Kommandomodulen

Kommandomodulen, often referred to as the command module, was a crucial component of the Apollo spacecraft. It was the only part of the Apollo spacecraft that returned to Earth. Designed by North American Aviation, the command module served as the living quarters and control center for the three-man crew during their journey to the Moon and back. It housed the flight control systems, life support systems, and communications equipment.

The command module was shaped like a cone and featured a heat shield on its base to protect the crew from the extreme temperatures experienced during atmospheric re-entry. Inside, astronauts navigated the spacecraft, monitored its systems, and conducted experiments. During lunar missions, two astronauts would descend to the lunar surface in the lunar module, while the third astronaut remained in orbit aboard the command module.

Upon completion of the lunar mission, the command module would rendezvous and dock with the lunar module. After transferring the lunar samples and crew, the lunar module would be jettisoned, and the command module would begin its journey back to Earth. The splashdown in the ocean was the final stage of the mission, where recovery forces would retrieve the crew and the command module. The command module played a vital role in the success of the Apollo program, enabling humanity's first steps on the Moon.