{"id":9974,"date":"2024-01-19T12:01:21","date_gmt":"2024-01-19T16:01:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/zobi.alcowep.com\/bourtagshdrevxnls658739\/55-years-ago-six-months-until-the-moon-landing\/"},"modified":"2024-01-19T12:01:21","modified_gmt":"2024-01-19T16:01:21","slug":"55-years-ago-six-months-until-the-moon-landing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/zobi.alcowep.com\/bourtagshdrevxnls658739\/55-years-ago-six-months-until-the-moon-landing\/","title":{"rendered":"55 Years Ago: Six Months Until the Moon Landing"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\">55 Years Ago: Six Months Until the Moon Landing<\/h2>\n<p><!-- no image --><\/p>\n<p>The new year of 1969 dawned with optimism that NASA would meet President John F. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/history\/60-years-ago-president-kennedy-proposes-moon-landing-goal-in-speech-to-congress\/\">Kennedy\u2019s goal<\/a> of landing a man on the Moon and returning him safely to the Earth. The previous year saw four Apollo missions, two uncrewed and two carrying three astronauts each, test different components of the lunar landing architecture, culminating with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/history\/55-years-ago-seven-months-before-the-moon-landing\/\">Apollo 8<\/a>\u2019s December flight around the Moon. Challenges remaining for the new year included testing the Lunar Module (LM) with a crew, first in Earth orbit, and then in lunar orbit, a flight that served as a dress rehearsal for the Moon landing that could take place on the following mission. With flights occurring every two months, engineers at NASA\u2019s Kennedy Space Center (KSC) in Florida processed three spacecraft and launch vehicles in parallel.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Recovering from the fire<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-596605\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-1-apollo-1-crew-at-pad-34-jan-17-1967-s67-19770.jpg\" alt=\"The Apollo 1 crew of Virgil I. \u201cGus\u201d Grissom, left, Edward H. White, and Roger B. Chaffee\" width=\"219\" height=\"182\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-1-apollo-1-crew-at-pad-34-jan-17-1967-s67-19770.jpg 3242w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-1-apollo-1-crew-at-pad-34-jan-17-1967-s67-19770.jpg?resize=300,250 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-1-apollo-1-crew-at-pad-34-jan-17-1967-s67-19770.jpg?resize=768,640 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-1-apollo-1-crew-at-pad-34-jan-17-1967-s67-19770.jpg?resize=1024,853 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-1-apollo-1-crew-at-pad-34-jan-17-1967-s67-19770.jpg?resize=1536,1279 1536w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-1-apollo-1-crew-at-pad-34-jan-17-1967-s67-19770.jpg?resize=2048,1706 2048w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-1-apollo-1-crew-at-pad-34-jan-17-1967-s67-19770.jpg?resize=400,333 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-1-apollo-1-crew-at-pad-34-jan-17-1967-s67-19770.jpg?resize=600,500 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-1-apollo-1-crew-at-pad-34-jan-17-1967-s67-19770.jpg?resize=900,750 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-1-apollo-1-crew-at-pad-34-jan-17-1967-s67-19770.jpg?resize=1200,999 1200w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-1-apollo-1-crew-at-pad-34-jan-17-1967-s67-19770.jpg?resize=2000,1666 2000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 219px) 100vw, 219px\"> <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-596606\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-2-apollo-4-launch-s67-50433.jpg\" alt=\"Liftoff of the first Saturn V on the Apollo 4 mission\" width=\"120\" height=\"182\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-2-apollo-4-launch-s67-50433.jpg 1638w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-2-apollo-4-launch-s67-50433.jpg?resize=197,300 197w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-2-apollo-4-launch-s67-50433.jpg?resize=768,1169 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-2-apollo-4-launch-s67-50433.jpg?resize=673,1024 673w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-2-apollo-4-launch-s67-50433.jpg?resize=1009,1536 1009w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-2-apollo-4-launch-s67-50433.jpg?resize=1346,2048 1346w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-2-apollo-4-launch-s67-50433.jpg?resize=263,400 263w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-2-apollo-4-launch-s67-50433.jpg?resize=394,600 394w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-2-apollo-4-launch-s67-50433.jpg?resize=591,900 591w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-2-apollo-4-launch-s67-50433.jpg?resize=788,1200 788w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-2-apollo-4-launch-s67-50433.jpg?resize=1314,2000 1314w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 120px) 100vw, 120px\"> <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-596607\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-3-apollo-5-mating-to-sla-s67-50927.jpg\" alt=\"The Lunar Module for the Apollo 5 mission\" width=\"125\" height=\"182\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-3-apollo-5-mating-to-sla-s67-50927.jpg 1294w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-3-apollo-5-mating-to-sla-s67-50927.jpg?resize=205,300 205w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-3-apollo-5-mating-to-sla-s67-50927.jpg?resize=768,1126 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-3-apollo-5-mating-to-sla-s67-50927.jpg?resize=699,1024 699w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-3-apollo-5-mating-to-sla-s67-50927.jpg?resize=1048,1536 1048w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-3-apollo-5-mating-to-sla-s67-50927.jpg?resize=273,400 273w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-3-apollo-5-mating-to-sla-s67-50927.jpg?resize=409,600 409w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-3-apollo-5-mating-to-sla-s67-50927.jpg?resize=614,900 614w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-3-apollo-5-mating-to-sla-s67-50927.jpg?resize=819,1200 819w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 125px) 100vw, 125px\"> <img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-image-596608\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-4-apollo-6-recovery-s68-27076.jpg\" alt=\"Recovery of the Apollo 6 Command Module\" width=\"188\" height=\"182\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-4-apollo-6-recovery-s68-27076.jpg 2724w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-4-apollo-6-recovery-s68-27076.jpg?resize=300,290 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-4-apollo-6-recovery-s68-27076.jpg?resize=768,743 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-4-apollo-6-recovery-s68-27076.jpg?resize=1024,991 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-4-apollo-6-recovery-s68-27076.jpg?resize=1536,1486 1536w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-4-apollo-6-recovery-s68-27076.jpg?resize=2048,1982 2048w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-4-apollo-6-recovery-s68-27076.jpg?resize=400,387 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-4-apollo-6-recovery-s68-27076.jpg?resize=600,581 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-4-apollo-6-recovery-s68-27076.jpg?resize=900,871 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-4-apollo-6-recovery-s68-27076.jpg?resize=1200,1161 1200w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-4-apollo-6-recovery-s68-27076.jpg?resize=2000,1935 2000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 188px) 100vw, 188px\"><br \/><em>Left: The Apollo 1 crew of Virgil I. \u201cGus\u201d Grissom, left, Edward H. White, and Roger B. Chaffee. Middle left: Liftoff of the first Saturn V on the Apollo 4 mission. Middle right: The Lunar Module for the Apollo 5 mission. Right: Recovery of the Apollo 6 Command Module.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>The years 1967 and 1968 proved turbulent for the world. For NASA, the focus remained on recovering from the tragic <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/history\/55-years-ago-tragedy-on-the-launch-pad\/\">Apollo 1 fire<\/a> in time to meet President Kennedy\u2019s fast approaching end of the decade deadline. The fire resulted in a thorough redesign of the Command Module (CM) to reduce flammability risks and to include an easy to open hatch. Engineers also removed <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/history\/50-years-ago-apollo-flammability-tests\/\">flammable materials from the Lunar Module<\/a> (LM). In November 1967, the first flight of the Saturn V carried <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/history\/55-years-ago-apollo-4-the-first-flight-of-the-saturn-v\/\">Apollo 4<\/a> on a nine-hour uncrewed mission to test the CM\u2019s heat shield. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/history\/55-years-ago-the-first-test-flight-of-the-apollo-lunar-module\/\">Apollo 5<\/a> in January 1968 completed an uncrewed test of the LM so successful that NASA decided to cancel a second test. Although fraught with problems, the April 1968 flight of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/history\/55-years-ago-the-flight-of-apollo-6\/\">Apollo 6<\/a> tested the CM heat shield once again. Managers believed that engineers could solve the problems encountered during this mission and declared that the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/history\/55-years-ago-nasa-administrator-webb-oks-flying-a-crew-on-the-third-saturn-v\/\">next Saturn V would carry a crew<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Apollo 7 and 8<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-image-596609\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-5-apollo-7-crew-on-essex-s68-49744.jpg\" alt=\"Apollo 7 astronauts Walter M. Schirra, left, Donn F. Eisele, and R. Walter Cunningham on the recovery ship USS Essex following their 11-day mission\" width=\"308\" height=\"230\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-5-apollo-7-crew-on-essex-s68-49744.jpg 5726w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-5-apollo-7-crew-on-essex-s68-49744.jpg?resize=300,224 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-5-apollo-7-crew-on-essex-s68-49744.jpg?resize=768,575 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-5-apollo-7-crew-on-essex-s68-49744.jpg?resize=1024,766 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-5-apollo-7-crew-on-essex-s68-49744.jpg?resize=1536,1149 1536w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-5-apollo-7-crew-on-essex-s68-49744.jpg?resize=2048,1532 2048w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-5-apollo-7-crew-on-essex-s68-49744.jpg?resize=400,299 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-5-apollo-7-crew-on-essex-s68-49744.jpg?resize=600,449 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-5-apollo-7-crew-on-essex-s68-49744.jpg?resize=900,673 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-5-apollo-7-crew-on-essex-s68-49744.jpg?resize=1200,898 1200w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-5-apollo-7-crew-on-essex-s68-49744.jpg?resize=2000,1496 2000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 308px) 100vw, 308px\"> <img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-image-596610\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-6-apollo-8-earthrise-photo-as08-14-2383.jpg\" alt=\"The famous Earthrise photograph from Apollo 8\" width=\"350\" height=\"230\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-6-apollo-8-earthrise-photo-as08-14-2383.jpg 3000w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-6-apollo-8-earthrise-photo-as08-14-2383.jpg?resize=300,197 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-6-apollo-8-earthrise-photo-as08-14-2383.jpg?resize=768,505 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-6-apollo-8-earthrise-photo-as08-14-2383.jpg?resize=1024,673 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-6-apollo-8-earthrise-photo-as08-14-2383.jpg?resize=1536,1009 1536w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-6-apollo-8-earthrise-photo-as08-14-2383.jpg?resize=2048,1346 2048w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-6-apollo-8-earthrise-photo-as08-14-2383.jpg?resize=400,263 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-6-apollo-8-earthrise-photo-as08-14-2383.jpg?resize=600,394 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-6-apollo-8-earthrise-photo-as08-14-2383.jpg?resize=900,591 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-6-apollo-8-earthrise-photo-as08-14-2383.jpg?resize=1200,788 1200w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-6-apollo-8-earthrise-photo-as08-14-2383.jpg?resize=2000,1314 2000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 350px) 100vw, 350px\"><br \/><em>Left: Apollo 7 astronauts Walter M. Schirra, left, Donn F. Eisele, and R. Walter Cunningham on the recovery ship USS Essex following their 11-day mission. Right: The famous Earthrise photograph from Apollo 8.