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Author
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Topic: Saturn V: Why a roll program?
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Paul78zephyr
Member Posts: 678
From: Hudson, MA
Registered: Jul 2005
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posted 08-07-2007 01:31 PM
  
I understand what the pitch and roll maneuver at launch does but I was wondering why the Saturn V needed to have the roll program? Being that (unlike the shuttle) the Saturn V is essentially symmetrical couldn't they have placed it on the pad such that the roll program was unnecessary? Did the Saturn V roll program put the astronauts themselves in a 'heads down' configuration like they ascend in the shuttle? Anything else about the Saturn pitch and roll program that is not readily apparent? 000:00:14 Conrad: Roger. Clear the tower. I got a pitch and a roll program, and this baby's really going. |
SpaceAholic
Member Posts: 4494
From: Sierra Vista, Arizona
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 08-07-2007 02:23 PM
Initially, to place the vehicle on the proper flight azimuth/attitude, which varied depending on date/time of launch... (later in flight roll control enabled the directional antennas to properly orient to the terrestrial receivers). |
nasamad
Member Posts: 2141
From: Essex, UK
Registered: Jul 2001
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posted 08-07-2007 04:42 PM
Even though the Saturn V looked symmetrical, given the position of the engines there were only four ways of putting the S-IC stage on the pad, at 90 degree increments.Then there is the matter of all the swing arms lining up with the access and service panels on all the stages (including the CSM), so there is really only one way to put the vehicle on the pad. |
SpaceAholic
Member Posts: 4494
From: Sierra Vista, Arizona
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 08-07-2007 04:54 PM
Proper LUT umbilical alignment with the launch vehicle couplers were only supportable with the Saturn V in a single position (i.e. the Saturn could not be rotated in 90 degree offset increments on the Pad and remain interoperable with the LUT). |
Spoon
Member Posts: 148
From: Cumbria, UK
Registered: May 2006
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posted 08-08-2007 06:16 AM
Even though the Saturn V looked symmetrical, it was designed with a kind of "under belly" that the guidance system utilised when rolling the vehicle from pad azimuth to the required flight azimuth. Because the shuttle stack looks the way it does, it makes more sense when she rolls, visually I guess, because the stack "looks" as though it has an underneath to which we can reference the roll to. |
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