F-1 Engine Injector

One of the more interesting artifacts in the exhibit is an F-1 rocket engine injector, recovered from the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean. This injector was part of Apollo 11's Saturn V.

Although I'd seen injectors before, and even viewed the recovered injectors, when one is used to seeing photos that were taken from at least 10 or 18 feet away from the injector (depending on whether there was a nozzle extension mounted on the engine), one can't be help but be impressed with just how physically massive the injector actually is.

The injector was displayed with a fence around it, with the injector sufficiently far removed so as to prevent the public from reaching over and touching it. There were four objects, placed 90 degrees apart, on the floor around the injector. I asked the security guard if she knew what they were, and she sort of rolled her eyes and said that they were motion detectors. "I mean, the injector weighs 1,200 pounds. How is anyone going to steal that?!"

This was actually the third time I got to see this injector: I saw it in 2013, when it was undergoing conservation at SpaceWorks, and again at SpaceWorks in 2016, after conservation was complete and the injector was awaiting shipment to the Smithsonian.

For additional information, see my F-1 rocket engine injector page.