NASA's First Saturn Rocket, SA-1, Flew on October 27, 1961
Saturn SA-1 lifted off from Cape Canaveral on October 27, 1961, in the first flight of NASA's Saturn rocket family.
FlyMarshall Newsroom1 min read
Photo: NASA
NASA’s Saturn SA-1 launched from Launch Complex 34 at Cape Canaveral, Florida, on October 27, 1961. The first Saturn-family flight reached approximately 85 miles in altitude and splashed down in the Atlantic Ocean about 15 minutes after liftoff.
Key details
- Saturn I served as a heavy-lift launch vehicle and came before the Saturn IB and Saturn V in NASA’s Saturn rocket family.
- The Saturn V carried astronauts to the Moon during the Apollo program.
- From 1961 to 1973, the Saturn family completed 32 successful launches: 10 Saturn I, 9 Saturn IB, and 13 Saturn V flights.
SA-1 reached approximately 85 miles in altitude before splashing down in the Atlantic about 15 minutes after launch.
Why it matters
SA-1 began the flight history of a rocket family that later included Saturn V, the vehicle NASA used for Apollo Moon missions. Its launch also marked the first step in the Saturn I program.
What happens next
The Saturn family’s launch record continued through 1973, with Saturn V carrying Apollo crews to the Moon. Which milestone in the Saturn program stands out to you?
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