What Apollo spacecraft part carried astronauts from lunar orbit to the Moon’s surface? The Lunar Module carried astronauts from lunar orbit to the Moon’s surface. It was the Apollo vehicle specifically designed to separate from the command and service module, descend, land, and later launch astronauts back into lunar orbit.
The lunar module had two stages. Its descent stage contained the landing engine, landing gear, propellant, and surface equipment; it remained on the Moon. Its ascent stage contained the crew cabin, guidance systems, ascent engine, and a docking mechanism for returning to the command module.
Two astronauts occupied the lunar module while the third astronaut stayed in lunar orbit aboard the command module. After the surface expedition, the ascent stage lifted off and rendezvoused with the command and service module. The descent stage was then abandoned, while the crew transferred back for the journey home.
Apollo 10 tested this architecture without landing. Apollo 11’s Lunar Module Eagle made the first crewed lunar landing in July 1969. The service module provided the main spacecraft’s propulsion and supplies, but it never descended to the lunar surface.