Apollo Program · Uncrewed test flight
AS-202
Uncrewed test
- Launch
- 1966-08-25 17:15 UTC
- Return
- 1966-08-25 18:48 UTC
- Duration
- 01:33:02
Mission summary
AS-202 was the second uncrewed Apollo flight test of the Saturn IB and Block I CSM, flying a longer 25,000-kilometer suborbital trajectory than AS-201 and exercising four separate SPS engine firings. The CSM splashed down in the Pacific after 93 minutes of flight and was recovered by USS Hornet. The mission cleared the Block I CSM for the planned Apollo 1 crewed flight.
Launch vehicle
Saturn IB SA-202
Objectives
- Second suborbital flight of the Saturn IB and Block I CSM.
- Verify multiple SPS engine firings (four total during the flight).
- Verify CSM separation and heat-shield performance under steep re-entry.
Milestones
| When | Event |
|---|---|
| 1966-08-25 17:15 UTC |
Launched from Cape Kennedy LC-34 with an uncrewed Block I CSM (CSM-011).
https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/apollo/missions/as202.html |
| 1966-08-25 18:48 UTC |
Splashed down in the Pacific Ocean after a 25,000-km suborbital trajectory; recovered by USS Hornet.
https://history.nasa.gov/SP-4029/Apollo_18-19_Saturn_IB_Launch_Vehicles.htm |
Primary sources
Last updated 2026-05-09 15:17 UTC.