Apollo 9

Apollo 9 was the third manned mission in the Apollo program. Ten-day earth-orbital mission launched March 3, 1969. Second manned flight of the Saturn V launch vehicle. First manned flight of the Apollo Lunar Module (LM). Crew members tested the LM and practiced separation and docking maneuvers in earth orbit.

Launched: March 3, 1969 from Pad 39A

Returned: March 13, 1969

Crew members: James McDivitt, commander; David Scott, command module pilot; Rusty Schweickart, lunar module pilot.

Command module: Gumdrop

Lunar module: Spider

The command module is displayed at the Michigan Space and Science Center, Jackson, Michigan. The LM descent stage's orbit decayed 22 March, 1969 and it impacted Earth. The LM ascent stage orbit decayed and impacted Earth on 23 October, 1981.

Preceded by : Apollo 8

Apollo program

Followed by : Apollo 10

External Link

• Apollo 9 entry in Encyclopedia Astronautica