The only significant change made to the vehicle from the previous SA-1 flight was the addition of extra baffles in the propellant tanks to mitigate fuel sloshing.

[2] The only hold in the countdown sequence was for 30 minutes due to a vessel which entered the flight safety zone 60 miles (96 km) down range.

Specifically, its goals were to prove propulsion performance and mission adequacy, vehicle structural design and aerodynamic characteristics, guidance and control systems, and launch facility and ground support equipment.

[6] SA-2's dummy upper stages contained approximately 190,000 pounds (86,000 kg) of water,[6] or 22,900 U.S. gallons (86,685 L),[3] used to simulate the mass of future payloads.

[6] When the terminate command was sent to the rocket, dynamite charges[4] split the second stage longitudinally, instantly releasing its water load.

[1] The cloud produced lightning-like effects, which Dr. Wernher von Braun described as "probably the first synthetic thunderstorm ever generated in space.