S-II (July 12)

While the weather may have provided challenges in moving the S-IC stage, the S-IC stage itself did not. This was not so with the S-II, as it caused many headaches in the effort to move it.

The main difference between the two stages is that the S-IC rested on a transporter which was designed to, well, transport it. While the wheels and related equipment were removed from the transporter, the basic framework and all the support points remained.

The S-II, instead, rested on small cradles which were presumably designed to support it for display -- I doubt that any thought had been given during their design to moving the stage.

The Mammoet crew tried to move the stage as it sat on its cradles. This had to be stopped after moving about a foot because the stage wasn't stable enough. At first, they tried to stabilize it by attaching nylon straps and chains to the corners and bracing it that way. Even with this bracing, the stage shook too much.

Finally, they brought in some I-beams and welded them under the S-II's cradles. While this would eventually provide the necessary stability, the welding effort continued until 10:00 or 11:00 pm, too late to try to move the S-II on July 12, the one day on which it did not rain.