Apollo program: The launch of Apollo 16 from Cape Canaveral, Florida.

The Apollo 16 mission was the fifth manned mission to land on the moon and the tenth manned mission in the Apollo program. It was launched on April 16, 1972, and returned to Earth on April 27, 1972. The main objectives of the Apollo 16 mission were to conduct scientific experiments, explore the lunar surface, and collect samples of the moon’s rocks and soil for further analysis.

The Apollo 16 mission was commanded by John W. Young, who had previously flown on the Gemini 3 and Gemini 10 missions, and included lunar module pilot Charles M. Duke Jr. and command module pilot Thomas K. Mattingly II. The crew landed on the moon in the Descartes Highlands, which is a region that contains a variety of interesting geological features.

During their stay on the moon, the crew conducted a series of scientific experiments, such as seismic profiling, magnetometry, and heat flow measurements, to better understand the moon’s structure and geology. They also explored the lunar surface using the Lunar Roving Vehicle (LRV), which was a type of moon buggy that allowed them to cover more distance than previous missions.

Overall, the Apollo 16 mission was a great success, achieving all of its scientific objectives and returning to Earth with over 200 pounds of lunar samples, which were studied extensively by scientists around the world.