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Author
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Topic: Saturn V paint job
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Henry_Heatherbank
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posted 07-14-2005 06:30 PM
   
This 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? Henry |
KSCartist
Member Posts: 2913
From: Titusville, FL USA
Registered: Feb 2005
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posted 07-14-2005 06:34 PM
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 |
Henry_Heatherbank
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posted 07-14-2005 06:41 PM
TimThanks 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. Henry |
Blackarrow
Member Posts: 3160
From: Belfast, United Kingdom
Registered: Feb 2002
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posted 07-14-2005 08:37 PM
Yes, 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? |
sts205cdr
Member Posts: 649
From: Sacramento, CA
Registered: Jun 2001
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posted 07-14-2005 09:39 PM
FWIW, this website is a favorite reference for Saturn rocket scale modelers:
http://www.apollosaturn.com/ --John |
ColinBurgess
Member Posts: 2043
From: Sydney, Australia
Registered: Sep 2003
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posted 07-14-2005 11:17 PM
The 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. |
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