Saturn V Rocket

Alan Lawrie

• Publisher: Arcadia Publishing
• Year: 2016
• ISBN:
  9781439658628
• Topic: History
• Subtopic: North American History
• Index: History

In the first comprehensive photographic account of the Saturn V, relive the drama of the Space Race through the production of the rocket that would carry Neil Armstrong and crew to the moon.

In 1961, Pres. John F. Kennedy set the challenge of landing a man on the moon by the end of the decade. In order to achieve this, NASA partnered with US industry to build the largest rocket ever produced, the Saturn V. It was designed and tested in record time and made its first flight in 1967. Less than two years later and within the timescales set by the president, the crew of Apollo 11 was launched on a Saturn V and watched live by millions of people on televisions around the world. From this launch, Neil Armstrong made his famous giant leap for mankind, later to be followed by 11 other astronauts who also walked on the moon.

One

SATURN V FIRST STAGE

All of the Saturn V first stages from Apollo 9 (S-IC-4) onwards were test fired at the MTF, now known as NASA’s Stennis Space Center. This photograph shows the 125-second test firing of the Apollo 10 (S-IC-5) stage on August 25, 1967. The test firings were used to check the functioning and performance of the complete first stage. (67-58559. Arlene Royer [NARA]/Alan Lawrie.)

The first functioning S-IC stage to be built was designated S-IC-T. It was assembled at NASA’s MSFC in Huntsville. This image shows the S-IC-T fuel tank (left) being prepared to be bolted to the inter-tank section in MSFC’s building 4705 on December 18, 1964. In turn, the inter-tank would be bolted to the LOX tank. (64-16485. NASA.)

Five 42-foot tunnels fed liquid oxygen from the LOX tank down through the inside of the fuel tank to each of the five F-1 engines at the bottom of the first stage. This view inside the fuel tank shows workmen at the base of the tank, with the tunnels passing through the tank. (US Space & Rocket Center [USSRC].)

Following assembly of the S-IC-T stage at MSFC, the complete stage, minus F-1 rocket engines, was transported by road the short distance to MSFC’s S-IC Static Test Stand in the West Test Area. This photograph, taken on March 1, 1965, shows the rear of the stage where the engines later would be attached. (65-20216. NASA.)

Once the S-IC-T stage had been secured vertically into the test stand, the five F-1 engines were attached at the base. In this March 30, 1965, photograph, three engines can be seen already attached, together with their nozzle extensions. A fourth engine, at this point without its nozzle extension, is attached to the vertical engine positioner, being lined up to be attached to the stage. (65-21876. NASA.)

After three single-engine firings, the first firing of all five S-IC-T first-stage engines took place on April 16, 1965. The 6.5-second firing, generating a thrust of 7.5 million pounds, was a major milestone in the Saturn V program. The S-IC-T stage was test fired a total of 20 times. It can now be seen at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. (65-22474. NASA.)

As well as being used for some of the test firings of the S-IC-T test stage, the purpose-built S-IC Static Test Stand was used for the acceptance test firings of the first three Saturn V flight vehicle first stages. Vibrations produced by the acoustics of the firings broke a number of windows in surrounding homes, and NASA had to deal with a number of insurance claims. This S-IC-T firing took place in May 1965. (65-23540. NASA.)

A Saturn V Dynamic Test Vehicle was produced comprising stages that were structurally representative but that need not be fired. The S-IC-D first stage had four mass simulators in place of engines (as seen here), plus a dummy engine. The S-IC-D stage was the first to be assembled by Boeing at MAF. The image shows the S-IC-D stage being loaded on the barge Poseidon at Michoud for the trip to MSFC on April 19, 1968. (68-66317. Arlene Royer [NARA]/Alan Lawrie.)

In addition to the S-IC-D test stage, all S-IC flight stages from S-IC-3 onwards were built by the industry contractor Boeing at Michoud. All other S-IC stages were built at MSFC by a combination of NASA and Boeing. This image shows the forward skirt being attached to the top of the S-IC-8 stage on August 15, 1967, completing the vertical assembly of the stage. (67-58554. Arlene Royer [NARA]/Alan Lawrie.)

After the vertical assembly in Michoud’s tall purpose-built tower, the S-IC stages were rotated horizontally for the integration of the five F-1 engines. Three S-IC stages are seen at various levels of assembly in this view in October 1967. From left to right, F-1 engines are being mated to the Apollo 13 (S-IC-8) stage, with Apollo 9 (S-IC-4) and Apollo 11 (S-IC-6) stages in storage. (67-60490. Arlene Royer [NARA]/Alan Lawrie.)

Each Saturn V had four large US flags attached around the circumference. Each flag was composed of silk-screen printed decal material in three sections. In this image, a technician is attaching a flag to the Apollo 10 S-IC-5 stage at Michoud on October 19, 1967. This previously unseen photograph is from a scan of the original negative, which has ink bleeding issues but is included because of its historical importance. (67-60475. Arlene Royer [NARA].)

In order to boost morale, the astronauts who were to fly the Saturn V would frequently visit the sites of the major contractors and meet the workers. In April 1968, Neil Armstrong visited MAF and is seen autographing Roll of Honor folders for workers during a zero-defects awards banquet. (68-66320. Arlene Royer [NARA].)

During the manufacturing and testing activities at Michoud, each S-IC stage was regularly moved from one test cell to another. This photograph shows the Apollo 11 S-IC-6 stage being moved to Test Cell 2 of the Stage Test Building at Michoud in November 1967. In the background, Michoud’s high bay, where the vertical assembly took place, can be seen. (67-61147. Arlene Royer [NARA]/Alan Lawrie.)

After each of the S-IC flight stages had been manufactured at Michoud, it was transported by open-top barge to and from the Mississippi Test Facility for a static firing test. The barges were pushed by tugboats. In this image, the Apollo 11 S-IC-6 stage is shown on board the barge Pearl River arriving at MTF on March 1, 1968. (68-64015. Arlene Royer [NARA]/Alan Lawrie.)

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Table of contents

• Cover Page
• Title Page
• Copyright Page
• Dedication
• Table of Contents
• Acknowledgments
• Foreword
• Introduction
• 1. Saturn V First Stage
• 2. Saturn V Second Stage
• 3. Saturn V Third Stage
• 4. F-1 and J-2 Engines
• 5. Before the Moon Landings
• 6. Moon Landings and Beyond
• 7. Aftermath
• Bibliography