Saturn V 502 (Apollo 6) 2nd Stage S-II-502 First Static Test 1967 NASA 2min

video for embedding at http://scitech.quickfound.net/astro/project_apollo.html

First static test of vehicle at NASA Marshall Space Flight Center in May of 1967.

video for embedding at http://scitech.quickfound.net/astro/project_apollo.html

In May, 1967, S-II-502, the 2nd stage of the second Saturn V to be launched (AS-502 or Apollo 6) undergoes static test firing at the Mississippi Test Facility, Hancock County, Mississippi, run by the Marshall Space Flight Center. In 1988 the Facility was renamed as the John C. Stennis Space Center.
NASA article on MTF / Stennis: http://www.nasa.gov/vision/space/gettingtospace/stennis_40th.html

When AS-502 was launched, "POGO" oscillations (longitudinal vibrations) resulted in the early shutdown of two 2nd stage engines. The S-IVB 3rd stage engine also failed a planned restart. However, engineers thought they could fix this before the next flight, and the Saturn V was declared "man-rated." The next Saturn V flight was the Apollo 8 circumlunar journey.

"Saturn V AS-502 (Apollo 6 Mission) was launched at 07:00:01 Eastern Standard Time on April 4, 1968, from Kennedy Space Center, Complex 39, Pad A. The vehicle lifted off on schedule on a launch azimuth of 90 degrees east of north and rolled to a flight azimuth of 72 degrees east of north. The actual trajectory parameters of the AS-502were close to nominal until the premature shutdown of two engines in the S-II stage. After this occurred, the trajectory deviated significantly from the nominal throughout the remainder of the mission.

"Nine of the sixteen primary objectives of this mission were completely accomplished, six partially accomplished, and one (S-IVB restart) was not accomplished. One of the two secondary objectives was completely accomplished, and one partially accomplished."

Saturn 5 launch vehicle flight evaluation report: AS-502 Apollo 6 mission:
http://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/19900066484_1990066484.pdf

NTRS search for more AS-502 documents:
http://www.ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?N=0&Ntk=Title&Ntt=%22AS-502%22&am...|1

This is the same public domain video uploaded by NASA with the letterboxing (black borders) removed and the aspect ratio corrected.

NASA 1967 color silent 1min23sec

NASA, Saturn, Saturn V, AS-502, Apollo 6, moon program, space program, Project Apollo, launch vehicle, rocket, spaceflight, Apollo program, SA-502,
KSC, Kennedy Space Center, VAB, Vertical Assembly Building, S-II, second stage,

Category:

Science & Technology

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• NASA
• Saturn
• Saturn V
• AS-502
• Apollo 6
• moon program
• space program
• Project Apollo
• launch vehicle
• rocket
• spaceflight
• Apollo program
• SA-502
• KSC
• Kennedy Space Center
• VAB
• Vertical Assembly Building
• S-II
• second stage