Apollo 16

"Casper"
NSSDC ID: 72-031A

Description:
Apollo 16 was the fifth mission in the Apollo series in which
humans landed on the moon. The 11-day scientific mission
began on April 16, 1972, at 17:54 UT. (The launch was post-
poned from the originally scheduled date, March 17, because
of a docking ring jettison malfunction.) Navy Capt. John W.
Young and Air Force Lt. Charles W. Duke landed on the lunar
surface in the lunar module (LM) on April 21. Navy Lt. Thomas
K. Mattingly remained in the command and service module
(CSM) performing scientific experiments while the CSM was
in an equatorial orbit about the moon. The LM landed in the
Descartes region of the moon at approximately 9 deg S, 16
deg E. An Apollo lunar surface experiments package (ALSEP)
was deployed on the surface, terrain samples were acquired,
and photographs were obtained by the surface astronauts and
from the CM using 16-, 35-, and 70-mm film, 5- by 48-in.
panoramic film, and 5- by 5-in. mapping film. The surface
astronauts also tested the second lunar roving vehicle to be
taken to the moon by exploring regions within 4 km of the LM
landing site. A subsatellite (72-031D) carrying an experiment
package was launched into lunar orbit on April 24, 1972, and
impacted with the moon after 425 revolutions on May 29,
1972. The Apollo 16 spacecraft was launched on April 16,
1972, and was injected into lunar orbit on April 19. The LM
landed on the moon on April 21 and returned to the CM on