# Boilerplate 1102A

> test article used during the Apollo program

**Wikidata**: [Q88098473](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q88098473)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/boilerplate-1102a

## Summary
Boilerplate 1102A is a nonfunctional test article used as a command module mockup during the United States' Apollo program. Manufactured by the Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, it served as a boilerplate spacecraft to simulate the size, shape, and mass of functional flight hardware for testing purposes.

## Key Facts
- **Classification:** Boilerplate (nonfunctional spacecraft or payload)
- **Program:** Apollo program
- **Manufacturer:** Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center (Houston, Texas)
- **Mass:** 4,000 pounds (1,814.4 kilograms)
- **Height:** 127 inches (322.58 centimeters)
- **Diameter:** 154 inches (391.16 centimeters)
- **Material:** Aluminium
- **Inception:** Created before 1968
- **Current Owner:** Smithsonian Institution (transferred from NASA in May 1977)
- **Location:** Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center, Chantilly, Virginia

## FAQs
### Q: What was the purpose of Boilerplate 1102A?
A: It was a nonfunctional test article used during the Apollo program to simulate a Command Module. As a "boilerplate" craft, it allowed NASA to test procedures and equipment without using expensive, functional flight hardware.

### Q: Where is Boilerplate 1102A currently located?
A: The capsule is part of the National Air and Space Museum collection and is on display at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, Virginia. Its specific coordinates are 38.911343, -77.444965.

### Q: Who manufactured Boilerplate 1102A?
A: The article was manufactured by the Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, which is a NASA field center located in Houston, Texas.

### Q: What is the capsule made of?
A: Boilerplate 1102A is constructed primarily of aluminium. It was designed with a mass of 4,000 pounds to meet specific testing requirements.

## Why It Matters
Boilerplate 1102A represents the essential iterative testing phase of the Apollo program. Because functional spacecraft were complex and expensive, NASA utilized "boilerplates"—nonfunctional mockups that matched the external dimensions and weight of the actual Command Module—to validate various systems and recovery operations. This specific unit, manufactured by the Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, provided engineers with a physical surrogate to ensure that the infrastructure and procedures developed for the moon missions were safe and effective. Its preservation in the National Air and Space Museum highlights the technical rigor and safety protocols required to achieve successful human spaceflight during the 1960s and 1970s.

## Notable For
- **Manufacturer Origin:** Produced by the Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, NASA's primary center for human spaceflight activities.
- **Material Composition:** Constructed of aluminium to simulate the structural presence of a Command Module while maintaining a specific mass of 4,000 lbs.
- **Museum Collection:** Held by the Smithsonian Institution since May 1977 and featured in the exhibition history of the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center.
- **Technical Identification:** Recognized by the Smithsonian Resource ID nasm_A19800160000 and ARK ID nv9aabee72d-4aac-427a-a17b-c5e3de4abc83.

## Body
### Technical Specifications
Boilerplate 1102A is an aluminium test article designed to replicate the physical characteristics of an Apollo Command Module. It has a total mass of 4,000 pounds (1,814.4 kg). The structure stands 127 inches (322.58 cm) in height and has a maximum diameter of 154 inches (391.16 cm). 

### History and Development
The article was manufactured by the Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas. Its inception is recorded as being before 1968, during the active development and testing phase of the Apollo program. As a boilerplate-class object, it was intended for nonfunctional use, serving as a payload or craft for ground and flight tests where a functional, instrumented spacecraft was not required.

### Ownership and Preservation
- **NASA Era:** The article was owned and operated by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) from its inception through the conclusion of its testing utility.
- **Smithsonian Acquisition:** In May 1977, ownership was transferred to the Smithsonian Institution. 
- **Current Status:** It is currently part of the National Air and Space Museum's collection. The capsule is located at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, Virginia, and is categorized under the Commons category "BP-1102A."

## References

1. [Source](http://klabs.org/history/history_docs/mit_docs/1690.pdf)
2. [Source](https://www.si.edu/object/boilerplate-command-module-apollo-1102a:nasm_A19800160000)