NSSDCA/COSPAR ID: 1970-029B
The Apollo Saturn V SIVB was the third stage of the Saturn V booster. The SIVB consisted of a truncated cone with a bottom diameter of 10.06 m topped by a long cylinder with a diameter of 6.60 m. Total height was 17.80 m. It contained liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen tanks and a J2 engine. It was launched into Earth orbit attached to the Command, Service, and Lunar Modules (CSM and LM). The SIVB provided the thrust to take the CSM and LM from Earth orbit into a lunar transfer orbit. After achieving trajectory towards the Moon, the LM and CSM decoupled from the SIVB at 23:14 UT on 11 April 1970. The SIVB was left on a course towards the Moon where it impacted at 1:09:40 UT on 15 April at 2.5550 S, 27.8875 (as determined from Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter images, DE 421 mean Earth/polar rotation axis reference frame) at approximately 2.58 km/sec, providing a seismic source for the Apollo 12 ALSEP seismic station.
Launch Date: 1970-04-11
Launch Vehicle: Saturn 5
Launch Site: Cape Canaveral, United States
Mass: 13300 kg
Questions and comments about this spacecraft can be directed to: Dr. David R. Williams
Name | Role | Original Affiliation | |
---|---|---|---|
Dr. Charles W. Mathews | Project Manager | NASA Headquarters |