w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-21-apollo-9-guadalcanal-cake-cutting-s69-20341.jpg?resize=397,400 397w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-21-apollo-9-guadalcanal-cake-cutting-s69-20341.jpg?resize=596,600 596w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-21-apollo-9-guadalcanal-cake-cutting-s69-20341.jpg?resize=894,900 894w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-21-apollo-9-guadalcanal-cake-cutting-s69-20341.jpg?resize=1191,1200 1191w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-21-apollo-9-guadalcanal-cake-cutting-s69-20341.jpg?resize=1986,2000 1986w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 181px) 100vw, 181px\" \/><\/a><br><em>Left: The Apollo 9 astronauts, in white overalls, on the elevator deck of the U.S.S. Guadalcanal, with the Mobile Quarantine Facility (MQF) visible in the background. Middle: The Apollo 9 astronauts, wearing blue baseball caps, peer into the window of the MQF and greet the occupants. Right: Apollo 9 astronauts Russell L. Schweickart, left, David R. Scott, and James A. McDivitt prepare to cut the cake in their honor aboard the Guadalcanal.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-22-apollo-9-crew-at-eleuthera-mar-14-1969-s69-28690-medium.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" height=\"202\" width=\"149\" class=\"wp-image-634321\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-22-apollo-9-crew-at-eleuthera-mar-14-1969-s69-28690-medium.jpg\" alt=\"Apollo 9 astronauts\u2019 return trip from the U.S.S. Guadalcanal to Houston. Carrying flowers after a stopover on Eleuthera in The Bahamas.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-22-apollo-9-crew-at-eleuthera-mar-14-1969-s69-28690-medium.jpg 1800w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-22-apollo-9-crew-at-eleuthera-mar-14-1969-s69-28690-medium.jpg?resize=221,300 221w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-22-apollo-9-crew-at-eleuthera-mar-14-1969-s69-28690-medium.jpg?resize=768,1042 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-22-apollo-9-crew-at-eleuthera-mar-14-1969-s69-28690-medium.jpg?resize=755,1024 755w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-22-apollo-9-crew-at-eleuthera-mar-14-1969-s69-28690-medium.jpg?resize=1132,1536 1132w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-22-apollo-9-crew-at-eleuthera-mar-14-1969-s69-28690-medium.jpg?resize=1510,2048 1510w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-22-apollo-9-crew-at-eleuthera-mar-14-1969-s69-28690-medium.jpg?resize=295,400 295w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-22-apollo-9-crew-at-eleuthera-mar-14-1969-s69-28690-medium.jpg?resize=442,600 442w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-22-apollo-9-crew-at-eleuthera-mar-14-1969-s69-28690-medium.jpg?resize=663,900 663w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-22-apollo-9-crew-at-eleuthera-mar-14-1969-s69-28690-medium.jpg?resize=885,1200 885w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-22-apollo-9-crew-at-eleuthera-mar-14-1969-s69-28690-medium.jpg?resize=1474,2000 1474w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 149px) 100vw, 149px\" \/><\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-23-apollo-9-crew-at-ksc-mar-14-1969-s69-27974-medium.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" height=\"202\" width=\"208\" class=\"wp-image-634331\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-23-apollo-9-crew-at-ksc-mar-14-1969-s69-27974-medium.jpg\" alt=\"Apollo 9 astronauts\u2019 return trip from the U.S.S. Guadalcanal to Houston. A brief layover at NASA\u2019s Kennedy Space Center in Florida\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-23-apollo-9-crew-at-ksc-mar-14-1969-s69-27974-medium.jpg 1800w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-23-apollo-9-crew-at-ksc-mar-14-1969-s69-27974-medium.jpg?resize=300,291 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-23-apollo-9-crew-at-ksc-mar-14-1969-s69-27974-medium.jpg?resize=768,745 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-23-apollo-9-crew-at-ksc-mar-14-1969-s69-27974-medium.jpg?resize=1024,994 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-23-apollo-9-crew-at-ksc-mar-14-1969-s69-27974-medium.jpg?resize=1536,1491 1536w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-23-apollo-9-crew-at-ksc-mar-14-1969-s69-27974-medium.jpg?resize=50,50 50w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-23-apollo-9-crew-at-ksc-mar-14-1969-s69-27974-medium.jpg?resize=400,388 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-23-apollo-9-crew-at-ksc-mar-14-1969-s69-27974-medium.jpg?resize=600,582 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-23-apollo-9-crew-at-ksc-mar-14-1969-s69-27974-medium.jpg?resize=900,874 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-23-apollo-9-crew-at-ksc-mar-14-1969-s69-27974-medium.jpg?resize=1200,1165 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 208px) 100vw, 208px\" \/><\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-24-apollo-9-crew-at-ellington-mar-14-1969-s69-27551-medium.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" height=\"202\" width=\"304\" class=\"wp-image-634332\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-24-apollo-9-crew-at-ellington-mar-14-1969-s69-27551-medium.jpg\" alt=\"Apollo 9 astronauts\u2019 return trip from the U.S.S. Guadalcanal to Houston. Arriving at Ellington Air Force Base in Houston\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-24-apollo-9-crew-at-ellington-mar-14-1969-s69-27551-medium.jpg 1800w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-24-apollo-9-crew-at-ellington-mar-14-1969-s69-27551-medium.jpg?resize=300,199 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-24-apollo-9-crew-at-ellington-mar-14-1969-s69-27551-medium.jpg?resize=768,509 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-24-apollo-9-crew-at-ellington-mar-14-1969-s69-27551-medium.jpg?resize=1024,678 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-24-apollo-9-crew-at-ellington-mar-14-1969-s69-27551-medium.jpg?resize=1536,1017 1536w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-24-apollo-9-crew-at-ellington-mar-14-1969-s69-27551-medium.jpg?resize=400,265 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-24-apollo-9-crew-at-ellington-mar-14-1969-s69-27551-medium.jpg?resize=600,397 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-24-apollo-9-crew-at-ellington-mar-14-1969-s69-27551-medium.jpg?resize=900,596 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-24-apollo-9-crew-at-ellington-mar-14-1969-s69-27551-medium.jpg?resize=1200,795 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 304px) 100vw, 304px\" \/><\/a><br><em>The Apollo 9 astronauts\u2019 return trip from the U.S.S. Guadalcanal to Houston. Left: Carrying flowers after a stopover on Eleuthera in The Bahamas. Middle: A brief layover at NASA\u2019s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Right: Arriving at Ellington Air Force Base in Houston.