Mission
AS-203
Mission Objective
Mission objectives included evaluating performance on S-IVB instrument unit stage under orbital conditions, and obtaining flight information on venting and chill-down systems. It also included gathering information on fluid dynamics and heat transfer of propellant tanks, attitude and thermal control systems, launch vehicle guidance, and checkout in orbit. All objectives were achieved.
Prelaunch Milestones
4/6/66 - S-IVB ondock at Kennedy
4/12/66 - S-I stage ondock at Kennedy
4/12/66 - S-IB stage ondock at Kennedy
4/14/66 - S-IU ondock at Kennedy
4/21/66 - launch vehicle at pad
7/1/66 - Countdown Demonstration Test
Launch
July 5, 1966; 10:53:17 a.m. EDT
Launch Complex 37B
Eastern Test Range, Cape Canaveral, Fla.
Saturn IB
Hold for four minutes to examine quality of signal from liquid-hydrogen television cameras. A 98-min hold because of loss of signal from camera No. 2 - decision was made to fly with only one camera. Final one minute hold because of loss of Bermuda radar.
Payload
Nose Cone
LH2 in S-IVB
Orbit
Altitude: 185 km by 189 km
Inclination: 31.98 degrees
Orbits: Four
Landing
No Recovery
