APOLLO MISSION CONTROL PHOTO PLUS

The Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) inherited the Army’s Jupiter and Redstone test stands, but much larger facilities were needed for the giant stages of the Saturn V. From 1960 to 1964, the existing stands were remodelled and a sizable new test area was developed.

The new comprehensive test complex for propulsion and structural dynamics was unique within the nation and the free world, and they remain so today because they were constructed with foresight to meet the future as well as on going needs.

Construction of the S-IC Static test stand complex began in 1961 in the west test area of MSFC, and was completed in 1964. The S-IC static test stand was designed to develop and test the 138-ft long and 33-ft diameter Saturn V S-IC first stage weighing in at 280,000 pounds. Required to hold down the brute force of a 7,500,000-pound thrust produced by 5 F-1 engines, the S-IC static test stand was designed and constructed with the strength of hundreds of tons of steel and 12,000,000 pounds of cement, planted down to bedrock 40 feet below ground level. The foundation walls, constructed with concrete and steel, are 4 feet thick.

The base structure consists of four towers with 40-foot-thick walls extending upward 144 feet above ground level. The structure was topped by a crane with a 135-foot boom. With the boom in the upright position, the stand was given an overall height of 405 feet, placing it among the highest structures in Alabama at the time.

In addition to the stand itself, related facilities were constructed during this time. Built directly east of the test stand was the Block House, which served as the control center for the test stand. The two were connected by a narrow access tunnel which housed the cables for the controls. Again to the east, just south of the Block House, was a newly constructed Pump House. Its function was to provide water to the stand to prevent melting damage during testing. The water was sprayed through small holes in the stand’s 1900 ton water deflector at the rate of 320,000 gallons per minute.

Construction of the S-IC test stand came to a halt at the end of September 1961 as the determination was made that the Saturn booster size had to be increased. As a result, the stand had to be modified. With construction about to resume, portable, floating pump stations were placed in the site to drain the flood waters caused by a disturbed natural spring months prior during initial excavation.

£8.95

MSFC's West Areas S-IC Test Stand

10 x 8 B/W Glossy NASA Photograph

NASA No. MSFC 3-25157

1962

A fine view of the S-IC Test Stand mock up at Marshall Space Flight Center. The original stand could only test one booster at a time until it was renovated so two could be tested. One on each side. The actual Test Stands construction started in 1961 and completed in 1964 and was named as the West Area S-IC Test Stand Complex.

This fine vintage glossy NASA photograph is in very good condition.

£2.95

Ground Breaking For S-IC Test Stand

10 x 8 B/W Glossy NASA Photograph

13 July 1961

Now know as the West Area, ground is being cleared to begin construction of the new S-IC Test Stand.

This fine vintage NASA glossy photo is in poor condition.

£5.95

S-IC Test Stand Foundation Construction

10 x 8 B/W Glossy NASA Photograph

NASA No. MSFC-0600512

22 September 1961

This photo, taken September 22, 1961, shows the progress of the concrete walls for the stand’s foundation. Some of the walls have been poured and some of the concrete forms have been removed. Under these concrete wall, pilings were driven some 40 feet underground. Over 12,000,000 pounds of cement will be used before construction is completed along with hundreds of tons of steel that make up the inner structure.

This fine vintage NASA glossy photo is in very good condition.

£5.95

S-IC Test Stand Construction Delayed

10 x 8 B/W Glossy NASA Photograph

NASA No. MSFC-0600517

1 December 1961

Construction of the S-IC test stand came to a halt at the end of September 1961 as the determination was made that the Saturn booster size had to be increased. As a result, the stand had to be modified. With construction delayed, and pumps turned off, this photo, taken December 1, 1961, shows the abandoned site with floods at the 6 ft mark. The flooding was caused by the disturbance of a natural spring months prior during the excavation of the site.

This fine vintage NASA glossy photo is in very good condition.

£5.95

S-IC Test Stand Construction Site Flooded

10 x 8 B/W Glossy NASA Photograph

NASA No. MSFC-0600530

23 January 1962

Construction of the S-IC test stand came to a halt at the end of September 1961 as the determination was made that the Saturn booster size had to be increased. As a result, the stand had to be modified. With construction delayed, and pumps turned off, this photo, taken January 23, 1962, shows the abandoned flooded site. The flooding was caused by the disturbance of a natural spring months prior during the excavation of the site.

