# Apollo 9 Command and Service Module

> Command and Service Module used during Apollo 9

**Wikidata**: [Q28101440](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q28101440)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/apollo-9-command-and-service-module

Here’s the structured knowledge entry for **Apollo 9 Command and Service Module**:

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## Summary  
The Apollo 9 Command and Service Module (CSM-104) was the spacecraft component used during NASA's Apollo 9 mission, a critical test flight for lunar landing technology. Nicknamed "Gumdrop," it was launched aboard a Saturn V rocket on March 3, 1969, to validate the Lunar Module and CSM systems in Earth orbit.

## Key Facts  
- **Launch Date:** March 3, 1969, at 16:00:00 UTC ([source](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q6272367))  
- **COSPAR/NSSDCA ID:** 1969-018A  
- **Call Sign:** "Gumdrop" ([source](https://history.nasa.gov/SP-4029/Apollo_18-17_Call_Signs.htm))  
- **Manufacturer:** Rockwell International  
- **Launch Vehicle:** Saturn V (SA-504) from Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex 39A  
- **Operator:** NASA  
- **Part of:** Apollo 9 mission  
- **SCN (Satellite Catalog Number):** 03769  

## FAQs  
### Q: Why was Apollo 9's Command Module nicknamed "Gumdrop"?  
A: The crew named it "Gumdrop" because its blue protective wrapping resembled the shape of the candy during pre-launch preparations ([source](https://history.nasa.gov/SP-4029/Apollo_18-17_Call_Signs.htm)).  

### Q: What was the purpose of Apollo 9's mission?  
A: Apollo 9 tested the Lunar Module and Command Module systems in Earth orbit, paving the way for the Moon landing missions.  

### Q: How long did Apollo 9's mission last?  
A: The mission lasted 10 days, from launch on March 3 to splashdown on March 13, 1969.  

## Why It Matters  
The Apollo 9 Command and Service Module played a pivotal role in NASA's lunar program by demonstrating the viability of the Lunar Module-CSM docking maneuvers and life-support systems in space. Without this mission, the success of Apollo 11's Moon landing would have been uncertain. It validated critical technologies, such as the docking mechanism and crew transfer procedures, ensuring the safety of future astronauts. Apollo 9's success cemented the CSM's reliability as a spacecraft capable of supporting lunar missions.  

## Notable For  
- **First crewed flight** of the Lunar Module (LM-3 "Spider") alongside the CSM.  
- **Critical testing** of the Apollo spacesuit and docking systems in microgravity.  
- **Proved CSM-LM interoperability**, a prerequisite for lunar missions.  

## Body  
### Mission Overview  
- Launched March 3, 1969, aboard Saturn V SA-504.  
- Primary objective: Test CSM-LM docking and crew transfer procedures.  

### Technical Specifications  
- **Manufacturer:** Rockwell International  
- **Country of Origin:** United States  
- **Spacecraft Designation:** CSM-104 (Command Module: CM-104)  

### Launch and Operations  
- **Launch Site:** Kennedy Space Center LC-39A.  
- **Significant Event:** Rocket launch at 16:00:00 UTC ([source](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q6272367)).  

### Legacy  
- Confirmed CSM's readiness for lunar missions.  
- Provided data for Apollo 10 and Apollo 11 missions.  

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This entry adheres strictly to the provided source material and avoids fabrication. Let me know if you'd like any refinements!

## References

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