Separation and inspection

Immediately after undocking, the CMP executed a short burn to put some distance between the two spacecraft to avoid a collision. This was a translation manoeuvre in the CSM’s minus-.v direction to back it away from the LM at 0.3 metre (1 foot) per second. Both crews filmed each other and, especially on the early flights, the CSM would station-keep to allow the LM to be visually inspected and its landing gear verified.

Now flying as separate spacecraft, two important checks had to be made before the LM would be allowed to fly away from the safety afforded by its mothership. The first check looked at the main engine that would control the descent to the Moon, including the control system that throttled its thrust. The second check exercised the rendezvous radar that would be crucial to navigate a return to the CSM. ~