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The splashdown occurred in the Atlantic Ocean about 670 miles south-southwest of Bermuda, and about 3 miles from the prime recovery ship the U.S.S. Guadalcanal (LPH-7). McDivitt, Scott, and Schweickart had spent 241 hours and 54 seconds in space. Forty-nine minutes after splashdown, recovery teams had the crew aboard the recovery ship. The next day, a helicopter flew them to Eleuthera in the Bahamas, where they boarded a plane to KSC for a brief ceremony, and then back to Houston for a large welcome home reception and a reunion with their families at Ellington Air Force Base. The successful Apollo 9 mission, the most complex crewed space mission flown to that time, brought the Moon landing one step closer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-25-apollo-9-awards-agnew-w-framed-flown-flag-mar-26-1969.png\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" height=\"240\" width=\"348\" class=\"wp-image-634342\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-25-apollo-9-awards-agnew-w-framed-flown-flag-mar-26-1969.png\" alt=\"In Washington, D.C., Vice President Spiro T. Agnew, second from left, accepts a framed American flag flown in space by Apollo 9 astronauts Russell L. Schweickart, left, David R. Scott, and James A. McDivitt\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-25-apollo-9-awards-agnew-w-framed-flown-flag-mar-26-1969.png 800w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-25-apollo-9-awards-agnew-w-framed-flown-flag-mar-26-1969.png?resize=300,207 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-25-apollo-9-awards-agnew-w-framed-flown-flag-mar-26-1969.png?resize=768,529 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-25-apollo-9-awards-agnew-w-framed-flown-flag-mar-26-1969.png?resize=400,276 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-25-apollo-9-awards-agnew-w-framed-flown-flag-mar-26-1969.png?resize=600,413 600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 348px) 100vw, 348px\" \/><\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-26-apollo-9-astronauts-w-shatalov-yeliseyev-paris-air-show-1969.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" height=\"240\" width=\"292\" class=\"wp-image-634338\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-26-apollo-9-astronauts-w-shatalov-yeliseyev-paris-air-show-1969.jpg\" alt=\"In front of the Apollo 8 Command Module at the 1969 Paris Air Show, astronauts meet cosmonauts \u2013 Scott, Vladimir A. Shatalov, McDivitt, Aleksei S. Yeliseyev, and Schweickart\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-26-apollo-9-astronauts-w-shatalov-yeliseyev-paris-air-show-1969.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-26-apollo-9-astronauts-w-shatalov-yeliseyev-paris-air-show-1969.jpg?resize=300,247 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-26-apollo-9-astronauts-w-shatalov-yeliseyev-paris-air-show-1969.jpg?resize=400,329 400w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 292px) 100vw, 292px\" \/><\/a><br><em>Left: In Washington, D.C., Vice President Spiro T. Agnew, second from left, accepts a framed American flag flown in space by Apollo 9 astronauts Russell L. Schweickart, left, David R. Scott, and James A. McDivitt. Right: In front of the Apollo 8 Command Module at the 1969 Paris Air Show, astronauts meet cosmonauts \u2013 Scott, Vladimir A. Shatalov, McDivitt, Aleksei S. Yeliseyev, and Schweickart.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Following postflight debriefs, McDivitt, Scott, and Schweickart traveled to Washington, D.C., where on March 26, Vice President Agnew presented them with Distinguished Service Medals for their execution of the historic Apollo 9 mission. They in turn presented the Vice President with a framed American flag they had taken to space. Among other postflight events and celebrations, the trio attended the Paris Air Show and on May 29 met Soviet cosmonauts Vladimir A. Shatalov and Aleksei S. Yeliseyev who had flown as part of the Soyuz 4 and 5 docking and spacewalk crew exchange mission in January 1969.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-27-apollo-9-being-lifted-from-guadalcanal-norfolk.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" height=\"163\" width=\"243\" class=\"wp-image-634339\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-27-apollo-9-being-lifted-from-guadalcanal-norfolk.jpg\" alt=\"Workers at Norfolk Naval Air Station in Virginia offload the Apollo 9 Command Module Gumdrop from the U.S.S. Guadalcanal for its cross country trip to California\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-27-apollo-9-being-lifted-from-guadalcanal-norfolk.jpg 760w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-27-apollo-9-being-lifted-from-guadalcanal-norfolk.jpg?resize=300,201 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-27-apollo-9-being-lifted-from-guadalcanal-norfolk.jpg?resize=400,268 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-27-apollo-9-being-lifted-from-guadalcanal-norfolk.jpg?resize=600,402 600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 243px) 100vw, 243px\" \/><\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-28-apollo-cm-at-michigan-space-and-science-center-photo-credit-atlas-obscura.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" height=\"163\" width=\"219\" class=\"wp-image-634340\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-28-apollo-cm-at-michigan-space-and-science-center-photo-credit-atlas-obscura.jpg\" alt=\"Gumdrop on display at the Michigan Space and Science Center in Jackson\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-28-apollo-cm-at-michigan-space-and-science-center-photo-credit-atlas-obscura.jpg 839w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-28-apollo-cm-at-michigan-space-and-science-center-photo-credit-atlas-obscura.jpg?resize=300,224 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-28-apollo-cm-at-michigan-space-and-science-center-photo-credit-atlas-obscura.jpg?resize=768,573 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-28-apollo-cm-at-michigan-space-and-science-center-photo-credit-atlas-obscura.jpg?resize=400,298 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-28-apollo-cm-at-michigan-space-and-science-center-photo-credit-atlas-obscura.jpg?resize=600,448 600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 219px) 100vw, 219px\" \/><\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-29-apollo-9-san-diego-air-and-space-museum.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" height=\"163\" width=\"218\" class=\"wp-image-634341\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-29-apollo-9-san-diego-air-and-space-museum.jpg\" alt=\"Gumdrop on display at the San Diego Air & Space Museum\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-29-apollo-9-san-diego-air-and-space-museum.