Launch of Saturn V AS-502

NASA successfully launched Apollo 6 (AS-502) from KSC's Complex 39A at 7:00 am (EST) on a mission to qualify the Saturn V launch vehicle for manned space flights. Primary objectives were to demonstrate structural and thermal integrity and compatibility of launch vehicle and spacecraft; confirm launch loads and dynamic characteristics; demonstrate S-II/S-IC and S-IVB/S-II stage separations; verify operations of propulsion (including S-IVB restart), guidance and control (optimum injection), and electrical systems; evaluate performance of Emergency Detection System (EDS) in closed-loop configuration; and demonstrate mission support facilities and operations required for launch, mission conduct, and CM recovery.