Re: Later Saturn I launch pad

From: Rusty Barton (reuben_barton_at_no_spam_y_a_h_o_o_.com)
Date: 09/13/04 

Date: Sun, 12 Sep 2004 21:59:54 -0700

On Sun, 12 Sep 2004 21:46:40 -0400, Kevin Willoughby
<KevinWilloughby@acm.org.invalid> wrote:

>In article <chtgit$vks@odak26.prod.google.com>, edkyle99@hotmail.com
>says...
>> Six Saturn IB rockets were
>> put into long term storage at that time
>
>I've seen the phrase "long term storage" used on several occasions.
>What, exactly, does this mean? Where where they stored? What were the
>environmental issues (temperature, humidity)? Was there periodic
>maintenance?

This is what I have been able to Google on the subject:

Here is a picture of the Skylab 4 (AS-208), Saturn IB 1st and 2nd
stages in storage in the VAB at KSC on 15-Nov-1971. They
were launched in November 1973.

http://images.ksc.nasa.gov/photos/1971/captions/KSC-71C-5535.html

http://images.ksc.nasa.gov/photos/1971/medium/KSC-71C-5535.jpg

SP-4011 Skylab: A Chronology

http://history.nasa.gov/SP-4011/part2c.htm

February 13 - 1970

"A meeting was held at MSFC to discuss long-term storage of launch
vehicle stages.
  
A preliminary plan was to store four S-IVB stages and four S-II stages
in the Vehicle Assembly Building at KSC. Deletion of certain checkout
functions formerly accomplished before delivery of hardware to KSC was
also discussed."

SP-4206 Stages to Saturn

http://history.nasa.gov/SP-4206/ch13.htm

"Developmental and technical problems created a delay in the
anticipated launch date, which was finally rescheduled for the spring
of 1973. Meanwhile the Saturn IB first stage for the first manned
Skylab launch vehicle was taken out of an environmentally controlled
enclosure at the Michoud Assembly Facility, where the stage had been
in hibernation for three years. This particular booster was one of
nine such Saturn IB stages stored at Michoud in December 1968.
Altogether, four Saturn IB stages were designated for the Skylab
project: AS-206, AS-207, AS-208, and [384] AS-209. Refurbishment of
each vehicle was estimated at approximately 10 months. The AS-209
vehicle served as the backup stage, in case a possible rescue mission
needed to be dispatched to the Skylab in orbit, using a modified CSM
to return five astronauts."

- Rusty Barton

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Moonlab - could the SIVB be used to put a Skylab on the Moon?
    ... S-IVB on a Saturn 1-B was proposed, but soaking station ... her with cargo carried atop the Saturn 1B that launched her? ... Is that cheaper than one Saturn V launch? ... booster (from the AS-212 vehicle), a leftover from the Apollo program ...
    (sci.space.policy)
  • Re: Moonlab - could the SIVB be used to put a Skylab on the Moon?
    ... The propellant tanks themselves were used during the launch ... the Skylab was launched dry on 14 May 1973 by a Saturn ... INT-21 (a two-stage version of the Saturn V launch vehicle) into a 235 ...
    (sci.space.policy)
  • Re: Back to the Moon
    ... Finally today was the official roll out of the plan. ... First flight of the Crew Launch Vehicle should be in 2012. ... The option of resurrecting the Saturn V is not really a viable option. ...
    (misc.writing)
  • Re: Back to the Moon
    ... >>>First flight of the Crew Launch Vehicle should be in 2012. ... >pathway towards missions beyond short-term lunar sorties. ... >lunar missions is a monster heavy-lift vehicle on par with the Saturn V. ...
    (misc.writing)
  • Re: Back to the Moon
    ... >>First flight of the Crew Launch Vehicle should be in 2012. ... construction of a lunar base or for the pursuit of a Mars mission. ... lunar missions is a monster heavy-lift vehicle on par with the Saturn V. ...
    (misc.writing)