Apollo Lunar Module the "Aquarius" and the Command Module "Odyssey". The development and construction of the lunar module is dramatized in the miniseries "From the Earth to the Moon" episode entitled "Spider". This is in reference to LM-3, used on Apollo 9, which the crew named "Spider" after its spidery appearance. The unused LM-13 stood in during the teleplay to depict LM-3 and LM-5, "Eagle", used by Apollo 11. Apollo Lunar Module The Apollo Lunar Module, or simply lunar module (LM, pronounced "Lem"), originally designated the lunar excursion module (LEM), was the spacecraft which was flown to and landed on the Moon. The
Apollo 11 three astronauts died, and the subsequent investigation. In October 1968, Apollo 7 evaluated the command module in Earth orbit, and in December Apollo 8 tested it in lunar orbit. In March 1969, Apollo 9 put the lunar module through its paces in Earth orbit, and in May Apollo 10 conducted a "dress rehearsal" in lunar orbit. By July 1969, all was in readiness for Apollo 11 to take the final step onto the Moon. The Soviet Union competed with the US, but were hampered by repeated failures in development of their N1 launcher, which was comparable to the Saturn V.