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T O P I C R E V I E WHenry_HeatherbankThis may be a dumb question, but why the black striping on each of the stages of the Saturn V? Thermal? Tracking?How/when was the decision made to do this, and why in that particular format and not some other? In other words, is there a reason for the striping, and is there a reason why it was striping?HenryKSCartistHenry-Not a dumb question at all. They black stripes were there to aid the ground in determining if the Saturn had completed it's roll program properly as well as assisting the long range tracking cameras identify stages.Black because it was the best contrast to the white body of the vehicle.TimHenry_HeatherbankTimThanks for the super-quick response. I figured it might be tracking-related. I recall when they parachute drop-tested early versions of the CM the heatshield was painted white with three large black squares and one (red, I think) circle, for similar tracking reasons.HenryBlackarrowYes, but why did the black markings on the Saturn 5 change? The first test-model had black vertical stripes on the first and second stages, but also had circumferential black bands above the black stripes (both stages).By Apollo 8, the lower band had disappeared. On later Saturn 5s the upper black band kind of disappeared, but if you look closely the later Saturn 5s have a partial, faint black band around the bottom edge of the second stage, as if someone had made a bad job of removed the black paint. Why?sts205cdrFWIW, this website is a favorite reference for Saturn rocket scale modelers: http://www.apollosaturn.com/ --JohnColinBurgessThe first V-2 missiles launched from White Sands were also painted with black-and-white patterns to allow ground crews to monitor any rotation after lift-off.
How/when was the decision made to do this, and why in that particular format and not some other? In other words, is there a reason for the striping, and is there a reason why it was striping?
Henry
Not a dumb question at all. They black stripes were there to aid the ground in determining if the Saturn had completed it's roll program properly as well as assisting the long range tracking cameras identify stages.Black because it was the best contrast to the white body of the vehicle.
Tim
Thanks for the super-quick response. I figured it might be tracking-related.
I recall when they parachute drop-tested early versions of the CM the heatshield was painted white with three large black squares and one (red, I think) circle, for similar tracking reasons.
By Apollo 8, the lower band had disappeared. On later Saturn 5s the upper black band kind of disappeared, but if you look closely the later Saturn 5s have a partial, faint black band around the bottom edge of the second stage, as if someone had made a bad job of removed the black paint. Why?
--John
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