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Author
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Topic: Origin of 'Saturn C' launch vehicle name
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Jim_Voce
Member Posts: 273
From:
Registered: Jul 2016
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posted 07-24-2016 11:42 PM
   
The Saturn family of launch vehicles started off as follows - - Saturn C-1
- Saturn C-2
- Saturn C-3
- Saturn C-4
- Saturn C-5
Does anyone know what the 'C' stood for?I understand that Von Braun chose "Saturn" because it followed after his Jupiter launch vehicle. Specifically, the Jupiter C was the last vehicle before von Braun started on the Saturn. I have wondered then whether the 'C' in Jupiter C had any relevance in the naming of the Saturn C. The first stage of the Saturn C-1 had a Jupiter C tank. In a sense, the core design of the vehicle originated out of the Jupiter C. So 'Saturn C' would make sense with respect to the Saturn C-1. But with additional stages added on with the Saturn C-2, C-3 and so on, it hardly made sense to name those vehicles Saturn C. Perhaps this very logic accounts for why the "C" was dropped in the naming of the Saturn vehicles. But I am not certain. Does anyone know for sure? |
NukeGuy
Member Posts: 55
From: Irvine, CA USA
Registered: May 2014
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posted 07-25-2016 09:37 AM
Configuration? |
Jim Behling
Member Posts: 1488
From: Cape Canaveral, FL
Registered: Mar 2010
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posted 07-26-2016 08:27 AM
Normally don't quote Wikipedia, but there were "A" and "B" configurations. |
Jim_Voce
Member Posts: 273
From:
Registered: Jul 2016
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posted 07-27-2016 12:03 AM
Thank you Mr. Behling. |
Headshot
Member Posts: 891
From: Vancouver, WA, USA
Registered: Feb 2012
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posted 07-27-2016 07:01 AM
Don't know if this relevant to your original question, but the table on page 49 of Stages to Saturn illustrates the early A, B and C Saturn Launch vehicle concepts to each other. The book does not explain for what A, B, and C stands. I would agree that these letters are merely a way of differentiating the various Saturn categories. NASA used letters a lot back then. |
wdw
Member Posts: 58
From: Scotland
Registered: May 2007
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posted 07-27-2016 06:13 PM
The letters were related to concepts that were considered for the Saturn upper stages (this being a time when the S-I booster with multiple tankage had just come about). The 'A' concepts would use existing rockets as the upper stage; 'B' would see a new kerosene/LOX stage being designed. The 'C' concepts called for hydrogen-powered upper stages. In the event, these were the S-IV and the S-IVB. |
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