dsc00229.jpg

View of the stage's intertank structure.

Picture 2 of 3.

Note that the stripes of black paint on the fuel tank extend onto the intertank structure and that there is a band of black paint at the forward end of the intertank. Only early, testing S-IC stages had black paint on the intertank, as testing determined that flight stages would require all-white intertanks for thermal control. While the first two flight stages did have this black paint when delivered to the Vehicle Assembly Building, the black was painted over with white during the stage's stay in the VAB, although it was still visible nonetheless.