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The sign accompanying the insulation. It reads


S-II Bulkhead Insulation

Challenge

To lighten the Saturn V's second stage, contractor North American Aviation did away with separate tanks for fuel and oxidizer. Instead, the stage had one tank divided by a common bulkhead — with the liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen stored side by side. The problem: the liquids needed to be kept at vastly different temperatures.

Solution

North American insulated the S-II bulkhead with a fiberglass honeycomb core, sandwiched between aluminum sheets. The sample on display shows a welding technique called a "strip seal join," which was used to connect the pieces of aluminum bonded to the honeycomb.


 
Sign by the S-II Common Bulkhead Insulation at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center.
Time picture taken Sat Aug 27 10:37:36 2011
Location picture taken Saturn V Hall
Davidson Center for Space Exploration
U.S. Space & Rocket Center
Huntsville, AL
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