Apollo Rocket Propulsion Development. - NASA's History Office

209 Pages·2010·5.09 MB·English

R
EMEMBERING THE GIANTS
APOLLO ROCKET PROPULSION DEVELOPMENT
Editors:
Steven C. Fisher
Shamim A. Rahman
John C. Stennis Space Center
The NASA History Series
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
NASA History Division
Office of External Relations
Washington, DC
December 2009
NASA SP-2009-4545
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Remembering the Giants: Apollo Rocket Propulsion Development / editors, Steven C.
Fisher, Shamim A. Rahman.
p. cm. -- (The NASA history series)
Papers from a lecture series held April 25, 2006 at the John C. Stennis Space Center.
Includes bibliographical references.
1. Saturn Project (U.S.)--Congresses. 2. Saturn launch vehicles--Congresses. 3. Project
Apollo (U.S.)--Congresses. 4. Rocketry--Research--United States--History--20th century--
Congresses. I. Fisher, Steven C., 1949- II. Rahman, Shamim A., 1963-
TL781.5.S3R46 2009
629.47’52--dc22
2009054178
Table of Contents
Foreword ...............................................................................................................................7
Acknowledgments .................................................................................................................9
Welcome Remarks
Richard Gilbrech ..........................................................................................................11
Steve Fisher ...................................................................................................................13
Chapter One - Robert Biggs, Rocketdyne - F-1 Saturn V First Stage Engine .......................15
Chapter Two - Paul Coffman, Rocketdyne - J-2 Saturn V 2nd & 3rd Stage Engine .............27
Chapter Three - Gerald R. Pfeifer, Aerojet - Attitude Control Engines ................................39
Chapter Four - Tim Harmon, Rocketdyne - SE-7 & SE-8 Engines .....................................51
Chapter Five - Clay Boyce, Aerojet - AJ10-137 Apollo Service Module Engine ...................59
Chapter Six - Gerard Elverum, TRW - Lunar Descent Engine.............................................73
Chapter Seven - Tim Harmon, Rocketdyne - Lunar Ascent Engine ....................................87
Appendix A - Event Program ...............................................................................................97
Appendix B - Speakers’ Group Photograph .......................................................................101
Appendix C - Robert Biggs’ Presentation Viewgraphs ........................................................103
Appendix D - Paul Coffman’s Presentation Viewgraphs .....................................................113
Appendix E - G. R. “Jerry” Pfeifer’s Presentation Viewgraphs ............................................123
Appendix F - Tim Harmon’s SE-7 & SE-8 Presentation Viewgraphs .................................133
Appendix G - Clay Boyce’s Presentation Viewgraphs .........................................................143
Appendix H - Jerry Elverum’s Presentation Viewgraphs .....................................................151
Appendix I - Tim Harmon’s Lunar Ascent Engine Presentation Viewgraphs ......................171
Appendix J - Event Photos and Highlights ........................................................................179
Further Reading ................................................................................................................191
Glossary ............................................................................................................................193
The NASA History Series ..................................................................................................197
Apollo Rocket Propulsion Development 33

