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Apollo
9, which was composed of a command module (CM), a command service
module (CSM), a lunar module (LM), and an instrument unit (IU),
was launched by a Saturn V rocket on March 3, 1969, from Cape Kennedy.
The
crew were Commander J.R. McDivitt, CM pilot D.R. Scott, and LM pilot
R.L. Schweikart.
On
Apollo 9 the CM and LM were separated and some maneuvers, including
docking, were completed, but the LM did not land because this was
an earth-circling mission. It had its own propulsion, communication,
and life support systems.
The
LM was jettisoned into Earth orbit before the CM re-entry, where
it stayed until its orbit decayed on 23 October 1981. All systems
on all spacecraft worked nearly normally during the mission.
Apollo
9 splashed down in the Atlantic Ocean on 13 March after a mission
elapsed time of 241 hrs, 0 mins, 54 secs.
The
Apollo 9 Command Module "Gumdrop" is on display at the Michigan
Space Center, Jackson, Michigan.
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