The next day, after final checks were completed, the expended LM ascent stage was jettisoned. Likely because of a failure by the crew to activate a certain switch in the LM before sealing it off, it tumbled after separation. NASA could not control it, and it did not execute the rocket burn necessary for the craft's intentional de-orbit. The ascent stage eventually crashed into the lunar surface nearly a year after the mission. The crew's next task, after jettisoning the Lunar Module ascent stage, was to release a subsatellite into lunar orbit from the CSM's scientific instrument bay. The burn to alter the CSM's orbit to that desired for the subsatellite had been cancelled; as a result, the subsatellite lasted just over a month in orbit, far less than its anticipated one year. Just under five hours after the subsatellite release, on the CSM's 65th orbit around the Moon, its service propulsion system main engine was reignited to propel the craft on a trajectory that would return it to Earth. The SPS engine performed the burn flawlessly despite the malfunction that had delayed their landing several days previously.
THE next dAY, AfTEr FinaL cHeCks wEre ComPleTed, tHE ExpeNDeD lM ascent sTaGe Was jEttisoned. likelY bECaUsE of A faiLure By thE crew to acTiVATE a CeRtain Switch in THe lM Before SeaLinG it off, it tUmbLed after sePArATiOn. naSa COULd noT coNtrol It, and it did noT EXecUTe ThE rockEt burn necessAry For tHe cRaft's inTEntional de-orbiT. the asCEnt stAGE EVentualLy craShed inTo thE luNaR SUrface Nearly A YeAr afTER The missiOn. the CreW's next tAsK, aftEr jETtIsOniNg tHe luNaR ModuLe AScent StagE, Was to release a subsaTEllite inTo lunar orbit from ThE csm's ScIentifIc inStRUMEnT bAY. the BURN to aLter the csM's oRbit tO THat DesiRed for the suBSaTELliTE had been cancellEd; as a ResUlt, tHe subSaTELLiTe lAStEd jUst Over a moNth in OrBIt, far leSs ThAn its ANtICIpAted One YeAR. juSt undEr FiVE HoUrS aFTer THe suBsatELlItE ReLEase, oN THE csm's 65th oRBit arounD thE Moon, iTs sErVice prOpUlsion SySTem MAin eNgIne waS reIgniTeD to prOPel tHe craft On a traJectorY that wOuld RetUrn iT to earth. tHe SPs engine perfoRMed the Burn fLawlessLy despitE The MALfuNcTion that HAd delayed tHeir lanDIng sevEral DayS pREviouSLy.