Credit: NASA

(PhysOrg.com) -- This image, taken on March 6, 1969, shows the Apollo 9 Command and Service Modules docked with the Lunar Module.

Apollo 9 astronaut Dave Scott stands in the open hatch of the Command Module, nicknamed "Gumdrop," docked to the Lunar Module "Spider" in Earth orbit.

His crewmate Rusty Schweickart, , took this photograph from the porch of the lunar module. Inside the lunar module was Apollo 9 commander Jim McDivitt.

The crew tested the orbital rendezvous and docking procedures that made the possible.

Provided by JPL/NASA