Engineering Course for Saturn S-II Stage Systems

The Saturn V rocket was developed and manufactured under the supervision of Marshall Space Flight Center. The rocket was assembled and launched from the Kennedy Space Center. KSC also controlled and monitored the flight until the Saturn "cleared the tower" (the first 9 to 13 seconds of flight, depending upon the mission and the source of information), after which responsibility for the flight was transferred to the Manned Spacecraft Center (today known as the Johnson Space Center).

As one might guess by the center's name, the folks at the MSC were more familiar with the manned spacecraft being launched than the rocket on which it was launched. To help familiarize the appropriate personnel for their duties of monitoring the flight of the Saturn V's second stage, North American Rockwell, the manufacturer of the S-II stage, prepared an engineering course to familiarize MSC with the operation of the S-II and the S-II-related equipment installed at MSC for this purpose.

I recently acquired the first three volumes from this engineering course (although the documents do warn that they are "to be used only in conjunction with the classroom presentation," so please don't use these documents to launch your own S-II).

Proceed to download links.

Volume 1: Introduction contains a general description of the S-II stage, the various phases of the S-II's flight, and an overview of the S-II stage displays at the MSC. It also contains information about the course which was to have been presented.

Here are a few of the highlights from Volume 1:

Cover of Engineering Course for Saturn S-II Stage Systems for NASA, Volume 1: Introduction (SD 68-654-1)

S-II stage description diagram from Engineering Course for Saturn S-II Stage Systems for NASA, Volume 1: Introduction (SD 68-654-1)

Volume 2: S-II Stage Propulsion and Mechanical Systems is a much beefier document, detailing the engine, ullage motor, propellant management, flight control, propellant recirculation, and pressurization systems. It also contains various charts documenting the performance of the S-II stage on AS-501 (the Apollo 4 flight). Published some seven months after AS-502 (Apollo 6), the document is oddly devoid of AS-502 performance data.

Here are a few of the highlights from Volume 2:

Cover of Engineering Course for Saturn S-II Stage Systems for NASA, Volume 1: S-II Stage Propulsion and Mechanical Systems (SD 68-654-2)

J-2 engine system arrangement from Engineering Course for Saturn S-II Stage Systems for NASA, Volume 2: S-II Stage Propulsion and Mechanical Systems (SD 68-654-2)

J-2 engine component location from Engineering Course for Saturn S-II Stage Systems for NASA, Volume 2: S-II Stage Propulsion and Mechanical Systems (SD 68-654-2)

J-2 engine schematic from Engineering Course for Saturn S-II Stage Systems for NASA, Volume 2: S-II Stage Propulsion and Mechanical Systems (SD 68-654-2)

S-II ullage motor system block diagram and location from Engineering Course for Saturn S-II Stage Systems for NASA, Volume 2: S-II Stage Propulsion and Mechanical Systems (SD 68-654-2)

S-ii ullage motor cut-away diagram from Engineering Course for Saturn S-II Stage Systems for NASA, Volume 2: S-II Stage Propulsion and Mechanical Systems (SD 68-654-2)

S-II propellant management system schematic from Engineering Course for Saturn S-II Stage Systems for NASA, Volume 2: S-II Stage Propulsion and Mechanical Systems (SD 68-654-2)

Saturn V/S-II flight control block diagram from Engineering Course for Saturn S-II Stage Systems for NASA, Volume 2: S-II Stage Propulsion and Mechanical Systems (SD 68-654-2)

S-II J-2 engine actuation system block diagram from Engineering Course for Saturn S-II Stage Systems for NASA, Volume 2: S-II Stage Propulsion and Mechanical Systems (SD 68-654-2)

Typical S-II J-2 engine actuation system installation from Engineering Course for Saturn S-II Stage Systems for NASA, Volume 2: S-II Stage Propulsion and Mechanical Systems (SD 68-654-2)

S-II LOX recirculation and helium injection systems from Engineering Course for Saturn S-II Stage Systems for NASA, Volume 2: S-II Stage Propulsion and Mechanical Systems (SD 68-654-2)

S-II LOX recirculation return lines from Engineering Course for Saturn S-II Stage Systems for NASA, Volume 2: S-II Stage Propulsion and Mechanical Systems (SD 68-654-2)

S-II helium injection section from Engineering Course for Saturn S-II Stage Systems for NASA, Volume 2: S-II Stage Propulsion and Mechanical Systems (SD 68-654-2)

S-II helium injection section installation details from Engineering Course for Saturn S-II Stage Systems for NASA, Volume 2: S-II Stage Propulsion and Mechanical Systems (SD 68-654-2)

S-II LH2 liquid hydrogen recirculation prevalve bypass and return lines from Engineering Course for Saturn S-II Stage Systems for NASA, Volume 2: S-II Stage Propulsion and Mechanical Systems (SD 68-654-2)

S-II J-2 valve actuation system from Engineering Course for Saturn S-II Stage Systems for NASA, Volume 2: S-II Stage Propulsion and Mechanical Systems (SD 68-654-2)

S-II LOX Tank and Aft Section Configuration from Engineering Course for Saturn S-II Stage Systems for NASA, Volume 2: S-II Stage Propulsion and Mechanical Systems (SD 68-654-2)

S-II LH2 liquid hydrogen tank forward bulkhead showing sections of pressurizing sections of Engineering Course for Saturn S-II Stage Systems for NASA, Volume 2: S-II Stage Propulsion and Mechanical Systems (SD 68-654-2)

Download Links

I've scanned the first two volumes of this set (I intend to scan the third volume in the near future):

Engineering Course for Saturn S-II Stage Systems for NASA, Volume 1: Introduction (SD 68-654-1). I've prepared two PDFs for this volume:
- A web-resolution PDF for the casual visitor; 1.5 megabytes. View now.
- A version with 600 dpi graphics for those of you who may wish to print your own copy; 7.3 megabytes. Download now.
Engineering Course for Saturn S-II Stage Systems for NASA, Volume 2: S-II Stage Propulsion and Mechanical Systems (SD 68-654-2). I've prepared three PDFs for this volume:
- A web-resolution PDF for the casual visitor; 17.2 megabytes. View now.
- A higher-resolution version for serious study; 41.7 megabytes. Download now.
- A version with 600 dpi graphics for those of you who may wish to print your own copy; 92.8 megabytes. Download now.