Apollo XVI
April 16 – 27, 1972
Astronaut Signatures:
John Young, Ken Mattingly, Charles Duke
The Apollo 16 mission was the first to land on lunar highlands. Their findings from the Descartes and Cayley regions helped discredit the hypothesis that lunar formations were volcanic in origin. Mattingly was an original member of Apollo 13, but was replaced when he was exposed to the measles. Among other launch delays, Young’s spacesuit encountered dexterity issues and had to undergo trouble-shooting. Duke expressed excitement during his first contact: “Fantastic! Oh, that first foot on the lunar surface is super Tony!”