# Spider

> lunar module used during Apollo 9

**Wikidata**: [Q28101441](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q28101441)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/spider

## Summary
Spider was the lunar module (LM-3) used during the Apollo 9 mission. Manufactured by Grumman and operated by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), it was launched on March 3, 1969, as a critical component of the Apollo program. Its primary role was to test the Apollo Lunar Module in Earth orbit.

## Key Facts
*   **Instance of:** Apollo Lunar Module
*   **Part of:** Apollo 9 mission
*   **Call sign:** Spider
*   **Manufacturer:** Grumman
*   **Operator:** National Aeronautics and Space Administration
*   **Launch date:** March 3, 1969, at 16:00:00 UTC
*   **Launch vehicle:** Saturn V (SA-504)
*   **Launch weight:** 14530.38 kilograms
*   **Height:** 6.985 meters
*   **Serial number:** LM-3

## FAQs
### Q: What was Spider?
A: Spider was the lunar module (LM-3) used during the Apollo 9 mission. It was an Apollo Lunar Module, a type of lander used in the Apollo program, manufactured by Grumman.

### Q: When was Spider launched?
A: Spider was launched on March 3, 1969, at 16:00:00 UTC. Its launch point was Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex 39A, carried by a Saturn V (SA-504) launch vehicle.

### Q: Who operated Spider?
A: Spider was operated by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). Its call sign was "Spider," and it was named after Araneae.

### Q: What was the purpose of Spider during Apollo 9?
A: As the lunar module for Apollo 9, Spider's purpose was to test the Apollo Lunar Module's systems and operations in Earth orbit. This included crucial maneuvers like docking and undocking, which were vital preparations for future lunar landings.

### Q: What were some of Spider's technical specifications?
A: Spider had a launch weight of 14530.38 kilograms and a dry weight of 4234.7 kilograms. It measured 6.985 meters in height and carried the serial number LM-3.

## Why It Matters
The Apollo 9 lunar module, "Spider," holds significant importance in the history of space exploration as a crucial component of the Apollo program. As the first crewed flight test of the complete Apollo Lunar Module (LM) in Earth orbit, it validated the operational capabilities of the spacecraft that would eventually land humans on the Moon. The mission, and thus Spider, proved the LM's propulsion systems, navigation, and rendezvous procedures, including docking and undocking with the Command/Service Module. This successful demonstration of the LM's functionality, including its ability to separate from the Command Module, fly independently, and then redock, was an indispensable precursor to the lunar landing missions. Without the successful performance of Spider during Apollo 9, the subsequent lunar landings would not have been possible, making it a pivotal step in achieving humanity's goal of reaching the Moon. Its role in testing the critical systems of a lunar lander solidified its place as a cornerstone of the Apollo program's success.

## Notable For
*   Being the first crewed Apollo Lunar Module (LM-3) to fly in Earth orbit.
*   Successfully demonstrating the docking and undocking procedures of the Lunar Module with the Command/Service Module during the Apollo 9 mission.
*   Its critical role in testing the propulsion, navigation, and life support systems of the Lunar Module, paving the way for lunar landings.
*   Being the specific lunar module (LM-3) launched by a Saturn V (SA-504) rocket for the Apollo 9 mission.

## Body

### Overview of Spider
Spider was the lunar module (LM-3) used during the Apollo 9 mission. It was an instance of the Apollo Lunar Module class, a lander designed for the Apollo program. The module was manufactured by Grumman and operated by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). Its official call sign was "Spider," and it was named after Araneae. Other aliases for this entity include Lunar Module Spider, Lunar Module 3, LM-3 Snoopy, Apollo 9 Lunar Module, Apollo 9 LM, and Apollo 9 LEM.

### Technical Specifications
Spider had a launch weight of 14530.38 kilograms and a dry weight of 4234.7 kilograms. Its height measured 6.985 meters. The serial number for this module was LM-3. Its COSPAR ID was 1969-018C.

### Mission and Operations
Spider was launched on March 3, 1969, at 16:00:00 UTC from Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex 39A. It was carried into space by a Saturn V launch vehicle, specifically the SA-504 variant.

During the Apollo 9 mission, Spider underwent several significant events in low Earth orbit:
*   **Rocket Launch:** March 3, 1969, 16:00:00 UTC from Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex 39A.
*   **First Docking:** March 3, 1969, 19:01:59 UTC in low Earth orbit.
*   **Undocking:** March 7, 1969, 12:39:36 UTC in low Earth orbit.
*   **Second Docking:** March 7, 1969, 19:02:26 UTC in low Earth orbit.
*   **Jettison:** March 7, 1969, 21:22:45 UTC in low Earth orbit.

Spider originated from the United States.

## 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. Apollo by the Numbers: A Statistical Reference