SA-3 (Apollo)

Mission emblem

Mission dates

Mission:

SA-3

COSPAR-ID :

SATURNSA3

Launcher:

Saturn I

Begin:

November 16, 1962
17:45:02 UTC

Starting place:

Cape Canaveral Air Force Station
LC-34

Landing:

Nov 16, 1962
17:49:55 UTC (detonated)

Flight duration:

4 min 53 s

Apogee :

166.9 km

Covered track:

167 km

Payload:

2nd and 3rd level dummies, highwater 2nd level

◄ Before / After ►

SA-2

SA-4

SA-3 was the third test flight of the first stage of a Saturn I with second stage dummies and the payload.

aims

Due to the size and power of the Saturn rocket family, NASA decided to conduct a test flight for every single part of the rocket. Only the first stage was active on this flight. The second stage was filled with water to simulate the takeoff weight. At the point of the payload was a Jupiter rocket tip. These were detonated during the second flight of the Highwater project. For the first time, the first stage was fully fueled. In addition, the brake rockets, which serve to separate the individual stages, were also ignited for the first time.

Preparations

Preparations for launching the SA-3 mission

The rocket was delivered by sea on September 19, 1962 and then assembled.

Flight history

After a ten-hour countdown , with two interruptions, the rocket lifted off at 17:45:02 UTC. The flight went according to plan. The engines burned for four minutes 53 seconds and brought the rocket to an altitude of 169.9 km, where the brake rockets of the first stage were ignited without disconnecting them. The rocket was then detonated, creating an artificial cloud. However, errors in telemetry resulted in unsatisfactory results in this test. The flight showed that the missile can fly with full fuel and that the braking missiles are working.

The main focus of the next flight was on the aerodynamic properties of the second stage, as well as the behavior of the on-board computer in the event of an engine failure.

Web links

Commons : Saturn-Apollo 3 - collection of images, videos and audio files

Saturn SA-3 in the NSSDCA Master Catalog (English)
Moon Port: A History of Apollo Launch Facilities and Operations (English)
More NASA page on SA-3 (English)
The Apollo Spacecraft: A Chronology (English)