Saturn V anecdote
Discussion
Stephen Coester
"These spotlight shots always bring back memories. Often I would do my final walkdown of the LH2 system the night before pad closure with the MSS rolled back and the lights illuminating the stack. Since by this time the Saturn V was basically ready for launch except for tanking of the cryogenic propellants the LUT would be practically void of personnel. Just me and the Saturn V. It amazes me now that anyone was allowed to be alone without a buddy. I would ride the elevator up to the 260 foot level and check every component, pipe, tubing, joint and instrumentation one last time. I proceeded down Side 3 where our hydrogen line ran down to ground level, stopping off at level 240 to trace the S-IVB LH2 vehicle vent line from Swing Arm 7 to the vertical run. The down to 200 where our valves were located to fill the S-IVB hydrogen tank. Then to the 180 and 120 foot level to repeat for the S-II. All this time I took my time to glance over at the mighty rocket like some privileged tourist. Reluctantly I would continue my inspection down to zero level and exit the launch pad. Then home to get a few hours rest before coming back to my firing room console at L-9 hours (T-6) to commence the actual cryogenic propellant tanking. In all of those walkdowns I only remember one significant problem. As I was tracing one of the dozens of lengths of tubing connected to our system, I noted a tee in the line that didn’t make sense. I followed that line and it went to the purge port of a metal instrumentation box meant to inert the box. What some contractor had mistakenly done was cut into one of our LH2 instrumentation lines instead of an adjacent nitrogen purge line. So instead of inerting the box they had turned it into a bomb once we would start flowing liquid hydrogen. I reported the problem and that contractor was onsite posthaste to correct the tube routing."
When the Saturn V sat on the launch pad, the space vehicle's coordinate system matched the cardinal points of Earth's geographic system. Its X-axis pointed straight up and its Y-axis pointed to true north. The third component of this system, the Z-axis, therefore was pointed directly west. Before it begins to tilt over, the vehicle needs to roll 18° around the X-axis so that the minus Z-axis, previously facing east, faces along the planned heading, e.g. 72° east of north. Then the tilt motion will be a simple pitch motion around the Y-axis.
Prior to the roll manoeuvre, the vehicle executed a small yaw manoeuvre to deliberately lean away from the launch tower during its first few seconds of ascent.
20.6 seconds after launch, time base 1 aims the four outboard engines slightly away from the centreline of the vehicle. This is in case an outboard engine fails whereupon the resultant off-centre thrust vector would be nearer to acting through the centre-of-mass of the rocket.
Prior to the roll manoeuvre, the vehicle executed a small yaw manoeuvre to deliberately lean away from the launch tower during its first few seconds of ascent.
20.6 seconds after launch, time base 1 aims the four outboard engines slightly away from the centreline of the vehicle. This is in case an outboard engine fails whereupon the resultant off-centre thrust vector would be nearer to acting through the centre-of-mass of the rocket.
MartG said:
When the Saturn V sat on the launch pad, the space vehicle's coordinate system matched the cardinal points of Earth's geographic system. Its X-axis pointed straight up and its Y-axis pointed to true north. The third component of this system, the Z-axis, therefore was pointed directly west. Before it begins to tilt over, the vehicle needs to roll 18° around the X-axis so that the minus Z-axis, previously facing east, faces along the planned heading, e.g. 72° east of north. Then the tilt motion will be a simple pitch motion around the Y-axis.
Prior to the roll manoeuvre, the vehicle executed a small yaw manoeuvre to deliberately lean away from the launch tower during its first few seconds of ascent.
20.6 seconds after launch, time base 1 aims the four outboard engines slightly away from the centreline of the vehicle. This is in case an outboard engine fails whereupon the resultant off-centre thrust vector would be nearer to acting through the centre-of-mass of the rocket.
Top facts/knowledge.Prior to the roll manoeuvre, the vehicle executed a small yaw manoeuvre to deliberately lean away from the launch tower during its first few seconds of ascent.
20.6 seconds after launch, time base 1 aims the four outboard engines slightly away from the centreline of the vehicle. This is in case an outboard engine fails whereupon the resultant off-centre thrust vector would be nearer to acting through the centre-of-mass of the rocket.