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-29-apollo-9-san-diego-air-and-space-museum.jpg?resize=300,225 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-29-apollo-9-san-diego-air-and-space-museum.jpg?resize=400,300 400w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 218px) 100vw, 218px\" \/><\/a><br><em>Left: Workers at Norfolk Naval Air Station in Virginia offload the Apollo 9 Command Module Gumdrop from the U.S.S. Guadalcanal for its cross country trip to California. Middle: Gumdrop on display at the Michigan Space and Science Center in Jackson. <strong>Image credit: courtesy Atlas Obscura.<\/strong> Right: Gumdrop on display at the San Diego Air & Space Museum.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Workers offloaded Gumdrop from the Guadalcanal in Norfolk, Virginia, for transport aboard a U.S. Air Force cargo jet to Long Beach, California, from where they trucked it to the North American Rockwell plant in Downey for postflight inspection. NASA transferred Gumdrop to the Smithsonian Institution in 1973. In 1977, it went on display at the Michigan Space and Science Center in Jackson, Michigan, McDivitt\u2019s hometown. When that facility closed in 2004, Gumdrop transferred to the San Diego Air & Space Museum, where visitors can view it today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><em>Apollo 10<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-30-apollo-10-rollout-mar-11-1969-s69-27459-medium.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" height=\"240\" width=\"300\" class=\"wp-image-634350\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-30-apollo-10-rollout-mar-11-1969-s69-27459-medium.jpg\" alt=\"The Apollo 10 Saturn V leaves the Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA\u2019s Kennedy Space Center in Florida\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-30-apollo-10-rollout-mar-11-1969-s69-27459-medium.jpg 1800w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-30-apollo-10-rollout-mar-11-1969-s69-27459-medium.jpg?resize=300,240 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-30-apollo-10-rollout-mar-11-1969-s69-27459-medium.jpg?resize=768,614 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-30-apollo-10-rollout-mar-11-1969-s69-27459-medium.jpg?resize=1024,819 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-30-apollo-10-rollout-mar-11-1969-s69-27459-medium.jpg?resize=1536,1228 1536w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-30-apollo-10-rollout-mar-11-1969-s69-27459-medium.jpg?resize=400,320 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-30-apollo-10-rollout-mar-11-1969-s69-27459-medium.jpg?resize=600,480 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-30-apollo-10-rollout-mar-11-1969-s69-27459-medium.jpg?resize=900,720 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-30-apollo-10-rollout-mar-11-1969-s69-27459-medium.jpg?resize=1200,959 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-31-apollo-10-on-pad-39b-mar-11-1969-ap10-ksc-69pc-131hr.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" height=\"240\" width=\"193\" class=\"wp-image-634351\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-31-apollo-10-on-pad-39b-mar-11-1969-ap10-ksc-69pc-131hr.jpg\" alt=\"The Apollo 10 Saturn V has reached Launch Pad 39B\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-31-apollo-10-on-pad-39b-mar-11-1969-ap10-ksc-69pc-131hr.jpg 2256w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-31-apollo-10-on-pad-39b-mar-11-1969-ap10-ksc-69pc-131hr.jpg?resize=241,300 241w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-31-apollo-10-on-pad-39b-mar-11-1969-ap10-ksc-69pc-131hr.jpg?resize=768,958 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-31-apollo-10-on-pad-39b-mar-11-1969-ap10-ksc-69pc-131hr.jpg?resize=821,1024 821w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-31-apollo-10-on-pad-39b-mar-11-1969-ap10-ksc-69pc-131hr.jpg?resize=1231,1536 1231w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-31-apollo-10-on-pad-39b-mar-11-1969-ap10-ksc-69pc-131hr.jpg?resize=1642,2048 1642w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-31-apollo-10-on-pad-39b-mar-11-1969-ap10-ksc-69pc-131hr.jpg?resize=321,400 321w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-31-apollo-10-on-pad-39b-mar-11-1969-ap10-ksc-69pc-131hr.jpg?resize=481,600 481w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-31-apollo-10-on-pad-39b-mar-11-1969-ap10-ksc-69pc-131hr.jpg?resize=722,900 722w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-31-apollo-10-on-pad-39b-mar-11-1969-ap10-ksc-69pc-131hr.jpg?resize=962,1200 962w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-31-apollo-10-on-pad-39b-mar-11-1969-ap10-ksc-69pc-131hr.jpg?resize=1603,2000 1603w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 193px) 100vw, 193px\" \/><\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-32-apollo-10-crew-with-saturn-v-at-pad-mar-27-1969-s69-30248.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" height=\"240\" width=\"157\" class=\"wp-image-634352\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-32-apollo-10-crew-with-saturn-v-at-pad-mar-27-1969-s69-30248.jpg\" alt=\"Apollo 10 astronauts John W. Young, left, Eugene A. Cernan, and Thomas P. Stafford pose before their Saturn V rocket\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-32-apollo-10-crew-with-saturn-v-at-pad-mar-27-1969-s69-30248.jpg 655w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-32-apollo-10-crew-with-saturn-v-at-pad-mar-27-1969-s69-30248.jpg?resize=197,300 197w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-32-apollo-10-crew-with-saturn-v-at-pad-mar-27-1969-s69-30248.jpg?resize=262,400 262w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-32-apollo-10-crew-with-saturn-v-at-pad-mar-27-1969-s69-30248.jpg?resize=393,600 393w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-32-apollo-10-crew-with-saturn-v-at-pad-mar-27-1969-s69-30248.jpg?resize=590,900 590w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 157px) 100vw, 157px\" \/><\/a><br><em>Left: The Apollo 10 Saturn V leaves the Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA\u2019s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Middle: The Apollo 10 Saturn V has reached Launch Pad 39B. Right: Apollo 10 astronauts John W. Young, left, Eugene A. Cernan, and Thomas P. Stafford pose before their Saturn V rocket.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>On March 11, as the Apollo 9 astronauts neared the end of their mission, workers at KSC rolled the Apollo 10 Saturn V vehicle from the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) to its launch pad. Apollo 10\u2019s assembly marked the first use of the VAB\u2019s High Bay 2, requiring the stack to exit the VAB\u2019s rear and make a sweeping loop around the building to reach the crawlerway to the launch pads. Apollo 10 also marked the first use of Pad 39B. On March 17, NASA managers formally set Apollo 10\u2019s launch date as May 18. 