Page 29 - Apollo Moonships
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1 SATURN V F–1 ENGINE CLUSTER Fin
Engine firing
S–IC first stage
Thrust vectoring system
Heat shield
S–IVB third stage
S–II second stage
A LOT OF POWER
To generate the energy required to propel a spaceship of 28 tons beyond Earth orbit and make possible a lunar landing mission, the Saturn V needed a lot of power. Engineers obtained most of it using a cluster of five F–1 engines in the 138 foot tall S–IC first stage. This engine cluster produced energy equivalent to 150 Gigawatts (GW), that is to say, 2.5 times more power than the entire installed electricity generation capacity of Texas.
Apollo mother ship
Lunar Module adapter
2 SATURN V J–2 ENGINE CLUSTER S–II second stage
LH2 recirculation system (5 places)
Thrust cone
Heat shield
S–IVB third stage
Forward skirt
F–1 engine (5)
LH2 recirculation system (5 places)
J–2 engine (5)
Aft skirt
THE POWER OF FIVE
The second stage of the Saturn V rocket was steered by a cluster of five J-2 engines, the four outboard mounted on a universal joint to provide the vehicle with gimbal capabilities. When the five J-2 engines ignited, the stage was pushed by a force of about 1.14 million pounds, enough power to boost its payload to a maximum of 15 300 miles per hour and 604 000 feet in altitude (114.5 miles)..