Saturn V-B

Studied in 1968 by Marshall Space Flight Center, the Saturn V-B was considered an interesting vehicle concept because it nearly represents a single-stage to orbit booster, but is actually a stage and a half booster just like the Atlas.[1]: 1102  The booster would achieve liftoff via five regular F-1 engines; four of the five engines on the Saturn V-B would be jettisoned and could be fully recoverable, with the sustainer stage on the rocket continuing the flight into orbit. The rocket could have had a good launch capability similar to that of the Space Shuttle if it was constructed, but it never flew.

Saturn V-B
FunctionCrewed/uncrewed LEO and Lunar launch vehicle
Country of originUnited States
Size
Height50 m (164 ft)
Diameter10 m (33 ft)
Mass2,313,320 kg (5,099,990 lb)
Stages1.5
Capacity
Payload to LEO
Mass22,600 kg (49,800 lb)
Launch history
StatusConcept/study
Launch sitesUnknown
Total launches0
Booster stage – S-ID
Powered by5 Rocketdyne F-1
Maximum thrust30,962.50 kN (6,960,647 lbf)
Burn time154 s
PropellantRP-1/LOX
First stage – S-ID Sustainer
Powered by1 Rocketdyne F-1
Maximum thrust7,740.30 kN (1,740,089 lbf)
Burn time315 s
PropellantRP-1/LOX

Concept

With use of the Saturn V vehicle during Apollo, NASA began considering plans for a hypothesized evolutionary Saturn V family concept that spans the earth orbital payload spectrum from 50,000 to over 500,000 lbs. The "B" derivative of the Saturn V was a stage and one- half version of the then current S-IC stage and would become the first stage in an effective and economical assembly of upper stages of the evolutionary Saturn family.

The booster would achieve liftoff via five regular F-1 engines; four of the five engines on the Saturn V-B would be jettisoned and could be fully recoverable, with the sustainer stage on the rocket continuing the flight into orbit.[1] The vehicle would be capable of a LEO payload of 50,000 lb with a standard S-IC stage length of 138 f. Increases in the length of the stage could significantly increase this capability.[1]: 1103 

See also

References
  1. Scott and, Ronald D.; Corcoran, William L. (1968). "Saturn V Derivatives". SAE Transactions. SAE International. 77: 1099–1112. JSTOR 44565202. Retrieved January 7, 2023.

Further reading


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