Apollo 6 - April 4th, 1968

Video from the channel Lizard Outlaw about Apollo 6, linked on its Above Ten Thousand entry. Duration: 12:08. Language: English. Video type: Launch.

Apollo 6 (AS-502) was the second flight of the Saturn V and was uncrewed. The NASA introduction film that closes the video explains the plan. The third stage was to place the command and service modules, together with a lunar module test article, into a circular orbit of about 100 nautical miles. Over two orbits the systems would be checked using a network of ground stations that sent commands to an onboard programmer, which replaced the crew. Afterward, a third-stage restart, spacecraft separation, an apogee of about 12,000 miles, and a final service module engine burn were planned. That burn was meant to subject the command module to the heating of a lunar return before splashdown in the Pacific, several hundred miles from Hawaii, about 9 hours and 50 minutes after liftoff.

The launch control audio follows the countdown from T-4 min 40 s: the cover is removed from the angle-of-attack probe at the top of the escape tower, the automatic sequencer starts at T-3 min 6 s, and the tanks of all three stages are pressurized, mainly with helium. At T-50 s the vehicle switches to internal power and at T-30 s swing arm number 1 is retracted. Liftoff occurs at 7:00 a.m. Eastern time. The rocket turns toward an azimuth of 72° with the five F-1 engines running, passes through maximum dynamic pressure around 1 min 25 s, and at 1 min 45 s is flying at 14 nautical miles altitude and 4,600 feet per second.

The recording ends with stage separation. The center engine shuts down, followed by the four outer engines, second-stage ignition is confirmed, and at 2 min 50 s the vehicle is at 40 nautical miles altitude. The interstage ring then separates, a milestone the commentator reports as achieved as planned.