Imagine standing on the shores of Cape Kennedy in the late 1960s, watching as a massive Saturn V rocket—taller than the Statue of Liberty—thunders off the launch pad. The ground shakes beneath your feet, and your chest resonates with each pulse of the five F-1 engines generating 7.5 million pounds of thrust. Now consider that within just over a week, the three astronauts aboard that rocket would complete their journey to the Moon and back, splashing down gently in the ocean, having accomplished what was once thought impossible.
For space history enthusiasts, NASA buffs, and professionals fascinated by human spaceflight, one of the most common questions is: How long did an Apollo mission take from launch to splashdown? The answer isn’t straightforward, as mission durations varied significantly based on objectives, hardware capabilities, and even in-flight anomalies. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore the precise durations of every crewed Apollo flight, break down what influenced mission length, and provide a detailed look at a classic lunar landing mission timeline.
Apollo Mission Timeline Explorer
Select a mission above to explore its timeline
Understanding the Apollo Mission Timeline
Apollo missions followed a broadly similar sequence of phases, each contributing to the total mission duration. Let’s examine these key phases to better understand the timeline of these historic journeys.
Launch & Earth Parking Orbit
The first phase of any Apollo mission began with the ignition of the Saturn V’s first stage. This massive rocket would place the spacecraft into a low-Earth parking orbit in about 12 minutes—an incredibly short time considering the complexity of the operation.
Translunar Injection (TLI)
Approximately two hours after liftoff, the S-IVB third stage would reignite, sending the Command/Service Module (CSM) and Lunar Module (LM) toward the Moon. This critical maneuver, called Translunar Injection, set the spacecraft on its path to lunar orbit.
Coast to the Moon
Following TLI, the spacecraft would begin a three-day coast across cislunar space. During this time, astronauts performed midcourse corrections to refine their trajectory and conducted health checks on the spacecraft systems.
Lunar Orbit Insertion & Surface Operations
Once the spacecraft reached the Moon, it performed Lunar Orbit Insertion maneuvers to establish a stable orbit. For landing missions, the Lunar Module would then separate from the Command/Service Module and descend to the lunar surface. Surface stays vary dramatically throughout the program, from under 24 hours on early missions to over three days on the later “J” missions.
Trans-Earth Injection (TEI)
After completing their lunar operations and reentering lunar orbit, the astronauts would fire the CSM’s engine to perform the Trans-Earth Injection burn, setting them on a course back to Earth.
Earth Reentry & Splashdown
The final phase involved another approximately 2.5-day coast back to Earth, followed by reentry into Earth’s atmosphere, parachute deployment, and splashdown in the ocean, where recovery forces would be waiting.
Mission Durations: From Earth Orbit to Moon Landing
Below is a comprehensive summary of the launch-to-splashdown durations for all eleven crewed Apollo missions, from Apollo 7 through Apollo 17:
| Mission | Launch Date | Splashdown Date | Total Duration |
| Apollo 7 | Oct 11, 1968, 15:02 UTC | Oct 22, 1968, 11:11 UTC | 10 days 20 h 9 m 3 s |
| Apollo 8 | Dec 21, 1968, 12:51 UTC | Dec 27, 1968, 16:34 UTC | 6 days 3 h 42 s |
| Apollo 9 | Mar 3, 1969, 16:00 UTC | Mar 13, 1969, 17:00 UTC | 10 days 1 h 0 m 54 s |
| Apollo 10 | May 18, 1969, 16:49 UTC | May 26, 1969, 16:52 UTC | 8 days 0 h 3 m 23 s |
| Apollo 11 | July 16, 1969, 13:32 UTC | July 24, 1969, 16:50 UTC | 8 days 3 h 18 m 35 s |
| Apollo 12 | Nov 14, 1969, 16:22 UTC | Nov 24, 1969, 20:58 UTC | 10 days 4 h 36 m 24 s |
| Apollo 13 | Apr 11, 1970, 19:13 UTC | Apr 17, 1970, 17:07 UTC | 5 days 22 h 54 m 41 s |
| Apollo 14 | Jan 31, 1971, 21:03 UTC | Feb 9, 1971, 21:04 UTC | 9 days 0 h 1 m 58 s |
| Apollo 15 | July 26, 1971, 13:34 UTC | Aug 7, 1971, 20:49 UTC | 12 days 7 h 11 m 53 s |
| Apollo 16 | Apr 16, 1972, 12:54 UTC | Apr 27, 1972, 14:45 UTC | 11 days 1 h 51 m |
| Apollo 17 | Dec 7, 1972, 05:33 UTC | Dec 19, 1972, 17:25 UTC | 12 days 13 h 51 m 59 s |
Crewed Earth-Orbit vs. Lunar Missions
The Apollo program began with Earth-orbital tests before moving to the Moon. Apollo 7 served as a thorough test of the Command/Service Module in low-Earth orbit, resulting in a mission just under 11 days. Apollo 8–10, which orbited the Moon (without landing), averaged about 8.7 days each. Lunar landing missions (Apollo 11–17, excluding the Apollo 13 abort) ranged from roughly 8 days (Apollo 11) to over 12 days (Apollo 15 and 17). Apollo 13’s safe-return mission was notably shorter, at just under 6 days, due to the emergency situation.
