Saturn V

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Saturn V

The Saturn V was an American human-rated expendable rocket used by NASA between 1967 and 1973. It was developed to support the Apollo program for human exploration of the Moon and was later used to launch Skylab, the first American space station. The Saturn V was designed under the direction of Wernher von Braun and Arthur Rudolph at the Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama.

Design and Development

The Saturn V was a three-stage liquid-fueled launch vehicle. It was the largest production model of the Saturn family of rockets, which were developed as part of the Apollo program. The rocket was designed to carry heavy payloads beyond low Earth orbit, specifically to the Moon.

First Stage (S-IC)

The first stage, known as the S-IC, was powered by five F-1 engines arranged in a quincunx pattern. These engines burned RP-1 (a refined form of kerosene) and liquid oxygen (LOX). The S-IC stage provided the initial thrust to lift the rocket off the ground and through the lower atmosphere.

Second Stage (S-II)

The second stage, the S-II, used five J-2 engines burning liquid hydrogen (LH2) and liquid oxygen. This stage continued to propel the rocket after the first stage was jettisoned, taking it through the upper atmosphere and into space.

Third Stage (S-IVB)

The third stage, the S-IVB, was powered by a single J-2 engine. It was used to place the Apollo spacecraft into a parking orbit around Earth and then to perform the trans-lunar injection (TLI) burn, sending the spacecraft on its way to the Moon.

Missions

The Saturn V was used in a total of 13 missions, including:

• Apollo 4: The first test flight of the Saturn V, launched on November 9, 1967.
• Apollo 6: The second test flight, launched on April 4, 1968.
• Apollo 8: The first crewed flight to orbit the Moon, launched on December 21, 1968.
• Apollo 11: The first Moon landing mission, launched on July 16, 1969.
• Skylab: The launch of the Skylab space station, on May 14, 1973.

Legacy

The Saturn V remains the tallest, heaviest, and most powerful rocket ever brought to operational status. It was a critical component of the Apollo program, enabling humans to land on the Moon and return safely to Earth. The technology and experience gained from the Saturn V program have influenced subsequent rocket designs and space exploration efforts.

Also see

• Apollo program
• Wernher von Braun
• Skylab
• F-1 (rocket engine)
• J-2 (rocket engine)

Template:Rocketry  This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.