Saturn Launch Complex 34

[Music] this is launch complex 34 at Cape canabo Florida the size and complexity of the launch facilities for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Space Program best be explained by the man responsible for their design construction and operation Dr Kurt H Divas director of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration launch Operation Center at Cape canabo Florida the majority of SED systems developed for military use have completed their research and development phase and are ready for their deployment and intented use some of these systems have been used by the NASA for the scientific exploration of space and are launched from Cape canaval actually the space program of the United States had its Beginnings with some of the military boosters I would like to show you some of the models used in the scientific exploration in order to come to a comparison with the newest booster the Saturn C1 then I would like to show you the launch facilities required and developed for the saty one beginning with the first satellite of the United States the modified Redstone booster was used here is a scale model of that configuration using a modified Jupiter booster other satellites were placed in orbit including the Pioneer for which is in orbit around the sun here are the modified boosters of the Redstone and the atlas type the latter one being used with a Mercury configuration in the current series of the US men in orbit studies this is a model of the Satan C1 which is presently on the design and Engineering for the NASA the model is made to the same scale as the models for the other space configurations this increase in size which is approximately as you can see doubles the size of the former space configurations had to be taken into consideration for the concept and the design of the launch facilities permit me to use here a model of launch complex 34 the main elements of the set C1 complex are the launch pad which is approximately 120 m in diameter in the center is a large table 360 M away is a block house which is the launch control center or the Nerf center of the operations this particular control center is eagloo shaped and contains two floors the lower floor contains a telemeter station the Upper Floor is a control center itself with all panels and instruments vital to the check out and launch other elements of the 40 acre complex are the facilities for storage and automatic fuel transfer of liquid oxygen liquid hydrogen Fuel and the transfer lines as well as the high pressure storage area necessary for the fueling of the space vehicle before launch the most noticeable element is that of the service Tower which in servicing position straddles the space vehicle the service Tower is used to assemble service and shelter the space vehicle during preparation of the rocket for launch after its job is completed it is moved under its own power approximately 182 M back to a parking position this is considered to be the minimum distance in order to protect the tower from an explosion caused by a space vehicle falling back onto the pad the design and construction of this Tower was a engineering task and challenge of the first order it is self-propelled weighs almost 3,000 tons is built to withstand hurricane Winds of 125 knots and this point is 31 stories above the ground from here you can get a good view of the various elements I describe to you on the model incidentally in the background are the launch pads used in the other programs at the cape now let's look at complex 34 and see it in operation this is the NASA symbol its likeness will no doubt appear on vehicles and Hardware used in America's man lunar Landing program which will be launched from a site here at Cape canaval Florida Beyond this gate is complex 34 the largest known launching site in the world and the first built expressly for the peaceful exploration of space the Dome shaped structure in the foreground is the launch control center with 10,000 square ft of protected floor space on two levels and designed to with and tremendous blast pressure the 43t diameter spherical tank is for storage of liquid oxygen and in reality is a giant Thermos bottle electrical pneumatic and hydraulic services are provided through lines on this 240 ft High umbilical Tower a three-story pedestal supports and retains the vehicle during checkout and launch operations the donut shaped tourist ring around around the center opening is part of the water delude system high-press helium is stored in these cylindrical bottles helium is used for bubbling the liquid oxygen tanks of the booster to keep the liquid oxygen from forming into layers of different temperatures the movable surface structure is 310 ft High it is used to erect and check out the vehicle 10 days and 2,000 M of water travel brings the Saturn barge to a dock at Cape gaval the docking procedure is the final task of the barge and tug Crews comparison of booster size can now be made it is 82 ft long and 21 and 1/2 ft in diameter at dusk the Saturn booster is making its last Earthbound trip destination complex 34 some 2 miles away the booster will remain on the transporter overnight and be erected the following day other stages have remained on the barge overnight work begins on their removal sheathed in a blue plastic protective covering is the second stage the water ballast tank and nose cone are also covered for protection against dirt and dust a slow but steady 2 m trip Begins for