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Earth is a deep blue backdrop to this photo of astronaut David Scott and the command module and lunar module of the Apollo 9 mission. The joined modules are a metallic silver. He stands in the open hatch of the command module while wearing a white spacesuit. A metallic visor tops his red helmet.
NASA/Russell L. Schweickart

Astronaut David R. Scott, command module pilot for the Apollo 9 Earth-orbital mission, stands in the command module’s open hatch during his stand-up spacewalk on March 6, 1969. Astronaut Russell L. Schweickart, lunar module pilot, took this photograph of Scott while also performing a spacewalk. He was positioned on the porch of the lunar module (LM), while astronaut James A. McDivitt, was inside the LM.

Apollo 9 was the first crewed flight of the command/service module along with the lunar module. The mission’s three-person crew tested several aspects critical to landing on the Moon including the lunar module’s engines, backpack life support systems, navigation systems, and docking maneuvers. Apollo 9 set the stage for the next step — Apollo 10 — a test mission that occurred about 70 miles above the Moon’s surface.

See more photos from Apollo 9.

Image Credit: NASA/Russell L. Schweickart

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