Fascinating Story of Apollo 6

[drwayne]

The last test of the full up Saturn 5 was less than totally successful. <img src="/images/icons/wink.gif" /><br /><br />http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apollo_6<br /><br />Remember, the next flight to use the full up Saturn 5 was Apollo 8.<br /><br />Wayne <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p>"1) Give no quarter; 2) Take no prisoners; 3) Sink everything."  Admiral Jackie Fisher</p> </div>

 

[drwayne]

I guess the part I find so fascinating is that the very next flight of the Saturn 5 was one that sent men to lunar orbit.<br /><br />Wayne <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p>"1) Give no quarter; 2) Take no prisoners; 3) Sink everything."  Admiral Jackie Fisher</p> </div>

 

[najab]

As newsartist said, the only question was if to put men on it or not - it didn't matter as far as the first two stages were concerned what the crew were going to do once they were in orbit.<br /><br />Von Braun had confidence in the Rocketdyne guys to sort out the problems, plus remember that the CIA was telling him that the Russians had a massive rocket on the pad.

 

[drwayne]

You are probably right, however some of the issues, like POGO, did show up later with potentially bad results.<br /><br />If one assumes they made orbit, then the most likely worst case scenarios involve TLI going astray. If it doesn't fire again, then you are still in an orbit you can return from. A short fire is probably also something you can deal with....<br /><br />It's just interesting to me that a great success like Apollo 8 rested on such a flight. <br /><br />Wayne <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p>"1) Give no quarter; 2) Take no prisoners; 3) Sink everything."  Admiral Jackie Fisher</p> </div>

 

[rsp1202]

Shows you what can be accomplished with balls the size of Windsor Castle doorknockers + Go Fever.