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>By October 1968, thorough ground testing of the Apollo spacecraft enabled the first crewed mission since the fire. Apollo 7 astronauts <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/former-astronaut-walter-wally-schirra\/\">Walter M. Schirra<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/eisele_donn.pdf?emrc=4e176f?emrc=4e176f\">Donn F. Eisele<\/a>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/cunningham-walter.pdf?emrc=99f0de\">R. Walter Cunningham<\/a> successfully <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/history\/55-years-ago-nine-months-before-the-moon-landing\/\">completed the 11-day test flight<\/a>, achieving all mission objectives. In August, with LM development running behind schedule, senior NASA managers began discussions of sending Apollo 8 on a circumlunar flight, pending the outcome of Apollo 7. With that hurdle successfully cleared, astronauts <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/former-astronaut-frank-borman\/\">Frank Borman<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/former-astronaut-james-a-lovell\/\">James A. Lovell<\/a>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/former-astronaut-william-a-anders\/\">William A. Anders<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/history\/50-years-ago-apollo-8-in-lunar-orbit\/\">orbited the Moon<\/a> 10 times during Christmas 1968, taking a giant leap toward achieving the Moon landing.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-image-596611\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-7-apollo-8-wh-presenting-earthrise-jan-9-1969.jpg\" alt=\"At the White House, Apollo 8 astronauts Frank Borman, James A. Lovell, and William A. Anders present a copy of the Earthrise photograph to President Lyndon B. Johnson\" width=\"232\" height=\"154\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-7-apollo-8-wh-presenting-earthrise-jan-9-1969.jpg 1280w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-7-apollo-8-wh-presenting-earthrise-jan-9-1969.jpg?resize=300,199 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-7-apollo-8-wh-presenting-earthrise-jan-9-1969.jpg?resize=768,509 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-7-apollo-8-wh-presenting-earthrise-jan-9-1969.jpg?resize=1024,678 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-7-apollo-8-wh-presenting-earthrise-jan-9-1969.jpg?resize=400,265 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-7-apollo-8-wh-presenting-earthrise-jan-9-1969.jpg?resize=600,398 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-7-apollo-8-wh-presenting-earthrise-jan-9-1969.jpg?resize=900,596 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-7-apollo-8-wh-presenting-earthrise-jan-9-1969.jpg?resize=1200,795 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 232px) 100vw, 232px\"> <img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-image-596612\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-8-apollo-8-wh-jan-9-1969.jpg\" alt=\"Accompanied by Vice President Hubert H. Humphrey, Borman, Lovell, and Anders take a motorcade from the White House to the Capitol\" width=\"228\" height=\"154\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-8-apollo-8-wh-jan-9-1969.jpg 550w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-8-apollo-8-wh-jan-9-1969.jpg?resize=300,203 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-8-apollo-8-wh-jan-9-1969.jpg?resize=400,271 400w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 228px) 100vw, 228px\"> <img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-image-596613\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-9-apollo-8-joint-meeting-of-congress-lovell-speaking-jan-9-1969.jpg\" alt=\"Borman, left, Lovell, and Anders address a joint meeting of Congress\" width=\"224\" height=\"154\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-9-apollo-8-joint-meeting-of-congress-lovell-speaking-jan-9-1969.jpg 529w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-9-apollo-8-joint-meeting-of-congress-lovell-speaking-jan-9-1969.jpg?resize=300,206 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-9-apollo-8-joint-meeting-of-congress-lovell-speaking-jan-9-1969.jpg?resize=400,275 400w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 224px) 100vw, 224px\"><br \/><em>Left: At the White House, Apollo 8 astronauts Frank Borman, James A. Lovell, and William A. Anders present a copy of the Earthrise photograph to President Lyndon B. Johnson. Middle: Accompanied by Vice President Hubert H. Humphrey, Borman, Lovell, and Anders take a motorcade from the White House to the Capitol. Right: Borman, left, Lovell, and Anders address a joint meeting of Congress.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>With their space missions completed, the Apollo 7 and 8 crews remained busy with events celebrating their successes. On Jan. 3, 1969, TIME magazine named Apollo 8 astronauts Borman, Lovell, and Anders their Men of the Year for 1968. Kicking off a whirlwind of events, on Jan. 9, outgoing President Lyndon B. Johnson welcomed them to the White House, where he presented them with NASA Distinguished Service Medals. They in turn presented him with a copy of the famous Earthrise photograph. Accompanied by Vice President Hubert H. Humphrey, Borman, Lovell, and Anders rode in a motorcade down Pennsylvania Avenue to the Capitol where the astronauts addressed a joint meeting of Congress. From there, they proceeded to the State Department for a press conference, their day ending with a dinner in their honor at the Smithsonian Institution.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-image-596614\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-10-apollo-8-nyc-parade-waving-jan-10-1969.jpg\" alt=\"Apollo 8 astronauts James A. Lovell, left, Frank Borman, and William A. Anders wave to the crowds assembled along their parade route in New York City\" width=\"273\" height=\"173\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-10-apollo-8-nyc-parade-waving-jan-10-1969.jpg 551w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-10-apollo-8-nyc-parade-waving-jan-10-1969.jpg?resize=300,190 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-10-apollo-8-nyc-parade-waving-jan-10-1969.jpg?resize=400,253 400w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 273px) 100vw, 273px\"> <img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-image-596615\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-11-apollo-8-newark-new-jersey-jan-11-1969.jpg\" alt=\"Borman, Lovell, and Anders address a crowd at Newark airport\" width=\"259\" height=\"173\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-11-apollo-8-newark-new-jersey-jan-11-1969.jpg 960w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-11-apollo-8-newark-new-jersey-jan-11-1969.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-11-apollo-8-newark-new-jersey-jan-11-1969.jpg?resize=768,511 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-11-apollo-8-newark-new-jersey-jan-11-1969.jpg?resize=400,266 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-11-apollo-8-newark-new-jersey-jan-11-1969.jpg?resize=600,399 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-11-apollo-8-newark-new-jersey-jan-11-1969.jpg?resize=900,599 900w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 259px) 100vw, 259px\"> <img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-image-596616\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-12-apollo-8-super-bowl-iii-miami-jan-12-1969.jpg\" alt=\"In Miami\u2019s Orange Bowl Lovell, left, Borman, and Anders lead the fans in the Pledge of Allegiance at Super Bowl III\" width=\"136\" height=\"173\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-12-apollo-8-super-bowl-iii-miami-jan-12-1969.jpg 1140w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-12-apollo-8-super-bowl-iii-miami-jan-12-1969.jpg?resize=237,300 237w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-12-apollo-8-super-bowl-iii-miami-jan-12-1969.jpg?resize=768,974 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-12-apollo-8-super-bowl-iii-miami-jan-12-1969.jpg?resize=807,1024 807w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-12-apollo-8-super-bowl-iii-miami-jan-12-1969.jpg?resize=315,400 315w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-12-apollo-8-super-bowl-iii-miami-jan-12-1969.jpg?resize=473,600 473w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-12-apollo-8-super-bowl-iii-miami-jan-12-1969.jpg?resize=710,900 710w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-12-apollo-8-super-bowl-iii-miami-jan-12-1969.jpg?resize=946,1200 946w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 136px) 100vw, 136px\"><br \/><em>Left: Apollo 8 astronauts James A. Lovell, left, Frank Borman, and William A. Anders wave to the crowds assembled along their parade route in New York City. Middle: Borman, Lovell, and Anders address a crowd at Newark airport. Right: In Miami\u2019s Orange Bowl Lovell, left, Borman, and Anders lead the fans in the Pledge of Allegiance at Super Bowl III.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>On Jan. 10, New York City held a tickertape parade for Borman, Lovell, and Anders. Mayor John V. Lindsay presented them with Medals of the City of New York, after which they attended a luncheon at Lincoln Center, a reception at the United Nations, and dinner at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel. The next day, in 15-degree weather, they spoke to a crowd of about 1,500 people at Newark Airport before boarding a plane for much warmer Miami, where on Jan. 12 they attended Super Bowl III, and led the Orange Bowl crowd in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-image-596617\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-13-apollo-8-houston-astros-presenting-photo-to-gov-connolly-jan-13-1969.jpg\" alt=\"In Houston, Apollo 8 astronauts William A. Anders, left, Frank Borman, and James A. Lovell present an Earthrise photograph and flags of Texas to Governor John B. Connally, far right, and Mayor Louie Welch, hidden behind the photograph\" width=\"245\" height=\"182\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-13-apollo-8-houston-astros-presenting-photo-to-gov-connolly-jan-13-1969.jpg 859w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-13-apollo-8-houston-astros-presenting-photo-to-gov-connolly-jan-13-1969.jpg?resize=300,224 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-13-apollo-8-houston-astros-presenting-photo-to-gov-connolly-jan-13-1969.jpg?resize=768,572 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-13-apollo-8-houston-astros-presenting-photo-to-gov-connolly-jan-13-1969.jpg?resize=400,298 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-13-apollo-8-houston-astros-presenting-photo-to-gov-connolly-jan-13-1969.jpg?resize=600,447 600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 245px) 100vw, 245px\"> <img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-image-596618\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-14-apollo-8-houston-parade-borman-jan-13-1969-s69-16734.jpg\" alt=\"Borman and his family in the parade through downtown Houston, with Lovell and Anders and their families following behind\" width=\"180\" height=\"182\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-14-apollo-8-houston-parade-borman-jan-13-1969-s69-16734.jpg 1899w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-14-apollo-8-houston-parade-borman-jan-13-1969-s69-16734.jpg?resize=297,300 297w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-14-apollo-8-houston-parade-borman-jan-13-1969-s69-16734.jpg?resize=768,776 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-14-apollo-8-houston-parade-borman-jan-13-1969-s69-16734.jpg?resize=1013,1024 1013w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-14-apollo-8-houston-parade-borman-jan-13-1969-s69-16734.jpg?resize=1519,1536 1519w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-14-apollo-8-houston-parade-borman-jan-13-1969-s69-16734.jpg?resize=50,50 50w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-14-apollo-8-houston-parade-borman-jan-13-1969-s69-16734.jpg?resize=100,100 100w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-14-apollo-8-houston-parade-borman-jan-13-1969-s69-16734.jpg?resize=396,400 396w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-14-apollo-8-houston-parade-borman-jan-13-1969-s69-16734.jpg?resize=593,600 593w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-14-apollo-8-houston-parade-borman-jan-13-1969-s69-16734.jpg?resize=890,900 890w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-14-apollo-8-houston-parade-borman-jan-13-1969-s69-16734.jpg?resize=1187,1200 1187w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 180px) 100vw, 180px\"> <img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-image-596619\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-15-apollo-8-chicago-parade-jan-14-1969-3.jpg\" alt=\"Lovell, Borman, and Anders wave to the crowds in the parade in Chicago\" width=\"244\" height=\"182\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-15-apollo-8-chicago-parade-jan-14-1969-3.jpg 449w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-15-apollo-8-chicago-parade-jan-14-1969-3.jpg?resize=300,224 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-15-apollo-8-chicago-parade-jan-14-1969-3.jpg?resize=400,299 400w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 244px) 100vw, 244px\"><br \/><em>Left: In Houston, Apollo 8 astronauts William A. Anders, left, Frank Borman, and James A. Lovell present an Earthrise photograph and flags of Texas to Governor John B. Connally, far right, and Mayor Louie Welch, hidden behind the photograph. Middle: Borman and his family in the parade through downtown Houston, with Lovell and Anders and their families following behind. Right: Lovell, Borman, and Anders wave to the crowds in the parade in Chicago.