This gallery will be a collection of bits and pieces detailing those stubborn areas on the Saturn V. In some cases, I still don't have good images to document some things. I am always digging!
If you have a question or a suggestion for a illustration, email me at jduncan@apollosaturn.com.
Stage Tank Tops
These are difficult to document, especially the S-II for which I currently have no photo. The S-II went through some evolution during it's flight history, changing from external helium-purged insulation panels (on the tank top as well), to a spray on insulation (ever wonder where that expanding foam insulation in a can came from?) which was machined to a set thickness after it dryed. This actually creates a modeling problem, as Apollo 13 and later had the spray on type which changed the look of the outside of the stage.
 S-IC LOX tank top, covered with a dark green insulation blanket. Notice the pie shapes. |
 S-IVB LH2 top, with black looking covering also in pie shapes. Remember that the S-IVB had it's insulatin on the inside of the tank, so this is probably just for protection. The Saturn IB version (200 series) of this was just silver. |
S-II Insulation Visual Differences
 This is a shot of the S-IC/S-II interstage area on a pre-A13 flight. Notice the wide width of the ramp between the aft stringers and the relatively thick Helium-purged insulation panels (inside the "C"). There is no "stair-step" outline around the LH2 fairing area either. |
 This is a shot of the S-IC/S-II interstage area on a post-A13 flight. Point "A" shows the addition of the "stair-step" around the LH2 fairings, necessary because the spray on insulation is thinner. Point "B" shows the steep ramp down to the insulation, much narrower than the ramp on the previous image. David Week's Saturn V drawings currently shows this configuration. |
 This is another rather oblique shot of the S-IC/S-II interstage area on a pre-A13 flight, specifically Apollo 11. Point "A" shows the lack of a "stair-step" around the fairings. This image is a good look at the stringers, ullage motor ends and fairings. |
 This nice shot has just the right lighting to show the joints and plumbing of the Helium-purged panel in the pre-A13 lot. The spray-on type insulation was smooth and not like this at all. The 1/144th Saturn V kits shows some of these joints. |
 This is one last shot of the S-IC/S-II interstage area on a pre-A13 flight. No stair step around the LH2 fairings. |
Apollo 4 vs Apollo 6
I occasionally get asked about the colors of the CSM's on those flights.
Here are two photos to settle it once and for all.
 Here's Apollo 4's silver SM and "Interium Vehicle" CM. Note that both these flights had "Block I" Spacecraft Lunar Module Adapters (SLA). You can tell by the vertical cable running between the pedals and the base. |
 Apollo 6 had an all white SM, shown in this launch photo. You can barely see the cable of the Block I SLA. |
Copyright 1997-2005 by John
Duncan |