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> continued training in spacecraft simulators and testing their spacesuits in vacuum chambers. On March 27, the prime crew conducted a walk-through of Pad 39B and trained on emergency escape procedures. The next day, the backup crew practiced water egress training in the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/history\/building-on-a-mission-neutral-buoyancy-facilities-for-spacewalk-training\/\">Water Immersion Facility<\/a> in MSC\u2019s Building 260, and repeated the training in the Gulf of Mexico the following week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><em>Apollo 11<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-33-apollo-11-csm-alt-test-mar-24-1969-s69-32262.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" height=\"182\" width=\"266\" class=\"wp-image-634619\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-33-apollo-11-csm-alt-test-mar-24-1969-s69-32262.jpg\" alt=\"Apollo 11 astronauts Neil A. Armstrong, left, Edwin E. \u201cBuzz\u201d Aldrin, and Michael Collins, not visible, prepare for an altitude chamber test of their Command Module at NASA\u2019s Kennedy Space Center (KSC) in Florida\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-33-apollo-11-csm-alt-test-mar-24-1969-s69-32262.jpg 5856w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-33-apollo-11-csm-alt-test-mar-24-1969-s69-32262.jpg?resize=300,206 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-33-apollo-11-csm-alt-test-mar-24-1969-s69-32262.jpg?resize=768,528 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-33-apollo-11-csm-alt-test-mar-24-1969-s69-32262.jpg?resize=1024,704 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-33-apollo-11-csm-alt-test-mar-24-1969-s69-32262.jpg?resize=1536,1055 1536w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-33-apollo-11-csm-alt-test-mar-24-1969-s69-32262.jpg?resize=2048,1407 2048w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-33-apollo-11-csm-alt-test-mar-24-1969-s69-32262.jpg?resize=400,275 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-33-apollo-11-csm-alt-test-mar-24-1969-s69-32262.jpg?resize=600,412 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-33-apollo-11-csm-alt-test-mar-24-1969-s69-32262.jpg?resize=900,618 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-33-apollo-11-csm-alt-test-mar-24-1969-s69-32262.jpg?resize=1200,825 1200w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-33-apollo-11-csm-alt-test-mar-24-1969-s69-32262.jpg?resize=2000,1374 2000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 266px) 100vw, 266px\" \/><\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-34-apollo-11-lm-alt-test-lovell-haise-mar-20-1969.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" height=\"182\" width=\"245\" class=\"wp-image-634354\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-34-apollo-11-lm-alt-test-lovell-haise-mar-20-1969.jpg\" alt=\"Apollo 11 backup crew members James A. Lovell and Frew W. Haise have entered the chamber for a Lunar Module altitude test\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-34-apollo-11-lm-alt-test-lovell-haise-mar-20-1969.jpg 893w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-34-apollo-11-lm-alt-test-lovell-haise-mar-20-1969.jpg?resize=300,223 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-34-apollo-11-lm-alt-test-lovell-haise-mar-20-1969.jpg?resize=768,572 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-34-apollo-11-lm-alt-test-lovell-haise-mar-20-1969.jpg?resize=400,298 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-34-apollo-11-lm-alt-test-lovell-haise-mar-20-1969.jpg?resize=600,447 600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 245px) 100vw, 245px\" \/><\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-35-apollo-11-s-ivb-stacking-mar-21-1969-ap11-69-hc-342-small.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" height=\"182\" width=\"137\" class=\"wp-image-634359\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-35-apollo-11-s-ivb-stacking-mar-21-1969-ap11-69-hc-342-small.jpg\" alt=\"In KSC\u2019s Vehicle Assembly Building, workers lower the S-IVB third stage onto the Apollo 11 Saturn V rocket\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-35-apollo-11-s-ivb-stacking-mar-21-1969-ap11-69-hc-342-small.jpg 700w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-35-apollo-11-s-ivb-stacking-mar-21-1969-ap11-69-hc-342-small.jpg?resize=225,300 225w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-35-apollo-11-s-ivb-stacking-mar-21-1969-ap11-69-hc-342-small.jpg?resize=300,400 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-35-apollo-11-s-ivb-stacking-mar-21-1969-ap11-69-hc-342-small.jpg?resize=450,600 450w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-35-apollo-11-s-ivb-stacking-mar-21-1969-ap11-69-hc-342-small.jpg?resize=675,900 675w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 137px) 100vw, 137px\" \/><\/a> <br><em>Left: Apollo 11 astronauts Neil A. Armstrong, left, Edwin E. \u201cBuzz\u201d Aldrin, and Michael Collins, not visible, prepare for an altitude chamber test of their Command Module at NASA\u2019s Kennedy Space Center (KSC) in Florida. Middle: Apollo 11 backup crew members James A. Lovell and Frew W. Haise have entered the chamber for a Lunar Module altitude test. Right: In KSC\u2019s Vehicle Assembly Building, workers lower the S-IVB third stage onto the Apollo 11 Saturn V rocket.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Workers in the VAB\u2019s High Bay 3 stacked the Apollo 11 Saturn V\u2019s S-IC first stage on Feb. 21. They added the S-II second stage and S-IVB third stage on March 4 and 5, respectively. The spacecraft for Apollo 11 continued testing in KSC\u2019s Manned Spacecraft Operations Building (MSOB). 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, spending time in spacecraft simulators. The prime and backup crews participated in altitude chamber tests of both their CM and LM.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><em>Mobile Quarantine Facility, Lunar Receiving Laboratory, and Lunar Module Drop Tests<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-36-mqf-test-guadalcanal-mar-10-1969-69-h-581-medium.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" height=\"182\" width=\"230\" class=\"wp-image-634362\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-36-mqf-test-guadalcanal-mar-10-1969-69-h-581-medium.jpg\" alt=\"Flight surgeon Dr. William R. Carpentier, left, and the three astronaut surrogates wearing Biological Isolation Garments, prepare to enter the Mobile Quarantine Facility (MQF) aboard the U.S.S. Guadalcanal\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-36-mqf-test-guadalcanal-mar-10-1969-69-h-581-medium.jpg 1800w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-36-mqf-test-guadalcanal-mar-10-1969-69-h-581-medium.jpg?resize=300,238 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-36-mqf-test-guadalcanal-mar-10-1969-69-h-581-medium.jpg?resize=768,608 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-36-mqf-test-guadalcanal-mar-10-1969-69-h-581-medium.jpg?resize=1024,811 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-36-mqf-test-guadalcanal-mar-10-1969-69-h-581-medium.jpg?resize=1536,1216 1536w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-36-mqf-test-guadalcanal-mar-10-1969-69-h-581-medium.jpg?resize=400,317 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-36-mqf-test-guadalcanal-mar-10-1969-69-h-581-medium.jpg?resize=600,475 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-36-mqf-test-guadalcanal-mar-10-1969-69-h-581-medium.jpg?resize=900,713 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-36-mqf-test-guadalcanal-mar-10-1969-69-h-581-medium.jpg?resize=1200,950 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 230px) 100vw, 230px\" \/><\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-37-mqf-test-interiod-guadalcanal-mar-11-1969-medium.