Saturn V
| Saturn V | ||
|---|---|---|
Saturn V launching Apollo 15. | ||
| Stages | 2 or 3 | |
| 1 - S-IC | Engines | 5 * F-1 |
| Thrust | 7,500,000 lbs (later 7,610,000) | |
| Burn time | ~165 sec | |
| Fuels | RP-1/LOX | |
| 2 - S-II | Engines | 5 * J-2 |
| Thrust | 1,125,000 lbs (later 1,150,000) | |
| Burn time | ~380 sec | |
| Fuels | LH2/LOX | |
| 3 - S-IVB | Engines | 1 * J-2 |
| Thrust | 200,000 lbs (later 230,000) | |
| Burn time | ~475 sec (usually 2 burns) | |
| Fuels | LH2/LOX | |
| Two stage version | ||
| Payload to LEO | 75,000 kg | |
| Three stage version | ||
| Payload to LEO | 118,000 kg | |
| Payload to TLI | 47,000 kg | |
The Saturn V (popularly known as the Moon Rocket) is a multistage liquid-fuel expendable rocket used by NASA's Apollo and Skylab programs.
Over 110 m high and 10 m in diameter, with a total mass of 3,038,500 kg and a payload capacity of 118,000 kg to LEO, the Saturn V is the biggest and most powerful rocket ever built. (The Soviet Energiya heavy-lift booster was designed to orbit 120-150 tons, but was never flown at this capacity.)
Saturn V is composed of three-stages: ; First Stage : S-IC, five F-1 RP-1/LOX engines, Boeing ; Second Stage : S-II, five J-2 LH/LOX engines, North American Aviation ; Third Stage : S-IVB, one J-2 LH2/LOX engine, Douglas Aircraft Company
Saturn V is the vehicle that carried the Apollo astronauts to the Moon.
A two-stage version placed the Skylab space station in earth orbit.
Fifteen Saturn Vs were produced, thirteen were launched, all from LC-39 at the John F. Kennedy Space Center.
The Space Shuttle was initially concieved of as a cargo transport to be used in concert with the Saturn V. The Shuttle would handle Space Station logistics, while Saturn V would launch components. Lack of funding for a second Saturn V production run killed this plan and left the US without a heavy-lift booster for the next 30 years (and counting).
Saturn V Vehicles and Launches
| SA-501 | Apollo 4 | 11-9-67 | First test flight | |
| SA-502 | Apollo 6 | 4-4-68 | Second test flight | |
| SA-503 | Apollo 8 | 12-21-68 | First manned flight | |
| SA-504 | Apollo 9 | 3-3-69 | ||
| SA-505 | Apollo 10 | 5-18-69 | ||
| SA-506 | Apollo 11 | 7-16-69 | ||
| SA-507 | Apollo 12 | 11-14-69 | ||
| SA-508 | Apollo 13 | 4-11-70 | ||
| SA-509 | Apollo 14 | 1-31-71 | ||
| SA-510 | Apollo 15 | 7-26-71 | ||
| SA-511 | Apollo 16 | 4-16-72 | ||
| SA-512 | Apollo 17 | 12-6-72 | ||
| SA-513 | Skylab 1 | 5-14-73 | Two-stage version lofts Skylab space station | |
| SA-514 | Unused | |||
| SA-515 | Unused | |||
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