Thank you
Another story from Stephen Coester:
While I'm in a story telling mood here's another Tale from the Rocket Wars. and apologies to Stew Woodward, my old lead engineer whose account I've freely plagarized.
For this story I was just an observer from my liquid hydrogen post in the Firing Room, but it's a good one. By the way Apollo 13 was lifted on Saturn 508 and for this flight I had been honored to operate the main LH2 loading console directing the loading operation.
Liquid oxygen which combined with either RP-1 (kerosene) or liquid hydrogen powers the Saturn V rocket was stored on the perimeter of the launch complex in a large 800,000 gallon insulated tank (as was liquid hydrogen on the other side of the Pad). It was transferred across the field and up the Umbilical Tower using huge centrifugal pumps. Because the main transfer line was uninsulated a long chill down operation had to be performed to cool the line and provide high quality LO2 to the rocket. So hours before the loading of the Saturn V started, a small amount of LO2 (about 25000 gallons!) was allowed to flow through the pumps,lines, and launch vehicle and out a drain into a ditch in the adjacent swamp. This was normally not a problem. The LO2 vaporized and the wind blew it away. It quickly mixed in with O2 already in the air.
Apollo 13 was different. and we all know what happened later on its way to the moon. But this tale has nothing to do with that disaster.
We were doing a CDDT, Countdown Demonstration Test, a simulated countdown including fueling the rocket to show we could do it right on the Apollo 13 launch day. The day was overcast, not a breath of wind and the humidity and temperature were just right. On that day the pure oxygen draining into the ditch next to the road did not dissipate. It just sat in the ditch. You have all heard the stories of what happens in a hospital oxygen tent if you light a cigarette. In a 100% oxygen atmosphere it almost explodes it burns so fast.
The Security Police manned the guardhouse at the entrance to the launch pad. Just before we started loading the launch vehicle with fuel and oxidizer the pad was officially cleared, except for the police who did a final sweep of the Pad. They would get in their patrol cars and drive around the pad perimeter road with red lights flashing and loud speakers blaring, "Clear the Pad." They would then report to the test conductor that the pad was officially clear for propellant loading and launch and exit the Pad through a gate near the LO2 facility. That day as we followed the patrol cars around the pad and out the gate on our console television monitors, they entered a fog bank where the dirt road was near the ditch. Normally this would have been condensed moisture from the humid air caused by the cold oxygen gas, but for Apollo 13 it evidently was pure oxygen. As the patrol cars drove though the cloud the hot grease on the engines caught fire. We saw the Security Police jump out and run to safety. A second car and then third followed and exploded in flame. Noone knew what the heck was happening. We watched as the patrol cars burned with the oil, grease and gasoline acting as the fuel and the pure oxygen. The vehicles melted down to the engine blocks. Fortunately all of the patrolmen escaped. Once the excitement died down we resumed the simulated countdown. Never again did the police use that Pad exit!
While I'm in a story telling mood here's another Tale from the Rocket Wars. and apologies to Stew Woodward, my old lead engineer whose account I've freely plagarized.
For this story I was just an observer from my liquid hydrogen post in the Firing Room, but it's a good one. By the way Apollo 13 was lifted on Saturn 508 and for this flight I had been honored to operate the main LH2 loading console directing the loading operation.
Liquid oxygen which combined with either RP-1 (kerosene) or liquid hydrogen powers the Saturn V rocket was stored on the perimeter of the launch complex in a large 800,000 gallon insulated tank (as was liquid hydrogen on the other side of the Pad). It was transferred across the field and up the Umbilical Tower using huge centrifugal pumps. Because the main transfer line was uninsulated a long chill down operation had to be performed to cool the line and provide high quality LO2 to the rocket. So hours before the loading of the Saturn V started, a small amount of LO2 (about 25000 gallons!) was allowed to flow through the pumps,lines, and launch vehicle and out a drain into a ditch in the adjacent swamp. This was normally not a problem. The LO2 vaporized and the wind blew it away. It quickly mixed in with O2 already in the air.
Apollo 13 was different. and we all know what happened later on its way to the moon. But this tale has nothing to do with that disaster.
