Tracking-space mission Apollo 5  (AS-204) 

Launched - 01/22/1968

This cacheted cover commemorates the Launch  of the AS-204 (Apollo 5) Saturn 1-B flight with the LEM aboard, launched on 01/22/1968 from Kennedy Space Center, FL .   The unmanned Saturn/Apollo 5 was the first test flight of the Lunar Module. The Mission objectives were: to verify the ascent and descent stages; the propulsion systems; the restart operations;  to evaluate the spacecraft structure; Lunar Module staging; second stage (S-IVB) and instrument unit orbital performance. At the end of the 11 hour, 10 minute test period, both Lunar Module stages were left in orbit eventually to re enter and disintegrate. There was only 1 ship assigned to this launch (USS Palute ATF-159) and there was no recovery of the vehicle. This cover was cancelled at the Corpus Christi, TX

(The manned Space Flight Tracking Center) tracking station on 01/23/1968.