Saturn C-4
Encyclopedia
The Saturn C-4 was a conceptual American launch vehicle
, originally proposed in 1960 to be used in a Lunar orbit rendezvous
lunar landing.
It would have consisted of three stages; an S-IB-4 first stage, a S-II-4 second stage and a S-IVB
third stage. The first and second stages were essentially four engine variants of the stages that were used on the Saturn V
, while the IVB stage was actually used on both the Saturn V and the Saturn IB
.
Although NASA
eventually used the Lunar orbit rendezvous method to go to the Moon, it decided to use the larger Saturn V which would provide a reserve capacity.
The Saturn C-4 would have been able to lift 99,000 kg (218,000 lb) into Low Earth Orbit
and 32,000 kg (70,000 lb) on a translunar trajectory. It would have been capable of sending the 30,000 kg (67,000 lb) Apollo Command/Service Module
into lunar orbit, but it would not have been able to carry the 15,000 kg (32,000 lb) Lunar Module as well, vindicating NASA's decision to use the Saturn V.
Launch vehicle
In spaceflight, a launch vehicle or carrier rocket is a rocket used to carry a payload from the Earth's surface into outer space. A launch system includes the launch vehicle, the launch pad and other infrastructure....
, originally proposed in 1960 to be used in a Lunar orbit rendezvous
Lunar orbit rendezvous
Lunar orbit rendezvous is a key concept for human landing on the Moon and returning to Earth.In a LOR mission a main spacecraft and a smaller lunar module travel together into lunar orbit. The lunar module then independently descends to the lunar surface. After completion of the mission there, a...
lunar landing.
It would have consisted of three stages; an S-IB-4 first stage, a S-II-4 second stage and a S-IVB
S-IVB
The S-IVB was built by the Douglas Aircraft Company and served as the third stage on the Saturn V and second stage on the Saturn IB. It had one J-2 engine...
third stage. The first and second stages were essentially four engine variants of the stages that were used on the Saturn V
Saturn V
The Saturn V was an American human-rated expendable rocket used by NASA's Apollo and Skylab programs from 1967 until 1973. A multistage liquid-fueled launch vehicle, NASA launched 13 Saturn Vs from the Kennedy Space Center, Florida with no loss of crew or payload...
, while the IVB stage was actually used on both the Saturn V and the Saturn IB
Saturn IB
The Saturn IB was an American launch vehicle commissioned by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration for use in the Apollo program...
.
Although NASA
NASA
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is the agency of the United States government that is responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research...
eventually used the Lunar orbit rendezvous method to go to the Moon, it decided to use the larger Saturn V which would provide a reserve capacity.
The Saturn C-4 would have been able to lift 99,000 kg (218,000 lb) into Low Earth Orbit
Low Earth orbit
A low Earth orbit is generally defined as an orbit within the locus extending from the Earth’s surface up to an altitude of 2,000 km...
and 32,000 kg (70,000 lb) on a translunar trajectory. It would have been capable of sending the 30,000 kg (67,000 lb) Apollo Command/Service Module
Apollo Command/Service Module
The Command/Service Module was one of two spacecraft, along with the Lunar Module, used for the United States Apollo program which landed astronauts on the Moon. It was built for NASA by North American Aviation...
into lunar orbit, but it would not have been able to carry the 15,000 kg (32,000 lb) Lunar Module as well, vindicating NASA's decision to use the Saturn V.