PDF-(BOOK)-Saturn (Apogee Books Space Series)

The complete story of the Saturn V Rocket is presented in this detailed history of each stage of the construction and testing process From the drawing boards of Boeing North American Aviation and the Douglas company through shipping materials on massive Super Guppy air transports prototype engine firings and wind tunnel tests and finally to the launch pad at the Kennedy Space Center every stage of the planning production and actual flight of the rocket is meticulously documented The lives of the first 45 rocket stages built for the Saturn project are charted including unprecedented information on the dates times and performance parameters for each stage the facilities used in production rare documentation of the stages that malfunctioned and the engines that exploded along the way Details on the development of the F1 and J2 rocket engines and recently declassified photographs of the Saturn project are also included. Few of man\'s technological endeavors compare in scope of significance to the development of the Saturn family of launch vehicles. It was as if the Wright Brothers had gone from building their original Wright Flyer in 1903 to developing a supersonic Concorde in 1913. Unimaginable yet in 10 short years the builders of Saturn progressed from the small, single-engine rockets like Redstone to the giant vehicle with clustered engines that put man on the moon. Our Earth-to-orbit weight-lifting capability grew in that decade by 10 thousand times. Saturn was an engineering masterpiece. The ultimate Saturn, taller than the Statue of Liberty, had a takeoff weight that exceeded that of 25 fully loaded jet airliners, and produced as much power as 85 Hoover Dams.We may not soon again face a challenge to match the lunar landing, and it may be some time before we mount the kind of scientific and engineering effort that gave us Saturn. Whenever that next challenge comes, we have in the Apollo-Saturn program the basic blueprint for achieving success. It not only will point the way but will also give the confidence needed to undertake new and dramatic challenges.Among the other lessons learned from the development of Saturn is the evidence of how much a free society can do and how far a dedicated people can go when they are properly challenged, led, motivated, and supported. This is our legacy from Saturn.This book is a technological history. The narrative approach was largely predicated on questions that might well be asked by future generations: How were the Saturns made? How did they work? The bulk of the text is devoted to the theme of technological development. For all the spectacular effects of the Saturn vehicle\'s awesome launch, most of the Saturn story deals with many years of unglamorous research, development, and test. It is a story of prior work: of nuts, bolts, and pyrotechnics-and that is the story told in these pages.535 pages. Over 150 photos and illustrations. Contents hyperlinked for easy navigation. The X-15 program, which produced mountains of new information about hypersonic flight, is thoroughly outlined in this volume. Chronicles all of the details of the space shuttle Columbia\'s first five flights. Originally published in 1931, this is the first book ever written in the English language to address the notion of spaceflight as a serious possibility. From the first Bumper V-2 launch in 1950 to the Atlas V vehicles of today, more than 55 years of Cape Canaveral history is captured in this exhaustive collection of photographs celebrating the development and evolution of one of space exploration\'s most famous and significant facilities. Detailed maps and historical aerial photographs reveal the famous launch complexes and basic infrastructure of this storied base station, while missile and rocket tests are featured in never-before-seen images with descriptive captions. The bustling daily activity of thousands of employees at the Cape is captured on film, providing a behind-the-scenes look at rocket launches. Information on the current generation of space launch vehicles, trivia on various rockets and satellites that have flown out of Cape Canaveral, and amusing anecdotes are also included. Apollo 17, documented in these reports, was the first mission to make it possible for a qualified geologist to explore the moon. A tremendous fascination and curiosity with space travel will be instilled in readers of this memoir by a former NASA astronaut. In a vivid recount of several events on board the space shuttles Endeavor and Columbia, the astronaut reflects on his life in space, emphasizing the routine aspects of the experience that earthbound people can relate to and appreciate. While his reflections intend to unravel the essence of living in space, they are also the starting point of a parallel tale that describes the author\'s perseverance in overcoming life\'s