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A recovery helicopter with "Navy" and "54" stenciled on it hovers above the water, the wind from its blades creating rings of circles below. Directly below the helicopter is an orange and white parachute. At bottom right is the Apollo 9 command module, where the astronauts await recovery.

Apollo 9 Crew Comes Home

Immediately after splashdown, a recovery helicopter from the USS Guadalcanal hovers over the Apollo 9 spacecraft. Still inside the Command Module are astronauts James A. McDivitt, David R. Scott, and Russell L. Schweickart. Splashdown occurred at 12:00:53 p.m. EST March 13, 1969, only 4.5 nautical miles from the USS Guadalcanal, the prime recovery ship, to conclude a successful 10-day Earth-orbital mission in space.

Image Credit: NASA

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TakenMarch 13, 1969
Image CreditNASA
Size4699x3687px