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" height=\"182\" width=\"230\" class=\"wp-image-634363\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-37-mqf-test-interiod-guadalcanal-mar-11-1969-medium.jpg\" alt=\"Dr. Carpentier, left, astronaut surrogates Paul H. Kruppenbacher, Arthur E. Lizza, and Michael T. \u201cTex\u201d Ward, and engineer John K. Hirasake inside the MQF aboard the Guadalcanal\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-37-mqf-test-interiod-guadalcanal-mar-11-1969-medium.jpg 1800w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-37-mqf-test-interiod-guadalcanal-mar-11-1969-medium.jpg?resize=300,238 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-37-mqf-test-interiod-guadalcanal-mar-11-1969-medium.jpg?resize=768,608 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-37-mqf-test-interiod-guadalcanal-mar-11-1969-medium.jpg?resize=1024,811 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-37-mqf-test-interiod-guadalcanal-mar-11-1969-medium.jpg?resize=1536,1216 1536w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-37-mqf-test-interiod-guadalcanal-mar-11-1969-medium.jpg?resize=400,317 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-37-mqf-test-interiod-guadalcanal-mar-11-1969-medium.jpg?resize=600,475 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-37-mqf-test-interiod-guadalcanal-mar-11-1969-medium.jpg?resize=900,713 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-37-mqf-test-interiod-guadalcanal-mar-11-1969-medium.jpg?resize=1200,950 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 230px) 100vw, 230px\" \/><\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-38-mqf-lifted-from-guadalcanal-mar-16-1969-s69-28485-medium.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" height=\"182\" width=\"182\" class=\"wp-image-634364\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-38-mqf-lifted-from-guadalcanal-mar-16-1969-s69-28485-medium.jpg\" alt=\"Workers at Norfolk Naval Air Station in Virginia lift the MQF off the Guadalcanal onto a truck for its return to Houston\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-38-mqf-lifted-from-guadalcanal-mar-16-1969-s69-28485-medium.jpg 1600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-38-mqf-lifted-from-guadalcanal-mar-16-1969-s69-28485-medium.jpg?resize=150,150 150w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-38-mqf-lifted-from-guadalcanal-mar-16-1969-s69-28485-medium.jpg?resize=300,300 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-38-mqf-lifted-from-guadalcanal-mar-16-1969-s69-28485-medium.jpg?resize=768,768 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-38-mqf-lifted-from-guadalcanal-mar-16-1969-s69-28485-medium.jpg?resize=1024,1024 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-38-mqf-lifted-from-guadalcanal-mar-16-1969-s69-28485-medium.jpg?resize=1536,1536 1536w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-38-mqf-lifted-from-guadalcanal-mar-16-1969-s69-28485-medium.jpg?resize=50,50 50w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-38-mqf-lifted-from-guadalcanal-mar-16-1969-s69-28485-medium.jpg?resize=100,100 100w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-38-mqf-lifted-from-guadalcanal-mar-16-1969-s69-28485-medium.jpg?resize=200,200 200w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-38-mqf-lifted-from-guadalcanal-mar-16-1969-s69-28485-medium.jpg?resize=400,400 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-38-mqf-lifted-from-guadalcanal-mar-16-1969-s69-28485-medium.jpg?resize=600,600 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-38-mqf-lifted-from-guadalcanal-mar-16-1969-s69-28485-medium.jpg?resize=900,900 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-38-mqf-lifted-from-guadalcanal-mar-16-1969-s69-28485-medium.jpg?resize=1200,1200 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 182px) 100vw, 182px\" \/><\/a><br><em>Left: Flight surgeon Dr. William R. Carpentier, left, and the three astronaut surrogates wearing Biological Isolation Garments, prepare to enter the Mobile Quarantine Facility (MQF) aboard the U.S.S. Guadalcanal. Middle: Dr. Carpentier, left, astronaut surrogates Paul H. Kruppenbacher, Arthur E. Lizza, and Michael T. \u201cTex\u201d Ward, and engineer John K. Hirasake inside the MQF aboard the Guadalcanal. Right: Workers at Norfolk Naval Air Station in Virginia lift the MQF off the Guadalcanal onto a truck for its return to Houston.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Preparations for ground support facilities for the first lunar landing mission continued. In conjunction with the Apollo 9 splashdown and recovery operations aboard the Guadalcanal, NASA conducted a simulation of recovery operations of astronauts returning from a lunar mission. NASA Flight Surgeon Dr. William R. Carpentier, project engineer <a href=\"https:\/\/historycollection.jsc.nasa.gov\/JSCHistoryPortal\/history\/oral_histories\/HirasakiJK\/hirasakijk.htm\" rel=\"noopener\">John K. Hirasaki<\/a>, and three astronaut stand-ins, Paul H. Kruppenbacher, Michael T. \u201cTex\u201d Ward, and Arthur E. Lizza, spent 10 days inside a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/feature\/50-years-ago-mobile-quarantine-facility-arrives-in-houston\">Mobile Quarantine Facility<\/a> (MQF), a modified Airstream trailer designed to temporarily house astronauts returning from the Moon. The three astronaut surrogates began the simulation by entering a mockup CM that sailors placed in the ocean and recovered as if returning from a space mission. The trio donned Biological Isolation Garments (BIG), meant to prevent contamination of Earth by any possible lunar organisms. Once on board the Guadalcanal, the three accompanied by Carpentier and Hirasaki entered the MQF for four days, where the just-recovered Apollo 9 crew visited them through the window of the trailer. The five stayed inside the MQF except for the short time it was transferred from the Guadalcanal to a waiting transport aircraft at Norfolk Naval Air Station and flown back to Houston. After offloading, the MQF and its five inhabitants transferred to the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/history\/building-on-a-mission-the-lunar-receiving-laboratory\/\">Lunar Receiving Laboratory<\/a> (LRL) in MSC\u2019s Building 37 to begin a simulated quarantine. Overall, the exercise tested the procedures for the activities after the first lunar landing mission, with many lessons learned.