1.
LV SATURN ONE WITH APOLLO SPACECRAFT ATOP.
0.03

2.
AERIAL VIEW. DITTO.
0.07

3.
SV NOSE OF APOLLO.
0.13

4.
AERIAL VIEW. SATURN AND APOLLO.
0.18

5.
CU CAMERAMAN.
0.20

6.
LV BLAST-OFF - SATURN LAUNCHED.
0.48

7.
CU CAMERAMAN.
0.51

8.
GV SATURN IN FLIGHT.
1.13



Initials DE/V/JF/KN DE/VIS-TELE/JF/KN



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: THE FIRST UNMANNED MODEL OF AMERICA'S APOLLO MOONCRAFT WAS SUCCESSFULLY LAUNCHED INTO ORBIT BY A SATURN ROCKET YESTERDAY (THURSDAY). THE SATURN ROCKET, BELIEVED TO BE THE LARGEST IN THE WORLD, STOOD ONE HUNDRED AND NINETY FEET TALL ON ITS LAUNCHING PAD AT CAPE KENNEDY. CARRYING THE APOLLO MOONCRAFT ON ITS NOSE IT ROSE MAJESTICALLY INTO THE BLUE SKY, SPEWING FIRE FROM ITS EIGHT ENGINES.

OFFICIALS OF THE NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION DESCRIBE THE SHOT AS A BRILLIANT SUCCESS. REPORTS TODAY INDICATE THAT THE SPACECRAFT, THE HEAVIEST KNOWN SPACE VEHICLE, WAS IN AN ALMOST PERFECT ORBIT. THE CRAFT WEIGHS ABOUT THIRTY-SEVEN THOUSAND, THREE HUNDRED POUNDS (17,000KG).

THE ORBIT RANGES FROM 117 TO 140 MILES (188 TO 230KM) AND OFFICIALS SAY THE MOONCRAFT WILL ORBIT AT LEAST THIRTY-SEVEN TIMES BEFORE BURNING UP IN THE EARTH'S UPPER ATMOSPHERE.

THE FLIGHT IS THE FIRST LIVE TEST OF THE GUIDANCE SYSTEM DESIGNED TO STEER THE SECOND STAGE AND APOLLO SPACECRAFT INTO ORBIT. ONE OF ITS PRIMARY MISSIONS IS TO CHECK HOW WELL THE SPACECRAFT WITHSTOOD THE SEVERE PRESSURES PLACED UPON IT. ANOTHER OBJECTIVE WAS TO SEE HOW THE ESCAPE SYSTEM PERFORMED.

SCIENTISTS HAIL THE LAUNCHING, NOT ONLY AS A SUCCESS FOR THE MOONCRAFT, BUT ALSO FOR THE SATURN ROCKET. THIS IS THE SIXTH SUCCESSFUL FIRING OF THE MISSILE UPON WHICH AMERICA'S HOPES FOR FUTURE SPACE VENTURES ARE BEING PLACED.