Average Mission Durations by Type
To better understand how mission objectives influenced duration, we can categorize the missions by type:
| Mission Type | Missions Included | Average Duration (Days) |
| Earth-orbit test | Apollo 7 | 10.85 |
| Lunar orbit (no landing) | Apollo 8, 9, 10 | 8.72 |
| Lunar landing | Apollo 11, 12, 14–17 | 10.55 |
| Aborted landing | Apollo 13 | 5.95 |
By grouping missions this way, we can clearly see how objectives, from simple Earth-orbit tests to extended science “J” missions, directly impacted total flight time.
Breakdown Example: Apollo 11 Timeline
Let’s zoom in on the historic Apollo 11 mission for a detailed phase-by-phase breakdown:
Launch and Initial Orbit
Apollo 11 launched on July 16, 1969, at 13:32 UTC. Within approximately 12 minutes after liftoff, the spacecraft was safely in Earth orbit, where systems were checked before committing to the journey to the Moon.
Translunar Injection and Coast
About 2 hours after launch, the S-IVB third stage fired again to send the spacecraft toward the Moon. The translunar coast phase lasted approximately 3 days, during which time the astronauts performed necessary course corrections.
Arrival at the Moon
Lunar Orbit Insertion occurred on July 19, 1969, at 21:44 UTC, placing the spacecraft in orbit around the Moon.
Lunar Landing and Surface Operations
The Eagle lunar module touched down on the Moon’s surface on July 20, 1969, at 20:17 UTC. Surface operations lasted approximately 21 hours and 37 minutes, during which Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin conducted one moonwalk and set up various scientific experiments.
Return Journey
The Trans-Earth Injection burn took place on July 22, 1969, at 04:55 UTC, sending the Command Module Columbia back toward Earth.
Reentry and Splashdown
After a 2-hour and 14-minute reentry procedure—a critical safety buffer as noted in NASA’s detailed Flight Journal—the spacecraft splashed down in the Pacific Ocean on July 24, 1969, at 16:50 UTC.
Total mission duration: 8 days, 3 hours, 18 minutes, and 35 seconds.
Factors Influencing Mission Length
Several variables affected how long an Apollo mission lasted, leading to the significant variation we see in the mission durations. Understanding these factors provides insight into the program’s evolution and the increasing complexity of lunar exploration.
Mission Objectives
The Apollo program evolved through several mission types, each with different goals and requirements:
- C-type missions (Earth orbital tests)
- D/E-type missions (lunar orbital missions without landing)
- G-type missions (initial lunar landings with limited surface activities)
- J-type missions (extended lunar stays with advanced science packages)
Later “J” missions (Apollo 15–17) carried the Apollo Lunar Surface Experiment Package (ALSEP), requiring extra surface time and thus longer overall mission lengths.
Hardware Improvements
As the program progressed, NASA engineers made significant improvements to mission hardware, particularly the Lunar Module. Upgraded LM life-support systems extended lunar surface stays from under one day on Apollo 11 to over three days on Apollo 17. These longer surface stays directly influenced the total mission duration.
In-flight Anomalies
Not every mission went according to plan. Apollo 13’s oxygen-tank explosion led to an immediate abort of the lunar landing and initiation of Trans-Earth Injection, resulting in a shortened flight of just under 6 days. While the mission didn’t accomplish its original objectives, it remains a triumph of problem-solving and crisis management.
Trajectory & Navigation
Advancements in trajectory planning and navigation also influenced mission duration. Precise midcourse corrections and trajectory optimizations could shave hours off transit times, while landing site selection could impact orbital parameters and consequently mission length.
Why Apollo Mission Durations Matter Today
Understanding Apollo mission durations isn’t just trivia for space enthusiasts—it provides valuable insights that remain relevant in modern spaceflight planning.
