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Author
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Topic: Fireball fallout from exploding Saturn V
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Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 43576
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 03-02-2009 06:37 PM
   
Two NASA documents related to the effects of a Saturn V explosion: [via Dwayne Day / NASASpaceflight.com] |
dwmzmm
Member Posts: 82
From: Katy, TX USA
Registered: Dec 2006
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posted 03-02-2009 08:37 PM
Really interesting stuff!------------------
Dave, NAR # 21853 SR.
Challenger 498 Section
NAR Advisor |
ilbasso
Member Posts: 1522
From: Greensboro, NC USA
Registered: Feb 2006
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posted 03-02-2009 11:15 PM
It's fortunate we never had to put these calculations to the test. 2.68 seconds would have seemed like an eternity. I have read that the Apollo 13 Saturn V was within seconds of potential catastrophic failure of the F-1 engine mounts due to pogo effects (which caused one of the engines to shut down early as it was). I wonder if there was good enough telemetry to have given the crew sufficient warning of the impending failure in time to abort safely. |
spacecraft films
Member Posts: 802
From: Columbus, OH USA
Registered: Jun 2002
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posted 03-03-2009 07:00 AM
No F-1 ever shut down (unplanned) in flight. On Apollo 13 a J-2 on the second stage shut down early.At this point the LES had been jettisoned and the abort mode would have used the SPS. The time available with an S-II explosion was 5.88 seconds. Mark |
jasonelam
Member Posts: 691
From: Monticello, KY USA
Registered: Mar 2007
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posted 03-03-2009 11:39 AM
Along the lines of this discussion, I have read in some books that the windows in the firing rooms are designed with massive blast shutters that would close in the event of a launch explosion. Anyone else heard about that? |
Jay Chladek
Member Posts: 2272
From: Bellevue, NE, USA
Registered: Aug 2007
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posted 03-03-2009 02:08 PM
The LCC I believe still has blast shutters on it as they are visible outside the building. A shuttle cooking off would produce just as massive an explosion as a Saturn (possibly more so due to its massive LOX and LHX tank while the S-1C stage of a Saturn is LOX and Kerosene. |
dwmzmm
Member Posts: 82
From: Katy, TX USA
Registered: Dec 2006
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posted 03-03-2009 09:35 PM
But then you have to also consider the effects of the liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen in the S-II and SIV-B stages, should the explosion taken place at or near the launch pad.------------------
Dave, NAR # 21853 SR.
Challenger 498 Section
NAR Advisor |
Blackarrow
Member Posts: 3160
From: Belfast, United Kingdom
Registered: Feb 2002
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posted 03-07-2009 11:48 AM
If the Ares V is built with 6 first-stage engines and 2 solid-fuel boosters, its thrust at lift-off will be very substantially greater than the Saturn V or the shuttle. If 3.5 miles was the safe viewing distance for a Saturn V or shuttle, will the press-site, LCC and VAB be in harm's way if an Ares V explodes shortly after lift-off? |
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