Apollo 4 facts for kids
Apollo 4, the first flight of a Saturn V launch vehicle, rises from Launch Pad 39A
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| Mission type | Test flight |
|---|---|
| Operator | NASA |
| Mission duration | 8 hours, 36 minutes, 59 seconds |
| Orbits completed | 3 |
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Spacecraft | Apollo CSM-017 Apollo LTA-10R |
| Manufacturer | North American Rockwell |
| Launch mass | 36,856 kilograms (81,253 lb) |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | November 9, 1967, 12:00:01 UTC |
| Rocket | Saturn V SA-501 |
| Launch site | Kennedy LC-39A |
| End of mission | |
| Recovered by | USS Bennington |
| Landing date | November 9, 1967, 20:37:00 UTC |
| Landing site | North Pacific Ocean 30°06′N 172°32′W / 30.100°N 172.533°W |
| Orbital parameters | |
| Reference system | Geocentric |
| Regime | Highly elliptical orbit |
| Perigee | −204 kilometers (−110 nmi) |
| Apogee | 18,092 kilometers (9,769 nmi) |
| Inclination | 31.9 degrees |
| Period | 314.58 minutes (initial) |
| Epoch | November 9, 1967 |
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Apollo 4 was a really important space mission. It was the very first test flight of the powerful Saturn V rocket. This huge rocket was designed to send astronauts to the Moon as part of the Apollo program. NASA launched Apollo 4 on November 9, 1967, from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The mission was a big success and helped NASA get ready for future Moon landings.
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What Was Apollo 4?
Apollo 4 was an uncrewed (no people on board) test flight. Its main goal was to check if the new Saturn V rocket worked correctly. This rocket was the biggest and most powerful rocket ever built at that time. It was needed to launch the Apollo spacecraft all the way to the Moon.
Why Was This Mission Important?
Testing the Saturn V was super important for the Apollo program. Before sending astronauts, NASA needed to be sure the rocket was safe and reliable. Apollo 4 tested many key parts of the rocket, including its engines and how it separated into different stages during flight. It also tested the Apollo spacecraft's heat shield.
The Powerful Saturn V Rocket
The Saturn V rocket was incredibly tall, like a 36-story building! It had three main parts, called stages. Each stage had powerful engines that would fire one after another to push the rocket higher and faster into space. Apollo 4 was the first time all three stages were fired together in a real flight.
Testing the Apollo Spacecraft
Apollo 4 also carried a special version of the Apollo spacecraft. This spacecraft was designed to carry astronauts. During the mission, the spacecraft traveled far into space. It then returned to Earth at very high speeds, just like it would when coming back from the Moon. This tested the spacecraft's heat shield, which protects it from the extreme heat of re-entering Earth's atmosphere.
Mission Success
The Apollo 4 mission lasted about 8 and a half hours. It completed three orbits around Earth. NASA declared the mission a complete success. All the main goals were achieved. The flight proved that the Saturn V rocket was ready for future crewed missions. This success was a huge step forward for the Apollo program and getting humans to the Moon.
Images for kids
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Apollo 4 inside the VAB
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The Apollo 4 launch vehicle (right) is rolled out from the Vehicle Assembly Building (far left) past the Mobile Servicing Structure.
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CSM-017 is moved into position.
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Apollo 4 on the launch pad
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Mission controllers watch Apollo 4 climb to orbit.
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Interstage
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Earth, photographed from Apollo 4
See also
In Spanish: Apolo 4 para niños
