THIS DAY IN HISTORY: Apollo-Saturn IB (AS-201) Launches from Cape Kennedy in 1966
By Space Coast Daily // February 26, 2026
Flashback to February 26, 1966
ABOVE VIDEO: Reconstruction of the first Saturn IB test flight on February 26, 1966 (AS-201). The full mission is shown using historical footage and narration, including hardware development, stacking, mission objectives, launch, stage ignition footage and recovery of the Apollo capsule.
BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – On February 26, 1966, NASA reached a pivotal milestone in America’s race to the Moon with the first launch of an Apollo-Saturn IB rocket, known as AS-201, from Cape Kennedy—today’s Cape Canaveral.
The uncrewed mission lifted off at 11:12 a.m. EST, marking the debut flight of the powerful Saturn IB rocket, a critical step in developing the hardware that would eventually carry astronauts to lunar orbit and back.
AS-201 was the maiden voyage of the Saturn IB launch vehicle, designed to bridge the gap between earlier rockets and the massive Saturn V that would later power Apollo missions to the Moon. The Saturn IB was capable of sending heavier payloads into orbit, making it essential for testing the Apollo spacecraft in realistic flight conditions.
During the 37-minute suborbital mission, engineers put the Apollo Command and Service Modules through a rigorous trial by fire—literally.
One of the mission’s primary objectives was to evaluate the spacecraft’s heat shield under high-speed reentry conditions. After reaching space on a suborbital trajectory, the Apollo capsule plunged back through Earth’s atmosphere and splashed down safely in the Atlantic Ocean.
The successful recovery of the spacecraft confirmed that its heat shield could withstand the extreme temperatures of reentry—an essential capability for future missions returning from lunar distances.
AS-201 demonstrated that the Apollo spacecraft’s propulsion, guidance, and structural systems were functioning as designed. The mission’s success cleared the way for more complex tests and ultimately the crewed Apollo flights that would define a generation.
Sixty years later, Florida’s Space Coast continues to build on that historic legacy.
As of February 2026, Space Coast Daily is covering ongoing operations at Cape Canaveral, including the departure of the 33rd SpaceX resupply mission—another chapter in the evolution of American spaceflight.
The transition from the Saturn IB to modern commercial launch vehicles underscores how far the industry has advanced, while honoring the foundation laid by the engineers, technicians, and visionaries behind AS-201.
On this day in space history, February 26, 1966, NASA proved that the hardware designed to carry humans to the Moon could survive the harsh realities of spaceflight—setting the stage for one of humanity’s greatest achievements.
