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Saturn A-1
FunctionUncrewed launch vehicle
ManufacturerVon Braun
Country of originUnited States
Size
Height49.62 m (162.29 ft)
Diameter6.52 m (21.39 ft)
Mass524,484 kg
Stages3 (all used on various vehicles, now retired)
Launch history
StatusNever flown
Launch sitesN/A
First stage - S-I
Engines8 H-1
Thrust7,582 kN
Burn time150 seconds
Propellant RP-1/ LOX
Second stage Titan I
Engines2 LR-87-3
Thrust1,467 kN
Burn time138 seconds
PropellantRP-1/LOX
Third stage - Centaur C
Engines2 RL-10A-1
Thrust133 kN
Burn time430 seconds
Propellant LH2 / LOX

Saturn A-1, studied in 1959, was projected to be the first version of Saturn I and was to be used if necessary before the S-IV liquid hydrogen second stage became available. The first stage, proposed for the Juno V rocket, but finally used for the first Saturn rocket, would propel the Saturn A-1 into space, with the first stage of a Titan I [1]: 3–6  missile continuing the flight and finally, a Centaur [1]: 3–6  C high-energy double-engine third stage could perform a small burn to send a payload into its final orbit, or it can perform a big burn to take a payload out of Earth orbit to other planets. This rocket never flew, but all stages of the Saturn A-1 were used on different launch vehicles. Today, they are all retired.

References

  1. ^ a b Lunar Exploration with Saturn-Boosted Systems (PDF) (Technical report). Army Ballistic Missile Agency. October 1, 1959. Archived (PDF) from the original on May 31, 2023. Retrieved May 31, 2023.