NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION

Saturn V | Apollo 16

SUCCESSApr 16, 1972 at 17:54 UTCSaturn V →
PADLaunch Complex 39A
SITEKennedy Space Center, FL, USA →
ORBITLunar Orbit
TYPEHuman Exploration
PROGRAMApollo

Apollo 16 was the 10th crewed launch of the Apollo program. The craft was crewed by Commander John Young, Command Module Pilot Ken Mattingly & Lunar Module Pilot Charles Duke. The mission duration was 11 days, 1 hour, 51 minutes & 5 seconds during which time Young and Duke spent 71 hours on the surface of the Moon spending a total of 20 hours and 14 minutes on moonwalks while Mattingly spend 126 hours or 64 orbits in lunar orbit. While conducting moonwalks, Young and Duke collected 95.8Kg of lunar samples. During return trip to Earth Mattingly performed an EVA to collect film cassettes from the exterior of the service module.

VEHICLE
Saturn V
MISSION
Apollo 16
MISSION TYPE
Human Exploration
TARGET ORBIT
Lunar Orbit
PROGRAM
Apollo
COUNTRY
USA
CONFIRMEDPrecision: Minute
LAUNCH LIBRARY 2 PRIMARY
API ID: d9e2152f-94f3-46b3-b7cb-be0a923f0e25
Reported date: Apr 16, 1972 at 17:54 UTC
Last synced: 2 hours ago
This launch date and time are confirmed by the launch provider. Countdown is active.
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LM-11SERIAL
2FLIGHTS
Lunar SurfaceDESTINATION
DestroyedSTATUS
FLIGHT-PROVEN CAPSULE

Flown on Apollo-16 Descent stage on lunar surface at Descartes Highlands, ascent stage left in lunar orbit, crashed on Moon

Apollo 16 Orion
Descartes Highlands
NASAOPERATOR
MoonBODY
CompletedSTATUS
Apollo 16 Lunar Roving Vehicle
26.7 km traveled
NASAOPERATOR
MoonBODY
CompletedSTATUS
MANUFACTURER
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
VARIANT
V
FLIGHTS
13
SUCCESSES
12
SUCCESS RATE
92.3%

The Saturn V was a human-rated expendable rocket used by NASA between 1967 and 1973. Most notably, the Saturn V took the Apollo program to the Moon. It still remains the world's tallest, heaviest, and most powerful rocket ever brought to operational status and is the only launch vehicle to take humans beyond LEO.

When is the Saturn V | Apollo 16 launch?
The Saturn V | Apollo 16 is scheduled for Sunday, April 16, 1972 at 5:54 PM UTC. This is the NET (No Earlier Than) time and may be subject to change. Current status: SUCCESS.
What rocket is being used for Apollo 16?
The Saturn V | Apollo 16 mission uses the Saturn V rocket, manufactured by National Aeronautics and Space Administration. The Saturn V has flown 13 times with a 92.3% success rate.
Where is the Saturn V | Apollo 16 launching from?
The launch takes place from Launch Complex 39A at Kennedy Space Center, FL, USA.
What orbit is Apollo 16 going to?
The Apollo 16 mission is targeting Lunar Orbit.
Who is launching Apollo 16?
The Saturn V | Apollo 16 is operated by National Aeronautics and Space Administration. It is part of the Apollo program.
Can I watch the Saturn V | Apollo 16 launch live?
Yes. Visit the launch detail page on Space Launch Live for embedded YouTube webcasts, replay videos, and links to live coverage from SpaceX, NASA, NASASpaceflight, and other channels.
Mar 28, 2026 21:44 UTC
Launch added to tracker
Imported from Launch Library 2 API
Mar 28, 2026 21:44 UTC
Launch date set: Apr 16, 1972 at 17:54 UTC
NET (No Earlier Than) confirmed by National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Mar 28, 2026 21:44 UTC
Launch completed successfully
Updated via Launch Library 2
Jan 13, 2025 20:00 UTC
Earth in Far-Ultraviolet
On April 21, 1972, NASA astronaut John W. Young, commander of the Apollo 16 mission, took a far-ultraviolet photo of Earth with an ultraviolet camera.…
NASA
Apr 15, 2022 14:00 UTC
Apollo 16
Astronauts John Young, Charlie Duke, and Ken Mattingly launched on April 16, 1972, to explore the lunar highlands of Descartes crater.
Planetary Society
Sep 30, 2018 22:00 UTC
Apollo 16: Exploring the Highlands
Space.com
Last data sync: 2 hours ago
Launch Library 21 day ago
Launch ID: d9e2152f-94f3-46b3-b7cb-be0a923f0e25
Spaceflight News API1 day ago
3 articles matched
Open-Meteo Weather1 day ago
Pad weather at 28.61, -80.6
YouTube Video Search3 weeks ago
1 video discovered