Apollo 9

The first mission in which the use of names for spacecraft was again authorized.

First test of LM in space.

First test of Portable Life Support System in space.

Rendezvous and docking after 6 hour and 113 mile separation in space.

Schweickart performed 37 minute EVA.

A "D" mission, so the "D" in McDivitt on the mission patch had a red interior which signified the "D" mission.

Space vehicle weight at liftoff: 6,397,005 lb. (2,901,681 kilos)

Weight placed in earth orbit: 292,091 lb. (132,492 kilos.)

Astronaut David R. Scott is suited up for emergency egress test in the Apollo 9 spacecraft at Launch Complex 39.

Preparing to ride the cab down the slide wire emergency egress system at pad 39-A are Chuck Billings, KSC Safety Office; Astronaut Stuart Roosa; and Art Porcher, Design Engineering.

Riding in the emergency egress escape system cab on the first manned run are Apollo 9 support crew member Stuart Roosa, KSC safety official Chuck Billings and design engineer Art Porcher

David R. Scott, the command module pilot for the Apollo 9 mission, demonstrates with models, a docking procedure to be used during their 10-day flight.

Fisheye-lens view of McDivitt (fg) and Schweickart (bg) in LM simulator.

Firing room during Apollo 9 Countdown Demonstration Test

The 363-foot high Apollo/Saturn V space vehicle that launched Apollo 9 astronauts James A. McDivitt, David R. Scott, and Russell L. Schweickart on 10-day earth orbital mission is readied for flight at Kennedy Space Center's Launch Complex 39A

Alan Shepard joins Apollo 9 astronauts for breakfast during training

Apollo 9 astronauts Russell L. Schweickart, James A. McDivitt, and David R. Scott, compare notes on flight plan for earth orbital mission to test lunar module spacecraft

Apollo 9 at pad 39A on the night before launch.

Apollo 9 astronauts James A. McDivitt, David R. Scott, and Russell L. Schweickart breakfast with mission officials in crew quarters at Kennedy Space Center a few hours prior to scheduled launch into earth order.

Technician Clyde Teague checks spacesuit of Apollo 9 commander James A. McDivitt prior to scheduled launch into earth orbit with David R. Scott and Russell L. Schweickart

Apollo 9 Commander James A. McDivitt leads crewmen David R. Scott and Russell L. Schweickart through hallway of Manned Spacecraft Operations Building en route to transfer van for 8-mile trip to launch pad.

Liftoff of Apollo 9 - March 6, 1969, 17:01:00 UTC

The lunar module awaits extraction from Apollo 9's S-IVB stage

The lunar module awaits extraction from Apollo 9's S-IVB stage

Apollo 9 astronaut Schweickart performs EVA in Earth orbit.

The Apollo 9 Lunar Module during its flight test in Earth orbit.

Flight Test

They flew the LM up to 111 miles (179 km) from Gumdrop, using the engine on the descent stage to propel them originally, before jettisoning it and using the ascent stage to return. This test flight represented the first flight of a manned spacecraft that was not equipped to reenter the Earth's atmosphere.

Apollo 9's Command and Service Module as viewed from the Lunar Module.

Or, "Gumdrop" as seen from "Spider"!

The Apollo 9 Command Module nears splashdown

The Apollo 9 spacecraft carrying astronauts James A. McDivitt, David R. Scott, and Russell L. Schweickart partially submerged as it impacts in the Atlantic ocean, 780 nautical miles southeast of Cape Kennedy.

Pararescuemen at CM wave to helicopter following Apollo 9 splashdown

Apollo 9 astronauts depart recovery helicopter aboard U.S.S. Guadalcanal

Schweickart, Scott and McDivitt aboard U.S.S. Guadalcanal following Apollo 9 mission

Apollo 9 commander James A. McDivitt, center, precedes crewmen Russell L. Schweickart, left, and David R. Scott in delivering a brief greeting following their arrival on the U.S.S. Guadalcanal.

Apollo 9 CM aboard the U.S.S. Guadalcanal after recovery