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# Apollo 16

Occurred 52 years ago

Three primary objectives of the Apollo 16 mission were (1) to inspect, survey, and sample materials and surface features at a selected landing site in the Descartes region; (2) emplace and activate surface experiments; and (3) conduct in-flight experiments and photographic tasks from lunar orbit. Additional objectives included performance of experiments requiring zero gravity and engineering evaluation of spacecraft and equipment.

Mission Type

crew

Launch

Landing

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# Apollo 16: Mission Details

Mission Objective Three primary objectives were (1) to inspect, survey, and sample materials and surface features at a selected landing…
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## Mission Facts

**Launch:** April 16, 1972; 12:54:00:567 p.m. EST**Launch Pad:** 39A**Orbit Duration:** 11 days, 1 hour, 51 minutes**Orbit Altitude:** 107.5 miles**Orbit Inclination:** 32.54 degrees**Orbits:** 64 revolutions**Orbit Surface Time:** 71:02:13**Orbit Distance:**1,391,550**Landing:** April 27, 1972**Landing Location:**Pacific Ocean**Payload:** Casper (CM-113), Orion (LM-11)

          -  					John W. Young				 
          -  					Charles M. Duke Jr.				 
          -  					Thomas K. Mattingly II				 

## John W. Young

Commander

In September 1962, John W. Young was selected as an astronaut. He is the first person to fly in space six times from earth, and seven times counting his lunar liftoff. Young has logged more than 15,275 hours flying time in props, jets, helicopters, rocket jets, more than 9,200 hours in T-38s, and six space flights of 835 hours.
				More About John W. Young                			

## Charles M. Duke Jr.

Lunar Module Pilot

When notified of his selection as an astronaut, Duke was at the Air Force Aerospace Research Pilot School as an instructor teaching control systems and flying in the F-101, F-104, and T-33 aircraft. Duke was one of the 19 astronauts selected by NASA in April 1966. He served as member of the astronaut support crew for the Apollo 10 flight, the CAPCOM for Apollo 11, and backup Lunar Module Pilot for Apollo 13 before his first and only flight to space for Apollo 16.
				More About Charles Duke Jr.                			

## Thomas K. Mattingly II

Command Module Pilot

Ken Mattingly was one of the 19 astronauts selected by NASA in April 1966. He served as a member of the support crews for the Apollo 8 and 11 missions and was the astronaut representative in development and testing of the Apollo spacesuit and backpack (EMU). He was designated Command Module Pilot for the Apollo 13 flight but was removed from flight status 72 hours prior to the scheduled launch due to exposure to the German measles.
				More About Thomas Mattingly II                			

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# 50 Years Ago: Apollo 16 Launches to the Moon

The fifth Moon landing mission began with the April 16, 1972 launch of Apollo 16. The giant Saturn V rocket…
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## Apollo 16 Articles

Read more about the Apollo 16 mission.

50 Years Ago: Apollo 16 Astronauts Return to Houston
Following their April 27, 1972 splashdown that ended their successful 11-day Moon landing mission, Apollo 16 astronauts John W. Young,…

Article

50 Years Ago: Apollo 16 Splashes Down
On April 27, 1972, Apollo 16 astronauts John W. Young, Thomas K. “Ken” Mattingly, and Charles M. Duke successfully ended…

Article

50 Years Ago: Apollo 16 Heads Home to Earth
On April 23, 1972, following three days exploring the Descartes highlands site on the Moon, Apollo 16 astronauts John W.…

Article

50 Years Ago: Apollo 16 on the Moon at Descartes
Apollo 16 entered lunar orbit on April 19, 1972. The next day, NASA astronauts John W. Young and Charles M.…

Article

50 Years Ago: Apollo 16 Launches to the Moon
The fifth Moon landing mission began with the April 16, 1972 launch of Apollo 16. The giant Saturn V rocket…

Article

50 Years Ago: Countdown Begins for Apollo 16, the Fifth Moon Landing Mission
At NASA’s Kennedy Space Center (KSC) in Florida, engineers began the countdown for the April 16, 1972 launch of Apollo…

Article

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## Apollo 16

11 Images

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## Apollo News

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Apollo 9 Crew Comes Home

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-  									Page Last Updated:								  								Nov 03, 2023								 
-  									Page Editor:								  									Michele Ostovar								 
-  								Responsible NASA Official:							  								Abigail Bowman