We were doing a CDDT, Countdown Demonstration Test, a simulated countdown including fueling the rocket to show we could do it right on the Apollo 13 launch day. The day was overcast, not a breath of wind and the humidity and temperature were just right. On that day the pure oxygen draining into the ditch next to the road did not dissipate. It just sat in the ditch. You have all heard the stories of what happens in a hospital oxygen tent if you light a cigarette. In a 100% oxygen atmosphere it almost explodes it burns so fast.
The Security Police manned the guardhouse at the entrance to the launch pad. Just before we started loading the launch vehicle with fuel and oxidizer the pad was officially cleared, except for the police who did a final sweep of the Pad. They would get in their patrol cars and drive around the pad perimeter road with red lights flashing and loud speakers blaring, "Clear the Pad." They would then report to the test conductor that the pad was officially clear for propellant loading and launch and exit the Pad through a gate near the LO2 facility. That day as we followed the patrol cars around the pad and out the gate on our console television monitors, they entered a fog bank where the dirt road was near the ditch. Normally this would have been condensed moisture from the humid air caused by the cold oxygen gas, but for Apollo 13 it evidently was pure oxygen. As the patrol cars drove though the cloud the hot grease on the engines caught fire. We saw the Security Police jump out and run to safety. A second car and then third followed and exploded in flame. Noone knew what the heck was happening. We watched as the patrol cars burned with the oil, grease and gasoline acting as the fuel and the pure oxygen. The vehicles melted down to the engine blocks. Fortunately all of the patrolmen escaped. Once the excitement died down we resumed the simulated countdown. Never again did the police use that Pad exit!
Edited by MartG on Tuesday 15th February 19:04
One more from Stephen
When Launch Complex 39 was built the liquid hydrogen tank (See first photo) was painted per some federal spec with white on top and tan on the bottom and with simply "Liquid Hydrogen, No Smoking".
That worked just fine until OSHS (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) was created in 1970. One day we received a directive that our one of a kind hydrogen tank was not in compliance with OSHA regulations. The proper color was all white and the terminology had to be "Liquified Hydrogen, Flammable Gas" (second photo).
We thought this was pretty ridiculous as the tank is eighty feet in diameter and you can imagine how much paint that is and we kind of liked the way it looked and the simplicity of the words. We hemmed and hawed and delayed but were finally threatened with fines (your money, not ours). I put in a work order to have the tank painted per the new design.
Obviously this was a massive job with painters in protective breathing gear and big spray guns and it took several weeks.
Finally the tank was all white and they started painting the three foot tall lettering. first I questioned the spelling of "Liquified" since the preferred spelling is "Liquefied" but OSHA ruled.
Then one day I went out to see how it was coming along and there's this painter high on his scaffold merrily painting. He had completed "Liquified" and I notice the first three letters of the second word were "NIT", not "HYD". I yelled up to him to stop immediately and that his was a hydrogen tank, not a nitrogen tank. He reached into his coveralls and produced a piece of paper and said," I paint what's on my work order", and continued painting.
I was tempted to let him compile the whole word, "NITROGEN", but didn't and made a few phone calls. Eventually they got it right.
When Launch Complex 39 was built the liquid hydrogen tank (See first photo) was painted per some federal spec with white on top and tan on the bottom and with simply "Liquid Hydrogen, No Smoking".
That worked just fine until OSHS (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) was created in 1970. One day we received a directive that our one of a kind hydrogen tank was not in compliance with OSHA regulations. The proper color was all white and the terminology had to be "Liquified Hydrogen, Flammable Gas" (second photo).
We thought this was pretty ridiculous as the tank is eighty feet in diameter and you can imagine how much paint that is and we kind of liked the way it looked and the simplicity of the words. We hemmed and hawed and delayed but were finally threatened with fines (your money, not ours). I put in a work order to have the tank painted per the new design.
Obviously this was a massive job with painters in protective breathing gear and big spray guns and it took several weeks.
Finally the tank was all white and they started painting the three foot tall lettering. first I questioned the spelling of "Liquified" since the preferred spelling is "Liquefied" but OSHA ruled.
