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Unmanned Mission
AS-202 (19)

Pad 34 (5) 
Uprated Saturn-1 (Saturn-1B) (1) 
AS-202

The primary mission objectives were to evaluate the Apollo command module heatshield at a high heating load and to obtain further information on the launch vehicle and spacecraft regarding their structural integrity and compatibility, flight loads, stage separation, subsystem operations, and emergency detection system operation.  All mission objectives were achieved.
  

August 25, 1966, 1:15:32 p.m. EDT. Complex 34 Eastern Test Range, Cape Canaveral, Fla. 
Hold for 60 minutes to resolve problem with launch vehicle digital computer during power transfer test; 48-minute hold for recurrence of computer problem; 41-minute hold to attempt to clear up problem with the remote site data processor on the Rose Knot Victor; 5-minute hold to evaluate Saturn 1B low fuel mass quantity indicator. 

Altitude: 706 miles (1,136 kilometers) 
Inclination: TBD 
Orbits: (suborbital) 
Duration: 93 minutes
Distance: TBD 

1

Spacecraft

CSM-011

Payload

Milestones

02/07/66 - S-1B Stage ondock at KSC  

01/29/66- S-IVB ondock at KSC  

02/21/66 - S-IU ondock at KSC  

03/11/66 - Launch Vehicle on Pad  

07/02/66 - Spacecraft on Pad  

07/02/66 - Countdown demonstration test

08/05/66 - Countdown begins

08/25/66 - Launch

August 25, 1966, command module landed in Pacific 805 km (500 sm) southwest of Wake Island after 93-minute flight; Recovery by USS Hornet ten hours after liftoff.

Second flight test of major spacecraft systems and second performance check of command module (CM) heat-shielding; first use of spacecraft fuel cell power system.  Liftoff was normal.  Launch vehicle developed 7,116,800-newton (1,600,000-lb.) thrust during first (S-IB) stage powered flight.  After separation of Apollo spacecraft (011), service module (SM) engine was burned once to raise spacecraft to 1,136-km (706-sm) altitude, then was ignited and cut off three more times to test rapid restart capability.  CM separated from SM and re-entered atmosphere at more than 32,026 kph (19,900 mph).  Maximum re-entry temperature of CM's outer surface was calculated to be about 1482 degrees C (2700 degrees F); interior temperature was 21 degrees C (70 degrees F).  
(see also NASA SP-4205 - Chariots for Apollo)