What was the first Apollo mission to land in the lunar highlands?
Answer
Apollo 16
Apollo 16 was the first Apollo mission to land in the lunar highlands.
The mission landed in the Descartes Highlands on April 21, 1972, with commander John Young and lunar module pilot Charles Duke aboard the lunar module Orion. Command module pilot Ken Mattingly remained in lunar orbit in Casper.
Scientists selected the site to investigate bright, rugged terrain thought to represent ancient lunar crust. The astronauts used the lunar roving vehicle to travel across the region, collect samples, and deploy scientific instruments during three surface excursions.
Apollo 14 had landed in the Fra Mauro formation, which is a geologically important lunar region but is not the Descartes Highlands. Apollo 15 landed near Hadley–Apennine, and Apollo 17 explored Taurus–Littrow. Apollo 16 therefore stands out for its specific highlands objective and location.