SA-3, launched on November 16, 1962, was the third flight of the Saturn I launch vehicle and the second flight of Project Highwater, contributing to the American Apollo program. The primary objectives of SA-3 were similar to those of the previous two Saturn I flights, focusing mainly on testing the first-stage booster (S-I) and its H-1 engines. The mission aimed to evaluate four key areas: the booster, the ground support equipment, the vehicle during flight, and Project Highwater.
The fourth objective, Project Highwater, was an experiment that had been previously conducted on SA-2. This involved the deliberate release of ballast water from the second and third stages, enabling scientists to study the characteristics of Earth's ionosphere, noctilucent clouds, and the behavior of ice in space.
