Apollo
Apollo 9
Apollo 9 was the first crewed flight of the Apollo Lunar Module. During ten days in Earth orbit, astronauts tested every major maneuver required for a Moon landing, including docking, undocking, independent Lunar Module flight, spacewalks, and rendezvous, proving the complete Apollo landing system before committing crews to lunar orbit.
Launch
March 3, 1969
Duration
10 days, 1 hour, 54 seconds
Crew
Uncrewed
Mission record
Apollo archive entry · Successful
Mission Overview
The mission
Apollo 9 was the first crewed flight of the Apollo Lunar Module. During ten days in Earth orbit, astronauts tested every major maneuver required for a Moon landing, including docking, undocking, independent Lunar Module flight, spacewalks, and rendezvous, proving the complete Apollo landing system before committing crews to lunar orbit.
Mission Details
Program
Apollo
Launch
March 3, 1969
Duration
10 days, 1 hour, 54 seconds
Status
Successful
Mission by the Numbers
Mission Statistics
Mission Type
Crewed Earth-Orbit Lunar Module Qualification Flight
Launch Vehicle
Saturn V AS-504
Crew
0 astronauts
Status
Successful
Mission Goals
Mission objectives
- 01
Perform the first crewed flight of the Apollo Lunar Module.
- 02
Demonstrate docking between the Command Module and Lunar Module.
- 03
Evaluate Lunar Module life-support systems.
- 04
Test the Lunar Module descent engine.
- 05
Test the Lunar Module ascent engine.
- 06
Demonstrate independent Lunar Module flight.
- 07
Perform rendezvous between the Lunar Module and Command Module.
- 08
Validate docking procedures after independent flight.
- 09
Evaluate Apollo Guidance Computer performance.
- 10
Conduct spacewalks using Apollo EVA equipment.
- 11
Test the Portable Life Support System for lunar EVAs.
- 12
Evaluate spacecraft communications systems.
- 13
Verify Saturn V performance with the complete Apollo stack.
- 14
Qualify the Lunar Module for lunar missions.
- 15
Prepare NASA for Apollo 10 and Apollo 11.
Mission Timeline
Late 1968
Mission Planning
Following Apollo 8's success, NASA prepared the first mission that would fly the complete Apollo spacecraft configuration, including the Lunar Module.
March 3, 1969 · 11:00 a.m. EST
Launch
Apollo 9 launched aboard Saturn V AS-504 from Launch Complex 39A, carrying astronauts James McDivitt, David Scott, and Russell Schweickart into Earth orbit.
Earth Orbit
Parking Orbit Achieved
The Saturn V successfully placed Apollo 9 into Earth orbit, allowing engineers to begin checkout of both spacecraft before separating the Lunar Module.
Shortly After Orbit
Docking with Spider
David Scott maneuvered the Command Module to dock with Lunar Module Spider, marking the first crewed docking with a Lunar Module in space.
Flight Day 2
Lunar Module Activation
Astronauts entered Spider for the first time, powering up the spacecraft and beginning an extensive evaluation of its guidance, electrical, environmental, and propulsion systems.
Flight Day 3
Crew Transfer
McDivitt and Schweickart transferred into Spider while Scott remained aboard Gumdrop, rehearsing the crew operations that would later occur in lunar orbit.
Flight Day 4
Spacewalk Preparations
Engineers completed final preparations for the first test of the Apollo lunar spacesuit and life-support backpack outside the spacecraft.
Flight Day 5
Apollo EVA Begins
Russell Schweickart exited Spider wearing the first complete Apollo lunar EVA suit, while David Scott simultaneously worked outside Gumdrop, validating procedures for future Moon walks.
Flight Day 5
Spider Flies Independently
James McDivitt and Russell Schweickart undocked the Lunar Module Spider from Gumdrop, marking the first time astronauts flew a Lunar Module independently in space.
Independent Operations
Lunar Module Maneuvers
Spider maneuvered several miles away from the Command Module while astronauts evaluated attitude control, guidance systems, communications, rendezvous radar, and spacecraft handling characteristics.
Descent Engine Test
DPS Qualification
The Lunar Module's Descent Propulsion System fired successfully, proving the throttleable engine that would later slow Apollo astronauts toward the lunar surface.
Ascent Engine Demonstration
APS Ignition
Spider's Ascent Propulsion System ignited successfully, demonstrating the engine responsible for launching astronauts from the Moon back into lunar orbit.
Rendezvous
Return to Gumdrop
Using the Lunar Module's guidance computer and rendezvous radar, McDivitt and Schweickart successfully navigated Spider back toward David Scott aboard Gumdrop.
Docking
Successful Redocking
Spider docked smoothly with Gumdrop, completing the first rendezvous and docking of two crewed spacecraft specifically designed for lunar landing operations.
Equipment Transfer
Crew Returns
McDivitt and Schweickart transferred back into the Command Module while mission specialists completed final evaluations of the Lunar Module before jettisoning it.
Late Mission
Additional SPS Tests
The Service Propulsion System engine performed additional burns to further validate spacecraft propulsion and orbital maneuvering capabilities.
March 13, 1969
Reentry
Apollo 9 successfully reentered Earth's atmosphere after completing every major engineering objective required before a lunar landing mission.
March 13, 1969
Splashdown
The Command Module safely splashed down in the Atlantic Ocean, concluding a ten-day mission that fully qualified the Lunar Module for flight to the Moon.
Postflight
Lunar Module Certified
Following extensive engineering analysis, NASA declared the Lunar Module ready for lunar missions, clearing the way for Apollo 10's full dress rehearsal.
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