File:Lunar_Module-1_and_Spacecraft_Lunar_Module_Adapter_(SLA)-7_in_the_Kennedy_Space_Center's_Manned_Spacecraft_Operations_Building.jpg · Wikimedia Commons · See Wikimedia Commons
Apollo 5
Sign in to saveAlso known as Apollo V, AS-204
uncrewed test flight of the United States Apollo program
Key facts
- Mission type
- Uncrewed Earth orbital LM flight ( B )
- Operator
- NASA
- Cospar id
- Ascent stage: 1968-007A Descent stage: 1968-007B S-IVB: 1968-007C
- Mission duration
- 11 hours, 10 minutes
- Spacecraft
- Apollo Lunar Module -1
- Manufacturer
- Grumman
- Launch mass
- 14,360 kilograms (31,660 lb)
- Launch date
- January 22, 1968, 22:48:09 ( 1968-01-22UTC22:48:09Z ) UTC
- Rocket
- Saturn IB SA-204
- Launch site
- Cape Kennedy LC-37B
- Disposal
- Uncontrolled reentry
- Deactivated
- January 23, 1968 9:58 ( 1968-01-23UTC09:59Z ) UTC
- Decay date
- Ascent stage: January 24, 1968 ( 1968-01-25 ) Descent stage: February 12, 1968 ( 1968-02-13 )
- Reference system
- Geocentric
- Regime
- Low Earth orbit
- Perigee altitude
- 167 kilometers (90 nmi)
- Apogee altitude
- 222 kilometers (120 nmi)
- Inclination
- 31.63 degrees
via Wikipedia infobox
Wikidata facts
- Duration
- 670
- Mass
- 14360
- Orbital period
- 96.17
- Image
- Lunar Module-1 and Spacecraft Lunar Module Adapter (SLA)-7 in the Kennedy Space Center's Manned Spacecraft Operations Building.jpg
Show 7 more facts
- UTC date of spacecraft landing
- 1968-01-23
- orbits completed
- 7
- Commons category
- Apollo 5
- UTC date of spacecraft launch
- 1968-01-22
- periapsis
- 171
- apoapsis
- 979
- orbital inclination
- 31.6
Sources (2)
via Wikidata · CC0
~14 min read
Article
Apollo 5 (launched January 22, 1968), also known as AS-204, was the uncrewed first flight of the Apollo Lunar Module (LM) that would later carry astronauts to the surface of the Moon. The Saturn IB rocket bearing the LM lifted off from Cape Kennedy on January 22, 1968. The mission was successful, though due to programming problems an alternate mission to that originally planned was executed.
Like Apollo 4, this flight was long delayed, due in part to setbacks in development of the LM, manufactured by Grumman Aircraft. The original Saturn IB rocket that was to take the first LM (LM-1) to space was taken down during the delays and replaced with the one that would have launched Apollo 1 if the spacecraft fire that killed three astronauts had not occurred. LM-1 arrived at the Kennedy Space Center in June 1967; the following months were occupied in testing and placing the LM atop the Saturn IB. After final delays due to equipment trouble, the countdown began on January 21, 1968, and the space vehicle was launched the following day.