the transporter Crews the Caravan passes through the gate at complex 34 preceded by guards in the station wagon the Saturn service structure dominates the sky line rooster stage erection has begun the stage is lifted by an overhead crane located at at the top of the service structure we can see the eight H1 engines clearly the inner four engines are fixed in position while the outer four engines are movable to provide directional control during the powered flight lowering the booster onto the pedestal is the First Assembly operation the booster rests on eight steel arms four to support the vehicle and four to both support and restrain the vehicle until proper engine ignition has been achieved Tech misss remove the plastic sheet the second stage is then hoisted by the crane prior to being m to the booster the whole process is like a construction worker laying blocks another step in this block laying procedure is to Hoist the nose cone section to the top of the service structure the nose cone cradle transporter is moved away from the immediate launch area an explanation and briefing on Sat erection procedures takes place at the base of the service structure while high in the service structure work progresses in lowering the third stage onto the second final assembly is complete now the long and complicated checkout begins to determine Saturn's Readiness to perform its intended function this requires varied forms of communication between the many teams working toward the common goal of a successful flight the Assembly of the various stages has created the final configuration known as Saturn C1 which stands majestically while surrounded by the steel network of the service structure preparation for fueling begins nitrogen supplies the necessary gas for purging fuel lines liquid oxygen lines and the engine and instrument compartments liquid oxygen is manufactured on the cape and is stored in this spherical ground storage tank seen here venting in order to expedite work at the various levels five movable Work Platforms are positioned around the vehicle these are sectionalized and positioned in the horizontal plane repositioning can be accomplished to place the platforms at various vertical levels activities continue in other areas of the complex inside the launch control center the test conductor and his part of the team continue the countdown the complexity of this operation can best be understood by noting the Myriad of instruments and Equipment required in support of the Saturn program The Analog system presently in use will be phased out and analog to digital conversions will be used at Future launch sites specialized launch operations require specialized skills and Equipment Dr deas and his launch control center Personnel keep in visual contact with outside activities through a closed circuit television system from the launch control center heart of this giant complex the scene shifts to the giant vehicle being prepared for launch what might appear to be The Columns of an ancient civilization is in reality a modern system of supports for the liquid oxygen lines installed above ground from the storage tank to the vehicle expansion Loops in the lines allow for Rapid expansion and contraction of liquids at extremely low temperatures from the indicated time ignition of the engines followed by liftoff of the vehicle will soon occur after ignition the four holdown arms are retracted to release the vehicle for flight tracking cameras located about 2 mi from the launch area provide coverage from ignition through flight culminating in the high water experiment 1 million 300,000 lb of thrust generated by Saturn's eight engines accelerate the vehicle to the upper atmosphere maximum speed attained by the vehicle was 3700 mph inboard engine cut off came at 110 seconds following lunch outboard engine cut off was achieved at6 seconds after liftoff the flight was a complete success with all objectives attained including determination of the inflight performance of the eight booster engines the controlling movements of the four gimbal engines engine cut off and propellant utilization also achieved were verification of the airframe structural Integrity a further proving of the launch facilities and ground support equipment a cloud cover partially obscures the vehicle but the trailing tail of flame is easily seen entering the rarified atmosphere where the vapor trail appears the vehicle was deliberately destroyed at an altitude of 65 Mi to release the 99 5 tons of water which was carried as ballast in the dummy upper stages an ice cloud with a diameter of 8 to 10 miles was formed within 3 seconds this is the highest ice cloud ever known to have existed there you have a short glimpse of the size and the complexity of the launch facilities and launch operations as they are required for the launch of a see one space vehicle if we take a view at the total space program that the United States of America plans it becomes immediately apparent that the lunch complexes and operational Concepts that you have seen for the saton C1 vehicle have severe limitations for the Next Generation vehicle it becomes necessary and mandatory to develop a new launch concept but this is a story in itself some of the problems and the totality of the problems that have to be resolved may become apparent to you if you compare a model Saturn C1 vehicle as you see it here with the same scale model of a Saturn C5 vehicle as it will be used in the man exploration of the Moon