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>A crowd estimated at about 250,000 welcomed Borman, Lovell, and Anders home to Houston on Jan. 13. In a ceremony outside the Albert Thomas Convention Center, Mayor Louie Welch presented them with bronze medals for heroism, and the astronauts presented Welch and Texas Governor John B. Connally with plaques bearing Texas flags they had flown to the Moon as well as a framed copy of the Earthrise photograph. The astronauts took part in the largest parade in the city\u2019s history. The next day, the city of Chicago welcomed Borman, Lovell, and Anders. An estimated 1.5 million people cheered them on their parade route to a reception where they received honors from city council.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-image-596623\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-16-apollo-7-cm-in-nixon-inaugural-parade-jan-20-1969-nixon-presidential-library.jpg\" alt=\"The Apollo 7 Command Module and a Lunar Module mockup on a float in President Richard M. Nixon\u2019s inauguration parade; Apollo 7 astronauts Walter M. Schirra, R. Walter Cunningham, and Donn F. Eisele preceded the float in an open-air limousine\" width=\"334\" height=\"221\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-16-apollo-7-cm-in-nixon-inaugural-parade-jan-20-1969-nixon-presidential-library.jpg 1280w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-16-apollo-7-cm-in-nixon-inaugural-parade-jan-20-1969-nixon-presidential-library.jpg?resize=300,199 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-16-apollo-7-cm-in-nixon-inaugural-parade-jan-20-1969-nixon-presidential-library.jpg?resize=768,509 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-16-apollo-7-cm-in-nixon-inaugural-parade-jan-20-1969-nixon-presidential-library.jpg?resize=1024,678 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-16-apollo-7-cm-in-nixon-inaugural-parade-jan-20-1969-nixon-presidential-library.jpg?resize=400,265 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-16-apollo-7-cm-in-nixon-inaugural-parade-jan-20-1969-nixon-presidential-library.jpg?resize=600,398 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-16-apollo-7-cm-in-nixon-inaugural-parade-jan-20-1969-nixon-presidential-library.jpg?resize=900,596 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-16-apollo-7-cm-in-nixon-inaugural-parade-jan-20-1969-nixon-presidential-library.jpg?resize=1200,795 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 334px) 100vw, 334px\"> <img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-image-596625\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-17-apollo-8-crew-at-white-house-jan-30-1969.jpg\" alt=\"Apollo 8 astronauts Frank Borman, left, James A. Lovell, and William A. Anders with President Nixon at the White House\" width=\"333\" height=\"221\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-17-apollo-8-crew-at-white-house-jan-30-1969.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-17-apollo-8-crew-at-white-house-jan-30-1969.jpg?resize=300,198 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-17-apollo-8-crew-at-white-house-jan-30-1969.jpg?resize=768,508 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-17-apollo-8-crew-at-white-house-jan-30-1969.jpg?resize=1024,677 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-17-apollo-8-crew-at-white-house-jan-30-1969.jpg?resize=400,264 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-17-apollo-8-crew-at-white-house-jan-30-1969.jpg?resize=600,397 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-17-apollo-8-crew-at-white-house-jan-30-1969.jpg?resize=900,595 900w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 333px) 100vw, 333px\"><br \/><em>Left: The Apollo 7 Command Module and a Lunar Module mockup on a float in President Richard M. Nixon\u2019s inauguration parade; Apollo 7 astronauts Walter M. Schirra, R. Walter Cunningham, and Donn F. Eisele preceded the float in an open-air limousine. <strong>Image credit: courtesy Richard Nixon Library.<\/strong> Right: Apollo 8 astronauts Frank Borman, left, James A. Lovell, and William A. Anders with President Nixon at the White House.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>On Jan. 20, Apollo 7 astronauts Schirra, Eisele, and Cunningham rode in President Richard M. Nixon\u2019s inauguration parade in Washington, D.C. Their spacecraft and a LM mockup rode on a float behind them. Ten days later, the new President invited Apollo 8 astronauts Borman, Lovell, and Anders to the White House where he announced that Borman and his family would embark on an 18-day goodwill tour of eight European nations, starting on Feb. 2.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Apollo 9<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The LM remained the one component of the lunar landing architecture not yet tested by astronauts in space. That task fell to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/mcdivitt_james.pdf?emrc=8a2c95\">James A. McDivitt<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/scott_david.pdf?emrc=54adfb\">David R. Scott<\/a>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/schweickart_russell.pdf?emrc=a7ec6e\">Russell L. Schweickart<\/a>, the crew of Apollo 9. They and their backups <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/conrad_charles.pdf?emrc=2dbaa3\">Charles \u201cPete\u201d Conrad<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/gordon_richard_0.pdf?emrc=3de1fe\">Richard F. Gordon<\/a>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/former-astronaut-alan-bean\/\">Alan L. Bean<\/a> spent many hours in the LM simulators and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/history\/50-years-ago-apollo-9-spacewalk-preparations\/\">training for the spacewalk<\/a> component of the mission.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-image-596626\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-18-apollo-9-plss-testing-schweickart-jun-29-1968-s68-37415.jpg\" alt=\"In preparation for the Apollo 9 spacewalk, astronaut Russell L. Schweickart tests the Portable Life Support System backpack in an altitude chamber at the Manned Spacecraft Center (MSC), now NASA\u2019s Johnson Space Center in Houston\" width=\"253\" height=\"173\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-18-apollo-9-plss-testing-schweickart-jun-29-1968-s68-37415.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-18-apollo-9-plss-testing-schweickart-jun-29-1968-s68-37415.jpg?resize=300,205 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-18-apollo-9-plss-testing-schweickart-jun-29-1968-s68-37415.jpg?resize=768,524 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-18-apollo-9-plss-testing-schweickart-jun-29-1968-s68-37415.jpg?resize=400,273 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-18-apollo-9-plss-testing-schweickart-jun-29-1968-s68-37415.jpg?resize=600,409 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-18-apollo-9-plss-testing-schweickart-jun-29-1968-s68-37415.jpg?resize=900,614 900w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 253px) 100vw, 253px\"> <img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-image-596627\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-19-apollo-9-schweickert-wif-sep-10-1968.jpg\" alt=\"Schweickart trains for his spacewalk in MSC\u2019s Water Immersion Facility\" width=\"231\" height=\"173\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-19-apollo-9-schweickert-wif-sep-10-1968.jpg 860w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-19-apollo-9-schweickert-wif-sep-10-1968.jpg?resize=300,224 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-19-apollo-9-schweickert-wif-sep-10-1968.jpg?resize=768,573 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-19-apollo-9-schweickert-wif-sep-10-1968.jpg?resize=400,299 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-19-apollo-9-schweickert-wif-sep-10-1968.jpg?resize=600,448 600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 231px) 100vw, 231px\"> <img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-image-596628\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-20-apollo-9-kc-135-eva-training-gordon-bean-oct-10-1968-s68-48880.jpg\" alt=\"Apollo 9 backup astronauts Richard F. Gordon, left, and Alan L. Bean train for the spacewalk in the KC-135 zero-gravity aircraft\" width=\"173\" height=\"173\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-20-apollo-9-kc-135-eva-training-gordon-bean-oct-10-1968-s68-48880.jpg 3708w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-20-apollo-9-kc-135-eva-training-gordon-bean-oct-10-1968-s68-48880.jpg?resize=150,150 150w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-20-apollo-9-kc-135-eva-training-gordon-bean-oct-10-1968-s68-48880.jpg?resize=300,300 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-20-apollo-9-kc-135-eva-training-gordon-bean-oct-10-1968-s68-48880.jpg?resize=768,768 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-20-apollo-9-kc-135-eva-training-gordon-bean-oct-10-1968-s68-48880.jpg?resize=1024,1024 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-20-apollo-9-kc-135-eva-training-gordon-bean-oct-10-1968-s68-48880.jpg?resize=1536,1536 1536w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-20-apollo-9-kc-135-eva-training-gordon-bean-oct-10-1968-s68-48880.jpg?resize=2048,2048 2048w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-20-apollo-9-kc-135-eva-training-gordon-bean-oct-10-1968-s68-48880.jpg?resize=50,50 50w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-20-apollo-9-kc-135-eva-training-gordon-bean-oct-10-1968-s68-48880.jpg?resize=100,100 100w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-20-apollo-9-kc-135-eva-training-gordon-bean-oct-10-1968-s68-48880.jpg?resize=200,200 200w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-20-apollo-9-kc-135-eva-training-gordon-bean-oct-10-1968-s68-48880.jpg?resize=400,400 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-20-apollo-9-kc-135-eva-training-gordon-bean-oct-10-1968-s68-48880.jpg?resize=600,600 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-20-apollo-9-kc-135-eva-training-gordon-bean-oct-10-1968-s68-48880.jpg?resize=900,900 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-20-apollo-9-kc-135-eva-training-gordon-bean-oct-10-1968-s68-48880.jpg?resize=1200,1200 1200w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-20-apollo-9-kc-135-eva-training-gordon-bean-oct-10-1968-s68-48880.jpg?resize=2000,2000 2000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 173px) 100vw, 173px\"><br \/><em>Left: In preparation for the Apollo 9 spacewalk, astronaut Russell L. Schweickart tests the Portable Life Support System backpack in an altitude chamber at the Manned Spacecraft Center (MSC), now NASA\u2019s Johnson Space Center in Houston. Middle: Schweickart trains for his spacewalk in MSC\u2019s Water Immersion Facility. Right: Apollo 9 backup astronauts Richard F. Gordon, left, and Alan L. Bean train for the spacewalk in the KC-135 zero-gravity aircraft.