Editing Saturn I SA-3 (section)

=== Primary ===

The main objectives of SA-3 were much the same as the previous two Saturn I flights in that it was primarily a test of the first-stage booster (S-I) and its H-1 engines. According to the NASA report ''Results of the Third Saturn 1 Launch Vehicle Test Flight'', SA-3 aimed to test four areas: the booster, the ground support equipment, the vehicle in flight, and Project Highwater.<ref name="thirdsaturn1964" />{{rp|3}}

The test of the booster involved the propulsion system, structural design, and control systems. The ground support test involved the facilities and equipment used in the launch, including propellant systems, automatic checkout equipment, launch platform, and support towers. The vehicle in flight test measured aeroballistics, which confirmed values of aerodynamic characteristics such as stability and performance; propulsion, which ensured the engines could provide enough thrust to propel the vehicle at the correct velocity and trajectory, as well as provide data on the performance of all eight engines during flight; structural and mechanical, which provided measurements of the vehicle's stress and vibration levels through all phases of flight; and guidance and control, which demonstrated that spacecraft systems could accurately provide orientation and velocity information.<ref name="thirdsaturn1964" />{{rp|3}}

The fourth objective, Project Highwater, was an experiment previously flown on [[Saturn I SA-2|SA-2]]. This involved the intentional release of ballast water from the second and third stages which allowed scientists to investigate the nature of Earth's [[ionosphere]], as well as [[noctilucent cloud]]s and the behavior of ice in space.<ref name="Woodbridge1965" />

For Project Highwater, tanks in SA-3's dummy upper stages were filled with {{convert|192528|lb}} of water, approximately {{convert|22900|USgal}}, which was used to simulate the mass of future Saturn payloads.<ref name="thirdsaturn1964" />{{rp|3, 66}} The water was divided roughly in half between the two dummy stages. When the terminate command was sent to the rocket, [[primacord]] charges split both stages longitudinally, instantly releasing its load of water.<ref name="Woodbridge1965" /> The experiment was tracked by cameras and other equipment on the ground and in aircraft.<ref name="miami19621117" /> Observers at Cape Canaveral reported that the ice cloud was visible for about three seconds and was "several miles across".<ref name="montreal19621117" /><ref name="miami19621117" />

NASA declared all engineering goals of the flight as achieved,<ref name="nssdc-sa3" /> despite occasional issues with telemetry during flight and some measurement data being unusable or only partially usable.<ref name="thirdsaturn1964" />{{rp|3}} Project Highwater on SA-3 was also declared successful,<ref name="thirdsaturn1964" />{{rp|3}} though again, telemetry issues produced questionable results.<ref name="nssdc-sa3" />