This YouTube clip includes a lot of footage from the Apollo 11 launch that I've never seen.
Even after 40 years the complexity of what NASA engineers did is astounding. We've all seen the gantry arms swing back, but I've never noticed the way the flexible pipes that feed liquid oxygen to the Saturn V retract into the gantry arms. I've never noticed the protective shields that swing down and protect components of the launch structure from the thrust generated by the rocket's motors. Has mankind ever built a machine as complex since the Saturn V? I don't think so.
Go down to Space Center Houston where they have the Apollo 18 vehicle on display so you can appreciate the enormity of what we did as a country. Man, I wish I was around to see the Apollo launches.
Some perspective:
AIG bailout cost: $182 billion.
Entire Apollo program cost: $145 billion. That's inflation-adjusted.
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19 comments:
That is so beautiful and awesome I get a mental orgasm watching it. In 1969, I watched Apollo 11 take off from across the river, a tiny thing on the horizon but then the water got ripples and the ground shook and then the sound hit you like a wall.
My kids ask "dad, Why can't we go to the moon anymore", and I can barely shake my head in frustration at them saying "I dont know".
Frogwatch
An engineer and scientist
Wow, that really puts it in perspective when you put the AIG bailout costs there. Compare the decades-long attention Apollo received, and think about how many people will even remember anything about AIG by this time next year. It's incredible (or incredibly distressing) where our money is being sent these days.
Here is a bit of info on the pumps for the first stage engines of the Saturn V that makes it seem even more unreal:
"A gas-generator was used to drive a turbine which in turn drove separate fuel and oxygen pumps, each feeding the thrust chamber assembly. The turbine was driven at 5,500 RPM by the gas generator, producing 55,000 brake horsepower (41 MW). The fuel pump produced 15,471 gallons (58,564 litres) of RP-1 per minute while the oxidizer pump delivered 24,811 gal (93,920 l) of liquid oxygen per minute."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F-1_%28rocket_engine%29
55,000 horsepower. Just to feed the fuel and oxidizer.
As complex? I'd say the space shuttle probably beats it, but considering what a boondoggle that was, I guess it just proves that complexity isn't a good thing for it's own sake. ;)
Also, I'm pretty sure I read that they lost the plans to the Atlas V while housecleaning over at NASA...
Saturn V, I meant.
Lost the Saturn V plans? Destroyed them more likely to meet someone's political agenda. NASA has lots of good staff, but has fallen victim to Pournelle's Iron Rule of Bureaucracies - the main job is continuing the organization, not actually achieving anything worthwhile. It's time to use prizes to achieve space goals. $10 billion ot the first organization to put 10 people on the moon for a year would be a good start.
Other questions that I've read on Jerry Pournelle's site include "why do we send up 40 something PhD's to assemble a space station instead of a bunch of 20 something riggers?"
"What's wrong with disposable rockets to put men and material in space?"
etc.
Wernher von Braun was a visionary, and his engineers were geniuses.
The analogy used to justify the shuttle and other re-usable craft was that throwing away the rocket is like throwing away your car every time it is used. BAD ANALOGY. 90% of your cars mass is not fuel and oxidizer.
When most of your mass is fuel and oxidizer, it makes perfect sense to throw away what is mostly just tankage and burnt up engines. The turbo-pumps on the shuttle are said to be one of the msot expensive components to rebuild and simply replacing them might be cheaper.
The caked ice from all the cryogenics falling away is something I never noticed. If you've worked around liquified gases (like N2 or He or even O2) you know how fast that stuff builds up.
And I always thought "rocket science" was just a cliche..
I think it is the saddest realization that we likely could not achieve a similar feat in todays environment. What have we done on the scale of manned space flight since then? Could we do it in such a short time? I have my doubts. When was the last time you saw any government project completed on time in recent times. Too many politicians and not enough statesmen. Why do all electronics shipments into this country have to go to Alaska to clear customs. Politics.
I think I agree with Charlie in that the Space Shuttle was probably more complex, but then it had the Mercury and Apollo missions to build on. As a project on its own, Apollo has to be out there as the most incredible thing the human race has done.
Just in case you haven't seen it, I strongly recommend watching the mini-series "From the Earth to the Moon". 12 episodes that chart the history of the Apollo programme and done rather brilliantly I might add, although that is my own opinion!
Lou - thanks for the video - I hadn't seen that one either until now! Mind-blowing. I'm watching it and wondering how the Saturn rocket didn't blow up from its own exhaust. It's staggering to think of what we were capable of 40 years ago and can't do these days. Utterly staggering.
Tom
The Russian moon rocket (wiki N1 rocket) was more powerful and more complex than the Saturn V. The first stage had 30 (!!) engines.
Too bad they didn't make it.
Do a new post on how the oil companies are starting to gouge again.
$100/bbl before you know it, in the worst economy in a century??
For fun, you can build your own version of the Apollo computer in your basement!
http://klabs.org/history/build_agc/
Do a new post on how the oil companies are starting to gouge again.
Two points.
1) Oil companies don't set the price of oil.
2) Most of the world's supply of crude is produced by national governments, not companies.
Every time I see "USA" on the rocket as it takes off, I think "Yeah baby....go USA".
Lou,
Thanks, as always, for the incredibly diverse content you put on your site. I'm glad you brought it back!
Thanks for the post, pretty worthwhile info.
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