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>Apollo 9\u2019s 10-day mission would take place in the relative safety of low Earth orbit. After docking with the LM, the crew\u2019s first major task involved the first spacewalk of the Apollo program and the only in-space test of the new A7L spacesuit before the Moon landing. McDivitt and Schweickart planned to enter the LM, leaving Scott in the CM. Schweickart and Scott would each perform a spacewalk from their respective spacecraft. Scott would only stand in the open CM hatch while Schweickart would exit via the LM\u2019s front hatch onto its porch, translate over to the CM using handrails, retrieve materials samples mounted on the spacecraft\u2019s exterior and return back to the LM, spending two hours outside. This spacewalk tested the ability of crews to transfer through open space, in case a malfunction with the tunnel or hatches between the two spacecraft prevented an internal transfer. The day after the spacewalk, McDivitt and Schweickart planned to undock the LM, leaving Scott in the CM, fly it up to 100 miles away, testing its descent and ascent stages before returning to Scott in the CM who would perform the rendezvous and docking.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-image-596635\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-21-apollo-9-rollout-jan-3-1969-silhouette.jpg\" alt=\"Apollo 9 rollout from the Vehicle Assembly Building to Launch Pad 39A at NASA\u2019s Kennedy Space Center in Florida\" width=\"160\" height=\"240\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-21-apollo-9-rollout-jan-3-1969-silhouette.jpg 756w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-21-apollo-9-rollout-jan-3-1969-silhouette.jpg?resize=200,300 200w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-21-apollo-9-rollout-jan-3-1969-silhouette.jpg?resize=683,1024 683w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-21-apollo-9-rollout-jan-3-1969-silhouette.jpg?resize=267,400 267w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-21-apollo-9-rollout-jan-3-1969-silhouette.jpg?resize=400,600 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-21-apollo-9-rollout-jan-3-1969-silhouette.jpg?resize=600,900 600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 160px) 100vw, 160px\"> <img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-image-596636\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-22-apollo-9-rollouot-jan-3-1969-s69-17485.jpg\" alt=\"Apollo 9 rollout from the Vehicle Assembly Building to Launch Pad 39A at NASA\u2019s Kennedy Space Center in Florida\" width=\"302\" height=\"240\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-22-apollo-9-rollouot-jan-3-1969-s69-17485.jpg 4655w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-22-apollo-9-rollouot-jan-3-1969-s69-17485.jpg?resize=300,238 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-22-apollo-9-rollouot-jan-3-1969-s69-17485.jpg?resize=768,610 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-22-apollo-9-rollouot-jan-3-1969-s69-17485.jpg?resize=1024,814 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-22-apollo-9-rollouot-jan-3-1969-s69-17485.jpg?resize=1536,1221 1536w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-22-apollo-9-rollouot-jan-3-1969-s69-17485.jpg?resize=2048,1628 2048w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-22-apollo-9-rollouot-jan-3-1969-s69-17485.jpg?resize=400,318 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-22-apollo-9-rollouot-jan-3-1969-s69-17485.jpg?resize=600,477 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-22-apollo-9-rollouot-jan-3-1969-s69-17485.jpg?resize=900,715 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-22-apollo-9-rollouot-jan-3-1969-s69-17485.jpg?resize=1200,954 1200w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-22-apollo-9-rollouot-jan-3-1969-s69-17485.jpg?resize=2000,1590 2000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 302px) 100vw, 302px\"> <img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-image-596637\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-23-apollo-9-rollout-jan-3-1969-s69-17489.jpg\" alt=\"Apollo 9 rollout from the Vehicle Assembly Building to Launch Pad 39A at NASA\u2019s Kennedy Space Center in Florida\" width=\"190\" height=\"240\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-23-apollo-9-rollout-jan-3-1969-s69-17489.jpg 3841w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-23-apollo-9-rollout-jan-3-1969-s69-17489.jpg?resize=238,300 238w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-23-apollo-9-rollout-jan-3-1969-s69-17489.jpg?resize=768,968 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-23-apollo-9-rollout-jan-3-1969-s69-17489.jpg?resize=812,1024 812w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-23-apollo-9-rollout-jan-3-1969-s69-17489.jpg?resize=1219,1536 1219w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-23-apollo-9-rollout-jan-3-1969-s69-17489.jpg?resize=1625,2048 1625w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-23-apollo-9-rollout-jan-3-1969-s69-17489.jpg?resize=317,400 317w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-23-apollo-9-rollout-jan-3-1969-s69-17489.jpg?resize=476,600 476w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-23-apollo-9-rollout-jan-3-1969-s69-17489.jpg?resize=714,900 714w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-23-apollo-9-rollout-jan-3-1969-s69-17489.jpg?resize=952,1200 952w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-23-apollo-9-rollout-jan-3-1969-s69-17489.jpg?resize=1587,2000 1587w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 190px) 100vw, 190px\"><br \/><em>At NASA\u2019s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, three views of the Apollo 9 rollout from the Vehicle Assembly Building to Launch Pad 39A.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>The first of the three vehicles in processing flow at KSC, Apollo 9 rolled out from High Bay 3 of the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) to Launch Pad 39A on Jan. 3, just 13 days after <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/history\/50-years-ago-apollo-8-you-are-go-for-tli\/\">Apollo 8 launched<\/a> from the same facility, causing relatively minor damage. Stages of the Apollo 9 Saturn V had arrived at KSC during the spring and summer of 1968, the LM arrived in June and the Command and Service Modules (CSM) in October. Workers completed stacking of the Saturn V in October, adding the Apollo spacecraft in early December. On Jan. 8, NASA announced Feb. 28, 1969, as the planned launch date for Apollo 9.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-image-596638\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-24-apollo-9-crew-walkout-for-emergency-egress-trng-jan-15-1969-s69-26243.jpg\" alt=\"Apollo 9 astronauts James A. McDivitt, front, David R. Scott, and Russell L. Schweickart depart crew quarters for the ride to Launch Pad 39A for emergency escape training\" width=\"201\" height=\"192\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-24-apollo-9-crew-walkout-for-emergency-egress-trng-jan-15-1969-s69-26243.jpg 3941w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-24-apollo-9-crew-walkout-for-emergency-egress-trng-jan-15-1969-s69-26243.jpg?resize=300,287 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-24-apollo-9-crew-walkout-for-emergency-egress-trng-jan-15-1969-s69-26243.jpg?resize=768,735 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-24-apollo-9-crew-walkout-for-emergency-egress-trng-jan-15-1969-s69-26243.jpg?resize=1024,981 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-24-apollo-9-crew-walkout-for-emergency-egress-trng-jan-15-1969-s69-26243.jpg?resize=1536,1471 1536w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-24-apollo-9-crew-walkout-for-emergency-egress-trng-jan-15-1969-s69-26243.jpg?resize=2048,1961 2048w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-24-apollo-9-crew-walkout-for-emergency-egress-trng-jan-15-1969-s69-26243.jpg?resize=400,383 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-24-apollo-9-crew-walkout-for-emergency-egress-trng-jan-15-1969-s69-26243.jpg?resize=600,575 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-24-apollo-9-crew-walkout-for-emergency-egress-trng-jan-15-1969-s69-26243.jpg?resize=900,862 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-24-apollo-9-crew-walkout-for-emergency-egress-trng-jan-15-1969-s69-26243.jpg?resize=1200,1149 1200w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-24-apollo-9-crew-walkout-for-emergency-egress-trng-jan-15-1969-s69-26243.jpg?resize=2000,1915 2000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 201px) 100vw, 201px\"> <img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-image-596639\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-25-apollo-9-pad-39-emergency-egress-training-jan-15-1969-s69-17883.jpg\" alt=\"Scott, left, Schweickart, and McDivitt in the White Room during the pad emergency escape drill\" width=\"206\" height=\"192\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-25-apollo-9-pad-39-emergency-egress-training-jan-15-1969-s69-17883.jpg 2796w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-25-apollo-9-pad-39-emergency-egress-training-jan-15-1969-s69-17883.jpg?resize=300,279 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-25-apollo-9-pad-39-emergency-egress-training-jan-15-1969-s69-17883.jpg?resize=768,715 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-25-apollo-9-pad-39-emergency-egress-training-jan-15-1969-s69-17883.jpg?resize=1024,953 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-25-apollo-9-pad-39-emergency-egress-training-jan-15-1969-s69-17883.jpg?resize=1536,1429 1536w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-25-apollo-9-pad-39-emergency-egress-training-jan-15-1969-s69-17883.jpg?resize=2048,1906 2048w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-25-apollo-9-pad-39-emergency-egress-training-jan-15-1969-s69-17883.jpg?resize=400,372 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-25-apollo-9-pad-39-emergency-egress-training-jan-15-1969-s69-17883.jpg?resize=600,558 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-25-apollo-9-pad-39-emergency-egress-training-jan-15-1969-s69-17883.jpg?resize=900,838 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-25-apollo-9-pad-39-emergency-egress-training-jan-15-1969-s69-17883.jpg?resize=1200,1117 1200w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-25-apollo-9-pad-39-emergency-egress-training-jan-15-1969-s69-17883.jpg?resize=2000,1861 2000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 206px) 100vw, 206px\"> <img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-image-596640\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-26-apollo-9-crew-presser-at-grumman-jan-25-1969-s69-17618.jpg\" alt=\"Scott, left, McDivitt, and Schweickart pose with their mission patch following a press conference at Grumman Aircraft and Engineering Corporation in Bethpage, New York\" width=\"239\" height=\"192\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-26-apollo-9-crew-presser-at-grumman-jan-25-1969-s69-17618.jpg 4628w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-26-apollo-9-crew-presser-at-grumman-jan-25-1969-s69-17618.jpg?resize=300,241 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-26-apollo-9-crew-presser-at-grumman-jan-25-1969-s69-17618.jpg?resize=768,617 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-26-apollo-9-crew-presser-at-grumman-jan-25-1969-s69-17618.jpg?resize=1024,822 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-26-apollo-9-crew-presser-at-grumman-jan-25-1969-s69-17618.jpg?resize=1536,1234 1536w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-26-apollo-9-crew-presser-at-grumman-jan-25-1969-s69-17618.jpg?resize=2048,1645 2048w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-26-apollo-9-crew-presser-at-grumman-jan-25-1969-s69-17618.jpg?resize=400,321 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-26-apollo-9-crew-presser-at-grumman-jan-25-1969-s69-17618.jpg?resize=600,482 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-26-apollo-9-crew-presser-at-grumman-jan-25-1969-s69-17618.jpg?resize=900,723 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-26-apollo-9-crew-presser-at-grumman-jan-25-1969-s69-17618.jpg?resize=1200,964 1200w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-26-apollo-9-crew-presser-at-grumman-jan-25-1969-s69-17618.jpg?resize=2000,1606 2000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 239px) 100vw, 239px\"><br \/><em>Left: Apollo 9 astronauts James A. McDivitt, front, David R. Scott, and Russell L. Schweickart depart crew quarters for the ride to Launch Pad 39A for emergency escape training. Middle: Scott, left, Schweickart, and McDivitt in the White Room during the pad emergency escape drill. Right: Scott, left, McDivitt, and Schweickart pose with their mission patch following a press conference at Grumman Aircraft and Engineering Corporation in Bethpage, New York.