A-104

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Mission emblem
Emblem of the Apollo program
Mission dates
Mission: A-104 (Saturn SA-8)
COSPAR-ID : 1965-039A
Launcher: Saturn I
serial number SA-8
Begin: May 25, 1965
7:41:00 AM  UTC
Starting place: Cape Canaveral Air Force Station
LC-37B
Landing: November 3. 1979
burns up
Flight duration: 5,275 days
Earth orbits: approx. 79,790
Apogee : 594 km
Perigee : 467 km
Covered track: 3,115 million km
◄ Before / After ►
A-103 A-105

Mission A-104 (also called Pegasus 2 ) was the second of three flights under NASA's Apollo program to launch an active research satellite. A two-stage Saturn I with a dummy of the Apollo spacecraft transported the satellite Pegasus 2 into a near-earth orbit (LEO). The mission differed only slightly from A-103 .

aims

The task of the Pegasus missions was to research the frequency of micrometeorites of the order of magnitude from 1.E-7 to 1.E-4 g in near-Earth space. Demonstration of the missile's iterative control mode. Evaluation of the functions of Apollo and Saturn, as well as the Apollo rescue rocket (LES).

construction

Pegasus satellite

Active Launch Escape System (LES) : Functional rescue rocket with a height of 4.70 m. Escape tower, a 3.05 m high support structure for the rescue rocket.

Apollo dummy (BP-26), the true-to-life model (called boilerplate) weighed 4,400 kg and consisted of the command module (CM): a conical aluminum construction with a base diameter of 3.91 m and 3.56 m in height and the service module (SM): an aluminum construction, which also served as the payload fairing for the satellite, was mounted on the instrument unit of the second stage by means of an adapter section. One of the simulated control nozzles (RCS) was equipped to record the temperatures during take-off. One difference to the A-101 was that now two out of four of these control engines were prototypes and not all just mockups.

The Pegasus satellite was firmly attached to the second stage, measured 5.28 × 2.13 × 2.41 meters and weighed 1,805 kg. The central unit comprised the electronics, sensors, solar panels and the mechanics for unfolding the two extendable detector surfaces. These were 29.3 meters long, 4.3 meters wide and registered the micrometeorite impact.

preparation

The steps were delivered to the Kennedy Space Center between February 25 and March 8, 1965 and installed on Launch Complex 37B . There were no significant complications.

Flight history

Start of the A-104 mission

The launch took place on May 25, 1965 at 7:41:00  UTC , it was (02:41 local time) the first night launch of a Saturn I. After the first stage was separated and the second had ignited, the LES was also powered by the engines the rescue missile disconnected as planned.

10 minutes and 42 seconds after launch, the missile slewed into orbit. About two and a half minutes later, the Apollo spacecraft was separated from the second stage (and the satellite mounted on it) and placed on its own trajectory. Pegasus remained in the planned orbit and unfolded its detector surfaces a minute later.

Its lifespan was planned for around 1,220 days. The satellite instruments and radio signals were switched off on August 29, 1968. On November 3, 1979, the satellite burned up in the atmosphere.

Impact on the Apollo program

The mission was a complete success. Although minor malfunctions occurred at the first stage, all of the goals set were achieved.

The next mission should bring the third and final Pegasus satellite into space.

Trivia

NASA changed the manufacturer of the first stage in 1964. The model with the serial number SA-9 was the last of eight that was manufactured by Marshall; SA-8, SA-10 and the following for the Saturn IB should come from Chrysler. Since Chrysler took a little longer to develop, SA-9 flew first. The mission designations (A-101 to A-105) remained chronological. This resulted in A-103 / SA-9 and A-104 / SA-8.

Web links

Commons : A-104  - Collection of pictures, videos and audio files