Mission
Apollo 4
Mission Objective
Demonstrate structural and thermal integrity, as well as compatibility of launch vehicle and spacecraft. Confirm launch loads and dynamic characteristics. Verify operation of command module, or CM, heat shield and adequacy of the Block II design for re-entry at lunar return conditions. Verify service propulsion system, or SPS, including no ullage start and selective subsystems. Evaluate performance of emergency detection system in open-loop configuration. Demonstrate mission support facilities and operations needed for launch and CM recovery. All mission objectives were achieved.
Prelaunch Milestones
8/14/66 - S-IVB ondock at Kennedy
8/25/66 - S-IU ondock at Kennedy
9/12/66 - S-IC ondock at Kennedy
1/27/67 - S-II ondock at Kennedy
6/19/67 - launch vehicle at pad
6/20/67 - spacecraft at pad
Launch
Nov. 9, 1967; 7:00:01 a.m. EST
First launch from Launch Pad 39A
Eastern Test Range, Cape Canaveral, Fla.
First Saturn V launch
Saturn-V AS-501
Firing Room 1
No Delays during countdown.
Spacecraft
CSM-017
LTA-10R
Payload
Spacecraft-017
Orbit
Altitude: 11,240 miles
Inclination: 32.6 degrees
Orbits: orbital
Duration: nine hours, 37 minutes
Mission Highlights
During the third orbit and after SPS engine burn, the spacecraft coasted to a simulated translunar trajectory, reaching an altitude of 18,079 km. The AS-501 launch marked the initial flight testing of the S-IC and S-II stages. The first stage S-IC performed accurately with the center F-1 engine cutting off at 135.5 seconds. The outboard engines cut off when the vehicle was traveling 9,660 kmh at an altitude of 61.6 km. This also was the point of LOX depletion at 150.8 seconds. Stage separation occurred only 1.2 seconds off the predicted time. Cutoff of the S-II occurred at 519.8 seconds.
Landing
Nov. 9, 1967; 03:37 p.m. EST
Splashdown: Pacific Ocean, 16 km away from target site
Impact Point: 30 degrees, 6 minutes north, and 172 degrees, 32 minutes west
Recovery Ship: USS Bennington at 6:09 p.m. EST
