Saturn V | Apollo 6
National Aeronautics and Space Administration · Saturn V · Launch Complex 39A, Kennedy Space Center, FL, USA
National Aeronautics and Space Administration's 93rd launch · 3rd this year · humanity's 815th orbital launch attempt
Either the launch vehicle reached orbit but did not deliver its payload in the targeted orbit, or an exceptional event made it impossible to consider the mission a success.
Window: Apr 4, 12:00 – Apr 4, 12:00 UTC
Flight preview
Apollo 6
Apollo 6 was intended to send a Command and Service Module (CSM) plus a Lunar Module Test Article (LTA), a simulated Lunar Module (LM) with mounted structural vibration sensors, into a translunar trajectory. However, the Moon would not be in position for a translunar flight, and the Service Module engine would be fired about five minutes later to slow the craft, dropping its apogee to 11,989 nautical miles (22,204 km) and causing the CSM to return to Earth, simulating a "direct-return" abort. On the return leg, the engine would fire once more to accelerate the craft to simulate the nominal lunar return trajectory with a re-entry angle of -6.5 degrees and velocity of 36,500 feet per second (11,100 m/s). The entire mission would last about 10 hours.
Human Exploration · Elliptical Orbit (Elliptical)
Booster
No booster details available.
Watch
- Apollo 6 launch TV footage — ugowar
