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  Saturn IB rocket fin replacements

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Author Topic:   Saturn IB rocket fin replacements
LM-12
Member

Posts: 3951
From: Ontario, Canada
Registered: Oct 2010

posted 05-22-2024 01:51 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for LM-12     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
All the Saturn IB fin assemblies on the SA-208 (Skylab 4) launch vehicle were replaced because stress corrosion cracks were found after the countdown demonstration test (CDDT). Fins were also replaced on the SA-210 (ASTP) launch vehicle. What about SA-209, the Skylab Rescue vehicle?

This photo of SA-209 shows that some of the numbered fins (I-IIII) are not in their normal locations.

There are eight fin locations on the Saturn IB launch vehicle. This is where the numbered fins seen in the photo seem to be located:

SA-209 Skylab Rescue

  1. I
  2. I (from a different photo)
  3. - (from a different photo)
  4. I
  5. -
  6. -
  7. IIII
  8. IIII

LM-12
Member

Posts: 3951
From: Ontario, Canada
Registered: Oct 2010

posted 05-22-2024 06:49 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for LM-12     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
The SA-206 (Skylab 2) and SA-207 (Skylab 3) launch vehicles probably had their Saturn IB numbered fins in the normal locations, like this:
  1. I
  2. -
  3. II
  4. -
  5. III
  6. -
  7. IIII
  8. -

LM-12
Member

Posts: 3951
From: Ontario, Canada
Registered: Oct 2010

posted 05-23-2024 06:49 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for LM-12     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
The SA-208 (Skylab 4) and SA-210 (ASTP) launch vehicles apparently were similar, based on the locations of numbered fins seen in various photos:

SA-208 Skylab 4

  1. I

  2. II
  3. III
  4. III
  5. -
  6. IIII

SA-210 ASTP

  1. I
  2. IIII
  3. II
  4. III
  5. III
  6. -
  7. IIII
  8. -

LM-12
Member

Posts: 3951
From: Ontario, Canada
Registered: Oct 2010

posted 05-23-2024 08:29 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for LM-12     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Seven of the eight ASTP fins can be seen in these two photos (the fin marked "I" is seen in both photos):

LM-12
Member

Posts: 3951
From: Ontario, Canada
Registered: Oct 2010

posted 05-24-2024 10:30 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for LM-12     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Photo S73-37287 is a great shot of the Skylab 4 launch that shows several of the numbered fins.

LM-12
Member

Posts: 3951
From: Ontario, Canada
Registered: Oct 2010

posted 05-24-2024 02:41 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for LM-12     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Are there any photos with a Skylab 4 launch view from the opposite side?

LM-12
Member

Posts: 3951
From: Ontario, Canada
Registered: Oct 2010

posted 05-28-2024 02:19 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for LM-12     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
The SA-205 (Apollo 7) launch vehicle had the numbered fins in the normal locations. This photo shows a few:

LM-12
Member

Posts: 3951
From: Ontario, Canada
Registered: Oct 2010

posted 05-30-2024 09:27 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for LM-12     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
In the normal locations, Fin 2 is all-black and Fin 8 is all-white. All the other fins are different patterns of black-and-white.

All times are CT (US)

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