Apollo 5
Lunar Module 1 being mated to the Spacecraft Lunar Module Adapter (SLA) in preparation for launch as Apollo 5
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| Mission type | Lunar module test flight |
|---|---|
| Operator | NASA |
| COSPAR ID | Ascent stage: 1968-007A Descent stage: 1968-007B |
| SATCAT no. | 3106 |
| Mission duration | 11 hours, 10 minutes |
| Orbits completed | 7 |
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Spacecraft | Apollo LM-1 |
| Manufacturer | Grumman |
| Launch mass | 14,360 kilograms (31,660 lb) |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | January 22, 1968, 22:48:09 UTC |
| Rocket | Saturn IB SA-204 |
| Launch site | Cape Kennedy LC-37B |
| End of mission | |
| Disposal | Uncontrolled reentry |
| Deactivated | January 23, 1968 9:58 UTC |
| Decay date | Ascent stage: January 24, 1968 Descent stage: February 12, 1968 |
| Orbital parameters | |
| Reference system | Geocentric |
| Regime | Low Earth orbit |
| Perigee | 162 kilometers (87 nmi) |
| Apogee | 214 kilometers (116 nmi) |
| Inclination | 31.6 degrees |
| Period | 89.5 minutes |
| Epoch | January 22, 1968 (ascent stage) |
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Apollo 5 (also known as AS-204), was the first unmanned flight of the Apollo Lunar Module (LM), which would later carry astronauts to the lunar surface. It lifted off on January 22, 1968, with a Saturn IB rocket on an Earth-orbital flight.
The Apollo 5 mission tested the Lunar Module in a space environment, in particular its descent and ascent engine systems, and its ability to separate the ascent and descent stages. The descent engine would become the first throttleable rocket engine fired in space.
The mission also performed a simulation of a landing abort, in which the ascent stage engine would be fired while still attached to the descent stage. This, referred to by engineers as the "fire in the hole" test, was depicted in the mission's insignia patch.
As with Apollo 4, this flight experienced long delays. The primary cause of this was the Lunar Module, which was well behind schedule. Some of the delay could be attributed to lack of experience in building a manned spacecraft to land on the Moon.
The first unmanned launch was originally planned in April 1967, requiring delivery at the Cape around September 1966. But delays kept occurring. Although the Lunar Module was fully designed, there was trouble fabricating the custom-made parts. The engines were also having problems. The descent engine was not burning smoothly, and the ascent engine was having fabrication and welding difficulties.
In the end, these problems were overcome, but it took several months and it was not until June 23, 1967, that LM-1 arrived at the Cape on board Aero Spacelines' Super Guppy. After four months of tests and repair the LM was mated to the launch vehicle on November 19.
On December 17, 1967, another LM under test failed in the Grumman Aircraft Engineering Corporation ascent stage manufacturing plant. A window in LM-5 (Apollo 11's LM Eagle) shattered during its initial cabin pressurization test, designed to pressurize the cabin to 39 kilopascals (5.7 pounds per square inch) above the external pressure. Both inner and outer windows and the acrylic glass cover of the right-hand window shattered when the pressure reached 35 kPa (5.1 pounds per square inch).
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