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>Workers at the pad immediately began to prepare the vehicle for flight, including software integration tests with the Mission Control Center at the Manned Spacecraft Center (MSC), now NASA\u2019s Johnson Space Center in Houston. On Jan. 15, the prime and backup crews conducted emergency egress training from their spacecraft at Launch Pad 39A. Launch controllers at KSC successfully completed the Flight Readiness Test, the final major overall test of the vehicle\u2019s systems, between Jan. 19 and 22. During a Jan. 25 press conference at the Grumman Aircraft and Engineering Corporation in Bethpage, New York, manufacturer of the LM, the Apollo 9 astronauts provided reporters with an overview of their mission.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Apollo 10<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Assuming Apollo 9 met its objectives and the LM proved space worthy in Earth orbit, in May Apollo 10 would repeat many of those tests in lunar orbit, including flying to within nine miles of the Moon\u2019s surface.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-image-596646\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-27-apollo-10-cooper-mitchell-lm-alt-test-dec-5-1968.jpg\" alt=\"Apollo 10 backup astronauts L. Gordon Cooper, front, and Edgar D. Mitchell arrive in the vacuum chamber in the Manned Spacecraft Operations Building (MSOB) at NASA\u2019s Kennedy Space Center in Florida for a Lunar Module (LM) altitude test\" width=\"186\" height=\"211\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-27-apollo-10-cooper-mitchell-lm-alt-test-dec-5-1968.jpg 1980w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-27-apollo-10-cooper-mitchell-lm-alt-test-dec-5-1968.jpg?resize=265,300 265w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-27-apollo-10-cooper-mitchell-lm-alt-test-dec-5-1968.jpg?resize=768,870 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-27-apollo-10-cooper-mitchell-lm-alt-test-dec-5-1968.jpg?resize=904,1024 904w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-27-apollo-10-cooper-mitchell-lm-alt-test-dec-5-1968.jpg?resize=1355,1536 1355w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-27-apollo-10-cooper-mitchell-lm-alt-test-dec-5-1968.jpg?resize=1807,2048 1807w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-27-apollo-10-cooper-mitchell-lm-alt-test-dec-5-1968.jpg?resize=353,400 353w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-27-apollo-10-cooper-mitchell-lm-alt-test-dec-5-1968.jpg?resize=529,600 529w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-27-apollo-10-cooper-mitchell-lm-alt-test-dec-5-1968.jpg?resize=794,900 794w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-27-apollo-10-cooper-mitchell-lm-alt-test-dec-5-1968.jpg?resize=1059,1200 1059w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-27-apollo-10-cooper-mitchell-lm-alt-test-dec-5-1968.jpg?resize=1765,2000 1765w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 186px) 100vw, 186px\"> <img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-image-596648\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-28-apollo-10-cm-lm-docking-test-dec-12-1968-69-hc-41.jpg\" alt=\"Engineers in the MSOB conduct a docking test between the LM and the Command Module (CM) docking test\" width=\"196\" height=\"211\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-28-apollo-10-cm-lm-docking-test-dec-12-1968-69-hc-41.jpg 2244w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-28-apollo-10-cm-lm-docking-test-dec-12-1968-69-hc-41.jpg?resize=278,300 278w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-28-apollo-10-cm-lm-docking-test-dec-12-1968-69-hc-41.jpg?resize=768,829 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-28-apollo-10-cm-lm-docking-test-dec-12-1968-69-hc-41.jpg?resize=949,1024 949w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-28-apollo-10-cm-lm-docking-test-dec-12-1968-69-hc-41.jpg?resize=1424,1536 1424w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-28-apollo-10-cm-lm-docking-test-dec-12-1968-69-hc-41.jpg?resize=1898,2048 1898w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-28-apollo-10-cm-lm-docking-test-dec-12-1968-69-hc-41.jpg?resize=371,400 371w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-28-apollo-10-cm-lm-docking-test-dec-12-1968-69-hc-41.jpg?resize=556,600 556w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-28-apollo-10-cm-lm-docking-test-dec-12-1968-69-hc-41.jpg?resize=834,900 834w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-28-apollo-10-cm-lm-docking-test-dec-12-1968-69-hc-41.jpg?resize=1112,1200 1112w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-28-apollo-10-cm-lm-docking-test-dec-12-1968-69-hc-41.jpg?resize=1854,2000 1854w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 196px) 100vw, 196px\"> <img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-image-596649\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-29-apollo-10-cm-in-msob-alt-chamber-jan-1969-69-hc-57.jpg\" alt=\"Engineers prepare the CM for an altitude test\" width=\"267\" height=\"211\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-29-apollo-10-cm-in-msob-alt-chamber-jan-1969-69-hc-57.jpg 3780w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-29-apollo-10-cm-in-msob-alt-chamber-jan-1969-69-hc-57.jpg?resize=300,237 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-29-apollo-10-cm-in-msob-alt-chamber-jan-1969-69-hc-57.jpg?resize=768,608 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-29-apollo-10-cm-in-msob-alt-chamber-jan-1969-69-hc-57.jpg?resize=1024,811 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-29-apollo-10-cm-in-msob-alt-chamber-jan-1969-69-hc-57.jpg?resize=1536,1216 1536w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-29-apollo-10-cm-in-msob-alt-chamber-jan-1969-69-hc-57.jpg?resize=2048,1621 2048w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-29-apollo-10-cm-in-msob-alt-chamber-jan-1969-69-hc-57.jpg?resize=400,317 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-29-apollo-10-cm-in-msob-alt-chamber-jan-1969-69-hc-57.jpg?resize=600,475 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-29-apollo-10-cm-in-msob-alt-chamber-jan-1969-69-hc-57.jpg?resize=900,712 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-29-apollo-10-cm-in-msob-alt-chamber-jan-1969-69-hc-57.jpg?resize=1200,950 1200w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-29-apollo-10-cm-in-msob-alt-chamber-jan-1969-69-hc-57.jpg?resize=2000,1583 2000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 267px) 100vw, 267px\"> <br \/><em>Left: Apollo 10 backup astronauts L. Gordon Cooper, front, and Edgar D. Mitchell arrive in the vacuum chamber in the Manned Spacecraft Operations Building (MSOB) at NASA\u2019s Kennedy Space Center in Florida for a Lunar Module (LM) altitude test. Middle: Engineers in the MSOB conduct a docking test between the LM and the Command Module (CM) docking test. Right: Engineers prepare the CM for an altitude test.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>In November 1968, just six months before the planned launch date, NASA officially named the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/history\/50-years-ago-nasa-names-apollo-10-crew\/\">Apollo 10 crew<\/a>. The prime crew consisted of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/former-astronaut-thomas-stafford\/\">Thomas P. Stafford<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/former-astronaut-john-w-young\/\">John W. Young<\/a>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/former-astronaut-eugene-a-cernan\/\">Eugene A. Cernan<\/a>. All had flown Gemini missions and had recently served as the Apollo 7 backup crew. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/former-astronaut-l-gordon-cooper\/\">L. Gordon Cooper<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/eisele_donn.pdf?emrc=4e176f?emrc=4e176f\">Donn F. Eisele<\/a>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/mitchell_edgar.pdf?emrc=2c3b40\">Edgar D. Mitchell<\/a> served as their backups.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-image-596650\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-30-apollo-10-rocket-awaiting-spacecraft-jan-1969.jpg\" alt=\"In High Bay 2 of the Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA\u2019s Kennedy Space Center (KSC) in Florida, the three stages of the Apollo 10 Saturn V await the arrival of the spacecraft\" width=\"156\" height=\"202\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-30-apollo-10-rocket-awaiting-spacecraft-jan-1969.jpg 345w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-30-apollo-10-rocket-awaiting-spacecraft-jan-1969.jpg?resize=233,300 233w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-30-apollo-10-rocket-awaiting-spacecraft-jan-1969.jpg?resize=311,400 311w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 156px) 100vw, 156px\"> <img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-image-596651\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-31-apollo-10-msob-lm-hoisting-to-mate-with-sla-jan-13-1969-ap10-s69-17810hr.jpg\" alt=\"In KSC\u2019s Manned Spacecraft Operations Building (MSOB), workers remove the Lunar Module (LM) from an altitude chamber\" width=\"165\" height=\"202\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-31-apollo-10-msob-lm-hoisting-to-mate-with-sla-jan-13-1969-ap10-s69-17810hr.jpg 2367w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-31-apollo-10-msob-lm-hoisting-to-mate-with-sla-jan-13-1969-ap10-s69-17810hr.jpg?resize=245,300 245w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-31-apollo-10-msob-lm-hoisting-to-mate-with-sla-jan-13-1969-ap10-s69-17810hr.jpg?resize=768,939 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-31-apollo-10-msob-lm-hoisting-to-mate-with-sla-jan-13-1969-ap10-s69-17810hr.jpg?resize=837,1024 837w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-31-apollo-10-msob-lm-hoisting-to-mate-with-sla-jan-13-1969-ap10-s69-17810hr.jpg?resize=1256,1536 1256w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-31-apollo-10-msob-lm-hoisting-to-mate-with-sla-jan-13-1969-ap10-s69-17810hr.jpg?resize=1674,2048 1674w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-31-apollo-10-msob-lm-hoisting-to-mate-with-sla-jan-13-1969-ap10-s69-17810hr.jpg?resize=327,400 327w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-31-apollo-10-msob-lm-hoisting-to-mate-with-sla-jan-13-1969-ap10-s69-17810hr.jpg?resize=491,600 491w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-31-apollo-10-msob-lm-hoisting-to-mate-with-sla-jan-13-1969-ap10-s69-17810hr.jpg?resize=736,900 736w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-31-apollo-10-msob-lm-hoisting-to-mate-with-sla-jan-13-1969-ap10-s69-17810hr.jpg?resize=981,1200 981w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-31-apollo-10-msob-lm-hoisting-to-mate-with-sla-jan-13-1969-ap10-s69-17810hr.jpg?resize=1635,2000 1635w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 165px) 100vw, 165px\"> <img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-image-596652\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-32-apollo-10-msob-lm-mated-w-sla-jan-13-1969-ap10-s69-17809hr.jpg\" alt=\"Workers in the MSOB lower the LM onto the base of the Spacecraft LM Adapter (SLA)\" width=\"161\" height=\"202\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-32-apollo-10-msob-lm-mated-w-sla-jan-13-1969-ap10-s69-17809hr.jpg 1892w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-32-apollo-10-msob-lm-mated-w-sla-jan-13-1969-ap10-s69-17809hr.jpg?resize=240,300 240w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-32-apollo-10-msob-lm-mated-w-sla-jan-13-1969-ap10-s69-17809hr.jpg?resize=768,960 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-32-apollo-10-msob-lm-mated-w-sla-jan-13-1969-ap10-s69-17809hr.jpg?resize=819,1024 819w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-32-apollo-10-msob-lm-mated-w-sla-jan-13-1969-ap10-s69-17809hr.jpg?resize=1228,1536 1228w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-32-apollo-10-msob-lm-mated-w-sla-jan-13-1969-ap10-s69-17809hr.jpg?resize=1638,2048 