{{Short description|Upper-atmospheric experiment performed by NASA in 1962}}{{Multiple image | image1 = Saturn SA2 launch.jpg | alt1 = | image2 = Saturn SA3 launch.jpg | caption2 = Launch of the second and final Highwater flight, SA-3 on November 16, 1962 | caption1 = Launch of the first Highwater flight, SA-2 on April 25, 1962 }}
'''Project Highwater''' was an experiment carried out as part of two of the test flights of NASA's Saturn I launch vehicle (using battleship upper stages), successfully launched into a sub-orbital trajectory from Cape Canaveral, Florida. The Highwater experiment sought to determine the effect of a large volume of water suddenly released into the ionosphere.<ref name="nix276" /><ref name="astx-hwtr" /><ref name=":0">{{Cite journal |last1=Woodbridge |first1=David D. |last2=Lasater |first2=James A. |last3=Fultz |first3=Bennett M. |last4=Clark |first4=Richard E. |last5=Wylie |first5=Nancy |date=1963-10-25 |title=An Analysis of the Second Project High Water Data |url=https://ntrs.nasa.gov/citations/19790078055 |journal=Contractor Report |language=en}}</ref> The project answered questions about the effect of the diffusion of propellants in the event that a rocket was destroyed at high altitude.<ref name="Bilstein1996" />
The first flight, SA-2, took place on April 25, 1962. After the flight test of the rocket was complete and first stage shutdown occurred, explosive charges on the dummy upper stages destroyed the rocket and released {{convert|23000|usgal|L|lk=on|abbr=off|sp=us}} of ballast water weighing {{convert|190,000|lb|kg|lk=on|abbr=off}} into the upper atmosphere at an altitude of {{convert|65|mi|km nmi}},<ref name="gn620504" /> eventually reaching an apex of {{convert|90|mi|km nmi}}.<ref name="Bilstein1996" />
The second flight, SA-3, launched on November 16, 1962, and involved the same payload.<ref name=":0" /> The ballast water was explosively released at the flight's peak altitude of {{convert|104|mi|km nmi}}.<ref name="nasa-stf" /><ref name="astx-lc34" /> For both of these experiments, the resulting ice clouds expanded to several miles in diameter and lightning-like radio disturbances were recorded.<ref name="Bilstein1996" /><ref name="gn620504" /><ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Lasater |first1=James |last2=Woodbridge |first2=David |date=1966-03-07 |title=Project High Water - A Test of an Abort in Space |url=https://commons.erau.edu/space-congress-proceedings/proceedings-1966-3rd/session-4/1 |journal=Space Congress Proceedings}}</ref>
== See also == {{Portal|Space}} *High-altitude nuclear explosion - other high altitude explosive tests
== References == {{Reflist |refs= <ref name="Bilstein1996">{{cite book |url=https://history.nasa.gov/SP-4206/sp4206.htm |title=Stages to Saturn: A Technological History of the Apollo/Saturn Launch Vehicles |publisher=NASA History Office |location=Washington, DC |first=Roger E |last=Bilstein |date=1996 |isbn=0-16-048909-1|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20041015005320/https://history.nasa.gov/SP-4206/sp4206.htm|archivedate=2004-10-15}}</ref> <ref name="gn620504">{{cite journal |url=http://library01.gsfc.nasa.gov/goddardnews/May_4_1962.pdf |title=Saturn Aids GSFC Research |journal=Goddard News |volume=2 |issue=10 |date=May 4, 1962 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721050536/http://library01.gsfc.nasa.gov/goddardnews/May_4_1962.pdf |archivedate=July 21, 2011 }}</ref> <ref name="nasa-stf">{{cite web |url=http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/apollo/missions/Saturn_Test_Flights.html |title=History: Saturn Test Flights |work=NASA.gov |first=Jeanne |last=Ryba |date=July 8, 2009 |accessdate=December 5, 2009 |archive-date=October 25, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121025070836/http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/apollo/missions/Saturn_Test_Flights.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> <ref name="nix276">{{cite web |url=http://nix.ksc.nasa.gov/info;jsessionid=2916kf84ibbt0?id=MSFC-6203276&orgid=11 |title=Saturn I SA-2 Launch |publisher=NASA Scientific and Technical Information Program |first=Bill |last=von Ofenheim |date=January 20, 2004 |accessdate=July 2, 2009 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110517155438/http://nix.ksc.nasa.gov/info;jsessionid=2916kf84ibbt0?id=MSFC-6203276&orgid=11 |archivedate=May 17, 2011 }}</ref> <ref name="astx-hwtr">{{cite web |url=http://www.astronautix.com/craft/higwater.htm |title=Highwater |work=Astronautix.com |first=Mark |last=Wade |accessdate=December 5, 2009 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100116214015/http://astronautix.com/craft/higwater.htm |archivedate=January 16, 2010 }}</ref> <ref name="astx-lc34">{{cite web |url=http://www.astronautix.com/sites/capllc34.htm |title=Cape Canaveral LC34 |work=Astronautix.com |first=Mark |last=Wade |accessdate=December 5, 2009 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100131094706/http://astronautix.com/sites/capllc34.htm |archivedate=January 31, 2010 }}</ref> }}
==Further reading== * {{cite book |title=An Analysis of the Second Project High Water Data |publisher=NASA |first1=David D |last1=Woodbridge |first2=James A |last2=Lasater |display-authors=etal |date=October 25, 1963 |hdl = 2060/19790078055|id=NAS10-841}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Highwater}} Category:1962 in spaceflight Category:Projects established in 1962 Category:1962 establishments in the United States Category:NASA programs Category:Military projects of the United States Category:Water and the environment Category:Spacecraft launched by Saturn rockets Category:Saturn I