Transposition, docking, and extraction

Transposition, docking, and extraction (often abbreviated to transposition and docking) was a maneuver performed during Apollo lunar landing missions from 1969 to 1972, to withdraw the Apollo Lunar Module (LM) from its adapter housing which secured it to the Saturn V launch vehicle upper stage and protected it from the aerodynamic stresses of launch.The docking created a continuous, pressurized tunnel which permitted the astronauts to transfer internally between the CSM and the LM.[1] It would take longer if problems were encountered; for instance, Stuart Roosa had trouble getting the capture latches to engage for docking on Apollo 14, and the procedure took two hours and eighteen minutes.Transposition and a mock LM-docking approach was first simulated on the Earth-orbiting Apollo 7 flight (which carried a docking target in the SLA, but no LM).The "Block I" SLA used on the early Saturn IB launch vehicles had panels that opened at a 45° angle but did not separate from the S‑IVB.
Alfred Worden docks the Apollo 15 Command Module Endeavour to the Lunar Module Falcon
Apollo 7 S-IVB, with docking target inside the SLA. Note the right-hand panel is not fully opened to the same angle as the others, preventing a safe simulated docking approach.
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