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Apollo 9 Launch

The launch of the Apollo 9 (Spacecraft 104/Lunar Module 3/ Saturn 504) space vehicle, with astronauts James A. McDivitt, David R. Scott, and Russell L. Schweickart aboard, took place on March 3, 1969 at 11:00 a.m. EST. The Apollo 9 spacecraft, in the lunar mission configuration, was tested in Earth orbit. The mission was designed to rehearse all the steps and reproduce all the events of the Apollo 11 mission with the exception of the lunar touchdown, stay, and liftoff. The command and service modules, and the lunar module were used in flight procedures identical to those that would later take similar vehicles to the Moon, and a landing. The flight mechanics, mission support systems, communications, and recording of data were tested in a final round of verification. It was the second Saturn V mission launched with a crew.

 

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Credit: NASA

Image Number: 6901356

Date: March 3, 1969

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Uploaded on March 3, 2025
Taken on March 3, 1969