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-39-lrl-cra-sim-mar-1969-s69-28804-medium.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" height=\"182\" width=\"233\" class=\"wp-image-634365\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-39-lrl-cra-sim-mar-1969-s69-28804-medium.jpg\" alt=\"During a simulation, workers line up in the kitchen of the Crew Reception Area of the Lunar Receiving Laboratory at the Manned Spacecraft Center (MSC), now NASA\u2019s Johnson Space Center in Houston\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-39-lrl-cra-sim-mar-1969-s69-28804-medium.jpg 3120w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-39-lrl-cra-sim-mar-1969-s69-28804-medium.jpg?resize=300,235 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-39-lrl-cra-sim-mar-1969-s69-28804-medium.jpg?resize=768,600 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-39-lrl-cra-sim-mar-1969-s69-28804-medium.jpg?resize=1024,800 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-39-lrl-cra-sim-mar-1969-s69-28804-medium.jpg?resize=1536,1201 1536w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-39-lrl-cra-sim-mar-1969-s69-28804-medium.jpg?resize=2048,1601 2048w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-39-lrl-cra-sim-mar-1969-s69-28804-medium.jpg?resize=400,313 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-39-lrl-cra-sim-mar-1969-s69-28804-medium.jpg?resize=600,469 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-39-lrl-cra-sim-mar-1969-s69-28804-medium.jpg?resize=900,704 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-39-lrl-cra-sim-mar-1969-s69-28804-medium.jpg?resize=1200,938 1200w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-39-lrl-cra-sim-mar-1969-s69-28804-medium.jpg?resize=2000,1563 2000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 233px) 100vw, 233px\" \/><\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-40-vatf-jun-1-1965-s65-28043-medium.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" height=\"182\" width=\"232\" class=\"wp-image-634366\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-40-vatf-jun-1-1965-s65-28043-medium.jpg\" alt=\"The Vibration and Acoustics Test Facility (VATF) at MSC\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-40-vatf-jun-1-1965-s65-28043-medium.jpg 1600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-40-vatf-jun-1-1965-s65-28043-medium.jpg?resize=300,236 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-40-vatf-jun-1-1965-s65-28043-medium.jpg?resize=768,604 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-40-vatf-jun-1-1965-s65-28043-medium.jpg?resize=1024,806 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-40-vatf-jun-1-1965-s65-28043-medium.jpg?resize=1536,1209 1536w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-40-vatf-jun-1-1965-s65-28043-medium.jpg?resize=400,315 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-40-vatf-jun-1-1965-s65-28043-medium.jpg?resize=600,472 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-40-vatf-jun-1-1965-s65-28043-medium.jpg?resize=900,708 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-40-vatf-jun-1-1965-s65-28043-medium.jpg?resize=1200,944 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 232px) 100vw, 232px\" \/><\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-41-lm-2-drop-test-pretest-mar-24-1969-s69-28267-medium.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" height=\"182\" width=\"181\" class=\"wp-image-634367\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-41-lm-2-drop-test-pretest-mar-24-1969-s69-28267-medium.jpg\" alt=\"The Lunar Module during drop testing in the VATF\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-41-lm-2-drop-test-pretest-mar-24-1969-s69-28267-medium.jpg?resize=150,150 150w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-41-lm-2-drop-test-pretest-mar-24-1969-s69-28267-medium.jpg?resize=300,300 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-41-lm-2-drop-test-pretest-mar-24-1969-s69-28267-medium.jpg?resize=768,766 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-41-lm-2-drop-test-pretest-mar-24-1969-s69-28267-medium.jpg?resize=50,50 50w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-41-lm-2-drop-test-pretest-mar-24-1969-s69-28267-medium.jpg?resize=100,100 100w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-41-lm-2-drop-test-pretest-mar-24-1969-s69-28267-medium.jpg?resize=200,200 200w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-41-lm-2-drop-test-pretest-mar-24-1969-s69-28267-medium.jpg?resize=400,400 400w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 181px) 100vw, 181px\" \/><\/a><br><em>Left: During a simulation, workers line up in the kitchen of the Crew Reception Area of the Lunar Receiving Laboratory at the Manned Spacecraft Center (MSC), now NASA\u2019s Johnson Space Center in Houston. Middle: The Vibration and Acoustics Test Facility (VATF) at MSC. Right: The Lunar Module during drop testing in the VATF.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Managers, scientists, technicians, and engineers conducted a 30-day simulation in the LRL, the most complex test of the facility to verify that all its components would be ready to support crewmembers and their samples returning from the Moon, possibly by July 1969. A separate seven-day simulation of the astronaut quarantine capabilities in the LRL\u2019s Crew Reception Area began on March 25. Fifteen NASA and contractor employees, most of whom would participate in the activities following the actual lunar landing mission, demonstrated the logistics of maintaining astronauts and support staff in isolation. All biological barriers operated during the simulation, and the only contact test personnel had with the outside world was via telephone or through glass walls.  The first part of the test included the simulated arrival of lunar materials and film, followed the next day by the arrival of the stand-in crew. The last part of the test included the process for releasing the crew and personnel from quarantine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Structures and Mechanics Division at MSC conducted a series of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/history\/50-years-ago-on-the-way-to-the-moon-7\/\">drop tests<\/a> in the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/history\/building-on-a-mission-spacecraft-environmental-testing\/\">Vibration and Acoustic Test Facility<\/a> (VATF) to verify that the LM\u2019s systems would operate following a lunar landing. The LM\u2019s manufacturer, the Grumman Aircraft Engineering Corporation, located in Bethpage, New York, provided technical support for the tests using LM-2, a flight qualified  vehicle with all subsystems installed. To simulate the LM\u2019s configuration at landing, workers filled the tanks in the ascent stage with inert fluid to mimic a full load of fuel, while keeping the descent stage tanks mostly empty as they would be following the powered descent from orbit. The series of five tests began on March 21, 1969, and finished on May 7. Engineers dropped LM-2 from heights ranging from eight to 24 inches onto artificial slopes and obstructions to simulate landings on rough lunar terrain. Successful completion of the drop tests removed a constraint from carrying out the first lunar landing. Visitors can view LM-2 on display at the Smithsonian Institution\u2019s National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><em>Apollo 12<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-42-apollo-12-s-ivb-arrival-mar-10-1969-ksc-69p-209-medium.