Author
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Topic: Photo of the week 363 (October 15, 2011)
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heng44 Member Posts: 3387 From: Netherlands Registered: Nov 2001
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posted 10-15-2011 02:50 AM
The spent S-IVB stage is seen over Israel following the launch of the second Skylab crew on July 28, 1973. The Dead Sea is at bottom center. Cyprus can be seen beyond the S-IVB and Turkey is visible near the horizon. Ed Hengeveld |
space1 Member Posts: 853 From: Danville, Ohio Registered: Dec 2002
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posted 10-15-2011 04:27 AM
Obviously one of those images taken on a sound stage in the desert. Note the "50" label for the sea prop in the foreground I hadn't realized that the Skylab Apollo S-IVB's retained their "petals." |
wickball Member Posts: 107 From: Cleveland, Ohio, USA Registered: Jul 2005
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posted 10-15-2011 05:27 AM
Modern technology combined with the land of Biblical times. To me, very cool. |
Joel Katzowitz Member Posts: 808 From: Marietta GA USA Registered: Dec 1999
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posted 10-15-2011 08:17 AM
It's strange, yet so natural, to look at earth views like this and not see the country's "borders" that ultimately define politics. |
tfrielin Member Posts: 162 From: Athens, GA Registered: Feb 2007
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posted 10-15-2011 12:23 PM
I saw this launch in person at that great viewing spot --the lawn in front of the VAB so when this shot was taken, I was packing up the car to return to the Visitor's Center. Shortly after this shot was taken, NASA vented the resudual propellents through the J-2 and de-orbited it if I recall correctly. |
tfrielin Member Posts: 162 From: Athens, GA Registered: Feb 2007
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posted 10-15-2011 12:25 PM
quote: Originally posted by space1: I hadn't realized that the Skylab Apollo S-IVB's retained their "petals."
No particular reason to bother--there was no LEM to extract. Leave 'em attached and its four fewer pieces of space debris. |
Tom Member Posts: 1597 From: New York Registered: Nov 2000
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posted 10-15-2011 01:15 PM
Speaking of space debris, were the S-IVB stages of the earth-orbiting Apollo and Skylab/ASTP flights left in their original orbit after spacecraft separation? |
ilbasso Member Posts: 1522 From: Greensboro, NC USA Registered: Feb 2006
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posted 10-15-2011 03:38 PM
According to the SA-206 [Skylab 2] Flight Evaluation Report, a "thermal coating experiment" on the S-IVB was initiated a little less than an hour into the flight. A de-orbit command was issued about 4-1/2 hours into the flight, and the S-IVB "impacted" about 6 hours after launch. I assume this was similar for other Skylab flights.Another thing that was different about the S-IVB's on the Skylab flights than the Moon flights was that in Skylab missions, after the ullage rockets were fired to settle the propellants and separate the S-IVB from the first stage, they were blown off the side of the stage to save weight during the ascent to orbit. The S-IVB ullage motors were needed on the lunar flights several times, in Earth orbit insertion, Trans-Lunar Injection, and finally in the maneuver to send the S-IVB on toward lunar impact. |
mikej Member Posts: 481 From: Germantown, WI USA Registered: Jan 2004
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posted 10-15-2011 06:08 PM
quote: Originally posted by ilbasso: Another thing that was different about the S-IVB's on the Skylab flights than the Moon flights was that in Skylab missions, after the ullage rockets were fired to settle the propellants and separate the S-IVB from the first stage, they were blown off the side of the stage to save weight during the ascent to orbit.
Actually, the ullage motors on all of the S-IV and S-IVB stages were jettisoned after they were done firing. Refer, for example, to the "Significant Event Times Summary" table in the AS-506 Flight Evaluation Report: The "S-IVB Ullage Case Jettison" took place at 561.0 seconds.On the lunar flights, the Auxiliary Propulsion System was used for the additional duties you mentioned (and, perusing SA-206's FER, it looks like SA-206 retained its APS engines through de-orbit). |
ilbasso Member Posts: 1522 From: Greensboro, NC USA Registered: Feb 2006
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posted 10-15-2011 09:37 PM
Ah, thanks for clarifying that. |
Michael Davis Member Posts: 528 From: Houston, Texas Registered: Aug 2002
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posted 10-16-2011 02:01 PM
So why have the panels deploy at all on a Skylab mission? I had always assumed that the only purpose for doing so was to extract the LM. I can see testing them on the Saturn 1B on Apollo 7 for functionality, but on Skylab there would seem to be no reason. Was panel deployment designed into the system? I'm assuming that the CSM pushing away from the S-IVB would not be an issue with or without the panels deployed. |
Lou Chinal Member Posts: 1306 From: Staten Island, NY Registered: Jun 2007
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posted 10-16-2011 03:11 PM
Mike you make a good point. But remember Skylab was done on a shoestring. The separation plane between SM and the SIVB was aready a proven way of doing things. Why redesign a new system? |