Mission Overview
Apollo 9 was the first manned flight of the lunar module and tested this portion of the spacecraft for lunar operations.  During the ten-day flight, the spacecraft demonstrated various important functions including a complete rendezvous and docking profile and extravehicular crew operations.  All systems performed satisfactorily.  The mission completed 151 earth orbits and carried the largest payload ever placed in orbit.

Mission Activities
The Apollo 9 mission was divided into six activity periods over ten days: launch and ascent, docking and separations maneuvers; service propulsion systems burns; lunar module systems checkout; extravehicular activity; lunar module activities completion; and command service module solo operations, scientific photography, and command module reentry and recovery.