1967 NASA MANNED SPACE FLIGHT REPORT #18 SATURN V FIRST FLIGHT APOLLO 4 MISSION PREPARATION 66684

Want to support this channel and help us preserve old films? Visit Browse our products on Amazon: “NASA Manned Space Flight, Quarterly Report 18” focuses on the months of July, August and September of 1967 as the Apollo Program advanced, with on-going work shown on the preparation of the Saturn V rocket for its first launch as part of Apollo 4. The film also shows some of the changes made to the Command Module as a result of the disastrous Apollo I fire. This third quarter of 1967 brought NASA and the USA close to the climax of space flight programs which would be the manned lunar landing mission of Apollo 11 (:31). Advancements began with the unmanned maiden flight of the massive Apollo-Saturn V rocket on Nov. 9, 1967, for the mission known as Apollo 4 (1:09). A breakdown of its three stages and who built them (1:39) is presented, specifically noting the single engine third stage would be shut down and reignited for the first time (2:17). Other firsts for this flight include the test module for the lunar landings was to be flown (2:45) and the service module was to undergo the longest continuous burn in space (2:52). New mission support ground facilities were also being constructed including a new launch complex (3:28), a new launch control center (3:35), new instrumentation facilities (3:44) and new mission control and computer facilities (3:58). Mission plans follow (4:20) showing the mission was to take about 8 and ¾ hours and where the re-entry point was to be (4:42). At launch complex 39 at the JFK Center (4:48) the first Apollo Saturn V is pictured moving from the vehicle assembly building to launch pad A (4:55). For the first time, all the Apollo ground support facilities were to be unified into a large operational complex (5:45). Some tests conducted and shown are on the umbilical arms to ensure safe detachment and swing back (6:07), check outs for the first Apollo Saturn V at pad A (6:21) and the mating of the second Apollo Saturn V (6:24). Three ground test stages of the second Apollo-Saturn V were destroyed (7:01). Afterwards, a series of tests and inspections were conducted and new manufacturing and handling techniques were imposed (7:36). At the Kennedy Space Center preparations for the first unmanned space flight of the operational lunar module were underway (9:19). Flight preparations were also continuing at the Marshal Spacecraft Center (10:00). Tragedy struck on January 27th, 1967 as Gus Grissom, Ed White and Roger Chaffe perished in an Apollo Command Module preflight test at Cape Kennedy (11:01). In order to prevent future tragedy, a new quick opening hatch was installed (11:10) as well as other equipment (11:17) and new operational procedures were initiated (12:57). Walter Schirra, Walter Cunningham (13:34) and Donn Eisele (13:39) of Apollo VII are seen. Unmanned lunar missions to the moon continued including the Lunar Orbiter V mission (14:19) and Surveyor V’s soft landing on the moon (15:00). A few mock ups for Apollo applications follow; one for an orbital workshop (15:52) and one for the multiple docking adapter (16:45). The film draws to a conclusion on this quarter which was progressing the US towards its first manned lunar landing (17:16). It was produced by the AV Corporation, Houston, Texas (17:43). Apollo 4 (November 9, 1967), also known as SA-501, was the uncrewed first test flight of the Saturn V launch vehicle, the rocket that eventually took astronauts to the Moon. The space vehicle was assembled in the Vehicle Assembly Building, and was the first to be launched from Kennedy Space Center (KSC) in Florida, ascending from Launch Complex 39, where facilities built specially for the Saturn V had been constructed. Apollo 4 was an “all-up“ test, meaning all rocket stages and spacecraft were fully functional on the initial flight, a first for NASA. It was the first time the S-IC first stage and S-II second stage flew. It also demonstrated the S-IVB third stage’s first in-flight restart. The launch was planned for early 1967, but delayed because of problems with various elements of the spacecraft and difficulties during pre-flight testing. Additional inspections were also required after a fire killed the Apollo 1 crew in January 1967. The mission splashed down in the Pacific Ocean slightly less than nine hours after launch, having achieved its objectives. NASA considered the mission a complete success. This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD, 2k and 4k. For more information visit