obstacles and becoming one of the select few to venture beyond the limits of Earth. Guenter Wendt\'s autobiography is a ground shaking document of the glory days of manned spaceflight, told from the perspective of the launch pad. Few of man\'s technological endeavors compare in scope of significance to the development of the Saturn family of launch vehicles. It was as if the Wright Brothers had gone from building their original Wright Flyer in 1903 to developing a supersonic Concorde in 1913. Unimaginable yet in 10 short years the builders of Saturn progressed from the small, single-engine rockets like Redstone to the giant vehicle with clustered engines that put man on the moon. Our Earth-to-orbit weight-lifting capability grew in that decade by 10 thousand times. Saturn was an engineering masterpiece. The ultimate Saturn, taller than the Statue of Liberty, had a takeoff weight that exceeded that of 25 fully loaded jet airliners, and produced as much power as 85 Hoover Dams.We may not soon again face a challenge to match the lunar landing, and it may be some time before we mount the kind of scientific and engineering effort that gave us Saturn. Whenever that next challenge comes, we have in the Apollo-Saturn program the basic blueprint for achieving success. It not only will point the way but will also give the confidence needed to undertake new and dramatic challenges.Among the other lessons learned from the development of Saturn is the evidence of how much a free society can do and how far a dedicated people can go when they are properly challenged, led, motivated, and supported. This is our legacy from Saturn.This book is a technological history. The narrative approach was largely predicated on questions that might well be asked by future generations: How were the Saturns made? How did they work? The bulk of the text is devoted to the theme of technological development. For all the spectacular effects of the Saturn vehicle\'s awesome launch, most of the Saturn story deals with many years of unglamorous research, development, and test. It is a story of prior work: of nuts, bolts, and pyrotechnics-and that is the story told in these pages.535 pages. Over 150 photos and illustrations. Contents hyperlinked for easy navigation. Originally published in 1931, this is the first book ever written in the English language to address the notion of spaceflight as a serious possibility. Originally published in 1931, this is the first book ever written in the English language to address the notion of spaceflight as a serious possibility. Guenter Wendt\'s autobiography is a ground shaking document of the glory days of manned spaceflight, told from the perspective of the launch pad. Few of man\'s technological endeavors compare in scope of significance to the development of the Saturn family of launch vehicles. It was as if the Wright Brothers had gone from building their original Wright Flyer in 1903 to developing a supersonic Concorde in 1913. Unimaginable yet in 10 short years the builders of Saturn progressed from the small, single-engine rockets like Redstone to the giant vehicle with clustered engines that put man on the moon. Our Earth-to-orbit weight-lifting capability grew in that decade by 10 thousand times. Saturn was an engineering masterpiece. The ultimate Saturn, taller than the Statue of Liberty, had a takeoff weight that exceeded that of 25 fully loaded jet airliners, and produced as much power as 85 Hoover Dams.We may not soon again face a challenge to match the lunar landing, and it may be some time before we mount the kind of scientific and engineering effort that gave us Saturn. Whenever that next challenge comes, we have in the Apollo-Saturn program the basic blueprint for achieving success. It not only will point the way but will also give the confidence needed to undertake new and dramatic challenges.Among the other lessons learned from the development of Saturn is the evidence of how much a free society can do and how far a dedicated people can go when they are properly challenged, led, motivated, and supported. This is our legacy from Saturn.This book is a technological history. The narrative approach was largely predicated on questions that might well be asked by future generations: How were the Saturns made? How did they work? The bulk of the text is devoted to the theme of technological development. For all the spectacular effects of the Saturn vehicle\'s awesome launch, most of the Saturn story deals with many years of unglamorous research, development, and test. It is a story of prior work: of nuts, bolts, and pyrotechnics-and that is the story told in these pages.535 pages. Over 150 photos and illustrations. Contents hyperlinked for easy navigation. Originally published in 1931, this is the first book ever written in the English language to address the notion of spaceflight as a serious possibility.