Saturn V — mission imagery
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Partial Failure

Apollo 6

Saturn VNational Aeronautics and Space AdministrationLaunch Complex 39A
Thursday, April 4, 1968 · 12:00 PM UTCAdd to Calendar

This mission is complete.

Vehicle

Saturn V

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Vehicle details are not available yet.

HeightN/A
LEO PayloadN/A
Launches147
Successes122

Provider

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

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USA • Founded 1958

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is an independent agency of the executive branch of the United States federal government responsible for the civilian space program, as well as aeronautics and...

Mission Brief

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.

PayloadApollo 6
OrbitElliptical Orbit
CustomerApollo
Stages0
PadLaunch Complex 39A, Kennedy Space Center, FL, USA

Mission Timeline

14 / 14100%
Site lock

Launch Site

Launch Complex 39A, Kennedy Space Center, FL, USA

LAUNCH SITE
28.608°N, 80.604°W

Schedule History

No delays or schedule changes recorded.