A HALF-HOUR after thrusting out from earth orbit toward the moon, the astronauts faced a test that was crucial to the first actual lunar landings. They successfully separated their spacecraft from the third-stage S-4B rocket, moved 50 feet ahead of it, then turned to inspect it. After sending the S-4B off into orbit around the sun, Apollo was to continue coasting toward the moon, firing its engine briefly only if a mid-course correction was needed to put the craft precisely on its path.
On Sunday, after another opportunity for correcting their trajectory, the...
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