1638w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-32-apollo-10-msob-lm-mated-w-sla-jan-13-1969-ap10-s69-17809hr.jpg?resize=320,400 320w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-32-apollo-10-msob-lm-mated-w-sla-jan-13-1969-ap10-s69-17809hr.jpg?resize=480,600 480w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-32-apollo-10-msob-lm-mated-w-sla-jan-13-1969-ap10-s69-17809hr.jpg?resize=720,900 720w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-32-apollo-10-msob-lm-mated-w-sla-jan-13-1969-ap10-s69-17809hr.jpg?resize=960,1200 960w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-32-apollo-10-msob-lm-mated-w-sla-jan-13-1969-ap10-s69-17809hr.jpg?resize=1599,2000 1599w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 161px) 100vw, 161px\"> <img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-image-596653\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-33-apollo-10-msob-csm-lifing-for-mating-with-sla-jan-31-1969-s69-19190.jpg\" alt=\"After installing the main engine bell, workers lift the Command and Service Module for mating with the SLA\" width=\"157\" height=\"202\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-33-apollo-10-msob-csm-lifing-for-mating-with-sla-jan-31-1969-s69-19190.jpg 3666w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-33-apollo-10-msob-csm-lifing-for-mating-with-sla-jan-31-1969-s69-19190.jpg?resize=768,981 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-33-apollo-10-msob-csm-lifing-for-mating-with-sla-jan-31-1969-s69-19190.jpg?resize=1202,1536 1202w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-33-apollo-10-msob-csm-lifing-for-mating-with-sla-jan-31-1969-s69-19190.jpg?resize=1603,2048 1603w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-33-apollo-10-msob-csm-lifing-for-mating-with-sla-jan-31-1969-s69-19190.jpg?resize=313,400 313w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-33-apollo-10-msob-csm-lifing-for-mating-with-sla-jan-31-1969-s69-19190.jpg?resize=939,1200 939w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-33-apollo-10-msob-csm-lifing-for-mating-with-sla-jan-31-1969-s69-19190.jpg?resize=1566,2000 1566w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 157px) 100vw, 157px\"><br \/><em>Left: In High Bay 2 of the Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA\u2019s Kennedy Space Center (KSC) in Florida, the three stages of the Apollo 10 Saturn V await the arrival of the spacecraft. Middle left: In KSC\u2019s Manned Spacecraft Operations Building (MSOB), workers remove the Lunar Module (LM) from an altitude chamber. Middle right: Workers in the MSOB lower the LM onto the base of the Spacecraft LM Adapter (SLA). Right: After installing the main engine bell, workers lift the Command and Service Module for mating with the SLA.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>In the VAB\u2019s High Bay 2, workers had completed stacking the Apollo 10 Saturn V\u2019s three stages by the final days of 1968, while their colleagues prepared to roll Apollo 9\u2019s rocket to the pad a few days later. In the nearby Manned Spacecraft Operations Building (MSOB), prime and backup crews completed altitude tests of the LM in December and workers conducted a docking test between the LM and the CM. On Jan. 16, Stafford, Young, and Cernan completed their altitude test of the CM, followed by Cooper, Eisele, and Mitchell the next day. Workers removed the spacecraft from the altitude chamber in preparation for its rollover to the VAB in early February for stacking onto the rocket.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Apollo 11<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Assuming Apollo 9 and 10 accomplished their objectives, Apollo 11 would attempt the first Moon landing in July. Should Apollo 11 not succeed, NASA would try again with Apollo 12 in September and even Apollo 13 in November or December. Spacecraft and rocket manufacturers continued building components to meet that aggressive schedule.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-image-596667\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-34-apollo-11-crew-jan-9-1969-s69-16681.jpg\" alt=\"Apollo 11 crew of Edwin E. \u201cBuzz\u201d Aldrin, left, Neil A. Armstrong, and Michael Collins\" width=\"615\" height=\"407\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-34-apollo-11-crew-jan-9-1969-s69-16681.jpg 3780w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-34-apollo-11-crew-jan-9-1969-s69-16681.jpg?resize=300,199 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-34-apollo-11-crew-jan-9-1969-s69-16681.jpg?resize=768,508 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-34-apollo-11-crew-jan-9-1969-s69-16681.jpg?resize=1024,678 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-34-apollo-11-crew-jan-9-1969-s69-16681.jpg?resize=1536,1017 1536w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-34-apollo-11-crew-jan-9-1969-s69-16681.jpg?resize=2048,1356 2048w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-34-apollo-11-crew-jan-9-1969-s69-16681.jpg?resize=400,265 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-34-apollo-11-crew-jan-9-1969-s69-16681.jpg?resize=600,397 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-34-apollo-11-crew-jan-9-1969-s69-16681.jpg?resize=900,596 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-34-apollo-11-crew-jan-9-1969-s69-16681.jpg?resize=1200,794 1200w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-34-apollo-11-crew-jan-9-1969-s69-16681.jpg?resize=2000,1324 2000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 615px) 100vw, 615px\"><br \/><em>Apollo 11 crew of Edwin E. \u201cBuzz\u201d Aldrin, left, Neil A. Armstrong, and Michael Collins.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>On Jan. 9, a mere six months before the planned launch date, NASA formally <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/history\/50-years-ago-nasa-names-apollo-11-crew\/\">announced the Apollo 11 crew<\/a>, the second all-veteran three-person crew after Apollo 10 \u2013 and the last all-veteran crew until <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/history\/35-years-ago-sts-26-returns-the-space-shuttle-to-flight\/\">STS-26<\/a> in 1988. The next day, NASA introduced the Apollo 11 crew during a press conference at MSC. The prime crew consisted of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/humans-in-space\/astronauts\/former-astronauts\/former-astronaut-neil-a-armstrong\/\">Neil A. Armstrong<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/former-astronaut-michael-collins\/\">Michael Collins<\/a>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/former-astronaut-edwin-buzz-aldrin\/\">Edwin E. \u201cBuzz\u201d Aldrin<\/a>. Each astronaut had flown one Gemini mission. Armstrong and Aldrin had served on the backup crew for Apollo 8 while Collins was initially a member of the prime Apollo 8 crew until a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/history\/50-years-ago-mike-collins-neck-surgery-announced\/\">bone spur in his neck <\/a>requiring surgery sidelined him. He fully recovered from the operation, and NASA included him in the Apollo 11 crew. The Apollo 11 backup crew consisted of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/former-astronaut-james-a-lovell\/\">James A. Lovell<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/former-astronaut-william-a-anders\/\">William A. Anders<\/a>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/former-astronaut-fred-haise\/\">Fred W. Haise<\/a>. Lovell and Anders had just completed the Apollo 8 lunar orbit mission with Haise a backup crew member on that flight. When Anders announced that he would retire from NASA in August 1969 to join the National Space Council, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/mattingly-thomas.pdf?emrc=18acd8\">Thomas K. \u201cKen\u201d Mattingly<\/a> began training in parallel with Anders in case the mission slipped past that date.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-image-596668\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-35-apollo-11-lm-arrival-ksc-jan-8-or-12-1969-s69-17805.jpg\" alt=\"The Lunar Module for Apollo 11 arrives at NASA\u2019s Kennedy Space Center (KSC) in Florida\" width=\"219\" height=\"173\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-35-apollo-11-lm-arrival-ksc-jan-8-or-12-1969-s69-17805.jpg 4763w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-35-apollo-11-lm-arrival-ksc-jan-8-or-12-1969-s69-17805.jpg?resize=300,236 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-35-apollo-11-lm-arrival-ksc-jan-8-or-12-1969-s69-17805.jpg?resize=768,605 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-35-apollo-11-lm-arrival-ksc-jan-8-or-12-1969-s69-17805.jpg?resize=1024,807 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-35-apollo-11-lm-arrival-ksc-jan-8-or-12-1969-s69-17805.jpg?resize=1536,1210 1536w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-35-apollo-11-lm-arrival-ksc-jan-8-or-12-1969-s69-17805.jpg?resize=2048,1614 2048w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-35-apollo-11-lm-arrival-ksc-jan-8-or-12-1969-s69-17805.jpg?resize=400,315 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-35-apollo-11-lm-arrival-ksc-jan-8-or-12-1969-s69-17805.jpg?resize=600,473 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-35-apollo-11-lm-arrival-ksc-jan-8-or-12-1969-s69-17805.jpg?resize=900,709 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-35-apollo-11-lm-arrival-ksc-jan-8-or-12-1969-s69-17805.jpg?resize=1200,946 1200w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-35-apollo-11-lm-arrival-ksc-jan-8-or-12-1969-s69-17805.jpg?resize=2000,1576 2000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 219px) 100vw, 219px\"> <img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-image-596669\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-36-apollo-11-csm-arrival-at-ksc-jan-23-1969-s69-18784.jpg\" alt=\"The Apollo 11 Command Module, left, and Service Module, in KSC\u2019s Manned Spacecraft Operations Building shortly after their arrival\" width=\"220\" height=\"173\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-36-apollo-11-csm-arrival-at-ksc-jan-23-1969-s69-18784.jpg 4827w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-36-apollo-11-csm-arrival-at-ksc-jan-23-1969-s69-18784.jpg?resize=300,235 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-36-apollo-11-csm-arrival-at-ksc-jan-23-1969-s69-18784.jpg?resize=768,602 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-36-apollo-11-csm-arrival-at-ksc-jan-23-1969-s69-18784.jpg?resize=1024,803 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-36-apollo-11-csm-arrival-at-ksc-jan-23-1969-s69-18784.jpg?resize=1536,1204 1536w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-36-apollo-11-csm-arrival-at-ksc-jan-23-1969-s69-18784.jpg?resize=2048,1605 2048w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-36-apollo-11-csm-arrival-at-ksc-jan-23-1969-s69-18784.jpg?resize=400,314 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-36-apollo-11-csm-arrival-at-ksc-jan-23-1969-s69-18784.jpg?resize=600,470 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-36-apollo-11-csm-arrival-at-ksc-jan-23-1969-s69-18784.jpg?resize=900,706 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-36-apollo-11-csm-arrival-at-ksc-jan-23-1969-s69-18784.jpg?resize=1200,941 1200w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-36-apollo-11-csm-arrival-at-ksc-jan-23-1969-s69-18784.jpg?resize=2000,1568 2000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 220px) 100vw, 220px\"> <img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-image-596671\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-37-apollo-11-s-ivb-arrival-ksc-jan-19-1969-s69-17375.jpg\" alt=\"The S-IVB third stage for Apollo 11\u2019s Saturn V rocket arrives at KSC\" width=\"218\" height=\"173\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-37-apollo-11-s-ivb-arrival-ksc-jan-19-1969-s69-17375.jpg 4792w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-37-apollo-11-s-ivb-arrival-ksc-jan-19-1969-s69-17375.jpg?resize=300,238 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-37-apollo-11-s-ivb-arrival-ksc-jan-19-1969-s69-17375.jpg?resize=768,609 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-37-apollo-11-s-ivb-arrival-ksc-jan-19-1969-s69-17375.jpg?resize=1024,812 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-37-apollo-11-s-ivb-arrival-ksc-jan-19-1969-s69-17375.jpg?resize=1536,1217 1536w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-37-apollo-11-s-ivb-arrival-ksc-jan-19-1969-s69-17375.jpg?resize=2048,1623 2048w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-37-apollo-11-s-ivb-arrival-ksc-jan-19-1969-s69-17375.jpg?resize=400,317 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-37-apollo-11-s-ivb-arrival-ksc-jan-19-1969-s69-17375.jpg?resize=600,476 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-37-apollo-11-s-ivb-arrival-ksc-jan-19-1969-s69-17375.jpg?resize=900,713 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-37-apollo-11-s-ivb-arrival-ksc-jan-19-1969-s69-17375.jpg?resize=1200,951 1200w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-37-apollo-11-s-ivb-arrival-ksc-jan-19-1969-s69-17375.jpg?resize=2000,1585 2000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 218px) 100vw, 218px\"><br \/><em>Left: The Lunar Module for Apollo 11 arrives at NASA\u2019s Kennedy Space Center (KSC) in Florida. Middle: The Apollo 11 Command Module, left, and Service Module, in KSC\u2019s Manned Spacecraft Operations Building shortly after their arrival. Right: The S-IVB third stage for Apollo 11\u2019s Saturn V rocket arrives at KSC.