Mission Summary
Apollo 14 was NASA’s third successful lunar landing mission and marked the return to the Moon after the near-disaster of Apollo 13. Launched on January 31, 1971, the mission restored confidence in the Apollo program while demonstrating improvements made to the spacecraft and mission procedures. Astronauts Alan Shepard and Edgar Mitchell landed the Lunar Module Antares in the Fra Mauro Highlands, the same destination originally planned for Apollo 13, while Stuart Roosa remained in lunar orbit aboard the Command Module Kitty Hawk.
During more than 33 hours on the lunar surface, Shepard and Mitchell conducted scientific experiments, deployed instruments for the Apollo Lunar Surface Experiments Package (ALSEP), and collected about 43 kilograms (94 pounds) of lunar rocks and soil. The astronauts also completed two lengthy moonwalks and explored the rugged terrain surrounding their landing site. Before departing, Shepard famously hit two golf balls on the Moon, creating one of the Apollo program’s most memorable moments.
Apollo 14 successfully completed the scientific objectives that Apollo 13 had been forced to abandon. The mission demonstrated the continued reliability of the Apollo system and expanded scientists’ understanding of the Moon’s geological history while paving the way for the more ambitious “J missions” that followed.
Sources and notes can be found on the Sources page.
