Fire 2 Spacecraft: (no serial number) Launch Vehicle: Atlas D Launched: 22 May 1965

⇑ Mission List ⇑ Designation: Apollo A P S(S)-2 Description: 2nd Apollo Atlas unmanned suborbital lunar reentry simulation

An Atlas D booster propelled the instrumented probe, called a "flying thermometer," into a ballistic trajectory over 805 km (500 mi) high. After 26 minutes of flight, when the spacecraft began its descent, a solid-fueled Antares rocket accelerated its fall. The probe entered the atmosphere at a speed of 40,877 km (25,400 mph) and generated temperatures of about 11,206K (20,000 degrees F). Data on heating were transmitted to ground stations throughout the descent. Thirty-two minutes after the launch - and but six minutes after the Antares was fired - the device impacted in the Atlantic about 8,256 km (5,130 mi) southeast of the Cape. References: Morse, Mary Louise, and Bays, Jean Kernahan. 1973. The Apollo Spacecraft: A Chronology. Volume II, November 8, 1962-September 30, 1964. NASA SP-4009. Encyclopedia Astronautica Wikipedia.