Apollo
Apollo 10
Apollo 10 was NASA's complete dress rehearsal for the first Moon landing. Every phase of a lunar landing mission was performed except the final descent to the surface. The Lunar Module descended to within about 9 miles (15 km) of the Moon before returning safely to lunar orbit.
Launch
May 18, 1969
Duration
8 days, 3 minutes, 23 seconds
Crew
Uncrewed
Mission record
Apollo archive entry · Successful
Mission Overview
The mission
Apollo 10 was NASA's complete dress rehearsal for the first Moon landing. Every phase of a lunar landing mission was performed except the final descent to the surface. The Lunar Module descended to within about 9 miles (15 km) of the Moon before returning safely to lunar orbit.
Mission Details
Program
Apollo
Launch
May 18, 1969
Duration
8 days, 3 minutes, 23 seconds
Status
Successful
Mission by the Numbers
Mission Statistics
Mission Type
Crewed Lunar Landing Dress Rehearsal
Launch Vehicle
Saturn V AS-505
Crew
0 astronauts
Status
Successful
Mission Goals
Mission objectives
- 01
Perform a complete lunar landing rehearsal.
- 02
Demonstrate Saturn V performance on a lunar mission.
- 03
Enter lunar orbit.
- 04
Undock and activate the Lunar Module.
- 05
Evaluate Lunar Module systems in lunar orbit.
- 06
Descend to within landing altitude above the Moon.
- 07
Test descent radar performance.
- 08
Validate lunar guidance computer operations.
- 09
Evaluate lunar navigation techniques.
- 10
Photograph Apollo 11 landing sites.
- 11
Demonstrate Lunar Module ascent from low lunar altitude.
- 12
Perform lunar rendezvous.
- 13
Dock the Lunar Module with the Command Module.
- 14
Return safely to Earth.
- 15
Certify all remaining procedures before Apollo 11.
Mission Timeline
May 18, 1969 · 12:49 p.m. EDT
Launch
Apollo 10 lifted off from Launch Complex 39A aboard Saturn V AS-505, beginning the final rehearsal before the first Moon landing.
Earth Orbit
Parking Orbit
Following a flawless launch, Apollo 10 entered temporary Earth orbit while engineers verified spacecraft health before committing the crew to the Moon.
Trans-Lunar Injection
Departure for the Moon
The S-IVB third stage reignited successfully, sending Apollo 10 toward the Moon on nearly the same trajectory that Apollo 11 would later follow.
Deep Space
Coast Phase
The crew performed navigation updates, spacecraft inspections, and midcourse corrections during the three-day journey to the Moon.
May 21, 1969
Lunar Orbit Insertion
The Service Propulsion System engine fired behind the Moon, placing Apollo 10 into lunar orbit and beginning the most demanding phase of the mission.
Lunar Orbit
Transfer to Snoopy
Thomas Stafford and Eugene Cernan entered the Lunar Module Snoopy while John Young remained aboard Charlie Brown.
Lunar Orbit
Undocking
Snoopy separated from Charlie Brown for humanity's second independent Lunar Module flight and the first in lunar orbit.
Powered Descent Initiation
Descent Toward the Moon
The Lunar Module's descent engine ignited successfully as Stafford and Cernan followed the same flight profile later planned for Apollo 11.
Low Lunar Altitude
Closest Approach
Snoopy descended to approximately 9 miles (15 kilometers) above the lunar surface, allowing the crew to inspect landmarks and validate the guidance profile for Apollo 11's landing.
Landing Site Survey
Reconnaissance Photography
Stafford and Cernan photographed future Apollo landing areas, verifying terrain features, crater locations, and navigation references that would soon guide Apollo 11 to Tranquility Base.
Ascent Preparation
Staging Sequence Begins
After completing the planned low-altitude pass, the crew prepared to separate the descent stage and begin the ascent phase exactly as future lunar landing crews would.
May 22, 1969
"Wild Thing" Incident
During staging, an incorrect switch configuration briefly caused the Lunar Module to roll and yaw unexpectedly. Thomas Stafford quickly regained manual control, preventing a potentially serious situation and providing valuable operational lessons before Apollo 11.
Immediately After Recovery
Ascent Engine Ignition
Snoopy's Ascent Propulsion System fired successfully, proving the engine that future astronauts would depend on to leave the lunar surface.
Lunar Orbit
Rendezvous with Charlie Brown
Using radar and onboard guidance, Stafford and Cernan successfully rendezvoused with John Young aboard the Command Module Charlie Brown.
Docking Complete
Lunar Module Rejoins Command Module
Snoopy docked successfully with Charlie Brown, completing the final major operational demonstration required before a lunar landing mission.
Departure from the Moon
Trans-Earth Injection
Apollo 10 fired the Service Propulsion System behind the Moon, leaving lunar orbit and beginning the return journey to Earth.
Return Flight
Trans-Earth Coast
The crew completed additional navigation exercises, scientific observations, and spacecraft evaluations while traveling back toward Earth.
May 26, 1969
High-Speed Reentry
Apollo 10 reentered Earth's atmosphere at nearly lunar-return velocity, validating the Command Module one final time before Apollo 11.
May 26, 1969
Splashdown
Apollo 10 safely splashed down in the Pacific Ocean after completing the most comprehensive lunar landing rehearsal ever performed.
Postflight
Ready for Apollo 11
NASA concluded that every major objective required before attempting a lunar landing had been successfully demonstrated. The path was now clear for Apollo 11.
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