On This Day In Space: March 28, 1963: Last test flight of NASA's Saturn 1 rocket booster

By Hanneke Weitering
last updated

On March 28, 1963, NASA launched the first stage booster of its new Saturn 1 rocket on a fourth and final test flight.

On March 28, 1963, NASA launched the first stage booster of its new Saturn 1 rocket on a fourth and final test flight. This uncrewed suborbital flight helped pave the way for astronauts to launch to the moon. 

After this initial test phase, NASA started launching test flights with a live second stage and boilerplate versions of the Apollo Command/Service Module.

NASA's Saturn I rocket launches on the SA-4 test flight from the Kennedy Space Center's Launch Complex 34 in Cape Canaveral, Florida on March 28, 1963. (Image credit: NASA)
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This test flight, designated SA-4, carried a dummy second stage to test the aerodynamics of the real second stage.

Another thing NASA tested during this flight was a new system to deal with engine failure. One of the eight engines was programmed to shut off mid-flight. Fuel from the "failed" engine was then re-routed to the other engines so the rocket could keep going.

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Hanneke Weitering
Hanneke Weitering
Editor

Hanneke Weitering is an editor at Space.com with 10 years of experience in science journalism. She has previously written for Scholastic Classroom Magazines, MedPage Today and The Joint Institute for Computational Sciences at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. After studying physics at the University of Tennessee in her hometown of Knoxville, she earned her graduate degree in Science, Health and Environmental Reporting (SHERP) from New York University. Hanneke joined the Space.com team in 2016 as a staff writer and producer, covering topics including spaceflight and astronomy. She currently lives in Seattle, home of the Space Needle, with her cat and two snakes. In her spare time, Hanneke enjoys exploring the Rocky Mountains, basking in nature and looking for dark skies to gaze at the cosmos. 

5 Comments Comment from the forums
  • The Exoplanets Channel
    Very interesting
    Reply
  • Arc Light
    Just so you know, the X-15 took off from Edwards AFB under the wing of a B-52 & was airdropped over Delamar Dry Lake, Nevada. The flight to the altitude record wasn't planned, but the rocket engine burned for two seconds longer than expected. The test flight was scheduled to peak at 280,000', but actually reached 314, 750' due to the extra rocket burn time.
    Reply
  • Fourth Root
    Misleading wording. Bob White did not set the world altitude record on July 17th, 1962. Four Astronauts and two cosmonauts had flown higher prior to his flight. One could say it was the highest manned flight of a winged craft. But that's not the wording that was used.
    Reply
  • DrRaviSharma
    On this date in 1969, I was part of NASA Apollo Team

    Contributed to Experiments in orbit and on Surface of Moon (ALSEP) etc.also trained astronauts

    Studied containation on and ouside Spacecraft.

    The Moon gave me employment to work for 5 Years on exciting Human Space flight Programs Skylab, Planning of Space Station and Space Shuttle

    See My picture taken with Buzz Aldrin in 2009
    https://www.space.com/india-moon-landing-not-a-failure.html
    I received Apollo Achievement Award from NASA dated July 20, 1969.

    Thanks Hanneke Weitering for today's Historic post

    Ravi
    Dr. Ravi Sharma
    Reply
  • Mergatroid
    "Allegedly, the moon turns green because of its close proximity to Uranus"

    I'm sorry about that. I hear they have been investigating x-rays from the same source. I had no idea. I'll get a doctor to check into it.

    Sorry everyone.

    Sorry...
    Reply