Saturn V Dynamic Test Vehicle - Pre-flight Configurations

Pre-flight Configurations

Before a Saturn V could launch, engineers needed to verify that their design had accounted for everything the rocket would encounter on its journey, from assembly to the launchpad and from Earth to the Moon. To validate the Saturn V design and procedures, they created five pre-flight configurations for testing. These configurations were subjected to tests simulating all aspects of flight preparations and flight itself, and all the tests needed to demonstrate satisfactory results before MSFC would certify the Saturn V to fly.

SA-500D was one of the five pre-flight configurations of the Saturn V. This configuration showed the Saturn V's "bending and vibration characteristics" and verified "the adequacy of guidance and control systems' design." The rocket's 7,610,000 pounds-force (33.9 MN) of thrust would generate vigorous shaking and it was important to see that the rocket would not shake apart or vibrate itself off-course.

Other pre-flight configurations were:

• Battleship Test model, used for initial engine firing and design improvements
• Structural Test model, to certify the structure for loads during launch at the anticipated temperatures, and to assess the stiffness of each stage
• SA-500F, the facilities checkout model, verify launch facilities, train launch crews, and develop test and checkout procedures.
• SA-500T, All Systems Test model, for static firing of engines in the flight configuration

The vehicle designated SA-500D did not include an Apollo spacecraft, but boilerplate parts were used during testing to verify the entire system.