This fine vintage NASA glossy photo is in very good condition.

£5.95

Tunnel Between Block House and Test Stand

10 x 8 B/W Glossy NASA Photograph

17 August 1962

NASA No. MSFC-0600551

This construction photo taken August 17, 1962 depicts a view of the Block House seen from the test stand site. The tunnel opening is visible in the forefront center of the photo. The Block House and S-IC Test Stand are connected by this narrow access tunnel which also housed all the cables for the controls of the test stand.

This fine vintage NASA glossy photo is in very good condition.

£5.95

Excavation For F-1 Stand Begins

10 x 8 B/W Glossy NASA Photograph

NASA No. MSFC-0600558

26 October 1962

Like the S-IC stand, the foundation of the F-1 stand is keyed into the bedrock approximately 40 feet below grade. This photo, taken October 26, 1962, depicts the excavation process of the single engine F-1 stand.

This fine vintage NASA glossy photo is in very good condition.

£5.95

First Of The 4 Towers Steel Structure

10 x 8 B/W Glossy NASA Photograph

1963

The base structure of the S-IC Test Stand consists of four towers with 4-foot-thick walls extending upward 144 feet above ground level. Here is the steel inner structure for the first of the 4 towers as it is being dropped in place by the huge crane.

This very fine 1970's reissued NASA glossy photo is in near mint condition.

£5.95

West Area's S-IC Test Stand Complex

Aerial View #1

10 x 8 B/W Glossy NASA Photograph

1963

A fine overall aerial view of the S-IC Test Stand Complex during construction.

This very fine 1970's reissued NASA glossy photo is in near mint condition.

£5.95

West Area's S-IC Test Stand Complex

Aerial View #2

10 x 8 B/W Glossy NASA Photograph

1963

A fine overall aerial view of the S-IC Test Stand Complex during construction.

This very fine 1970's reissued NASA glossy photo is in near mint condition.

£5.95

West Area's S-IC Test Stand Complex

Aerial View #3

10 x 8 B/W Glossy NASA Photograph

1963

A fine overall aerial view of the S-IC Test Stand Complex during construction.

This very fine 1970's reissued NASA glossy photo is in near mint condition.

£5.95

West Area's S-IC Test Stand Complex

Aerial View #4

10 x 8 B/W Glossy NASA Photograph

1963

A fine overall aerial view of the S-IC Test Stand Complex during construction.

This very fine 1970's reissued NASA glossy photo is in near mint condition.

£5.95

West Area's S-IC Test Stand Complex

Aerial View #5

10 x 8 B/W Glossy NASA Photograph

1963

A fine overall aerial view of the S-IC Test Stand Complex during construction.

This very fine 1970's reissued NASA glossy photo is in near mint condition.

£5.95

First Test Firing Of The S-IC Test Stand

10 x 8 B/W Glossy NASA Photograph

1964

This photograph depicts a dramatic view of the first test firing of all five F-1 engines for the Saturn V S-IC stage at the Marshall Space Flight Center. The testing lasted a full duration of 6.5 seconds. It also marked the first test performed in the new S-IC static test stand and the first test using the new control blockhouse. The S-IC stage is the first stage, or booster, of a 364-foot long rocket that ultimately took astronauts to the Moon. When the Saturn V - S-IC first stage was placed upright in the stand , the five F-1 engine nozzles pointed downward on a 1,900 ton, water-cooled deflector. To prevent melting damage, water was sprayed through small holes in the deflector at the rate 320,000 gallons per minute.

This very fine 1970's reissued NASA glossy photo is in near mint condition.

£5.95

East Test Area Static Test

10 x 8 B/W Glossy NASA Photograph

Here is a nice shot of a static test at MSFC's East Test Complex. Sadly I do not have any details of the test firing. Nice to have a view of the East Test Complex to finish off the gallery of the West Area Complex.

This very fine 1970's reissued NASA glossy photo is in near mint condition.

It is much quicker to use your BACK button to return to the To Reach The Moon Gallery.

Let me know what you think !