SA-2

SA-2 was the second flight Saturn I launch vehicle, the first flight of Project Highwater and was part of the Apollo Program. The objectives of SA-2 were much the same as those of SA-1. But in addition to testing the rockets structurally and the new engines, SA-2 was designed for Project Highwater. This was an experiment to release a large quantity of water into the upper atmosphere to investigate its effects. To accomplish this, the dummy second... more

SA-2 was the second flight Saturn I launch vehicle, the first flight of Project Highwater and was part of the Apollo Program. The objectives of SA-2 were much the same as those of SA-1. But in addition to testing the rockets structurally and the new engines, SA-2 was designed for Project Highwater. This was an experiment to release a large quantity of water into the upper atmosphere to investigate its effects. To accomplish this, the dummy second and third stages of it were ballasted with 109,000 liters of water. When the rocket was at 105 km a charge was detonated that exploded the rocket. This would be used to study the effects on radio transmission and changes in local weather conditions. The preparations at Cape Canaveral took only two months from the arrivals of the first stage and dummy upper stages to launch on 25 April 1962. As with the first flight this mission was sub-orbital. Once again the launch phase was perfect and the rocket reached a maximum height of 65.2 mi (105 km)... less