APPENDIX 7
Apollo Launch Vehicle Family
Little Joe II
- Configuration:
- Single stage test vehicle powered by Algol solid-propellant motors.
Recruit rocket motors were used as booster motors, to supplement liftoff
thrust.
- Mission:
- The Little Joe II test launch vehicle, under construction during the
period of this volume, was to be used to man-rate the launch escape system for
the command module.
Saturn C-1 (renamed Saturn I)
- Configuration:
- S-1 booster (eight H-1 engines, clustered, producing 1.5 million pounds of
thrust); S-IV second stage (four engines using liquid-hydrogen and
liquid-oxygen propellants and producing 80,000 pounds of thrust); and S-V
third stage (two engines of the type used in the S-IV stage, producing 40,000
pounds of thrust). The LR-119 engine (17,500 pounds of thrust), an uprated
version of the LR-115 engine (15,000 pounds of thrust), was selected to be
used in the S-IV and S-V stages. On March 29, 1961, NASA approved a change to
six LR-115 engines on the S-IV stage. On June 1, 1961, NASA announced that the
S-V had been dropped from the configuration.
- Mission:
- Two successful launches of the Saturn C-1 took place during the period
covered by this volume. Later launches would test boilerplate Apollo command
and service modules under flight conditions.
Saturn C-1B (renamed Saturn IB or Uprated Saturn I)
- Configuration:
- S-IB booster (eight uprated H-1 engines, clustered, producing 1.6 million
pounds of thrust); and S-IVB second stage (one J-2 engine, producing 200,000
pounds of thrust).
- Mission:
- On July 11, 1962, NASA announced that the Saturn C-1B would be used to
launch unmanned and manned Apollo spacecraft into earth orbit.
Saturn C-2
- Four-stage configuration:
- S-I booster (same as booster stage of the Saturn C-1); S-II second stage
(not defined); S-IV third stage (same as Saturn C-1 second stage); and S-V
fourth stage (same as Saturn C-1 third Stage).
- Three-stage configuration:
- S-I booster (same as booster stage of the Saturn C-1); S-II second stage
(not defined); and S-IV third stage (same as Saturn C-1 second stage).
- History:
- Plans for the Saturn C-2 were canceled in June 1961 in favor of the
proposed Saturn C-3.
Saturn C-3
- Configuration:
- Booster stage (two F-1 engines, producing 3 million pounds of thrust);
second stage (four J-2 engines, producing 800,000 pounds of thrust); and S-IV
third stage (same as Saturn C-1 second stage).
- History:
- Plans for the Saturn C-3 were canceled in favor of a more powerful launch
vehicle.
Saturn C-4
- Configuration:
- Booster stage (four F-1 engines, clustered, producing 6 million pounds of
thrust); second stage (four J-2 engines, producing 800,000 pounds of thrust).
- History:
- The Saturn C-4 was briefly considered in planning for the advanced Saturn
launch vehicle but was rejected in favor of the Saturn C-5.
Saturn C-5 (renamed Saturn V)
- Configuration:
- S-IC booster (five F-1 engines, clustered, producing 7.5 million pounds of
thrust); S-II second stage (five J- 2 engines, producing 1 million pounds of
thrust); and the S-IVB third stage (one J-2 engine, producing 200,000 pounds
of thrust).
- Mission:
- The Saturn C-5 was selected by NASA in December 1961 as the launch vehicle
to be used in accomplishing the lunar landing mission.
Saturn C-8
- Configuration:
- First stage (eight F-1 engines, clustered, producing 12 million pounds of
thrust); second stage (eight J-2 engines, producing 1.6 million pounds of
thrust); and third stage (one J-2 engine, producing 200,000 pounds of thrust).
- History:
- The Saturn C-8 was briefly considered for the direct ascent lunar landing
mission during the selection of the lunar landing mode. It was rejected in
favor of the Saturn C-5 which would be used in the lunar orbit rendezvous
mission.
Nova
- Configuration:
- Several configurations were proposed during the period of this volume. All
were based on the use of the F-1 engine in the first stage. One typical
configuration was: first stage (eight F-1 engines. clustered, producing 12
million pounds of thrust); second stage (four liquid-hydrogen M-l engines,
producing 4.8 million pounds of thrust); third stage (one J-2 engine,
producing 200,000 pounds of thrust). Nuclear upper stages were also proposed.
- Mission:
- The Nova was intended for use in a direct ascent lunar landing
mission.