# Orion

> lunar module used during Apollo 16

**Wikidata**: [Q28101408](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q28101408)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/orion-q28101408

## Summary
Orion is the lunar module used during NASA's Apollo 16 mission, which landed astronauts John Young and Charles Duke on the Moon in 1972. It was part of the Apollo Lunar Module class and was manufactured by Grumman. Orion played a critical role in the mission's success, enabling lunar surface exploration and safe return to the command module.

## Key Facts
- **Mission**: Part of Apollo 16, landing on the Moon on April 21, 1972.  
- **Manufacturer**: Built by Grumman as part of the Apollo Lunar Module series.  
- **Mass**: Launch weight of 16,436.83 kg and dry weight of 4,892.9 kg.  
- **Dimensions**: Height of 6.985 meters.  
- **Call Sign**: Officially named "Orion" by the crew.  
- **Landing Site**: Descartes Highlands (coordinates: -8.9734° lat, 15.5011° lon).  
- **Launch Vehicle**: Carried by Saturn V (SA-511) from Kennedy Space Center on April 16, 1972.  
- **Serial Number**: Designated LM-11.  

## FAQs
### Q: Where did Orion land on the Moon?  
A: Orion landed in the Descartes Highlands on April 21, 1972, at 02:23:35 UTC.  

### Q: What was Orion's role in Apollo 16?  
A: It transported astronauts John Young and Charles Duke to the lunar surface, supported their exploration, and returned them to the command module.  

### Q: How much did Orion weigh?  
A: Its launch weight was 16,436.83 kg, while its dry weight (without fuel) was 4,892.9 kg.  

## Why It Matters  
Orion was pivotal in Apollo 16, NASA's fifth crewed Moon landing, which focused on geological exploration of the lunar highlands. Its success demonstrated the reliability of the Apollo Lunar Module design and contributed to scientific understanding of the Moon's composition. Orion's mission marked one of the final Apollo lunar landings, cementing the program's legacy in space exploration. The data collected by Young and Duke helped refine theories about the Moon's formation and history.  

## Notable For  
- **Precision Landing**: Targeted the geologically significant Descartes Highlands.  
- **Call Sign Tradition**: Continued NASA's practice of naming lunar modules after mythological figures.  
- **Final Jettison**: Orion was deliberately crashed into the Moon after use to study seismic activity.  

## Body  
### Mission Overview  
- Orion launched aboard Saturn V (SA-511) on April 16, 1972, at 17:54:00 UTC.  
- Landed on the Moon on April 21, 1972, at 02:23:35 UTC.  
- Astronauts spent 71 hours on the lunar surface, conducting three EVAs.  

### Technical Specifications  
- **Manufacturer**: Grumman.  
- **Height**: 6.985 meters.  
- **Mass**: 16,436.83 kg (launch), 4,892.9 kg (dry).  
- **Serial Number**: LM-11.  

### Landing and Operations  
- **Landing Site**: Descartes Highlands (LQ20).  
- **Significant Events**:  
  - Moon landing (April 21, 1972).  
  - Ascent stage liftoff (April 24, 1972, at 01:25:48 UTC).  
  - Jettisoned in lunar orbit (April 24, 1972, at 20:54:12 UTC).  

### Legacy  
- Contributed to lunar science, including samples from the highlands.  
- Part of the final Apollo missions before program conclusion.

## References

1. [Source](https://history.nasa.gov/SP-4029/Apollo_18-17_Call_Signs.htm)
2. Apollo: The Definitive Sourcebook
3. Jonathan's Space Report
4. [Source](https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1972-031C)
5. [Source](https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/planetary/lunar/lunar_sites.html)
6. [Source](https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/planetary/lunar/apolloland.html)
7. Apollo by the Numbers: A Statistical Reference