Apollo AS-203

  1966-059A

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The Apollo-Saturn 203 (AS-203) mission was launched at 1453 on 1966 Jul 5 by Uprated Saturn I from LC37B at Cape Kennedy. The rocket carried the S-IVB-203 stage, the S-IU-203 instrument unit (a new design), and a special nose fairing. The fairing was a double angle cone with a Q-ball tip. Length of the fairing was 9.53m with base diameter 6.60m.

The inboard S-I engines cut off at T+2:18, followed by the outboard ones at T+2:22. Two camera capsules were ejected from the S-IB. The S-IVB ignited at 1455, cutting off at 1500 (T+4:50), and entering an 88.3 min 183 x 212 km x 32.0 deg. The LH2 tank was about half full at orbit insertion. The engine restart capability was briefly demonstrated but no ignition was performed. On the 4th orbit a pressure differential test on the LOX/LH2 common bulkhead was performed; the LOX tank had been depressurized, and the LH2 tank valves were closed while pressure built up due to external heating. Pressure rose well in excess of design values and the stage disintegrated at 2114 on 1966 Jul 5.

AS-203
Date	Time	Event	Orbit
1966 Jul 5	1453:17	Launch by Saturn IB	CK LC37B
	1455:36	T+2:19 IECO
	1455:39	T+2:22 OECO, 3.059m/s
	1455:40	T+2:23 Staging	-5930 x 134
	1455:41	T+2:24 S4B MES
	1455:52	T+2:35 Ullage case jettison
	1456:05	T+2:48 Camera capsules eject from SIB
	1456:12	Panel sep
	1457:48	S-IB apogee
	1500:30	T+7:13 S4B MECO
	1501:25	T+8:08 LH2 CVS on
	1501		88.21 185 x 187 x 32.0 (MPR)
	1503:01	S-IB impact
	1625	T+1:32 LH2 CVS off
	1627	Rev 2	88.42 193 x 200 x 32.0 (MPR)
	1631	Engine restart prep
	1738		88.49 184 x 214 x 32.0 (TLE)
	1754	T+3:01 Begin fuel chilldown
	1800	T+3:07 Venting tests
	1803	Rev 3	88.56 196 x 209 x 32.0 (MPR)
	1936	Rev 4	88.70 202 x 217 x 32.0 (MPR)
	1937	T+4:44 Venting tests end
	2045	LH2 Pressure test
	2108	Final data
	2114	Disintegrated