On April 25, 2006, NASA’s John C. Stennis Space Center hosted a series of lectures on Apollo
Propulsion development. This monograph is a transcript of the event, held as part of the cel-
ebration to mark the 40th anniversary of the first rocket engine test conducted at the site then
known as the Mississippi Test Facility. On April 23, 1966, engineers tested a cluster of five J-2
engines that powered the second stage of the Saturn V moon rocket.
This transcript has been edited for readability and clarity. The opinions expressed are solely
those of the individuals presented. The report does not in any way promulgate policies or
state the official opinions of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration or the U.S.
government.
John C. Stennis Space Center
History Office
B-1100
Stennis Space Center, MS 39529
228.688.2646
2006 Event Title “On the Shoulders of Giants,” Apollo Propulsion Development Seminars.
Moderator: Steve Fisher, Rocketdyne
Speakers: Robert Biggs, Paul Coffman, Gerald Pfeifer, Clay Boyce, Gerard Elverum,
and Tim Harmon
Initial Transcription: Michele Beisler, Transcription/Technical Writing: B. Nicole Wells
(Jacobs Technology Facility Operating Services Contract)
Editors: Mr. Steve Fisher, P&W Rocketdyne, and Dr. Shamim Rahman, NASA
Event Coordinator: Rebecca Strecker, NASA
About the Cover –
At left, the Apollo Saturn launch vehicle; middle, a J-2 engine on a static test stand
operating on oxygen and hydrogen; and at right, lunar surface photographed from
approaching spacecraft.
Dr. Shamim Rahman began his professional career at
The Aerospace Corporation in El Segundo, CA, in 1985 as an
aerospace engineer on launch vehicle and spacecraft flight
programs for the Air Force Space and Missile Command. He
later joined the TRW Propulsion Research Center to work on
innovative rocket propulsion devices for civil and military
space applications. Dr. Rahman joined NASA in 1998. At
Stennis Space Center (SSC), Dr. Rahman has provided
technical leadership and oversight on national rocket propulsion test facilities, and over
a variety of research and development test activities for advanced rocket propulsion
development. Dr. Rahman assumed his current position in November, 2007, as the
Deputy Director for the Engineering & Test Directorate at NASA SSC.
Mr. Steve Fisher has spent 37 years at Rocketdyne in
the design, development, testing, and evaluation of liquid
rocket engines, and recently retired as a Technical Fellow
from Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne. He initially joined North
American Aviation of El Segundo to work on the original B-1
Bomber, and later transferred to the original Rocketdyne
Division of the company. During his tenure, he was integrally
involved in the development of the Space Shuttle Main Engine
components at the Coca 1 and Coca 4 test facilities of Rocketdyne, and has further
contributed to a wide variety of propulsion activities including advanced research and
development projects with storable and cryogenic propellants, as well as flight engine
projects such as the RS-68 engine design and development. Mr. Fisher served as a
Boeing Technical Fellow prior to the Rocketdyne division being sold to Pratt & Whitney.
6 Remembering the Giants
Foreword
It gives us great pleasure to provide this historical compendium of what will likely be
remembered as one of the most remarkable achievements in the evolution of rocket propulsion.
This achievement was the simultaneous development, testing, and flight use of a series of first-
ever propulsive devices that delivered Apollo 11 astronauts safely to the surface of the moon
and back to Earth. These devices helped assure three individuals, Armstrong, Aldrin, and
Collins a place in the history of humankind.
From the F-1 booster engine to the lunar module ascent engine of the Apollo vehicle stack –
all built and delivered by the new United States space industrial base – these individual rocket
propulsion development stories provide a glimpse of how technical ingenuity rose to meet the
challenge of the race to the moon.
The development histories and lessons learned about the various engines are told by the
engineers and project managers, and were recorded on DVD so that the lecture series held
at NASA’s John C. Stennis Space Center near Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, could be replayed
again and thus live on. Remarkably, to those who attended, it was apparent that these speakers
recalled their Apollo challenges as if they had happened “just yesterday.” It was clear in their
voices that the engines carried not just the hardware but also the hope of the nation that this
“moon shot” could even be done at all.
Although this monograph comes some years after the actual date of the lectures, and describes
work from decades ago, the lessons will continue to carry space exploration forward. The
story told within is not how one particular engine was built, but rather how ordinary people
persisted and were driven to do extraordinary work. The country owes these resourceful and
dedicated engineers a debt of gratitude for giving us the technical precedents upon which
today’s space programs rest in a continuing story of human exploration.
It would not have been possible without the sanction and enthusiastic support of NASA
Stennis Space Center’s “front office” (center director, deputy director, and associate director),
and the excellent support and facilitation of the local NASA public affairs staff. The 2006
event was officially designated at NASA SSC as “On the Shoulders of Giants”, and in this
monograph is more aptly designated by the title, “Remembering the Giants.”
Shamim A. Rahman, PhD,
NASA Stennis Space Center
Steven C. Fisher,
Technical Fellow, Boeing and
Pratt & Whitney
Retired

Apollo Rocket Propulsion Development 7
8 Remembering the Giants
Acknowledgments
The initial transcription of these seminars was done by Michele Beisler and Shelia Reed, based
upon the excellent videography of Rex Cooksey of CSC who provides Stennis’ media services.

This document then was ably constructed by Nicole Wells of Jacobs Technology in draft form
to be further edited and taken into publishable form by an excellent media services team. This
team included Gene Coleman, Shannon Simpson, Courtney Thomas, and Lacy Thompson.

We wish to recognize Angela Lane and the members of the Media Services Department at the
Stennis Space Center for their assistance with graphics and layouts.

This could not have been published without the full support of the NASA History Office at
Stennis Space Center, and also NASA’s History Division at Headquarters, and in particular
Steve Garber who has steered many such documents.

Special thanks also go to Rebecca Strecker, Paul Foerman and Tessa Quave of the NASA Stennis
Space Center External Affairs Office, who deployed their excellent support team whenever
needed.

Also at NASA Headquarters, thanks go to the professionals in the Communications Support
Services Center (CSSC). Printing specialists Tun Hla and Hanta Ralay managed this critical
final step. CSSC managers Gail Carter-Kane and Cynthia Miller, as well as Michael Crnkovic
and Thomas Powers in the Information Technology and Communications Division, oversaw
this project as a whole and made it possible.

Our gratitude to all for their professional and expert contributions.
Apollo Rocket Propulsion Development 9