A-001 was the second abort test of the Apollo spacecraft. Mission A-001 was the second in the series of tests conducted to demonstrate that the launch escape system could safely remove the command module under critical conditions.
Whereas in Pad Abort Test 1, the launch escape system was lit up at ground level, the A-001 mission was flown to demonstrate the capability of the escape system to propel the command module safely away from a launch vehicle while in the high-dynamic-pressure region of the Saturn trajectory. The launch vehicle was the second in the series of Little Joe II vehicles, which had been developed for early and economical testing of the launch escape system.
The Little Joe II was run by seven solid-propellant rocket motors - one Algol sustainer motor, providing thrust for about 42 seconds, and six Recruit motors, which burning out approximately 1.5 seconds after ignition. The spacecraft consisted of a launch escape system and a boilerplate command and service module.
Unfavorable wind conditions had forced a 24 hour postponement of the launch, but the vehicle was successfully launched on May 13, 1964. An abort signal commanded from the ground ended thrust of the launch vehicle, followed by ignition of the launch escape and pitch control motors, and separation of the command module from the service module. Some structural damage was incurred by the command module because of recontact with the booster.
At approximately 44 seconds, the tower jettison motor was ignited and satisfactorily separated the launch escape tower from the command module. The earth landing sequence was normal until a riser for one of the three main parachutes gave way. This was the outcome of its rubbing against the structure on the command module upper deck. The parachute separated, but the command module, supported by the two remaining parachutes, descended at rates of 9.1 to 7.9 m/s. The command module landed 6.8 km down range at 350.2 seconds after reaching a height of 9.1 km above mean sea level. However, except for the parachute failure, all test objectives were satisfied.
A-001
