Apollo 16 LM

Re-entered 17 Apr 1972

Apollo 16 LM (NORAD 6005, COSPAR 1972-031C) was a US satellite that re-entered Earth's atmosphere on 17 Apr 1972, launched on 16 Apr 1972 on the Apollo CM-113 mission. It is catalogued as LM 11 AS. It was operated by MSC as part of the LM AS programme. The spacecraft was built by GRUM on the LM AS bus, with a mass of 4,781 kg. Like most satellites in low orbits, it was gradually slowed by atmospheric drag until re-entry. Historical record from Orbital Radar's satellite archive, cross-referenced with the live satellite catalogue.

1972

launched

1972

re-entered

years on orbit

4,781

kg mass

Lifecycle

Launched16 Apr 1972 · on the Apollo CM-113 mission

Operational24 Apr 1972 · entered service

Retired24 Apr 1972 · end of operational service

Re-entered17 Apr 1972 · atmospheric re-entry — object destroyed

Specifications

NORAD ID6005

COSPAR1972-031C

TypeSatellite

OperatorMSC

Country / StateUS

ManufacturerGRUM

BusLM AS

Mass4,781 kg (2,135 kg dry)

ProgrammeLM AS

CategorySS

OrbitBEO (CLO)

Altitude147 × 451,211 km

Inclination32.5°

Frequently asked questions

What happened to Apollo 16 LM?

Apollo 16 LM re-entered Earth's atmosphere on 17 Apr 1972, ending a mission that began with its launch in 1972. Objects in low orbits are gradually slowed by atmospheric drag until they fall back and burn up on re-entry.

When did Apollo 16 LM re-enter the atmosphere?

Apollo 16 LM re-entered on 17 Apr 1972, according to Orbital Radar's historical catalogue records.

Who operated and built Apollo 16 LM?

Apollo 16 LM was operated by MSC and built by GRUM (US).

Launched together

Apollo CM-113Re-entered 1972 P&FS-2Re-entered 1972

Historical record from the Orbital Radar satellite archive. Sources & methodology: data sources. Accessed 2026-10-21.

Browse the live satellite directory → The Orbital Register → Launch record: Apollo CM-113 → What is space debris? →