Editing Apollo Lunar Module (section)

===Production flights===
[[File:Apollo 11 Lunar Module Eagle in landing configuration in lunar orbit from the Command and Service Module Columbia.jpg|thumb|The Apollo 11 [[Lunar Module Eagle|Lunar Module ''Eagle'']] in lunar orbit]]
The first crewed lunar landing occurred on July 20, 1969, in the [[Apollo 11]] [[Lunar Module Eagle|LM-5 ''Eagle'']]. Four days later, the Apollo 11 crew in the [[command module Columbia|command module ''Columbia'']] splashed down in the Pacific Ocean, completing [[Apollo program#Background|President John F. Kennedy's goal]]: "...before this decade is out, of landing a man on the Moon and returning him safely to the Earth".

This was followed by landings by [[Apollo 12]] (LM-6 ''Intrepid'') and [[Apollo 14]] (LM-8 ''Antares''). In April 1970, the [[Apollo 13]] LM-7 ''Aquarius'' saved the lives of the three astronauts after an oxygen tank in the [[Apollo command and service module#Service module|service module]] ruptured, disabling the CSM. ''Aquarius'' served as a "lifeboat" for the astronauts during their return to Earth. Its [[Descent propulsion system|descent stage engine]]<ref name="NASA">{{Cite book|title=Remembering the Giants - Apollo Rocket Propulsion Development - NASA|publisher=NASA|pages=73–86}}</ref> was used to replace the crippled CSM Service Propulsion System engine,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Apollo 13 Mission Report September 1970 MSC-02680 |url=https://www.nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads/static/history/alsj/a13/a13_missionreport.pdf |pages=12–14}}</ref> and its batteries supplied power for the trip home and recharged the Command Module's batteries critical for reentry. The astronauts splashed down safely in the [[Pacific Ocean|South Pacific Ocean]] on April 17, 1970. The LM's systems, designed to support two astronauts for 45 hours (including two depressurization and repressurization cycles, causing loss of oxygen supply), actually stretched to support three astronauts for 90 hours (without pressurization cycles and loss of oxygen).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Apollo 13 Lunar Module/ALSEP NSSDCA/COSPAR ID: 1970-029C |url=https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1970-029C |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241217114705/https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1970-029C |url-status=dead |archive-date=2024-12-17 |website=NASA}}</ref>

Hover times were maximized on the last four landing missions by using the Service Module engine to perform the initial descent orbit insertion burn 22 hours before the LM separated from the CSM, a practice begun on Apollo 14. This meant that the complete spacecraft, including the CSM, orbited the Moon with a {{convert|9.1|nmi|km|adj=on}} perilune, enabling the LM to begin its powered descent from that altitude with a full load of descent stage propellant, leaving more reserve propellant for the final approach. The CSM would then raise its perilune back to the normal {{convert|60|nmi|km}}.<ref>{{Citation
| last = McDivitt
| first = James A.
| author-link = James McDivitt
| title = Apollo 14 Mission Report
| chapter = 6. Trajectory
| publisher = NASA
| date = May 1971
| chapter-url = http://www.hq.nasa.gov/alsj/a14/a14mr06.htm
| access-date = September 24, 2012
| archive-date = August 5, 2011
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110805105053/http://www.hq.nasa.gov/alsj/a14/a14mr06.htm
| url-status = live
}}</ref>