T O P I C R E V I E W |
LM-12 | When was the Skylab 3 launch vehicle (SA-207) stacked in High Bay 1? This prelaunch table from the flight evaluation report indicates that the S-IB stage for Skylab 3 was stacked on April 4, 1973. Skylab 2 launched on May 25, 1973. So the Skylab 3 date must be wrong. |
J.L | April 4 is correct. SL-3 did not rollout until June 11. |
LM-12 | There was only one milkstool, so how could Skylab 3 be stacked before Skylab 2 launched? Am I missing something here? |
capcomespace | Yes, one ML for Saturn IB. The ML back to the VAB 26 May, day after the SL-2 launch and the mate to Saturn IB 207 begin 28 May (29 May for S-IVB). The rollout takes place 11 June. 4 April is wrong, the ML are on pad since 27 February with AS-206. |
LM-12 | Thanks for clearing that up. The May 28 date makes a lot more sense. |
J.L | The MSFC chart I am looking at has S-IVB stacking on May 28, and S-1B as April 4. But you are right... one milkstool. Not sure what they were stacking on. I have images, but no dates with them. |
capcomespace | On "Saturn IB" book to A Lawrie, the mate of S-IB 207 it's done 28 May. The 4 April is a probably a misprint. |
LM-12 | The table shows that the S-IB 207 stage arrived at KSC on March 30, so maybe it went "vertical" in the transfer aisle on April 4. Like in this S-IB 209 photo. |
capcomespace | This was possible. The S-IB 207 was put on this pedestal in the VAB aisle of transfer. |
LM-12 | The pedestal can be seen in the VAB transfer aisle near High Bay 1 in this photo 72-H-1340 of the Skylab Orbital Workshop. |
capcomespace | The pedestal is in reality four hold down posts on the VAB floor. |
LM-12 | I see the VAB diagram on your Skylab page includes the four hold down posts. Great website! |
AlanLawrie | My Saturn I/IB book has the S-IB being stacked on 28 May and the S-IVB being stacked later the same day. |
Jim Behling | I would guess that need to erect the S-IB stage in the transfer aisle is to attach the fins before going onto the ML. |
capcomespace | You are right, the 4 April is the date to put the S-IB 207 on this four hold down post in transfer aisle for mate the fins. On this video, caption to 13 May, look the S-IB 207 on this pedestal, the S-II 515, S-IVB 209 and 2010 in VAB storage. |
LM-12 | quote: Originally posted by capcomespace: the S-IB 207 on this pedestal
Can't believe you actually found some footage of that! There are eight fins on the S-IB stage, and they line up with eight hold down arms on the milkstool. |