Mission Statistics | |
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Mission: | AS-203 |
Launch: | 5 July, 1966 14:53:00 UTC Cape Canaveral LC37B |
Orbits: | 4 |
Because this was an engineering flight, there was no Command Service Module (CSM). This was also the first flight of a new type of Intrument Unit that controlled the Saturn rockets during launch and the first launch of a Saturn IB from Pad 37B.
From the 19 April technicians began to erect the booster at Pad 37B. Once again the testing regime ran into problems that had plagued AS-201. The problem was due to cracked solder joints in the printed-circuit boards, causing over 8000 to be replaced.
June of 1966 saw three Saturn rockets set up on various pads across the Cape. At Pad 39A was a full size mockup of Saturn V, at 34 was AS-202 and 37B was AS-203.
Flight
The rocket launched on the first attempt on 5 July. The S-IVB and IU were inserted into a 188 km circular orbit.
It was found that the stage could restart and the fuel behaved just as predicted. It was observed over four orbits and then the stage was pressurised to see how much pressure it could stand. In the end this test passed the structural abilities of the stage and it fragmented.
Apart from stage being lost, the mission was classed as a success and achieved all the mission objectives. In September Douglas Aircraft Company, who built the S-IVB that the stage was operational and ready to send men to the Moon.
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