Then one day I went out to see how it was coming along and there's this painter high on his scaffold merrily painting. He had completed "Liquified" and I notice the first three letters of the second word were "NIT", not "HYD". I yelled up to him to stop immediately and that his was a hydrogen tank, not a nitrogen tank. He reached into his coveralls and produced a piece of paper and said," I paint what's on my work order", and continued painting.
I was tempted to let him compile the whole word, "NITROGEN", but didn't and made a few phone calls. Eventually they got it right.
Sad news:
In Huntsville, one of the very first Saturn test articles that was used for static firings in multiple configurations has been demolished by NASA. It was built by ABMA and is older than the Apollo program. The stage was test fired 31 times.
Apparently, there were no takers when it was offered for free to a suitable museum, which had to provide transportation to their site for the article.
In Huntsville, one of the very first Saturn test articles that was used for static firings in multiple configurations has been demolished by NASA. It was built by ABMA and is older than the Apollo program. The stage was test fired 31 times.
Apparently, there were no takers when it was offered for free to a suitable museum, which had to provide transportation to their site for the article.
Not Saturn related, but interesting nontheless 
"Kevin H Spencer
I think names provoke fate. If you give a ship a bold name, it had better have the mechanical chops and support to ride out the name's claims. "Enterprise." "Challenger." "Titanic." This might be the case with the Olympus communications satellite. It was a beastly huge ESA commsat, one of the largest ever at the time. Launched in July 1989, it wasn't long before the geosat became very testy. By January 1991, one of its solar arrays stopped tracking the sun. Some bad commands were later sent up that caused the satellite to lose its place in geostationary orbit and move around the Earth, out of phase with the virtual hovering it should do relative to the surface of the planet. After a lot of fuel, control was regained from August 1992 to August 1993 when the commsat was ostensibly struck by a meteor from the Perseid meteor shower. Too damaged and low on fuel to be useful, Olympus was told to fall into a graveyard orbit, having lived only half of its 7 year planned lifetime. A lesson? Maybe just name your spacecraft "Joe." No one cares about what Joe does. But names like "Indomitable Colossus X" is just taunting the heavens to throw a rock at your stuff."
"Kevin H Spencer
I think names provoke fate. If you give a ship a bold name, it had better have the mechanical chops and support to ride out the name's claims. "Enterprise." "Challenger." "Titanic." This might be the case with the Olympus communications satellite. It was a beastly huge ESA commsat, one of the largest ever at the time. Launched in July 1989, it wasn't long before the geosat became very testy. By January 1991, one of its solar arrays stopped tracking the sun. Some bad commands were later sent up that caused the satellite to lose its place in geostationary orbit and move around the Earth, out of phase with the virtual hovering it should do relative to the surface of the planet. After a lot of fuel, control was regained from August 1992 to August 1993 when the commsat was ostensibly struck by a meteor from the Perseid meteor shower. Too damaged and low on fuel to be useful, Olympus was told to fall into a graveyard orbit, having lived only half of its 7 year planned lifetime. A lesson? Maybe just name your spacecraft "Joe." No one cares about what Joe does. But names like "Indomitable Colossus X" is just taunting the heavens to throw a rock at your stuff."
Apollo Service Module 017, a Block I version.
On October 26, 1966, SM 017 was undergoing pressure tests of its propellant tanks when they exploded. (These tanks were built by the Allison division of GM, here in my hometown of Indianapolis.) A later investigation determined that the tank's methyl alcohol pressurization test fluid was corroding the titanium-based tank.
SM-017 was supposed to fly with Apollo 4, the first Saturn V launch. SM-020 flew instead.
After swapping the methanol with something that didn't eat titanium, later tests were OK.
"My mom and dad went to see Top Gun yesterday. There’s a scene when Maverick walks into the bar and one of the other pilots says while pointing out Maverick something like, “Mach 5…fastest guy in the room.”
My dad made some comment to my mother like, “Not if I was in that room.”
This is why you don’t watch aviation/space movies with astronauts."
Patrick Mullane
My dad made some comment to my mother like, “Not if I was in that room.”
This is why you don’t watch aviation/space movies with astronauts."
Patrick Mullane
Maybe of interest here, re-mastered Apollo astronaut pics from the freezer:
https://www.theguardian.com/science/2022/aug/26/ap...
https://www.theguardian.com/science/2022/aug/26/ap...
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