When did Apollo 5 launch and what time was it?
Apollo 5 lifted off from Launch Complex 37B at 17:48:08 Eastern Standard Time on the 21st of January 1968. The Saturn IB rocket inserted the second stage into an elliptical orbit shortly after liftoff.
Questions about Apollo 5
Short answers, pulled from the story.
Who built the Lunar Module for the Apollo program?
NASA awarded a contract to Grumman Aircraft in Bethpage, New York in 1962 to build the Lunar Module. Major General Samuel C. Phillips hoped that LM-1 would launch by April 1967 but manufacturing difficulties caused repeated delays.
Why did Apollo 5 use the AS-204 booster instead of a new rocket?
The original AS-204 booster survived the fire that killed three astronauts in January 1967 without damage. NASA decided to use this specific booster because it was the last Saturn IB with full research instrumentation available for testing.
What happened to the ascent stage and descent stage after the mission ended?
The ascent stage burned up on January 24 while the descent stage fell into the Pacific Ocean southwest of Guam on February 12. Simulations showed the S-IVB stage re-entered about 15.5 hours into flight before atmospheric drag decayed the orbits.
How many people worked on checking specifications during the Apollo 5 preparation months?
John J. Williams led a team of 400 people checking specifications during these months. Leaks in the ascent stage required repairs and remating efforts through August and September before mission documents were ready.