posted 02-21-2011 01:10 PM               

Space Cover #97, A-17 Saturn V Second Stage Arrives at KSC

The Saturn V rocket used in the Apollo and Skylab programs was a multistage liquid-fuel expendable rocket. It was a massive representation of the power generated when Boeing, McDonnell, Douglas and North American coordinated their efforts. The efforts of these companies to build components was spread across the United States which made it a challenge to get the components to KSC to combine together in the VAB prior to rollout to the launch pad.

The first stage came by barge from the Boeing plant at Michoud, Louisiana, then was placed on a block-long dolly and taken by barge to Port Canaveral (Cape Canaveral), where it was raised and made ready for the second stage, which was shipped from North American Aviation at Seal Beach, California aboard the USNS Point Barrow, a converted Navy landing ship. The third stage came from Sacramento, California, aboard the Super Guppy, a swollen version of the Boeing Stratocruiser.

The pictured cover is from the USNS Point Barrow for the delivery of the Apollo 17 second stage to Port Canaveral. The cover is dated October 26, 1970 when the USNS Point Barrow arrived at Port Canaveral. The NASA "Saturn at KSC" document lists the (second stage) "S-II On Dock KSC" for Apollo 17 as October 27, 1970 - one day after its arrival.

This is one of the earliest Apollo 17 covers available. As most collectors don't know about the USNS Point Barrow in the Apollo program these covers tend to be overlooked. So if you found one...