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Which Saturn second stage (S-II) was imploded?

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Author	Topic: Which Saturn second stage (S-II) was imploded?
Robert Pearlman Editor Posts: 43576 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999	posted 03-01-2004 03:48 PM Approximately two years ago, I was able to confirm that a Saturn V's second stage was purposely imploded on a test stand outside Edwards Air Force Base in a test designed to determine the safe distance from the launch pad in the case of an on-pad explosion. Are their records showing which stage (by serial number) was destroyed and was it purposely built for the test or was it to have been used initially for a mission?
AlanLawrie Member Posts: 95 From: hitchin, herts, UK Registered: Oct 2003	posted 03-01-2004 04:03 PM This is getting interesting! There were 15 flight second stages built and none were destroyed. There were several accidental destructions of second stages the most notable being: S-II-S/D which ruptured during a test at Seal Beach on 29 Sept 1965. S-II-T which was destroyed by overpressurisation at MTF on 28 May 1966. Finally an oft forgotten explosion, that of S-II-TS-B on 20 December 1968 at the Santa Susana Field Lab (the day before the Apollo 8 launch). Not heard of a deliberate explosion. You're not thinking of the Titan stage that was destroyed during SDI tests?
Robert Pearlman Editor Posts: 43576 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999	posted 03-01-2004 04:13 PM quote: Originally posted by AlanLawrie: Not heard of a deliberate explosion. You're not thinking of the Titan stage that was destroyed during SDI tests? The person with whom I spoke with at EAFB (whose card I have here somewhere) seemed confident that it was indeed a Saturn V S-II stage. The rumor prior to my finding him was that a complete, fully stacked Saturn V had been imploded during the test, which lead my EAFB contact to correct me it was only the second stage.

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