Launch from Cape Canaveral (
KSC); landing east of
Samoa Islands in the Pacific Ocean.
Final dress rehearsal for the moon
landing; second manned lunar orbital mission, but first lunar orbital mission
with complete spacecraft.
On May 22, 1969 the spacecraft were separated
spacecraft and the
LM, named
Snoopy, with
Stafford and
Cernan onboard was inserted into a descent orbit,
Young
remained alone in his command module "Charlie Brown". The
LM was taken within 15,243
km of lunar surface, checking out the
LM's radar and ascent engine
and several more. The lunar module returned to dock successfully with the
CSM following
the eight hour separation, and the
LM crew returned to the
CSM. The
LM ascent stage was
jettisoned. During leaving the moon orbit the
LM began to reel because of
technical problems (incorrect switch setting was the reason). 31 lunar orbits
were performed. Apollo 10 also added another first - broadcasting live color TV
from space (19 different broadcasts were performed).
The splashdown was
5,4 kilometers from the recovery ship "
USS Princeton".
