1968-118B
The third Saturn V was launched on 1968 Dec 21. Its third stage was S-IVB-503N; S-IVB-503 was destroyed in a ground accident, and the stages already constructed at that time were renumbered with the `N' designation - thus the original 504 became 503N, etc.
In Feb 1968 the SA-503 was erected with SLA-10, LTA-B and BP-30. It was then decided to fly the mission with a crew using CSM 103 and LM-3; and then in Aug 1968 with CSM-103 and LTA-B/SLA-11A.
The J-2 engine reignited at 1541:37 to insert Apollo 8 on a translunar trajectory. The Apollo spaceship separated at 1611:59. The stage then released its residual propellants, changing its trajectory to a lunar flyby. 503N reached the Moon on Dec 24, flying past at 1225 km on its way to solar orbit, gaining 1.46 km/s.
| S-4B-503N | |||
| Date | Time | Event | Orbit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1968 Dec 21 | 1251:00 | Launch of SA-503 | |
| 1968 Dec 21 | 1253:06 | S-IC center engine cutoff | |
| 1968 Dec 21 | 1253:33 | S-IC outboard engines cutoff | |
| 1968 Dec 21 | 1253:34 | S-IC-503 separation, altitude 80.5 km | |
| 1254:04 | Interstage sep | ||
| 1968 Dec 21 | 1254:08 | LES separation | |
| 1968 Dec 21 | 1259:44 | S-II-3 separation | |
| 1968 Dec 21 | 1259:45 | S-IVB burn ignition | |
| 1259:57 | Ullage case jett | ||
| 1968 Dec 21 | 1302:25 | S-IVB main engine cutoff | |
| 1968 Dec 21 | 1302:35 | Earth orbit insertion, | 179 x 190 km x 32.6 deg |
| 184 x 185 x 32.51 (MPR) | |||
| 1968 Dec 21 | 1541:38 | S-IVB TLI burn | |
| 1968 Dec 21 | 1546:55 | S-IVB main engine cutoff | |
| 218 x 515868 x 30.64 (V) | |||
| 218 x 505823 x 30.64 (C3) | |||
| 1968 Dec 21 | 1547:05 | Translunar injection | 214 x 544356 x 30.71 |
| 1968 Dec 21 | 1611:59 | S-IVB-503 separation | 141 x 538222 x 30.71 |
| 218 x 520371 x | |||
| 1968 Dec 21 | 1746:56 | LH2 venting 2.1m/s | |
| 1758:56 | LOX venting, dV 20.4m/s | ||
| 1803:56 | Venting complete | ||
| 1816:55 | Aux motor dep. burn 19.4m/s | ||
| 1829:34 | Aux motor depletion, solar orbit | ||
| 1968 Dec 24 | 1045? | Pass 1780 km above Apollo | |
| 1968 Dec 24 | 1049:55 | Lunar flyby 1263 km over 19.2N 88.0E | 1263 x Inf x 44.56 |
| 1968 Dec 27 | 0.7Mkm | ||
| 1968 Dec 31 | 1.0Mkm | ||
| 1969 Jan 7 | 1.75Mkm | ||
| Solar orbit 340.8d 137.95x147.74Mkm x 23.47 deg | |||
