# Boilerplate 1101A

> test article used during the Apollo program

**Wikidata**: [Q88093310](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q88093310)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/boilerplate-1101a

## Summary
Boilerplate 1101A is a test article used during the Apollo program to evaluate spacecraft design and performance. Manufactured by North American Aviation circa 1965, this nonfunctional craft made of aluminium served as a mass simulator to validate structural integrity and systems. It is currently part of the National Air and Space Museum's collection and is located in Denver.

## Key Facts
- **Inception**: circa 1965
- **Manufacturer**: North American Aviation
- **Mass**: 10,000 pounds (4,536 kilograms)
- **Height**: 127 inches (322.58 centimeters)
- **Diameter**: 154 inches (391.16 centimeters)
- **Material**: aluminium
- **Country of Origin**: United States
- **Current Owner**: Smithsonian Institution (since July 1975)
- **Previous Owner**: National Aeronautics and Space Administration (until July 1975)
- **Collection**: National Air and Space Museum
- **Location**: Denver
- **Exhibition History**: Wings Over the Rockies Air and Space Museum
- **Classification**: Boilerplate (nonfunctional spacecraft or payload)
- **Aliases**: BP-1101A, Apollo Test Capsule 1101A
- **Wikidata Description**: test article used during the Apollo program
- **Smithsonian ARK ID**: nv9ecf45ea5-7fcf-4b11-8b1f-41b682cf420d
- **Smithsonian Resource ID**: nasm_A19760054000
- **Commons Category**: BP-1101A

## FAQs
### Q: What was the purpose of Boilerplate 1101A?
A: Boilerplate 1101A was a nonfunctional test article used during the Apollo program to evaluate spacecraft design, structural integrity, and performance under simulated spaceflight conditions.

### Q: Who built Boilerplate 1101A and when was it made?
A: The unit was manufactured by North American Aviation in the United States, with an inception date recorded as circa 1965.

### Q: What are the physical specifications of Boilerplate 1101A?
A: The boilerplate has a mass of 10,000 pounds (4,536 kilograms), stands 127 inches (322.58 centimeters) tall, and has a diameter of 154 inches (391.16 centimeters).

### Q: Where is Boilerplate 1101A currently located?
A: The artifact is owned by the Smithsonian Institution and is part of the National Air and Space Museum collection, currently located in Denver, Colorado.

### Q: Has Boilerplate 1101A been displayed publicly?
A: Yes, it has an exhibition history that includes display at the Wings Over the Rockies Air and Space Museum.

## Why It Matters
Boilerplate 1101A represents a critical component of the Apollo program's testing methodology, which relied on nonfunctional test articles to reduce risks and costs associated with full-scale, functional spacecraft. By serving as a mass simulator, it allowed engineers to assess structural loads and dynamics, validating the command module's configuration before operational missions. This specific artifact underscores the importance of ground-based testing in ensuring the safety and reliability of human spaceflight vehicles during a pivotal era of exploration.

## Notable For
- Being a specific Apollo program test article (circa 1965) used to evaluate spacecraft design and performance.
- Having distinct physical dimensions, including a height of 127 inches and a diameter of 154 inches.
- Construction by North American Aviation using aluminium.
- Transfer of ownership from NASA to the Smithsonian Institution in July 1975.
- Inclusion in the National Air and Space Museum's collection and exhibition at the Wings Over the Rockies Air and Space Museum.

## Body
### Definition and Classification
Boilerplate 1101A is classified as a boilerplate, a type of nonfunctional spacecraft or payload used as a test article. In spaceflight contexts, boilerplates serve as mass simulators to evaluate design and performance without the operational capabilities of a functional craft. This specific entity is also known by the aliases BP-1101A and Apollo Test Capsule 1101A.

### Physical Specifications
The test article was constructed primarily from aluminium and possesses specific physical dimensions. It has a mass of 10,000 pounds, equivalent to 4,536 kilograms. The unit stands 127 inches tall, which converts to 322.58 centimeters, and has a diameter of 154 inches, or 391.16 centimeters.

### Manufacturing and Origin
North American Aviation manufactured Boilerplate 1101A in the United States. The inception of the craft is recorded as circa 1965. It was developed alongside other Apollo test articles, such as Boilerplate 29, 23, 1102A, and 30, to support the program's testing requirements.

### Ownership and Location
Ownership of Boilerplate 1101A was initially held by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). In July 1975, ownership was transferred to the Smithsonian Institution. The artifact is currently part of the National Air and Space Museum's collection and is physically located in Denver. It has been exhibited at the Wings Over the Rockies Air and Space Museum.

### Identification and Metadata
The entity is cataloged with several identifiers for tracking and reference. Its Smithsonian ARK ID is nv9ecf45ea5-7fcf-4b11-8b1f-41b682cf420d, and the Smithsonian Resource ID is nasm_A19760054000. The Wikimedia Commons category associated with this item is BP-1101A.

## References

1. [Source](https://www.si.edu/object/boilerplate-command-module-apollo-1101a:nasm_A19760054000)