NASA Study Summary: "Saturn V Flight Manual SA-503"

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luke strawwalker

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Here's a study from 1968 that's pretty interesting... the Saturn V Flight Manual. It's written as a pilot's flight manual for the astronauts to familiarize them with the Saturn V. At about 254 pages, it's a pretty long read, but there's TONS of good information in there. Here's a brief description of the high points and the graphics that would be of particular interest to modelers and Saturn V history buffs. Most of the rest of the information is far more arcane...

I especially enjoyed reading about the tanking and chilldown of the stages-- they must've had some MASSIVE pumps to create the fuelling rates they had during fast fill, and for THREE STAGES at once!

Enjoy! OL JR

View attachment NASA Study Summary- Saturn V Flight Manual SA-503.txt
 
Ok... first pic is basic specs of the Saturn V... this chart is interesting because it also gives info on the solid retrorockets installed on the Saturn V...
aSVFMdimensions.JPG

Second pic is a chart showing the "perceptible events", things the astronauts were likely to hear from inside the CM before liftoff.
bSVFMperceptibleEvents.JPG

Third pic is the S-IC stage structures in cutaway with some dimensions...
caSVFMS-ICstage.JPG

Fourth pic is the thrust structure of the S-IC... note the air scoops on this early graphic...
cbSVFMS-ICThruststructure.JPG

Fifth pic is a graphic showing the engine start sequence for the F-1 engines.
cSVFMS-ICengineStart.JPG

More to come! OL JR
 
Pic one is a chart showing the start sequence for the F-1 engines.
dSVFMS-ICengineStart2.JPG

Pic two is a graphic representation of the F-1 shutdown sequence.
eSVFMS-ICengineCutoff.JPG

Pic three is a time-based chart showing the fuelling of the Saturn V first stage.
fSVFMS-ICpropellantLoading.JPG

Pic four is showing the locations and working of the stage separation charges.
gSVFMstageSepSystems.JPG

Pic five is the S-II stage structures and dimensions.
hSVFMS-IIstage.JPG

More to come! OL JR
 
Pic one is a time chart of the propellant loading on the S-II stage.
iSVFMS-IIpropellantLoading.JPG

Pic two is the J-2 start sequence on the S-II stage.
jSVFMS-IIengineStart.JPG

Pic three is a step by step chart of the start sequence for the J-2's on the S-II.
kSVFMS-IIengineStart2.JPG

Pic four is the second half of the J-2 start sequence chart for the S-II.
lSVFMS-IIengineStart3.JPG

Pic five is the J-2 engine cutoff sequence graphic for the S-II.
mSVFMS-IIengineCutoff.JPG

More coming! OL JR
 
First pic is a time chart of S-II engine cutoff.
nSVFMS-IIengineCutoff2.JPG

Second pic is the S-IC/S-II separation sequence.
oSVFMS-IC&S-IIstageSep.JPG

Third pic is the S-IVB stage structures and dimensions.
pSVFMS-IVBstage.JPG

Fourth pic is the S-IVB J-2 engine start sequence graphic.
qSVFMS-IVBengineStart.JPG

Fifth pic is S-IVB engine start sequence chart.
rSVFMS-IVBengineStart2.JPG

More to come! OL JR
 
Pic one is the continuation of the S-IVB engine start chart.
sSVFMS-IVBengineStart3.JPG

Pic two is S-IVB engine cutoff graphic.
tSVFMS-IVBengineCutoff.JPG

Pic three is S-IVB engine cutoff chart.
uSVFMS-IVBengineCutoff2.JPG

Pic four is the holddown arms and Tail Service Masts locations/details on the MLP from a view directly overhead.
vSVFMholddownArms-TSMs.JPG

Pic five is the service arm locations and functions on the tower.
wSVFMtowerservicearms.JPG

That's it for this one!

Later! OL JR
 
Very cool stuff, Luke! Thanks for taking the time to post them.

I'm in the "middle" of a Estes Saturn V build (with a 5-eng cluster mod) and I've gotten "lost" more than a few times online to enjoy the majesty of that beast many, many times....
 
Very nice. I've always been fascinated by the Saturn V, and this gives a lot more detail than you can usually see.

(I need a couple of those S-IC retrorockets - they put the N10k to shame. They're 1/2 second R337,000 motors :D)
 
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You're welcome guys! I'm just glad that I can summarize these things and get the "relevant" info out there for the rocket community... guess that's one good thing about being laid off... LOL:)

Enjoy! OL JR :)
 
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