The Apollo 10 Mission: NASA's Lunar Landing Dress Rehearsal in Photos
Depart the Tiny Vessel
After a successful splashdown, the Apollo 10 prime crew, assisted by Navy underwater demolition team swimmers, leave the Command Module. Astronauts Thomas P. Stafford (left), commander; and John W. Young, command module pilot, wait in the life raft as astronaut Eugene A. Cernan exits the module. There trio was carried to the USS Princeton by helicopter at the conclusion of a successful eight-day lunar orbit mission.
Recovery in Action
Crewmembers aboard a helicopter from the prime recovery ship, the USS Princeton, raise an Apollo 10 crewmember from the ocean's surface. The crew was flown to the recovery ship for a rousing welcome and the spacecraft was brought aboard later.
Back on Solid Footing
After an eight-day lunar orbital mission, the Apollo 10 crew members are welcomed onto the USS Princeton. The May 26, 1969 splashdown concluded another successful eight-day lunar orbital mission.
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Christine Lunsford joined the Space.com team in 2010 as a freelance producer and later became a contributing writer, covering astrophotography images, astronomy photos and amazing space galleries and more. During her more than 10 years with Space.com, oversaw the site's monthly skywatching updates and produced overnight features and stories on the latest space discoveries. She enjoys learning about subjects of all kinds.