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>Hardware began to arrive at KSC for Apollo 11. With the Apollo 10 CSM still undergoing testing in the MSOB, the Apollo 11 LM\u2019s ascent and descent stages arrived Jan. 8 and 12, respectively, followed by the CM and SM on Jan. 23. Workers in the MSOB prepared the spacecraft for vacuum chamber testing. The Saturn V\u2019s S-IVB third stage arrived on Jan. 19. Workers trucked it to the VAB where it awaited the arrival of the first two stages, scheduled for February.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Lunar Receiving Laboratory<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"387\" height=\"250\" class=\"wp-image-596674\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-38-lrl-schematic-s67-00696.jpg\" alt=\"Schematic of the Lunar Receiving Laboratory (LRL) showing its major functional areas\"> <img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"275\" height=\"275\" class=\"wp-image-596675\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-39-apollo-cm-mockup-at-lrl-jan-23-1969-s69-17766.jpg\" alt=\"A mockup Command Module in the spacecraft storage area, part of the Crew Reception Area, in the LRL\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-39-apollo-cm-mockup-at-lrl-jan-23-1969-s69-17766.jpg 4660w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-39-apollo-cm-mockup-at-lrl-jan-23-1969-s69-17766.jpg?resize=150,150 150w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-39-apollo-cm-mockup-at-lrl-jan-23-1969-s69-17766.jpg?resize=300,300 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-39-apollo-cm-mockup-at-lrl-jan-23-1969-s69-17766.jpg?resize=768,768 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-39-apollo-cm-mockup-at-lrl-jan-23-1969-s69-17766.jpg?resize=1024,1024 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-39-apollo-cm-mockup-at-lrl-jan-23-1969-s69-17766.jpg?resize=1536,1536 1536w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-39-apollo-cm-mockup-at-lrl-jan-23-1969-s69-17766.jpg?resize=2048,2048 2048w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-39-apollo-cm-mockup-at-lrl-jan-23-1969-s69-17766.jpg?resize=50,50 50w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-39-apollo-cm-mockup-at-lrl-jan-23-1969-s69-17766.jpg?resize=100,100 100w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-39-apollo-cm-mockup-at-lrl-jan-23-1969-s69-17766.jpg?resize=200,200 200w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-39-apollo-cm-mockup-at-lrl-jan-23-1969-s69-17766.jpg?resize=400,400 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-39-apollo-cm-mockup-at-lrl-jan-23-1969-s69-17766.jpg?resize=600,600 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-39-apollo-cm-mockup-at-lrl-jan-23-1969-s69-17766.jpg?resize=900,900 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-39-apollo-cm-mockup-at-lrl-jan-23-1969-s69-17766.jpg?resize=1200,1200 1200w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-39-apollo-cm-mockup-at-lrl-jan-23-1969-s69-17766.jpg?resize=2000,2000 2000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 275px) 100vw, 275px\"> <br \/><em>Left:\u00a0 Schematic of the Lunar Receiving Laboratory (LRL) showing its major functional areas.\u00a0 Right:\u00a0 A mockup Command Module in the spacecraft storage area, part of the Crew Reception Area, in the LRL.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>With the Moon landing possibly just six months away, NASA continued to prepare key facilities designed to receive astronauts returning from the Moon. The 83,000-square-foot <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/feature\/50-years-ago-on-the-way-to-the-moon\">Lunar Receiving Laboratory<\/a> (LRL), residing in MSC\u2019s Building 37, was specially designed and built to isolate the astronauts, their spacecraft, and lunar samples to prevent back-contamination of the Earth by any possible lunar micro-organisms, and to maintain the lunar samples in as pristine a condition as possible. The building was completed in 1967, and over the next year, workers outfitted its laboratories and other facilities. A <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/feature\/50-years-ago-on-the-way-to-the-moon-3\">10-day simulation<\/a> in the facility in November 1968 found some deficiencies that NASA addressed promptly. On Jan. 23, 1969, workers brought a mockup Apollo CM into the LRL\u2019s spacecraft storage area for fit checks.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-image-596676\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-40-mqf-sea-sim-s69-30507.jpg\" alt=\"Workers at the Norfolk Naval Air Station in Virginia hoist the Mobile Quarantine facility (MQF) onto the USS Guadalcanal\" width=\"285\" height=\"192\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-40-mqf-sea-sim-s69-30507.jpg 4586w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-40-mqf-sea-sim-s69-30507.jpg?resize=300,202 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-40-mqf-sea-sim-s69-30507.jpg?resize=768,518 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-40-mqf-sea-sim-s69-30507.jpg?resize=1024,691 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-40-mqf-sea-sim-s69-30507.jpg?resize=1536,1036 1536w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-40-mqf-sea-sim-s69-30507.jpg?resize=2048,1382 2048w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-40-mqf-sea-sim-s69-30507.jpg?resize=400,270 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-40-mqf-sea-sim-s69-30507.jpg?resize=600,405 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-40-mqf-sea-sim-s69-30507.jpg?resize=900,607 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-40-mqf-sea-sim-s69-30507.jpg?resize=1200,810 1200w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-40-mqf-sea-sim-s69-30507.jpg?resize=2000,1349 2000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 285px) 100vw, 285px\"> <img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-image-596677\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-41-mqf-test-@-norfolk-jan-21-to-feb-3-1969-s69-17574.jpg\" alt=\"The flexible tunnel set up between the MQF and a mockup Command Module\" width=\"192\" height=\"192\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-41-mqf-test-@-norfolk-jan-21-to-feb-3-1969-s69-17574.jpg 3716w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-41-mqf-test-@-norfolk-jan-21-to-feb-3-1969-s69-17574.jpg?resize=150,150 150w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-41-mqf-test-@-norfolk-jan-21-to-feb-3-1969-s69-17574.jpg?resize=300,300 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-41-mqf-test-@-norfolk-jan-21-to-feb-3-1969-s69-17574.jpg?resize=768,768 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-41-mqf-test-@-norfolk-jan-21-to-feb-3-1969-s69-17574.jpg?resize=1024,1024 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-41-mqf-test-@-norfolk-jan-21-to-feb-3-1969-s69-17574.jpg?resize=1536,1536 1536w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-41-mqf-test-@-norfolk-jan-21-to-feb-3-1969-s69-17574.jpg?resize=2048,2048 2048w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-41-mqf-test-@-norfolk-jan-21-to-feb-3-1969-s69-17574.jpg?resize=50,50 50w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-41-mqf-test-@-norfolk-jan-21-to-feb-3-1969-s69-17574.jpg?resize=100,100 100w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-41-mqf-test-@-norfolk-jan-21-to-feb-3-1969-s69-17574.jpg?resize=200,200 200w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-41-mqf-test-@-norfolk-jan-21-to-feb-3-1969-s69-17574.jpg?resize=400,400 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-41-mqf-test-@-norfolk-jan-21-to-feb-3-1969-s69-17574.jpg?resize=600,600 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-41-mqf-test-@-norfolk-jan-21-to-feb-3-1969-s69-17574.jpg?resize=900,900 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-41-mqf-test-@-norfolk-jan-21-to-feb-3-1969-s69-17574.jpg?resize=1200,1200 1200w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-41-mqf-test-@-norfolk-jan-21-to-feb-3-1969-s69-17574.jpg?resize=2000,2000 2000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 192px) 100vw, 192px\"> <img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-image-596678\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-42-mqf-test-@-norfolk-jan-21-to-feb-3-1969-s69-17579.jpg\" alt=\"Workers in Norfolk load the MQF onto a C-141 cargo plane for the return flight to Ellington Air Force Base in Houston\" width=\"192\" height=\"192\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-42-mqf-test-@-norfolk-jan-21-to-feb-3-1969-s69-17579.jpg 4568w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-42-mqf-test-@-norfolk-jan-21-to-feb-3-1969-s69-17579.jpg?resize=150,150 150w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-42-mqf-test-@-norfolk-jan-21-to-feb-3-1969-s69-17579.jpg?resize=300,300 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-42-mqf-test-@-norfolk-jan-21-to-feb-3-1969-s69-17579.jpg?resize=768,768 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-42-mqf-test-@-norfolk-jan-21-to-feb-3-1969-s69-17579.jpg?resize=1024,1024 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-42-mqf-test-@-norfolk-jan-21-to-feb-3-1969-s69-17579.jpg?resize=1536,1536 1536w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-42-mqf-test-@-norfolk-jan-21-to-feb-3-1969-s69-17579.jpg?resize=2048,2048 2048w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-42-mqf-test-@-norfolk-jan-21-to-feb-3-1969-s69-17579.jpg?resize=50,50 50w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-42-mqf-test-@-norfolk-jan-21-to-feb-3-1969-s69-17579.jpg?resize=100,100 100w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-42-mqf-test-@-norfolk-jan-21-to-feb-3-1969-s69-17579.jpg?resize=200,200 200w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-42-mqf-test-@-norfolk-jan-21-to-feb-3-1969-s69-17579.jpg?resize=400,400 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-42-mqf-test-@-norfolk-jan-21-to-feb-3-1969-s69-17579.jpg?resize=600,600 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-42-mqf-test-@-norfolk-jan-21-to-feb-3-1969-s69-17579.jpg?resize=900,900 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-42-mqf-test-@-norfolk-jan-21-to-feb-3-1969-s69-17579.jpg?resize=1200,1200 1200w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/moon-landing-l-6-months-42-mqf-test-@-norfolk-jan-21-to-feb-3-1969-s69-17579.jpg?resize=2000,2000 2000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 192px) 100vw, 192px\"><br \/><em>Left: Workers at the Norfolk Naval Air Station in Virginia hoist the Mobile Quarantine facility (MQF) onto the USS Guadalcanal. Middle: The flexible tunnel set up between the MQF and a mockup Command Module. Right: Workers in Norfolk load the MQF onto a C-141 cargo plane for the return flight to Ellington Air Force Base in Houston.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>An integral component of the back-contamination prevention process was the Mobile Quarantine Facility (MQF). Following lunar landing missions, the MQF housed astronauts and support personnel from their arrival onboard the prime recovery ship shortly after splashdown through transport to the LRL. Under contract to NASA, Melpar, Inc., of Falls Church, Virginia, converted four 35-foot Airstream trailers into MQFs, delivering the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/feature\/50-years-ago-mobile-quarantine-facility-arrives-in-houston\">first unit<\/a> in March 1968 and the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/history\/50-years-ago-apollo-11-rolls-out-to-the-launch-pad\/\">last three<\/a> in the spring of 1969. The first unit was used extensively for testing, with lessons learned incorporated into the later models. On Jan. 21, 1969, workers loaded the MQF aboard a U.S. Air Force C-141 cargo plane at Ellington Air Force Base near MSC to transport it to the Norfolk Naval Air Station in Virginia. Six recovery specialists from MSC spent 10 days inside the MQF, first aboard the helicopter landing-platform USS Guadalcanal (LPH-7), including attaching a flexible tunnel to a boilerplate Apollo CM, and then aboard the destroyer USS Fox (DLG-33). The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/feature\/50-years-ago-mobile-quarantine-facility-tests-at-sea-and-at-altitude\">overall exercise<\/a>, successfully completed on Feb. 3, tested all MQF systems aboard ships and aircraft to simulate recovery operations after a lunar landing mission.