kids encyclopedia robot

Apollo 9 facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Quick facts for kids
Apollo 9
Gumdrop Meets Spider - GPN-2000-001100.jpg
David Scott performs a standup EVA from Command Module Gumdrop, seen from docked Lunar Module Spider
Mission type Lunar Module test flight
Operator NASA
Mission duration 10 days, 1 hours, 54 seconds
Spacecraft properties
Spacecraft
Manufacturer
  • CSM: North American Rockwell
  • LM: Grumman
Launch mass 95,231 pounds (43,196 kg)
Landing mass 11,094 pounds (5,032 kg)
Crew
Crew size 3
Members
Callsign
  • CSM: Gumdrop
  • LM: Spider
EVAs 1
EVA duration 77 minutes
Start of mission
Launch date March 3, 1969, 16:00:00 (1969-03-03UTC16Z) UTC
Rocket Saturn V SA-504
Launch site Kennedy LC-39A
End of mission
Recovered by USS Guadalcanal
Decay date October 23, 1981 (LM)
Landing date March 13, 1969, 17:00:54 (1969-03-13UTC17:00:55Z) UTC
Landing site North Atlantic Ocean
23°15′N 67°56′W / 23.250°N 67.933°W / 23.250; -67.933 (Apollo 9 splashdown)
Orbital parameters
Reference system Geocentric
Regime Low Earth orbit
Perigee 204 kilometers (127 mi)
Apogee 497 kilometers (309 mi)
Inclination 33.8 degrees
Period 91.55 minutes
Epoch March 5, 1969
Docking with LM
Docking date March 3, 1969, 19:01:59 UTC
Undocking date March 7, 1969, 12:39:06 UTC
Docking with LM Ascent Stage
Docking date March 7, 1969, 19:02:26 UTC
Undocking date March 7, 1969, 21:22:45 UTC
Apollo-9-patch.png Apollo9 Prime Crew.jpg
Left to right: McDivitt, Scott, Schweickart
← Apollo 8
Apollo 10 →

Apollo 9 was a mission in NASA's Apollo program. It was the third manned mission in the Apollo program and was the first flight of the Command/Service Module (CSM) with the Lunar Module (LM). The crew was Commander James A. McDivitt, Command Module Pilot David R. Scott, and Lunar Module Pilot Russell L. Schweickart. The mission was launched on March 3, 1969. The mission tested several things which were important for landing on the Moon, including the LM engines, backpack life support systems, navigation systems, and docking maneuvers.

Images for kids

  • Apollo 9 Flown Silver Robbins Medallion (SN-260)

    Apollo 9 space-flown silver Robbins medallion

  • McDivitt, Scott and Schweickart in preliminary training for Apollo AS-258 mission

    McDivitt, Scott, and Schweickart train for the AS-205/208 mission in the first Block II spacecraft and space suits, which still had most of the fire hazards the Apollo 1 spacecraft had.

  • Aerial view of the Apollo 9 space vehicle on the way from the Vehicle Assembly Building to Pad A

    The launch vehicle for Apollo 9 being taken to Pad 39A

  • Lunar Module 3 arrives at KSC aboard Super Guppy (KSC-68PC-85)

    LM-3 arrives at KSC, June 1968

  • Apollo 9 backup crew (S68-55255)

    Apollo 9 backup crew training in Gumdrop

  • Apollo 9 Schweickart with EMU

    Schweickart with the life support backpack

  • Apollo-9-Lancering

    Apollo 9 launches from Kennedy Space Center, March 3, 1969

  • Schweickart Apollo 9 EVA (AS09-19-2982)

    Schweickart during his EVA, photographed by Scott standing up in the command module hatch

  • Spider in Earth Orbit - GPN-2000-001106

    Apollo 9 LM Spider

  • Interior of Gumdrop (AS09-20-3104)

    The interior of Gumdrop

  • Apollo 9 approaches splashdown

    Apollo 9 approaches splashdown in the Atlantic Ocean, March 13, 1969

  • The Apollo 9 Command Module (CM)

    Gumdrop is hoisted aboard the USS Guadalcanal

  • AS09-23-3500 (22038477212)

    Image of the Moon taken from Apollo 9

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Apolo 9 para niños

kids search engine
All content from Kiddle encyclopedia articles (including the article images and facts) can be freely used under Attribution-ShareAlike license, unless stated otherwise. Cite this article:
Apollo 9 Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.