Saturn-Apollo 3 Spacecraft: (no serial number) Launch Vehicle: Saturn C-1 Blk I SA-3 Launched: 16 Nov 1962

⇑ Mission List ⇑ Designation: Apollo S1 P LV1(N)-3 Description: 3rd Saturn C-1 Blk I suborbital, 1st stage live only

Upper stages of the launch vehicle were filled with 23000 gallons of water to simulate the weight of live stages. At its peak altitude of 167 kilometers (104 miles), four minutes 53 seconds after launch, the rocket was detonated by explosives upon command from earth. The water was released into the ionosphere, forming a massive cloud of ice particles several miles in diameter. By this experiment, known as "Project Highwater," scientists had hoped to obtain data on atmospheric physics, but poor telemetry made the results questionable. The flight was the third straight success for the Saturn C-1 and the first with maximum fuel on board. References: Ertel, Ivan D., and Morse, Mary Louise. 1969. The Apollo Spacecraft: A Chronology. Volume I, Through November 7. NASA SP-4009. Encyclopedia Astronautica. Wikipedia.