Stages to Saturn: A Technological History of the Apollo/Saturn Launch Vehicles Paperback – September 19, 2003

This book is an important history of the development of the greatest machine of all time. I always admired and respected this incredible rocket but now I am even more impressed and have incredible respect for the thousands of people involved in the creation of the Saturn. This book is a bit dry at times, but this is exactly what it intends to be. If you are looking for a light flowing account of the Saturn, this isn't it. If you are seeking to understand exactly what the Saturn was, how it was developed and how it came together to take us to the moon - this is the book for you. Excellent in every way.

This book is the most complete history of the Saturn launch vehicle family available. Author Roger Bilstein wrote this as an official history for NASA in the late 1970s, and it was originally published in 1980. This edition is paperbound and is published by the University Press of Florida. I was tempted to give the book five stars, but ultimately two things lowered it to four. First, the illustrations are quite poor. All are black and white and most are public domain images that are of low quality. Many are taken from much larger sources and compressed so that the legends and details are virtually or completely impossible to discern. There are many better illustrations available, and there is no reason that a modern reprint of this book should have such inferior illustrations, especially when such complex (and difficult to visualize) machinery is being discussed. The second and more minor reason for the loss of a star is due to the extremely annoying use of metric units (newtons, etc.) throughout the book, which was a misdirected Carter administration whim in vogue when this was written. The problem is not with the units themselves, but rather that all the original units the program worked with were English, and after conversion the numbers are extremely cumbersome to digest and work with: as an example I opened the text randomly to page 119 (which deals with F-1 thrust chamber and furnace brazing,) and found this example, which is typical, but not the worst: "the F-1 was designed to burn its propellants at approximately 79000 newtons per square centimeter (1150 pounds per square inch) at the injector face...." Given that virtually all other sources (and all original sources) cite English units, this is a needless complication that should have been revised.Having noted the negatives, this book has a lot of positives: it has extremely detailed history on all the Saturn program iterations, including the often neglected Saturn 1 and 1B models. It also discusses proposed but unflown Saturn derivatives, and of course the mighty Saturn V. The book presents a background on previous programs and key personnel and developmental and design choices and rationale; the discussion of the pros and cons of cryogenic propellants in various applications is especially well written. Following this the different models of Saturn vehicle are detailed to include all stages, engines, systems, and Instrument Units (which were fairly similar throughout the program.)There is enormous effort expended to detail the histories of the various stages and the individual histories of the individual rocket engines built. Several missions are examined in great detail, most notably AS-506, which was, of course, Apollo 11. After the discussion of the technical details of the Saturns, Bilstein presents an excellent examination of the logistics of Apollo and the management techniques used to oversee the design, construction, checkout, and launch of the vehicles. The book concludes with a treasure trove of appendices full of technical and other data, which serious space historians will find of enormous assistance.This is overall a great book, and I recommend it highly to anyone serious about space history. It is not casual reading for most people, but is extremely well detailed, and were it not for the illustration issues (and metric units, to a lesser extent) this book would easily have been awarded five stars.

This was just of the book and I was looking forward to get all the technical and in-depth information about the Saturn Apollo spacecraft. The events, the people, the challenges, the technical aspects, we're all covered in great detail.

A must-read for Project Apollo fans, and a perfect companion piece to "This New Ocean: A History of Project Mercury." Considering that less than 67 years passed between man's first powered flight and his first steps on the Moon, this book appropriately engages rocket science from its modern inception through the beginnings of the shuttle program. It focuses well, however, on development of the Saturn series of boosters and the technical, administrative, and fiscal issues that had to be resolved in order to bring it from notional question to national mission. I hope to find a work on Project Gemini so well researched and presented. References are thorough and often surprising - lots more here than perusing NASA and NARA offerings!