Engineering Margins & Reliability
The fact that multiple complex missions flew safely for up to 13 days demonstrates NASA’s robust design and operations philosophy. Modern spacecraft designers still study Apollo systems to understand how to build reliable life support and propulsion systems for deep space missions.
Science & Exploration Planning
Future Moon and Mars missions can benchmark life-support requirements, consumable reserves, and crew fatigue management based on Apollo data. NASA’s Artemis program, which aims to return humans to the Moon, will likely feature missions with durations similar to later Apollo missions but with modern systems and capabilities.
Human Factors
Extended stays in microgravity (over 12 days) provided early insights into health effects, informing modern long-duration mission protocols. The Apollo astronauts’ experiences with fatigue, sleep cycles, and workload management continue to influence how mission planners design crew timelines today.
Apollo 11: A Closer Look at the Historic First Landing
As the most famous of all Apollo missions, Apollo 11 deserves special attention. It’s 8-day, 3-hour journey represents the minimum duration required for a successful lunar landing mission with the technology of the time.
Pre-launch Preparation
While not part of the official mission clock, the preparation for launch was extensive. The crew entered quarantine three weeks before launch to prevent illness during the mission. Equipment checks and system verifications continued right up until the countdown began.
Launch Day Operations
On July 16, 1969, Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, and Michael Collins boarded their spacecraft atop the Saturn V rocket. At 13:32 UTC, the five F-1 engines ignited, and Apollo 11 began its journey to the Moon.
The Lunar Surface
Armstrong and Aldrin spent approximately 21 hours and 37 minutes on the lunar surface, far less than later missions would. During this time, they collected samples, took photographs, set up experiments, and of course, took those historic first steps. Meanwhile, Collins orbited above in the Command Module, conducting observations and preparing for their return.
The Return to Earth
After lifting off from the Moon and rejoining the Command Module, the crew began their return journey. The splashdown in the Pacific Ocean on July 24 marked the successful completion of humanity’s first lunar landing mission.
The Evolution of Apollo: From Short Stays to Extended Exploration
As the Apollo program progressed, mission durations increased significantly, reflecting NASA’s growing confidence and capability in lunar exploration.
Apollo 15-17: The “J” Missions
The final three Apollo missions—15, 16, and 17—were designated as “J” missions, featuring upgraded hardware and extended stays on the lunar surface. These missions included:
- The Lunar Roving Vehicle (LRV), allowing astronauts to explore much farther from the landing site
- Enhanced life support systems enabling longer surface stays
- More comprehensive scientific equipment packages
- Multiple EVAs (moonwalks) to conduct various experiments
These advancements led to mission durations exceeding 12 days, with Apollo 17—the final lunar landing mission—holding the record at 12 days, 13 hours, and 51 minutes.
Scientific Value of Longer Missions
The extended duration of later Apollo missions directly translated to greater scientific returns. More time on the lunar surface meant more samples collected, more experiments conducted, and more observations made. The scientific legacy of Apollo continues to inform our understanding of lunar geology and the early solar system.
Learning from Apollo 13: When Things Don’t Go as Planned
Apollo 13’s famously shortened mission provides valuable lessons in contingency planning and crisis management. After an oxygen tank explosion about 56 hours into the mission, NASA quickly pivoted from a lunar landing objective to a “safe return” mission.
The resulting shortened duration—5 days and 22 hours—represents the minimum time needed for a lunar flyby mission under emergency conditions. The crew’s safe return, despite severe power, water, and environmental limitations, stands as testament to NASA’s engineering margins and the problem-solving abilities of both the astronauts and mission control.
Conclusion
From the 6-day drama of Apollo 13’s safe return to the record-breaking almost 13 days of Apollo 17, Apollo mission durations evolved alongside objectives and technology. These historic journeys, spanning from 1968 to 1972, pushed the boundaries of human endurance, engineering capability, and scientific exploration.
Whether you’re a space history buff, an educator, or a professional in aerospace, understanding Apollo mission durations offers valuable context for human spaceflight’s past and its future. As we look ahead to returning to the Moon through the Artemis program and eventually sending humans to Mars, the lessons learned from Apollo remain crucial guideposts.
Ready for more? Dive deeper into Apollo’s legacy on Apollo11Space.com, and don’t forget to check out our YouTube channel for engaging videos on space history and exploration: Apollo11Space on YouTube.
For enthusiasts looking to observe the night sky themselves, check out our guide to the best telescopes for stargazing and tracking orbital vehicles. And to learn more about the people who made these missions possible, explore our profile on the Maestros of the MOCR: Meet the Apollo Flight Directors.
Best Telescopes 2025
