Apollo 16 was launched on April 16, 1972, from Launch Complex 39A at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida. The mission was the fifth crewed lunar landing and the penultimate flight in NASA’s Apollo lunar program. Astronauts John Young, who commanded the mission, and Charles Duke, the lunar module pilot, were joined by command module pilot Thomas Mattingly. Their objective was to explore the Moon's highlands and gather geological data to better understand the Moon's composition and evolutionary history. Apollo 16 brought advanced scientific equipment, including a mobile geological laboratory, which allowed the astronauts to conduct extensive surface exploration upon landing.

Following a 13-minute liftoff delay, Apollo 16 was launched aboard a Saturn V rocket. After a three-day journey, the command module, named Casper, separated from the lunar module, which they named Orion. Young and Duke landed in the Descartes highlands, an area chosen for its potential to provide insights into the Moon's history due to its ancient geology. Over the course of the mission, Young and Duke conducted three moonwalks, covering approximately 27 kilometers on the lunar surface, and collected nearly 211 kilograms of lunar samples, significantly contributing to the science of planetary geology.

The mission also featured innovations in the use of the lunar rover, which allowed the astronauts to cover a greater area for exploration than previous missions had achieved. Their findings and discoveries during Apollo 16 enhanced scientists' understanding of the Moon and served to validate theories regarding planetary formation. The crew's achievements during this mission emphasized the value of human exploration in understanding celestial bodies, paving the way for future lunar missions and deep space exploration efforts.