This book provides an incredibly detailed and thorough account of the design and construction of the magnificent Saturn V rocket that allowed humanity to reach for the Moon. Detailed are the Saturn 1, Saturn 1B, and each stage (with its peculiar problems) of the Saturn V. From early rocket designs through the formative decisions that would determine precisely what the mighty Saturn would need to do, this book is your guide to the men and the hardware that made the dream possible. From the mighty F-1 engines and the huge Stage S-1C tanks that fueled them, to the smallest valve, you will learn what made this rocket fly — as well as what didn’t work along the way. The gargantuan challenges of constructing the largest vehicle ever conceived to the precise standards of a Swiss watch are well chronicled. You will not lack for knowledge about this great machine when you finally close the covers on this tome.However, I do have some minor criticisms of this book from which I learned so much. First, the original hardcover edition is apparently significantly larger. Illustrations in this softcover version were sometimes too small to read, and I ended up tracking down more than a few of them online to print out larger for reference as I read along. As thorough as this book is, I did find the section on computer development to be unaccountably brief (my wife is a software engineer, so my view may be slightly slanted). Also, I found the sections on logistics — as necessary as production and transportation schedules indeed were to the Saturn V — to be much less interesting, and they account for a full fifth of the book.For my last and largest complaint, I found the book to be a very dry account of this magnificent endeavor. Only in the very final few pages, as the author sums up the significance of the Saturn V, is any credence given to the awesomeness of what still remains, more than a half century later, mankind’s greatest achievement. The wonder, the splendor, the grandeur of this vehicle are all lost here, and that is an incredible waste. The facts of this book alone can inspire, but they should have been bolstered by awe. They are not.However, this remains a book that I learned a great deal from, and that I heartily recommend to the technically-oriented reader. Provide your own sense of awe, as I did, and you will appreciate the technical monument to science that the Saturn V truly is. For those that decide to skip this book, I suggest the Haynes “NASA Saturn V 1967-1973 (Apollo 4 to Apollo 17 & Skylab) Owners’ Workshop Manual” by David Woods as a much more concise book that nevertheless provides an excellent summary of the Saturn V that is incredibly well-illustrated.And if you enjoy modeling (as many space aficionados do), then I strongly recommend the Famemaster 4D-Vision Saturn V Rocket Model in 1:100 scale. I have seen many structural drawings of the Saturn V, but nothing gave me a true “feel” for the internal workings of this magnificent machine as did constructing this see-through model. For me, the journey and pleasure of building this model far surpassed the actual arrival at the destination of the completed kit. This is truly an awesome display piece.My final word to those that take up and enjoy this challenging volume is to juxtapose it with a reading of “Now It Can Be Told: The Story Of The Manhattan Project” by General Leslie Groves. This latter book is quite similar in nature and tone, but deals with the incredible engineering challenges of working with the subatomic, rather than the gargantuan. It provides a fascinating contrast to the amazing story of the Saturn V.

