Apollo 16 facts for kids
Apollo 16 was an exciting space mission by NASA. It was the tenth time humans flew into space as part of the Apollo program. This mission was also the fifth of six Apollo trips that landed astronauts on the Moon.
Apollo 16 was a special "J-Type" mission. This meant the astronauts would stay on the Moon for a longer time. The mission launched on April 16, 1972.
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Meet the Astronauts
The crew of Apollo 16 had three brave astronauts:
- John Young was the mission commander. He was in charge of the flight.
- Charles Duke was the Lunar Module pilot. He landed on the Moon with John Young.
- Ken Mattingly was the Command Module pilot. He stayed in orbit around the Moon.
Orbiting the Moon
While John Young and Charles Duke explored the Moon, Ken Mattingly stayed in orbit. He flew the Apollo Command Module, named Casper. Ken spent 3 days, 9 hours, and 28 minutes by himself. This was the longest solo space flight by an American at that time.
Exploring the Lunar Surface
On the Moon, John Young and Charles Duke had a lot of fun. They used the Lunar Roving Vehicle, which was like a "moon buggy." They put the moon buggy through many tests. These included making S-turns, sharp hairpin turns, and quick stops. This helped them learn how to drive the rover on the Moon's surface.
Science from Space
On the way back to Earth, the astronauts launched a small satellite. This satellite helped scientists learn more about the Moon. It studied the Moon's mass and how its gravity works. It also looked at tiny particles near the Moon. The satellite even checked how the Moon's and Earth's magnetic fields interact.
Early Return Home
The mission was planned to last a bit longer. However, there were a few small problems with the spacecraft. Because of this, the mission ended one day earlier than planned. Even with the early return, Apollo 16 was a huge success!
Images for kids
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Apollo 16 space-flown silver Robbins medallion
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Location of the Apollo 16 landing site
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John Young and Charles Duke training at the Rio Grande Gorge in New Mexico
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Young (right) and Duke training to drive the Lunar Roving Vehicle
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Apollo 16's launch vehicle by the VAB, January 27, 1972
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Apollo 16's Passive Seismic Experiment
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The Lunar Surface Magnetometer
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Artist's conception of subsatellite deployment
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Launch of Apollo 16
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Earth from Apollo 16 during the trans-lunar coast
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NASA officials conferring on whether to allow the Apollo 16 landing, April 20, 1972
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The view from the side of Stone Mountain, which Duke described as "spectacular"
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John Young adjusting the LRV's antenna near Shadow Rock
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Casper above the Moon
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Ken Mattingly performing his deep-space EVA, retrieving film cassettes from the CSM's exterior
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Command module Casper at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama
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Duke left a photo of his family on the Moon.
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See also
In Spanish: Apolo 16 para niños
