Mission Details
| Mission Name: Apollo 16 |
| Mission Type: Crewed Lunar Lander |
| Operator: NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) |
| Launching State: United States |
| Location: Descartes Highlands |
| Latitude: -8.959 |
| Longitude: 15.4986 |
| Launch Date: 16 April 1972, 17:54:00 UT |
| Landing Date: 21 April 1972, 02:23:35 UT |
| Crew: John W. Young, commander; Charles M. Duke Jr., lunar module pilot; Thomas K. Mattingly II, command module pilot |
| Objects on or Related to Site: Coming soon |
| Image Source: NASA |
Description
The mission of the Apollo program was to perform a crewed lunar landing. The first four flights, including Apollo 10, tested the equipment used to ultimately place humans on the lunar surface.
The first Apollo flight happened in 1968. The first Moon landing took place in 1969. The last Moon landing was in 1972. A total of twelve humans walked on the Moon as a result of the Apollo program.
Per NASA: Three primary objectives were:
- To inspect, survey, and sample materials and surface features at a selected landing site in the Descartes region.
- Emplace and activate surface experiments.
- Conduct in-flight experiments and photographic tasks from lunar orbit. Additional objectives included performance of experiments requiring zero gravity and engineering evaluation of spacecraft and equipment.
Read more:
https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/apollo/missions/apollo16.html
Heritage Consideration
Command Module Pilot Ken Mattingly orbited the Moon while astronauts John Young and Charlie Duke were on its surface. Apollo 16’s landing spot was chosen in order to gather geologically older lunar material. Charlie Duke left a picture of his family on the site.