Tres bonne

Tiefer detaillierter Einblick in die Planung, Entwicklung und Produktion des kompletten Saturn Programms. Und der beteiligten Institutionen. Zu einem enormen Detaillevel. Zu Aspekten von denen man nie wußte, daß sie existieren und man sich dafür interessieren würde.Dabei bleibt es immer gut lesbar. Eine gewisse technische Affinität und Interesse am Thema ist natürlich hilfreich.Die Geschichte von den frühesten Anfängen, startend vor Nasa und MSFC. Diverse Planungen , Teile der Technik und die Zugehörigkeit des Von Braun Teams waren ein Thema schon vor Gründung der Nasa und des MSFC. Frühe Planungen für große Booster wurden von Nasa übernommen.Vom Aufbau der (beeindruckenden) organisatorischen Struktur ums Saturn Programm, Einblicken in NASA, MSFC Strukturen, und allen beteiligten Institutionen und Firmen.Mit vielen Aspekten über die ich z.B. noch nie nachgedacht hatte. Die unglaubliche (Transport) Logistik hinter dem Saturnprogramm ist z.B. ein faszinierendes, komplexes Thema für sich. Allein die praktischen Herausfordeurngen. Und wie Nasa selbst diesen Teil komplett unterschätzt hat und aufholen mußte. Die kuriose Entwickling des "pregnant guppies" ein interessanter Teil davon.Die Entscheidungsfindung, WIE das Programm überhaupt aussehen soll und die Konzepte für die Mondlandung und Denkprozesse und auch Politik dahinter hat ein ausführliches Kapitel.Und natürlich ausgiebigst ein Thema die technische Entwicklung mit ihren endlosen Schwierigkeiten und Herausforderungen. Und zwar in VIEL mehr Detail als jede TV Dokumentation die existiert. Und wie konsequent, mühselig und mit Kooperation und manchmal Druck eine Herausforderung nach der anderen überwunden wurde. Z.B. der berühmten rotierenden Flamme der F1 Engine, ein Problem das erwartet und eingeplant war. Extrem aufwendigen, komplizierten und frustrierend zu entwickelnden Schweißarbeiten für viele der Teile. Riesige Teile die mit bis dato unbekannter Präzision gefertigt werden mußten.Auch das komplexe guidance und computersystem der Saturn Raketen wird beleuchtet. Etwas was in der Diskussion um die anderen Computer gerne untergeht.Praktische, technische Prozesse bei der Herstellung, Transport, sogar Reinigung, inklusive Irrungen und Wirrungen und aufgebenen und umgeworfenen Konzepten werden beleuchtet. Für viele Teile von denen man normalerweise nie was hört oder über die man sich noch nie Gedanken gemacht hat.Die teils riesigen organisatorischen und technischen Problemen und den Lösungen in den beauftragten Firmen. Und Nasa und MSFC verschiedenartigen Bemühungen die zu steuern und zu lösen.Die Geschichte, die Planung und die Logistik rund um die Launch sites und andere Strukturen im Space Center. Triebwerkstestständen in Huntsville, New Orleans, Florida und bei den Firmen.Man realisiert, wie viele Kurven auch die beste TV Doku schneidet. Wieviel mehr Facetten und Dateils hinter diesem atemberaubenden Programm steckten. Diese Buch ist Klasse um einen wirklich umfassenden Einblick zu erhalten, der aber trotzdem immer lesbar und verständlich bleibt.Der Autor erwähnt im Vorwort daß er vielleicht eine etwas voreingenommen positive Haltung zum MSFC hat, und man manche (organisatorische) Dinge auch kritischer interpretieren könnte. Ich finde aber daß es immer sachlich bleibt und Aussagen immer begründet werden. Manche Firmen haben den hohen Grad der Einmischung des MSFC in ihre Arbeit sicher anders bewertet. Objektiv und neutral wäre das aber sicher auch nicht. Ich finde daß die Kontroversen durchaus klar und objektiv beleuchtet werden. Und man hat den Eindruck, für die Sicherheit der Astronauten war Nasas Qualität-Penetranz ein Segen.PS: Nein, das Buch ist nicht voll mit Saturn5 Blueprints bis zu letzten Schraube. Was würde das erzählen über die "Geschichte der Apollo Launch vehikel"? DAS ist, was das Buch verspricht. Und DAS ist, was es tut. Und zwar fantastisch!Etwas dafür kritisieren, daß es etwas nicht ist, was es überhaupt nicht verspricht zu sein? Merkwürdig.PPS: Zur Kindle Edition: Bilder sind drin, Qualität der Fotos ist durchwachsen.Quellennummern sind nicht im Text direkt verlinkt. Aber bei einem sehr umfangreichen (Nischen) Buch zu einem sehr günstigen Preis ist das vermutlich ein bischen zuviel verlangt.PPPS: Es geht hier, mit einigen Ausrutschern nach links und rechts, ums Saturn Programm. Es geht nicht um die Apollo Kapsel, das Service Modul oder den Lander. Außer da wo technische Überschneidungen notwendig sind und im Teil mit den verschiedenen konzeptionellen Ideen zum späteren Apollo Programm.

2019年は月面着陸から50周年を迎えますが、当時、既に現在の視点から見ても驚くような技術が多用されていました。例えば、極低温の液体酸素のタンク内を常時テレビカメラでモニタリングする装置や加速度や角速度の情報や飛行士の心拍数等のバイタルデータを逐一伝送するテレメトリ等がありました。当時はまだ集積回路の規模が小さく、放射線によるエラー対策もありディスクリート部品で構成されていたので小型化には自ずと限界がありました。信頼性を高めるために冗長系を備えていました。

Um ótimo livro para quem se interessa por assuntos de exploração espacial e sobre engenharia.O livro nos leva a uma viagem sobre os desafios enfrentados por técnicos e engenheiros nesse megaprojeto que foi o projeto Saturno.Um livro recheado de dados e informações técnicas sobre o projeto e seus desafios. Recomendo muito.

Another great read for anyone interested in rocketry! The scale of the challenges overcome is awe inspiring. worth reading just for this appreciation.