Apollo 5

Apollo 5 (also designated AS-204) was an unmanned test flight of the Apollo Lunar Module (LM), launched on January 22, 1968, from Cape Kennedy, Florida. It was the first flight of the LM into space, a critical component of the Apollo program designed to land astronauts on the Moon.

The primary objectives of Apollo 5 were to verify the operation of the LM's two rocket engines, the descent engine and the ascent engine, in the space environment. The mission successfully demonstrated the descent engine's throttleable capability, a crucial feature for a controlled lunar landing. Furthermore, the ascent engine's ignition and firing were also successfully demonstrated.

Although initially planned as a crewed mission, delays and modifications to the LM led to the decision to fly it unmanned. The mission provided valuable data on the LM's propulsion and structural integrity, contributing significantly to the success of subsequent Apollo missions, including Apollo 11, the first crewed lunar landing. The spacecraft was deliberately destroyed upon reentry into the Earth's atmosphere. The success of Apollo 5 was vital in validating the design and performance of the Lunar Module, proving its readiness for crewed missions to the Moon.