Mission History
There was no Instrument Unit for Saturn I Block I boosters (SA-1 to SA-4). Guidance and control equipment was carried in canisters on top of the S-I first stage, and included the ST-90 stabilized platform, made by Ford Instrument Company and used in the Redstone missile.
The IU made its debut with SA-5, the first Saturn I Block II launch. The first version of the IU was 154 inches (3,900 mm) in diameter and 58 inches (1,500 mm) high, and was both designed and built by MSFC. Guidance, telemetry, tracking and power components were contained in four pressurized, cylindrical containers attached like spokes to a central hub.
MSFC flew version 2 of the IU on SA-8, 9 and 10. Version 2 was the same diameter as version 1, but only 34 inches (860 mm) high. Instead of pressurized containers, the components were hung on the inside of the cylindrical wall, achieving a reduction in weight.
The last version, number 3, was 260 inches (6,600 mm) in diameter and 36 inches (910 mm) tall. It was designed by MSFC but manufactured by IBM in their factory at Huntsville, and flew on all Saturn IB and Saturn V launches. This is the version that is on display in Washington, Huntsville, Houston, and the Apollo/Saturn V Center.
| PROGRAM | VEHICLE | MISSION | LAUNCH DATE | PAD | IU VERSION |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saturn I | SA-1 | SA-1 | 27-Oct-61 | 34 | - |
| Saturn I | SA-2 | SA-2 | 25-Apr-62 | 34 | - |
| Saturn I | SA-3 | SA-3 | 16-Nov-62 | 34 | - |
| Saturn I | SA-4 | SA-4 | 28-Mar-63 | 34 | - |
| Saturn I | SA-5 | SA-5 | 29-Jan-64 | 37B | 1 |
| Saturn I | SA-6 | A-101 | 28-May-64 | 37B | 1 |
| Saturn I | SA-7 | A-102 | 18-Sep-64 | 37B | 1 |
| Saturn I | SA-9 | A-103 | 16-Feb-65 | 37B | 2 |
| Saturn I | SA-8 | A-104 | 25-May-65 | 37B | 2 |
| Saturn I | SA-10 | A-105 | 30-Jul-65 | 37B | 2 |
| Saturn IB | SA-201 | AS-201 | 26-Feb-66 | 34 | 3 |
| Saturn IB | SA-203 | AS-203 | 5-Jul-66 | 37B | 3 |
| Saturn IB | SA-202 | AS-202 | 25-Aug-66 | 34 | 3 |
| Saturn V | SA-501 | Apollo 4 | 9-Nov-67 | 39A | 3 |
| Saturn IB | SA-204 | Apollo 5 | 22-Jan-68 | 37B | 3 |
| Saturn V | SA-502 | Apollo 6 | 4-Apr-68 | 39A | 3 |
| Saturn IB | SA-205 | Apollo 7 | 11-Oct-68 | 34 | 3 |
| Saturn V | SA-503 | Apollo 8 | 21-Dec-68 | 39A | 3 |
| Saturn V | SA-504 | Apollo 9 | 3-Mar-69 | 39A | 3 |
| Saturn V | SA-505 | Apollo 10 | 18-May-69 | 39B | 3 |
| Saturn V | SA-506 | Apollo 11 | 16-Jul-69 | 39A | 3 |
| Saturn V | SA-507 | Apollo 12 | 14-Nov-69 | 39A | 3 |
| Saturn V | SA-508 | Apollo 13 | 11-Apr-70 | 39A | 3 |
| Saturn V | SA-509 | Apollo 14 | 31-Jan-71 | 39A | 3 |
| Saturn V | SA-510 | Apollo 15 | 26-Jul-71 | 39A | 3 |
| Saturn V | SA-511 | Apollo 16 | 16-Apr-72 | 39A | 3 |
| Saturn V | SA-512 | Apollo 17 | 7-Dec-72 | 39A | 3 |
| Saturn V | SA-513 | Skylab 1 | 14-May-73 | 39A | 3 |
| Saturn IB | SA-206 | Skylab 2 | 25-May-73 | 39B | 3 |
| Saturn IB | SA-207 | Skylab 3 | 28-Jul-73 | 39B | 3 |
| Saturn IB | SA-208 | Skylab 4 | 16-Nov-73 | 39B | 3 |
| Saturn IB | SA-210 | ASTP | 15-Jul-75 | 39B | 3 |
Read more about this topic: Saturn V Instrument Unit
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