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| "Sarzin" SA-4 launch cover postmarked Cape Canaveral, March 28, 1963. |
SA-4, launched on March 28, 1963, was the final flight dedicated solely to testing the S-I first stage of the Saturn I rocket. Like the previous three launches, this mission was a suborbital flight aimed at evaluating the rocket's structural integrity.
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| Photo: The forth launch test of the Saturn rocket on March 28, 1963. |
To assess the rocket's capability to handle an engine failure during flight, one engine was programmed to shut down approximately 100 seconds after launch. If successful, the rocket would redirect fuel from the disabled engine to the remaining engines, allowing them to burn longer to compensate for the loss of thrust. This strategy was effectively employed in the later Apollo 6 and Apollo 13 missions, both using Saturn V rockets.
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| "SpaceCraft" SA-4 launch cover postmarked Cape Canaveral, March 28, 1963. |
Additionally, this flight featured a dummy second stage that incorporated the aerodynamic design of the actual second stage. This included vent ducts, fairings, and dummy camera pods. The rocket was also equipped with antennae designed for the Block II version.
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| SA-4 launch cover postmarked Cape Canaveral, March 28, 1963. |
