La missione Apollo 5 ha portato, 50 anni fa, per la prima volta nello spazio il LEM, il modulo lunare che il 20 luglio 1969 avrebbe condotto i primi uomini sulla Luna. Inizialmente il lancio, avvenuto con un razzo Saturno IB, era stato programmato per l'aprile 1967, ma furono necessari altri otto mesi per risolvere i numerosi problemi, prima con i motori di discesa e ascesa del LEM e poi con gli oblò, uno dei quali si era rotto durante una delle prove a Terra.
Nel gennaio 1968, infine, l'Apollo 5 si era alzato poco prima del tramonto e il modulo lunare si separò dal razzo 45 minuti dopo, compiendo due orbite e accendendo i motori di discesa, che rimasero in funzione per soli quattro secondi invece dei 39 programmati. L'accensione era destinata a simulare il rallentamento per la discesa verso la superficie lunare, ma venne prematuramente interrotta a causa di una sospetta perdita di carburante.
Alla fine, dopo undici ore e dieci minuti il test venne concluso e i due stadi vennero lasciati precipitare nell'Oceano Pacifico.
ATS/ANSA/Swing
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