# Apollo 10 Command and Service Module

> Command and Service Module used during Apollo 10

**Wikidata**: [Q28101423](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q28101423)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/apollo-10-command-and-service-module

## Summary
The Apollo 10 Command and Service Module (CSM-106) was the spacecraft component used during NASA's Apollo 10 mission, serving as the crew's habitation and control center while orbiting the Moon. Nicknamed "Charlie Brown," it was part of the final rehearsal before the historic Apollo 11 lunar landing. The module launched atop a Saturn V rocket on May 18, 1969.

## Key Facts
- **Launch Date:** May 18, 1969, at 16:49 UTC from Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex 39B  
- **COSPAR/NSSDCA ID:** 1969-043A  
- **Manufacturer:** Rockwell International  
- **Operator:** NASA  
- **Nickname:** "Charlie Brown" (after the Peanuts comic character)  
- **Part of:** Apollo 10 mission (lunar orbit rehearsal)  
- **Launch Vehicle:** Saturn V (SA-505)  
- **SCN (Satellite Catalog Number):** 03941  
- **Country of Origin:** United States  

## FAQs
### Q: What was the purpose of Apollo 10 Command and Service Module?  
A: It served as the crew's primary spacecraft during Apollo 10, testing lunar orbit procedures and systems as a dress rehearsal for Apollo 11's Moon landing.  

### Q: Why was it nicknamed "Charlie Brown"?  
A: NASA crews often named their spacecraft; the Apollo 10 CSM was playfully called "Charlie Brown" after the Peanuts comic character, while its Lunar Module was named "Snoopy."  

### Q: Did the Apollo 10 CSM land on the Moon?  
A: No, it remained in lunar orbit while the Lunar Module descended to within 8.4 nautical miles of the surface before returning.  

## Why It Matters  
The Apollo 10 Command and Service Module was critical in validating the systems and procedures needed for the first Moon landing. As the final "dress rehearsal" mission, it demonstrated the feasibility of lunar orbit rendezvous and tested navigation, communications, and propulsion systems in the Moon's gravitational field. Without its success, NASA could not have confidently proceeded with Apollo 11 just two months later. The mission also captured high-resolution photos of potential Apollo 11 landing sites, directly contributing to humanity's first steps on the Moon.  

## Notable For  
- **Final Pre-Landing Test:** Last mission to fully test CSM and Lunar Module operations near the Moon before Apollo 11.  
- **High-Altitude Lunar Approach:** Lunar Module descended closer to the surface (8.4 nautical miles) than any mission before Apollo 11.  
- **Cultural Legacy:** Its "Charlie Brown" nickname reflects NASA's tradition of lighthearted spacecraft naming.  

## Body  
### Mission Overview  
- Launched May 18, 1969, as part of Apollo 10, the fourth crewed Apollo mission.  
- Primary objective: Simulate all aspects of a lunar landing except the actual touchdown.  

### Technical Specifications  
- **Designation:** CSM-106 (Command Module: CM-106).  
- **Manufacturer:** Rockwell International (prime contractor for Apollo CSM).  
- **Launch Mass:** ~28,830 kg (CSM + Lunar Module combined).  

### Key Events  
- **Lunar Orbit Insertion:** Achieved on May 21, 1969.  
- **Lunar Module Descent:** LM "Snoopy" descended to 8.4 nautical miles above the Moon's surface.  
- **Reunion and Return:** CSM successfully docked with LM ascent stage before returning to Earth.  

### Legacy  
- Provided critical data for Apollo 11's success two months later.  
- Confirmed the stability of Saturn V's S-IVB stage for trans-lunar injection.

## References

1. [Source](https://history.nasa.gov/SP-4029/Apollo_18-17_Call_Signs.htm)
2. Jonathan's Space Report