[Apollo 9]

A STRIKING PHOTO FROM THE FIRST CREWED APOLLO MISSION. TAKEN MARCH 6, 1969, THE IMAGE OF LMP RUSTY SCHWEICKART'S EVA IS AN IMPORTANT SNAPSHOT OF THE APOLLO PROGRAM AS A DEFINITIVE STEP IN THE RACE TO LAND ON THE MOON

This striking photo showcases Schweickart’s extravehicular activity (EVA) during the Apollo 9 mission, and the first EVA of the entire Apollo program. Here, he is seen with a Hasselblad 70mm camera and is testing the life support systems later Apollo astronauts would later use to walk on the lunar surface. Taken from the command module nicknamed "Gumdrop," this photo shows Schweickart outside the lunar module “Spider” during his 46 minute EVA. Apollo 9 played a pivotal part in gathering data and experience for the Apollo 11 mission.

Schweickart's inscription refers to his crewmember Dave Scott, Command Module Pilot, who was steering Gumdrop. The Apollo 9 mission would be Rusty Schweickart's only mission, as well as McDivitt's second and last. Dave Scott would later go on to be the LMP of Apollo 15 and the 7th person to walk on the Moon.