SA-2's dummy upper stages contained approximately of water, or , used to simulate the mass of future payloads. Stage two contained of water, and stage three contained . When the terminate command was sent to the rocket, dynamite charges split the second stage longitudinally, instantly releasing its water load. Primacord charges created several holes in the third stage, releasing its water over a period of several seconds. Cameras on the ground immediately recorded the water cloud, and personnel at a ground station began to observe it about four to five seconds after release. Those personnel reported that the cloud dispersed from vision within an average of five seconds, while more sensitive instruments tracked the cloud to a maximum altitude of . The cloud produced lightning-like effects, which Dr. Wernher von Braun described as "probably the first synthetic thunderstorm ever generated in space." Project Highwater on this flight was also declared a success.