Apollo 16 was the fifth crewed mission to land on the Moon, launched on April 16, 1972. The mission's primary goal was to explore the lunar highlands and conduct scientific experiments. Astronauts John Young and Charles Duke landed in the Descartes Highlands, while Ken Mattingly orbited above in the command module. During their stay, Young and Duke spent over 20 hours on the lunar surface, collecting rock samples and deploying scientific instruments. They conducted various experiments, including studying the Moon's geology and environment. The mission returned to Earth on April 27, 1972, successfully completing its objectives.