Table of Contents
Did the Saturn 5 explode?
The first unmanned Saturn V for Apollo 4. The Saturn V is a NASA rocket designed by Wernher von Braun for lunar exploration, and is the American counterpart to the Soviet N-1. On August 24, 1974, a Saturn V exploded on the launch pad at Kennedy Space Center during the final countdown for Apollo 23.
What did the Saturn V second stage engines burn?
The Saturn V Second Stage contained five J-2 engines. The second stage, powered by five J-2 engines that burned liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen, was provided by the Rockwell International Corporation. Its engines ignited in fight after the first stage dropped away.
What would happen if the Saturn V exploded?
The Saturn V was the largest rocket ever built by the United States. If the Saturn V exploded, it could do so with the force of a small atomic bomb, the equivalent of half a kiloton, or about 1/26th the size of the bomb that destroyed Hiroshima. Naturally, this was a significant concern for Apollo program officials.
What happened to the Saturn V second stage?
Image above: The S-II Stage of the Saturn V Rocket is hoisted onto the A-2 test stand. The Saturn V Second Stage contained five J-2 engines. After the first stage was discarded, the second stage burned for approximately 6 minutes taking the vehicle and payload to 115 miles altitude.
How big is the interstage of Saturn V?
From Saturn V Second Stage Fact Sheet (PDF): The interstage, fabricated at NAA’s Tulsa plant, is a semimonocoque structure. Semimonocoque means that the skin has a minimum of internal framework. The interstage is slightly over 18 feet in height and 33 feet in diameter.
What happens to the Saturn V rocket after Apollo landed on the Moon?
After the astronauts in Apollo dock with the lunar landing module and pull away from the now-useless third stage, this last remaining part of the Saturn V coasts away into deep space or is commanded to fly to a crash landing on the moon. Follow SPACE.com on Twitter @Spacedotcom. We’re also on Facebook and Google+.
What is the difference between the Saturn V and N-1 rockets?
The Saturn V was taller, heavier, and had greater payload capacity, both to low Earth orbit and to translunar injection. The N-1 was a three-stage launch vehicle with more liftoff thrust and a larger first stage diameter than the Saturn V. It was to carry the 209,000 lb (95,000 kg) L3 vehicle into orbit.