<\/p>\n<p><em>To be continued \u2026<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>With special thanks to Ed Hengeveld for imagery expertise.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>News from around the world in January 1969:<\/em><\/p>\n<p>Jan. 7 \u2013 Congress doubles the President\u2019s salary from $100,000 to $200,000 a year.<\/p>\n<p>Jan. 9 \u2013 First test flight of the Franco-British Concorde supersonic jetliner in Bristol, U.K.<\/p>\n<p>Jan. 12 \u2013 In Super Bowl III, played in Miami\u2019s Orange Bowl, the New York Jets beat the Baltimore Colts 16 to 7.<\/p>\n<p>Jan. 16 \u2013 The Soviet Union conducts the first docking between two crewed spacecraft and the first crew transfer by spacewalking cosmonauts during the Soyuz 4 and 5 missions.<\/p>\n<p>Jan. 20 \u2013 Richard M. Nixon inaugurated as the 37<sup>th<\/sup> U.S. President.<\/p>\n<p>Jan. 30 \u2013 The Beatles perform their last live gig, a 42-minute concert on the rooftop of Apple Corps Headquarters in London.<\/p>\n<div aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"nasa-gb-align-full width-full maxw-full padding-x-3 padding-y-0 hds-module hds-module-full wp-block-nasa-blocks-related-articles\">\n<section class=\"hds-related-articles padding-x-0 padding-y-3 desktop:padding-top-7 desktop:padding-bottom-9\">\n<div class=\"w-100 grid-row grid-container maxw-widescreen padding-0 text-align-left\">\n<div class=\"margin-bottom-4\">\n<h2 class=\"width-full w-full maxw-full\">Explore More<\/h2>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<div class=\"grid-row grid-container maxw-widescreen padding-0\">\n<div class=\"grid-col-12 desktop:grid-col-4 margin-bottom-4 desktop:margin-bottom-0 desktop:padding-right-3\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/history\/50-years-ago-skylab-4-astronauts-begin-record-breaking-third-month-in-space\/\" class=\"color-carbon-black\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"margin-bottom-2\">\n<div class=\"hds-cover-wrapper cover-hover-zoom bg-carbon-black minh-mobile\">\n<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"289\" height=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/skylab-4-2-months-20-gibson-during-eva-4-feb-3-1974-s74-17456.jpg?w=289\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium\" alt=\"\" decoding=\"async\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/skylab-4-2-months-20-gibson-during-eva-4-feb-3-1974-s74-17456.jpg 3418w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/skylab-4-2-months-20-gibson-during-eva-4-feb-3-1974-s74-17456.jpg?resize=289,300 289w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/skylab-4-2-months-20-gibson-during-eva-4-feb-3-1974-s74-17456.jpg?resize=768,797 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/skylab-4-2-months-20-gibson-during-eva-4-feb-3-1974-s74-17456.jpg?resize=987,1024 987w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/skylab-4-2-months-20-gibson-during-eva-4-feb-3-1974-s74-17456.jpg?resize=1481,1536 1481w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/skylab-4-2-months-20-gibson-during-eva-4-feb-3-1974-s74-17456.jpg?resize=1974,2048 1974w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/skylab-4-2-months-20-gibson-during-eva-4-feb-3-1974-s74-17456.jpg?resize=386,400 386w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/skylab-4-2-months-20-gibson-during-eva-4-feb-3-1974-s74-17456.jpg?resize=578,600 578w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/skylab-4-2-months-20-gibson-during-eva-4-feb-3-1974-s74-17456.jpg?resize=868,900 868w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/skylab-4-2-months-20-gibson-during-eva-4-feb-3-1974-s74-17456.jpg?resize=1157,1200 1157w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/skylab-4-2-months-20-gibson-during-eva-4-feb-3-1974-s74-17456.jpg?resize=1928,2000 1928w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 289px) 100vw, 289px\"><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"padding-right-0 desktop:padding-right-10\">\n<div class=\"subheading margin-bottom-1\">8 min read<\/div>\n<div class=\"margin-bottom-1\">\n<h3 class=\"related-article-title\">50 Years Ago: Skylab 4 Astronauts Begin Record-Breaking Third Month in Space<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"display-flex flex-align-center label related-article-label margin-bottom-1 color-carbon-60\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"display-flex flex-align-center margin-right-2\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg version=\"1.1\" class=\"square-2 margin-right-1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" xmlns:xlink=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/1999\/xlink\" x=\"0px\" y=\"0px\" width=\"16px\" height=\"16px\" viewbox=\"0 0 16 16\" xml:space=\"preserve\"><g><g><path d=\"M8,0C3.5,0-0.1,3.7,0,8.2C0.1,12.5,3.6,16,8,16c4.4,0,8-3.6,8-8C16,3.5,12.4,0,8,0z M8,15.2 C4,15.2,0.8,12,0.8,8C0.8,4,4,0.8,8,0.8c3.9,0,7.2,3.2,7.2,7.1C15.2,11.9,12,15.2,8,15.2z\"><\/path><path d=\"M5.6,12c0.8-0.8,1.6-1.6,2.4-2.4c0.8,0.8,1.6,1.6,2.4,2.4c0-2.7,0-5.3,0-8C8.8,4,7.2,4,5.6,4 C5.6,6.7,5.6,9.3,5.6,12z\"><\/path><\/g><\/g><\/svg><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Article<\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t1 week ago\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<div class=\"grid-col-12 desktop:grid-col-4 margin-bottom-4 desktop:margin-bottom-0 desktop:padding-right-3\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/history\/10-years-ago-the-first-operational-cygnus-cargo-mission-to-the-space-station\/\" class=\"color-carbon-black\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"margin-bottom-2\">\n<div class=\"hds-cover-wrapper cover-hover-zoom bg-carbon-black minh-mobile\">\n<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"261\" height=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/orbital-1-launch-4-cygnus-demo-1-launch-sept-18-2013.jpg?w=261\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium\" alt=\"\" decoding=\"async\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/orbital-1-launch-4-cygnus-demo-1-launch-sept-18-2013.jpg 801w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/orbital-1-launch-4-cygnus-demo-1-launch-sept-18-2013.jpg?resize=261,300 261w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/orbital-1-launch-4-cygnus-demo-1-launch-sept-18-2013.jpg?resize=768,884 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/orbital-1-launch-4-cygnus-demo-1-launch-sept-18-2013.jpg?resize=348,400 348w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/orbital-1-launch-4-cygnus-demo-1-launch-sept-18-2013.jpg?resize=521,600 521w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/orbital-1-launch-4-cygnus-demo-1-launch-sept-18-2013.jpg?resize=782,900 782w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 261px) 100vw, 261px\"><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"padding-right-0 desktop:padding-right-10\">\n<div class=\"subheading margin-bottom-1\">6 min read<\/div>\n<div class=\"margin-bottom-1\">\n<h3 class=\"related-article-title\">10 Years Ago: The First Operational Cygnus Cargo Mission to the Space Station<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"display-flex flex-align-center label related-article-label margin-bottom-1 color-carbon-60\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"display-flex flex-align-center margin-right-2\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg version=\"1.1\" class=\"square-2 margin-right-1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" xmlns:xlink=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/1999\/xlink\" x=\"0px\" y=\"0px\" width=\"16px\" height=\"16px\" viewbox=\"0 0 16 16\" xml:space=\"preserve\"><g><g><path d=\"M8,0C3.5,0-0.1,3.7,0,8.2C0.1,12.5,3.6,16,8,16c4.4,0,8-3.6,8-8C16,3.5,12.4,0,8,0z M8,15.2 C4,15.2,0.8,12,0.8,8C0.8,4,4,0.8,8,0.8c3.9,0,7.2,3.2,7.2,7.1C15.2,11.9,12,15.2,8,15.2z\"><\/path><path d=\"M5.6,12c0.8-0.8,1.6-1.6,2.4-2.4c0.8,0.8,1.6,1.6,2.4,2.4c0-2.7,0-5.3,0-8C8.8,4,7.2,4,5.6,4 C5.6,6.7,5.6,9.3,5.6,12z\"><\/path><\/g><\/g><\/svg><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Article<\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t1 week ago\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<div class=\"grid-col-12 desktop:grid-col-4 margin-bottom-4 desktop:margin-bottom-0 desktop:padding-right-3\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/technology\/space-comms\/deep-space-network\/nasas-deep-space-network-turns-60-and-prepares-for-the-future\/\" class=\"color-carbon-black\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"margin-bottom-2\">\n<div class=\"hds-cover-wrapper cover-hover-zoom bg-carbon-black minh-mobile\">\n<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"300\" height=\"169\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/1-canberra-complex-05.jpg?w=300\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium\" alt=\"\" decoding=\"async\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/1-canberra-complex-05.jpg 2000w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/1-canberra-complex-05.jpg?resize=300,169 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/1-canberra-complex-05.jpg?resize=768,432 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/1-canberra-complex-05.jpg?resize=1024,576 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/1-canberra-complex-05.jpg?resize=1536,864 1536w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/1-canberra-complex-05.jpg?resize=400,225 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/1-canberra-complex-05.jpg?resize=600,338 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/1-canberra-complex-05.jpg?resize=900,506 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/1-canberra-complex-05.jpg?resize=1200,675 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\"><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"padding-right-0 desktop:padding-right-10\">\n<div class=\"subheading margin-bottom-1\">5 min read<\/div>\n<div class=\"margin-bottom-1\">\n<h3 class=\"related-article-title\">NASA\u2019s Deep Space Network Turns 60 and Prepares for the Future<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"display-flex flex-align-center label related-article-label margin-bottom-1 color-carbon-60\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"display-flex flex-align-center margin-right-2\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg version=\"1.1\" class=\"square-2 margin-right-1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" xmlns:xlink=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/1999\/xlink\" x=\"0px\" y=\"0px\" width=\"16px\" height=\"16px\" viewbox=\"0 0 16 16\" xml:space=\"preserve\"><g><g><path d=\"M8,0C3.5,0-0.1,3.7,0,8.2C0.1,12.5,3.6,16,8,16c4.4,0,8-3.6,8-8C16,3.5,12.4,0,8,0z M8,15.2 C4,15.2,0.8,12,0.8,8C0.8,4,4,0.8,8,0.8c3.9,0,7.2,3.2,7.2,7.1C15.2,11.9,12,15.2,8,15.2z\"><\/path><path d=\"M5.6,12c0.8-0.8,1.6-1.6,2.4-2.4c0.8,0.8,1.6,1.6,2.4,2.4c0-2.7,0-5.3,0-8C8.8,4,7.2,4,5.6,4 C5.6,6.7,5.6,9.3,5.6,12z\"><\/path><\/g><\/g><\/svg><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Article<\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t4 weeks ago\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section><\/div>\n<p class=\"wpematico_credit\"><small>Powered by <a href=\"http:\/\/www.wpematico.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">WPeMatico<\/a><\/small><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/history\/55-years-ago-six-months-until-the-moon-landing\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Get The Details&#8230;<\/a><br \/>\nKelli Mars  <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The new year of 1969 dawned with optimism that NASA would meet President John F. Kennedy\u2019s goal of landing a man on the Moon and returning him safely to the Earth. 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