#as-104

The Apollo Boilerplate Command Module (BP-26) at the Kennedy Space Center shortly after its arrival, for the Apollo SA-8 (AS-104) mission.

Date: April 10, 1965

SA-8 Saturn I Block II (AS-104) at LC-37B during a count down demonstration test (CDDT).

Date: May 1965

The Apollo Boilerplate (BP-26) "being mated to the SA-8 Saturn I Block II (AS-104) launch vehicle on Launch Complex 37B (LC-37B).

The radial configuration of the forward restraint straps of the Pegasus B/Pegasus 2 micrometeoroid detection satellite can be seen inside the cavity of the Command Module. I think the squarish structure to be two of the stowed/folded solar panels of the satellite."

Date: April-May 1965

“This drawing, prepared by the NASA-Marshall Space Flight Center, shows meteoroid detection panels being deployed (1) on a Saturn-launched satellite, in the folded position aboard the launch vehicle (2), unfolding (3). Unfolded the panels (4) have a wingspan of about 100 feet. The presence of tiny particles in space will be recorded as they collide with the wing skin sensor.”

The three Pegasus satellites launched on SA-8 (AS-103), SA-9 (AS-104) and SA-10 (AS-105).

Date: 1963

Pegasus satellite housed inside the adapted service module of the Saturn I Block II (SA-8 through SA-10). Metroid Technology Satellite Mission

Date: 1963

"This image depicts a high angle view of technicians working on the instrument unit (IU) component assembly for the SA-8 mission in Marshall Space Flight Center's building 4705. A thin, circular structure, only 1-meter high and 7.6 meters in diameter, the IU was sandwiched between the S-IV and Apollo spacecraft. Packed inside were the computers, gyroscopes, and assorted black boxes necessary to keep the launch vehicle properly functioning and on its course."

Date: 1964

Night launch of the AS-104 Saturn I Block II (BP-16/SA-8) from LC-37B.

Time exposure of the launch of Saturn SA-8, carrying Pegasus-2 spacecraft. Prominent features of the Merritt Island Launch Area - the Vehicle Assembly Building and three Launcher Umbilical Towers - are seen in the background

Diagram showing the major components of the Saturn I SA-8 rocket.

This mission's primary objective was to demonstrate the launch vehicle's iterative guidance mode and to evaluate system accuracy.

It also carried the Pegasus 2 satellite into orbit. Its purpose was to study the frequency of micrometeoroid impacts and long duration effect of space on spacecraft.

Video of the launch and Pegasus 2's unfurling.

Date: May 25, 1965

NASA ID: S65-42937, 65-H-824, 65-H-861, MSFC-9801797

source, source

Posted on Flickr by Drew Granston: link

"Three Pegasus satellites were launched to gather data on the the meteoroid environment of low-Earth orbit. Pegasus-3, with a wingspan of 29 meters, included meteoroid-capture panels designed for retrieval by Gemini or Apollo astronauts; it would, however, not receive visitors before it reentered the atmosphere in August 1969."

Image credit: NASA.