[1] The Saturn I booster was a huge increase in size and power over anything previously launched.

It had encountered some problems on the voyage, running aground four times due to poor nautical charts.

On the return trip, the barge hit a bridge, causing some minor damage.

At this time, testing was not automated and amounted to flicking switches in the control center and observing how the rocket responded.

Despite a couple of delays due to bad weather, the rocket was launched only one hour behind schedule.

It was later determined that the cause of the difference between the Cape and the Redstone Arsenal was atmospheric conditions damping the sound.

For the test flight, SA-1 only carried a propellant load that was 83 percent full.