a10_v_c_o_AKP (S-68-55034)
“APOLLO 10 ERECTION----The first (S-1C) stage of the Saturn 505 launch vehicle being prepared for erection in the high bay area of the Kennedy Space Center’s Vehicle Assembly Building. Saturn 505 is the launch vehicle for the Apollo 10 mission.”
Okay, so this parking of “non-flight” CSM/SLA stacks - off to the side(s) - of the VAB transfer aisle, over the years, has always been somewhat confusing, to me at least, with regard to identification.
None more so than in this photograph.
I’m thinking M-11 is to the rear. If so, then what the hell is the nearer one? Further confounding matters is that - to me - the length of the foreground SM is truncated. It actually looks like the forward-most circumferential ring/panel(s) has/have been removed, thus also exposing a wider than ‘normal’ sized gap between CM & SM. What was that gap about anyhow???
Talking about SMs, they appeared to come totally sans, partially or fully equipped with RCS quads, evident here. Which configuration went with what CM??? Was there interchangeability? What determined the configuration?
HOLY COW! FANTASTIC:
www.capcomespace.net/dossiers/espace_US/apollo/vaisseaux/...
Credit: The consistently amazing "CAPCOM ESPACE" website
a10_v_c_o_AKP (S-68-55034)
“APOLLO 10 ERECTION----The first (S-1C) stage of the Saturn 505 launch vehicle being prepared for erection in the high bay area of the Kennedy Space Center’s Vehicle Assembly Building. Saturn 505 is the launch vehicle for the Apollo 10 mission.”
Okay, so this parking of “non-flight” CSM/SLA stacks - off to the side(s) - of the VAB transfer aisle, over the years, has always been somewhat confusing, to me at least, with regard to identification.
None more so than in this photograph.
I’m thinking M-11 is to the rear. If so, then what the hell is the nearer one? Further confounding matters is that - to me - the length of the foreground SM is truncated. It actually looks like the forward-most circumferential ring/panel(s) has/have been removed, thus also exposing a wider than ‘normal’ sized gap between CM & SM. What was that gap about anyhow???
Talking about SMs, they appeared to come totally sans, partially or fully equipped with RCS quads, evident here. Which configuration went with what CM??? Was there interchangeability? What determined the configuration?
HOLY COW! FANTASTIC:
www.capcomespace.net/dossiers/espace_US/apollo/vaisseaux/...
Credit: The consistently amazing "CAPCOM ESPACE" website