AS-202 facts for kids
Launch of AS-202
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| Mission type | Suborbital test flight |
|---|---|
| Operator | NASA |
| Mission duration | 1 hour, 33 minutes, 2 seconds |
| Range | 25,700 kilometers (13,900 nautical miles) |
| Apogee | 1,142.9 kilometers (617.1 nautical miles) |
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Spacecraft | Apollo CSM-011 |
| Manufacturer | North American Aviation |
| Launch mass | 20,091 kilograms (44,294 lb) |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | August 25, 1966, 17:15:32 UTC |
| Rocket | Saturn IB |
| Launch site | Cape Kennedy LC-34 |
| End of mission | |
| Recovered by | USS Hornet |
| Landing date | August 25, 1966, 18:48:34 UTC |
| Landing site | North Pacific Ocean 16°07′N 168°54′E / 16.117°N 168.900°E |
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AS-202 was an important test flight for NASA's Apollo program. It was launched on August 25, 1966. This mission helped scientists and engineers make sure the Apollo spacecraft and its powerful rocket, the Saturn IB, were ready for future space journeys.
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What was AS-202?
AS-202 was the second unmanned (no people on board) test flight for the Apollo program. Its main goal was to test the Apollo Command and Service Module (CSM) and the Saturn IB rocket. These tests were very important to make sure everything worked perfectly before astronauts flew into space.
Why was this mission important?
The Apollo program aimed to land humans on the Moon. To do this safely, NASA needed to test every part of the spacecraft and rocket. AS-202 was a crucial step. It helped engineers understand how the spacecraft would handle the extreme heat of re-entering Earth's atmosphere. It also tested how the rocket performed during launch.
Testing the Apollo Spacecraft
The AS-202 mission used an Apollo Command and Service Module, specifically CSM-011. This spacecraft was designed to carry astronauts to the Moon and back. During AS-202, the CSM was put through a tough test. It flew high into space and then came back down very fast. This created a lot of heat, just like a real mission. The spacecraft's heat shield had to protect it from burning up. The mission showed that the heat shield worked well.
The spacecraft also tested its electrical systems and other important parts. It even fired its main engine, called the Service Propulsion System, several times. This engine was vital for moving the spacecraft in space during future Moon missions.
The Saturn IB Rocket
The Saturn IB rocket was a powerful launch vehicle. It was used to send the Apollo spacecraft into space for these early test flights. AS-202 was the second time the Saturn IB rocket was used. The mission helped NASA gather important information about the rocket's performance. This included how much thrust it produced and how stable it was during flight. Learning about the rocket's behavior was key to making sure it could safely launch astronauts later on.
Launch and Splashdown
AS-202 launched from Cape Kennedy (now Cape Canaveral) in Florida. The launch happened on August 25, 1966, at 17:15:32 UTC. The flight lasted about 1 hour and 33 minutes.
After its journey, the Apollo spacecraft splashed down safely in the North Pacific Ocean. The USS Hornet, a United States Navy ship, was waiting to recover the spacecraft. This recovery process was also an important test. It showed that NASA could successfully find and retrieve the spacecraft after it returned from space.
Images for kids
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AS-202 CM-011 exhibited on USS Hornet
See also
In Spanish: Apolo 3 para niños
