O2/H2 Burner (Helium Heater)

The O₂H₂ burner, also known as a "helium heater," was used on the Saturn V S-IVB (third) stage on Apollo 8 through Apollo 17 to repressurize the S-IVB's propellant tanks during the parking orbit, just prior to the J-2 engine's trans-lunar injection (TLI) burn.

The S-IVB stage on Johnson Space Center's Saturn V has an O₂H₂ burner installed; the S-IVB stage on Kennedy Space Center's Saturn V also has an O₂H₂ burner installed.

The USSRC's S-IVB stage, however, lacks an O₂H₂ burner as it was not a flight stage, but rather the dynamic test article (S-IVB-D), being used in both the Saturn IB and the Saturn V dynamic test programs. As such, the stage is not quite configured like an S-IVB as would be flown on a Saturn IB or like an S-IVB as would be flown on a Saturn V. With respect to its ambient helium sphere configuration, it is fairly similar to the S-IVB-501 and S-IVB-502 stages (flown on Apollo 4 and Apollo 6), although there are still some differences.

Since its S-IVB is not of a vintage to possess an O₂H₂ burner, the USSRC exhibits one separately, near the S-IVB stage. Additionally, part of the casing of the combustion chamber has been cut away, allowing the visitor to inspect its interior.