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" height=\"173\" width=\"243\" class=\"wp-image-634369\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-42-apollo-12-s-ivb-arrival-mar-10-1969-ksc-69p-209-medium.jpg\" alt=\"The S-IVB third stage for the Apollo 12 Saturn V arrives at NASA\u2019s Kennedy Space Center (KSC) in Florida\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-42-apollo-12-s-ivb-arrival-mar-10-1969-ksc-69p-209-medium.jpg 1600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-42-apollo-12-s-ivb-arrival-mar-10-1969-ksc-69p-209-medium.jpg?resize=300,213 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-42-apollo-12-s-ivb-arrival-mar-10-1969-ksc-69p-209-medium.jpg?resize=768,546 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-42-apollo-12-s-ivb-arrival-mar-10-1969-ksc-69p-209-medium.jpg?resize=1024,728 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-42-apollo-12-s-ivb-arrival-mar-10-1969-ksc-69p-209-medium.jpg?resize=1536,1092 1536w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-42-apollo-12-s-ivb-arrival-mar-10-1969-ksc-69p-209-medium.jpg?resize=400,284 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-42-apollo-12-s-ivb-arrival-mar-10-1969-ksc-69p-209-medium.jpg?resize=600,426 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-42-apollo-12-s-ivb-arrival-mar-10-1969-ksc-69p-209-medium.jpg?resize=900,640 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-42-apollo-12-s-ivb-arrival-mar-10-1969-ksc-69p-209-medium.jpg?resize=1200,853 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 243px) 100vw, 243px\" \/><\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-43-apollo-12-lm-arrives-ksc-mar-24-1969-medium.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" height=\"173\" width=\"218\" class=\"wp-image-634370\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-43-apollo-12-lm-arrives-ksc-mar-24-1969-medium.jpg\" alt=\"The Apollo 12 Lunar Module arrives at KSC\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-43-apollo-12-lm-arrives-ksc-mar-24-1969-medium.jpg 1600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-43-apollo-12-lm-arrives-ksc-mar-24-1969-medium.jpg?resize=300,237 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-43-apollo-12-lm-arrives-ksc-mar-24-1969-medium.jpg?resize=768,608 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-43-apollo-12-lm-arrives-ksc-mar-24-1969-medium.jpg?resize=1024,810 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-43-apollo-12-lm-arrives-ksc-mar-24-1969-medium.jpg?resize=1536,1215 1536w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-43-apollo-12-lm-arrives-ksc-mar-24-1969-medium.jpg?resize=400,317 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-43-apollo-12-lm-arrives-ksc-mar-24-1969-medium.jpg?resize=600,475 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-43-apollo-12-lm-arrives-ksc-mar-24-1969-medium.jpg?resize=900,712 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-43-apollo-12-lm-arrives-ksc-mar-24-1969-medium.jpg?resize=1200,950 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 218px) 100vw, 218px\" \/><\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-44-apollo-12-cm-sm-in-msob-w-apollo-11-csm-apr-1-1969-medium.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" height=\"173\" width=\"218\" class=\"wp-image-634371\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-44-apollo-12-cm-sm-in-msob-w-apollo-11-csm-apr-1-1969-medium.jpg\" alt=\"In KSC\u2019s Manned Spacecraft Operations Building, workers uncrate the Apollo 12 Command and Service Modules, foreground, as they continue work on the Apollo 11 spacecraft\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-44-apollo-12-cm-sm-in-msob-w-apollo-11-csm-apr-1-1969-medium.jpg 1600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-44-apollo-12-cm-sm-in-msob-w-apollo-11-csm-apr-1-1969-medium.jpg?resize=300,237 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-44-apollo-12-cm-sm-in-msob-w-apollo-11-csm-apr-1-1969-medium.jpg?resize=768,608 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-44-apollo-12-cm-sm-in-msob-w-apollo-11-csm-apr-1-1969-medium.jpg?resize=1024,810 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-44-apollo-12-cm-sm-in-msob-w-apollo-11-csm-apr-1-1969-medium.jpg?resize=1536,1215 1536w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-44-apollo-12-cm-sm-in-msob-w-apollo-11-csm-apr-1-1969-medium.jpg?resize=400,317 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-44-apollo-12-cm-sm-in-msob-w-apollo-11-csm-apr-1-1969-medium.jpg?resize=600,475 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-44-apollo-12-cm-sm-in-msob-w-apollo-11-csm-apr-1-1969-medium.jpg?resize=900,712 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-44-apollo-12-cm-sm-in-msob-w-apollo-11-csm-apr-1-1969-medium.jpg?resize=1200,950 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 218px) 100vw, 218px\" \/><\/a><br><em>Left: The S-IVB third stage for the Apollo 12 Saturn V arrives at NASA\u2019s Kennedy Space Center (KSC) in Florida. Middle: The Apollo 12 Lunar Module arrives at KSC. Right: In KSC\u2019s Manned Spacecraft Operations Building, workers uncrate the Apollo 12 Command and Service Modules, foreground, as they continue work on the Apollo 11 spacecraft.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In case Apollo 11 could not achieve the Moon landing in July, NASA planned to try again with Apollo 12 in September. To protect for that launch date, components of the rocket and spacecraft began arriving at KSC. The Saturn V\u2019s S-IVB third stage arrived on March 10 and workers placed it in storage in the VAB until the other two stages arrived in April and May. The Apollo 12 LM\u2019s two stages arrived on March 24, and workers transported them to the MSOB. The CM and SM arrived four days later, and they shared space in the MSOB with the Apollo 11 spacecraft undergoing testing.<\/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 March 1969:<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>March 2 \u2013 First test flight of the Anglo-French Concorde supersonic jet transport in Toulouse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>March 3 \u2013 The U.S. Navy established the Navy Fighter Weapons School, better known as Top Gun, at Naval Air Station Miramar in California.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>March 16 \u2013 Historical musical \u201c1776\u201d opens, runs for 1,217 performances, and wins three Tony Awards<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>March 17 \u2013 Golda Meir becomes Israel\u2019s fourth and first, and so far only, woman prime minister.