Why was Apollo 2 going to be dual launch?

[graham2001]

The unflown Apollo 2 mission was planned to be a dual launch mission. One Saturn 1b would put the CSM into orbit, while another would put the LM/S-IVb stack into orbit for the CSM to rendezvous with.

Using the Orbiter spaceflight simulator, I was able to see that something I've always suspected was plausible, namely that a Saturn 1b could put both spacecraft into orbit at the same time.

While not a rigorous test it raises in my mind the question of just why the Apollo 2 flight was planned to be a dual launch?

Can anyone help clarify the reasons?

Graham

[gwiz]

graham2001 said:

...a Saturn 1b could put both spacecraft into orbit at the same time.

Is that fuelled or empty? When this mission was eventually flown as Apollo 9, the combined mass of the two vehicles was 36000 kg. What figure did you use?

[Al Johnston]

Was the mission originally planned before the decision to go to "All-up" testing? Launching the CSM and LEM separately would be in keeping with the previous incremental testing regime.

[JayUtah]

Two launches also give you the option of a downgraded mission. If the LM launch booster should fail, you can still fly a contingency CSM orbital test mission, and vice versa.

[graham2001]

gwiz said:

graham2001 said:

...a Saturn 1b could put both spacecraft into orbit at the same time.

Is that fuelled or empty? When this mission was eventually flown as Apollo 9, the combined mass of the two vehicles was 36000 kg. What figure did you use?

I didn't actually set the figure, however I have posted a query about the flight result on the developers forum and they are currently looking into it, apparently the masses are right but the thrust of the simulated launcher may be off.