Apollo 4 was launched on Nov. 9, 1967 and was the first flight of the giant Saturn V launch vehicle. Reaching an altitude of 11,234 miles, the unmanned flight of Command and Service Modules CSM 017 lasted 8 1/2 hours. The Command Module reentered the atmosphere at 24,917 mph and splashed down in the Pacific. The flight qualified the heat shield for lunar flight. CM 017 was transferred to the Smithsonian in January 1969.
This object is not on display at the National Air and Space Museum. It is either on loan or in storage.