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Saturn V Fallen on Hard Times
n9fzx writes "The best remaining artifact of the Apollo Program, Huntsville's Saturn V, is 'pocked with pits and cracks, and patches of mold and mildew', having survived for forty years outdoors. Alabama's U.S. Space and Rocket Center is trying to raise a measly $5 million in order to preserve the beast, with $1.5 million in the kitty so far. Paypal, anyone?"
Yes there were three more missions planned, and enough hardware to fly them. The three rockets are at Cape Canaveral (fully restored and inside a building made to house and display it), Mission Control Houston (outside), and the one at Huntsville, which is also outside. I've heard the one in Huntsville was raised to stand upright a couple of years ago. I've made a few trips to Cape Canaveral and Mission Control Houston, but I've never seen the Saturn V at Huntsville.
If I remember correctly, two complete Saturn V's were available when the program was cancelled. One of them was turned into Skylab and another into this showpiece. Apollo 20 was never assembled.
The owls are not what they seem
Apollo 20 was indeed assembled and serves as a memorial to the workers at the Michoud Assembly Plant near New Orleans. The first and second stages on display in Houston were originally slated for Apollo 19. The booster used for Skylab was that of the Apollo 18.
The owls are not what they seem
There is a complete Saturn V indoors in a facility at the Kennedy Space center. Its in great shape (at least from the outside) and totally protected from the weather. Its in a museum facility that anybody can see.
Here is a picture, with some people next to it for comparison.
It's big, indeed.
I live in Huntsville
A few years ago, the Space and Rocket Center, paid way too much money for a BEAUTIFUL fiberglass replica shell to be built and stod up. It is life size and is accurate. It's a wonderufl sight to see coming in 565 or landing at the airport in the afternoon. This thing is I believe the second tallest structure in the state of Alabama, and it stands out like a giant sundial when you are at 1-2000 ft.
Regardless, the original post was about the real hardware which was laid on it's side 40 years ago, and is viewable to this day. Ignoring the 'left to rot' aspect, the hardware was Unusable within a very short time, and it was understood when it was first laid down that it would never be considered flight worthy again. The $5 Mill. is merely to restore and preserve it so it looks nice. (and I do support the project to preserve it, even if I may sound like I don't)
The following data is based on the technology available at the time of the design of the Saturn V and technology developed in the following years. Folks we had the means to colonize the moon and mars and we threw it away. It can be redeveloped with the proper political attitude and money. But will it? Woulda, Coulda, Shoulda.
Part one: Capability of original Saturn V.
Part two: With improved efficiency F1 main engines.
Part 3: Improved F1 engines burning high efficiency kerosene/nanoaluminum powder fuels.
Saturn V basic specs:
Empty weight: 250 tons.
Empty weight of first stage: 100 tons.
Fueled weight 3000 tons.
Takeoff thrust: 3750 tons.
Takeoff weight / thrust ratio: 80/100.
Thrust of each main first F1 engine: 750 tons.
Efficiency of each F1 engine: 250:1
Fuel consumption of each F1 engine: 3 tons/second.
Ratio of LO2/Kerosene: 2 tons/1 ton/ second.
Total mass of fuel consumed at and of first stage cutoff: 2250 tons
Mass of all upper stages at seperation:650 tons.
Thrust of second stage:600 tons.
Net weight of two stage orbit capability, based on skylab data: 90 tons.
Net weight of 2.5 stage orbit capability, based on moon launches: 150 tons.
Net capacity escape to moon: 45-50 tons.
Part two: Improved F1 engines:
The russians designed during the Moon landing era LO2/kerosene engines with efficiencies of 333, sea level, which is 33% greater than the existing F1.
That means the redesigned F1 engines could have produced 2 million pounds of thrust ( 1000 tons) at the same 3 tons per second consumption. That means that take off thrust of 5000 tons versus 3750 tons, an increased thow upper stage total weight jumping from 650 tons to 1650 tons and a probable doubling of mass to orbit:
2 stage mass: 180-200 tons.
2.5 stage mass: 300 tons
3 stage escape mass to moon: 90-100 tons.
So a conventional but improved F1 engine could hav e allowed supporting an early small manned colony on the moon.
Part three: Use of NanoAlumimum powder in Kerosene fuels: Link: http://www.argonide.com/gun_propellants.html
Based on the article, efficiency could increase at least 50%. If so then the 333 ISP of the 1970's technology could have been raised to 450.
Thus, a possible F3 engine, designed for high efficiency and high energy fuels could have an efficiency rating of 450-500. That means that the Saturn V could have evolved into a rocket that could have placed:
2 stage orbit: 300 tons
2.5 stage orbit: 450 tons.
3 stage escape: 150 tons.
All this without resorting to adding side boosters to the Saturn vehicle. If side boosters of equal or better design than that used by the current space shuttle could have been added to the Saturn V then that vehicle could have evolved to place in orbit perhaps 600 to 1000 tons and have capacity to put into escape 300 tons.
The mass of the current space station is now 200 tons and if core completed will weight 300 tons. It is estimated that the requried mass of a mars expedition space ship will be 300 tons.
The world could have been colonizing the moon right now and be on the verge this year of making the jump to mars.
Hundreds of years ago the Chinese sent a huge fleet to colonize the world. It went entirely around the world leaving historical evidence everywhere and bring home innformation. The Mandarins then dismantled the entire fleet, forbid exploration and became a closed society until Admiral Perry forcibly opened them up to the world.
Why does the high sounding Bush administration's new space vision really feel like a mandarins sleight of hand maneuver to gut the space program like they are gutting everything else.
Folks, the technology exists NOW. The means is there. But will the politicos actually allow the opportunity?