#sa-502

The construction of the first stage of Apollo 6 Saturn V (AS-502), in the Michoud Assembly Facility, Factory at New Orleans, Louisiana.

"The unmanned Apollo 6 flight will test the thermal integrity of the launch vehicle and spacecraft, and their separation procedure."

Date: March 6, 1967

Apollo 6 Saturn V (CSM-020/LTA-2R/SA-502) on LC-39A, possibly during a Countdown Demonstration Test (CDDT).

Date: March 31, 1968.

"Film footage showing interstage between the S-IC first stage and S-II second stage falling away during the Apollo 6 flight. This was taken from the perspective of the second stage and was recorded by a film camera that was jettisoned soon after the first stage separation, and though about 200,000 feet in altitude was still below orbital velocity. It then reentered the atmosphere and parachuted to the ocean where it (and other similar cameras) floated waiting for recovery. It was filmed at high speeds causing the slow motion look of the sequence when seen in a documentary."

Date: April 4, 1968

Apollo 6 Saturn V (CSM-020/SA-502) on LC-39A at sunset.

Date: February 6, 1968

Apollo 6 Saturn V (CSM-020/SA-502) launching from LC-39A. This was the second launch of the Saturn V and the focus of this mission was to fully qualifying the launch vehicle.

"Nominal completion of planned mission events through attainment of the initial parking orbit, and the restarting of the S-IVB to propel the space vehicle towards the planned distance, beyond the Moon's orbit, was deemed sufficient to fulfill Apollo 6's main objectives."

Commemorative mission patch created for the flight by Retrorocket Emblem. source

Date: April 4, 1968

NASA ID: 6864722, 107-KSC-68P-120, 68-HC-201, S68-27364, AP6-S68-27728

Apollo 6 falling pieces and darkened area of SLA at 02:13.

"The problem with the SLA shedding parts of its outer skin during ascent was found to be due to a splice plate bond void in its honeycomb aluminum panels. Moisture had built up inside of the honeycombed structure resulting in an increase in pressure as the panel experienced aerodynamic heating during ascent. With no way to relieve the pressure, the panel’s skin failed at a splice and blew off. This problem was solved in the SLA to be used on the Apollo 7 mission (which would experience a less stressful environment during ascent on the Saturn IB) by drilling a series of holes in the panels to help equalize the pressure. On the SLAs to be used on Apollo 8 and subsequent Saturn V flights, a layer of cork was also added to the panels to help keep them cooler and absorb moisture."

Date: April 4, 1968

Diagram highlighting the key aspects of the Apollo 6 (AS-502) mission.

Date: April 4, 1968

"This photograph shows the Saturn V S-II (second) stage of the Apollo 6 mission being lowered atop of the S-IC (first) stage during the final assembly operations in the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) at the Kennedy Space Center. The Apollo 6 mission was the second Saturn V unmanned flight for testing an emergency detection system. The launch occurred on April 4, 1968."

Date: Winter 1967