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>March 26 \u2013 \u201cMarcus Welby, M.D.\u201d debuts as a TV movie on ABC, then becomes a series.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>March 27 \u2013 Mariner 7 joins Mariner 6 on a journey to fly by Mars.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>March 28 \u2013 Dwight D. Eisenhower, 34<sup>th<\/sup> president of the U.S., died at age 78.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>March 31 \u2013 Kurt Vonnegut\u2019s novel \u201cSlaughterhouse-Five\u201d was published.<\/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 class=\"margin-bottom-2\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"heading-14\">Share<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"padding-bottom-2\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<ul class=\"social-icons social-icons-round\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"social-icon social-icon-x\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/intent\/tweet?via=NASA&text=55%20Years%20Ago%3A%20Four%20Months%20Until%20the%20Moon%20Landing&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nasa.gov%2Fhistory%2F55-years-ago-four-months-until-the-moon-landing%2F\" aria-label=\"Share on X.\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg width=\"1200\" height=\"1227\" viewBox=\"0 0 1200 1227\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M714.163 519.284L1160.89 0H1055.03L667.137 450.887L357.328 0H0L468.492 681.821L0 1226.37H105.866L515.491 750.218L842.672 1226.37H1200L714.137 519.284H714.163ZM569.165 687.828L521.697 619.934L144.011 79.6944H306.615L611.412 515.685L658.88 583.579L1055.08 1150.3H892.476L569.165 687.854V687.828Z\" fill=\"white\"\/><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"social-icon social-icon-facebook\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nasa.gov%2Fhistory%2F55-years-ago-four-months-until-the-moon-landing%2F\" aria-label=\"Share on Facebook.\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><path d=\"M9 8h-3v4h3v12h5v-12h3.642l.358-4h-4v-1.667c0-.955.192-1.333 1.115-1.333h2.885v-5h-3.808c-3.596 0-5.192 1.583-5.192 4.615v3.385z\"\/><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"social-icon social-icon-linkedin\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nasa.gov%2Fhistory%2F55-years-ago-four-months-until-the-moon-landing%2F\" aria-label=\"Share on LinkedIn.\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><path d=\"M4.98 3.5c0 1.381-1.11 2.5-2.48 2.5s-2.48-1.119-2.48-2.5c0-1.38 1.11-2.5 2.48-2.5s2.48 1.12 2.48 2.5zm.02 4.5h-5v16h5v-16zm7.982 0h-4.968v16h4.969v-8.399c0-4.67 6.029-5.052 6.029 0v8.399h4.988v-10.131c0-7.88-8.922-7.593-11.018-3.714v-2.155z\"\/><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"social-icon social-icon-rss\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"\/feed\/\" aria-label=\"Subscribe to RSS feed.\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 800 800\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><path d=\"M493 652H392c0-134-111-244-244-244V307c189 0 345 156 345 345zm71 0c0-228-188-416-416-416V132c285 0 520 235 520 520z\"\/><circle cx=\"219\" cy=\"581\" r=\"71\"\/><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"grid-col-12 desktop:grid-col-5 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 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\">Mar 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\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 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\t14 hours 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>The road to the Moon landing cleared a major hurdle in March 1969 with the flight of Apollo 9 that tested all components of the spacecraft in low Earth orbit. Astronauts James A. McDivitt and Russell L. Schweickart flew the Lunar Module (LM) Spider while David R. Scott awaited their return in the Command Module [...]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":74,"featured_media":634338,"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: Four Months Until the Moon Landing","url":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/history\/55-years-ago-four-months-until-the-moon-landing\/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/history\/55-years-ago-four-months-until-the-moon-landing\/"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-26-apollo-9-astronauts-w-shatalov-yeliseyev-paris-air-show-1969.jpg?w=150&h=150&crop=1","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-26-apollo-9-astronauts-w-shatalov-yeliseyev-paris-air-show-1969.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":"2024-03-20T15:27:00Z","datePublished":"2024-03-20T15:27:00Z","dateModified":"2024-03-20T15:27:03Z"},"rendered":"<meta name=\"parsely-title\" content=\"55 Years Ago: Four Months Until the Moon Landing\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-link\" content=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/history\/55-years-ago-four-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\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-26-apollo-9-astronauts-w-shatalov-yeliseyev-paris-air-show-1969.jpg?w=150&h=150&crop=1\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-pub-date\" content=\"2024-03-20T15:27:00Z\" \/>\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":21,"time_ago":"3 months","featured_image":{"id":634338,"file":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moon-landing-l-4-months-26-apollo-9-astronauts-w-shatalov-yeliseyev-paris-air-show-1969.jpg","title":"Soviet cosmonauts and american astronauts in Le Burge. 618834 01.06.1969 Airport Le Burge. XXV111 International salon o","alt":"In front of the Apollo 8 Command Module at the 1969 Paris Air Show, astronauts meet cosmonauts \u2013 Scott, Vladimir A. Shatalov, McDivitt, Aleksei S. Yeliseyev, and Schweickart","caption":"In front of the Apollo 8 Command Module at the 1969 Paris Air Show, astronauts meet cosmonauts \u2013 Scott, Vladimir A. Shatalov, McDivitt, Aleksei S. Yeliseyev, and Schweickart"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/634270"}],"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=634270"}],"version-history":[{"count":23,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/634270\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":634626,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/634270\/revisions\/634626"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/634338"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=634270"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=634270"},{"taxonomy":"news-tags","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news-tags?post=634270"},{"taxonomy":"internal-terms","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/internal-terms?post=634270"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=634270"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}