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THIS DAY IN HISTORY: Apollo 14 Lifts Off From NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in 1971

By  //  January 31, 2025

Flashback to January 31, 1971

Apollo 14 lifted off from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in 1971 on the first crewed mission to the Moon’s highlands. (NASA Image)

BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – Apollo 14 launched from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in 1971, marking the first crewed mission to explore the Moon’s highlands.

This mission saw Alan Shepard return to space after 12 years since his historic Mercury Freedom 7 flight, while Stu Roosa and Ed Mitchell embarked on their first space journey.

Initially planned for 1970, Apollo 14 was delayed due to the investigation into the Apollo 13 mission failure and the necessary modifications made to the spacecraft.

Commander Alan Shepard, Command Module Pilot Stuart Roosa, and Lunar Module Pilot Edgar Mitchell lifted off on their nine-day mission on January 31, 1971, at 4:03:02 p.m. EST.

During their journey, the crew faced technical malfunctions that nearly led to a second consecutive aborted mission, which could have jeopardized the Apollo program’s future. However, they successfully overcame these challenges.

Shepard and Mitchell touched down on the Moon on February 5 in the Fra Mauro formation, the intended landing site for Apollo 13. Over two lunar excursions, they gathered 94.35 pounds (42.80 kg) of Moon rock samples and set up several scientific experiments.

Despite efforts to reach the rim of Cone Crater as planned, they fell slightly short, a disappointment for some geologists.

One of the mission’s most memorable moments occurred when Shepard used a makeshift club to hit two golf balls on the lunar surface.

Meanwhile, Roosa remained in orbit aboard the Command and Service Module, conducting scientific research and capturing images of the Moon, including the site where Apollo 16 would later land. He also carried several hundred tree seeds, which were later germinated on Earth and became the famous “Moon trees” that were distributed worldwide.

Following their time on the Moon, the crew successfully reunited their spacecraft, journeyed back to Earth, and safely splashed down in the Pacific Ocean on February 9.