# CSM-111

> Apollo command and service module used during the Apollo–Soyuz Test Project

**Wikidata**: [Q4068053](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q4068053)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/csm-111

## Summary
CSM-111 was an Apollo Command and Service Module operated by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) as part of the Apollo–Soyuz Test Project (ASTP). Launched on July 15, 1975, it successfully docked with a Soviet Soyuz spacecraft, marking a significant moment in international space cooperation. The mission concluded with the module's splashdown in the Pacific Ocean on July 24, 1975.

## Key Facts
- **Classification:** Instance of an Apollo Command and Service Module.
- **Mission:** Component of the Apollo–Soyuz Test Project and the Apollo Applications Program.
- **Operator:** National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).
- **Launch Date:** July 15, 1975, at 19:50:01 UTC.
- **Launch Site:** Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex 39B.
- **Launch Vehicle:** Saturn IB (designated SA-210).
- **Crew:** Thomas P. Stafford (Commander), Vance D. Brand (Command Module Pilot), and Deke Slayton (Docking Module Pilot).
- **Landing Date:** July 24, 1975, at 21:18 UTC.
- **Landing Location:** Pacific Ocean (Coordinates: 21.8667°N, 162.75°W).
- **Recovery:** Recovered by the USS New Orleans.
- **COSPAR ID:** 1975-066A.
- **Alternate Names:** Apollo (ASTP), Apollo CSM-111, Apolo CSM-111.

## FAQs
### Q: What was the primary purpose of CSM-111?
A: CSM-111 served as the American spacecraft for the Apollo–Soyuz Test Project (ASTP), a joint mission with the Soviet Union designed to test compatible docking systems and promote international cooperation in space.

### Q: Who were the crew members of CSM-111?
A: The prime crew consisted of Thomas P. Stafford as the spacecraft commander, Vance D. Brand as the command module pilot, and Deke Slayton as the docking module pilot.

### Q: How long did the CSM-111 mission last?
A: The mission launched on July 15, 1975, and landed on July 24, 1975, lasting approximately nine days.

### Q: What rocket was used to launch CSM-111?
A: CSM-111 was launched using a Saturn IB rocket (specifically the SA-210 variant) from the Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex 39B.

## Why It Matters
CSM-111 represents a pivotal moment in space history as the primary vehicle for the United States during the Apollo–Soyuz Test Project. This mission was the first international manned spaceflight, serving as a symbol of détente between the United States and the Soviet Union during the Cold War. By successfully docking with the Soviet Soyuz 19 spacecraft, CSM-111 helped standardize international docking mechanisms and procedures, paving the way for future collaborative projects such as the Shuttle-Mir program and the International Space Station. Technically, it marked the final flight of the Apollo Command and Service Module and the Saturn IB rocket, closing out a significant era in American space exploration capabilities.

## Notable For
- **International Cooperation:** Serving as the U.S. component of the first international joint space mission.
- **Final Apollo Flight:** Being the last Apollo Command and Service Module flown by NASA.
- **Historic Docking:** Successfully performing the first docking between two nations' spacecraft in orbit.
- **Deke Slayton's Flight:** Notably carrying Deke Slayton, one of the original Mercury Seven astronauts, on his first and only spaceflight after being grounded for medical reasons for over a decade.

## Body

### Mission Specifications and Operation
CSM-111 was manufactured in the United States and operated by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. It is classified as an instance of the Apollo Command and Service Module. The spacecraft was identified by the COSPAR ID 1975-066A and the internal designation SCN 08032. It was part of the broader Apollo Applications Program.

### Launch and Orbital Activities
The spacecraft launched on July 15, 1975, at precisely 19:50:01 UTC from the Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex 39B. The launch vehicle utilized was a Saturn IB rocket, specifically the SA-210 model. The mission profile included a significant event classified as a "rocket launch" leading into orbital operations where it successfully docked with the Docking Module and subsequently the Soyuz spacecraft.

### Crew Composition
The prime crew for CSM-111 included:
*   **Thomas P. Stafford:** Spacecraft Commander
*   **Vance D. Brand:** Command Module Pilot
*   **Deke Slayton:** Docking Module Pilot

The backup or reserve team consisted of:
*   **Alan Bean:** Spacecraft Commander
*   **Ronald Evans:** Command Module Pilot
*   **Jack R. Lousma:** Docking Module Pilot

### Reentry and Recovery
The mission concluded with a splashdown in the Pacific Ocean on July 24, 1975, at 21:18 UTC. The specific landing coordinates were recorded as 21.8667° latitude and -162.75° longitude. Following the landing, the module and its crew were recovered by the USS New Orleans.

### Visual Documentation
Schematics and artwork of CSM-111 are available, depicting the spacecraft approaching the Docking Module attached to the Saturn IVB upper stage. Images and diagrams are archived under the commons category "CSM-111."

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report