S-IC
The Apollo 10 S-IC stage is hoisted in the Vehicle Assembly Building for stacking | |
| Manufacturer | Boeing |
|---|---|
| Country of origin | United States |
| Used on | Saturn V |
| General characteristics | |
| Height | 42 m (138 ft) |
| Diameter | 10 m (33 ft) |
| Gross mass | 2,214 t (4,881,000 lb) |
| Propellant mass | 2,077 t (4,578,000 lb) |
| Empty mass | 137 t (303,000 lb) |
| Launch history | |
| Status | Retired |
| Total launches | 13 |
| Successes (stage only) | 13 |
| First flight | November 9, 1967 (Apollo 4) |
| Last flight | May 14, 1973 (Skylab 1) |
| Engine details | |
| Powered by | 5 × F-1 |
| Maximum thrust | 34,500 kN (7,750,000 lbf) at sea level |
| Specific impulse | 263 s (2.58 km/s) |
| Burn time | 150 seconds |
| Propellant | RP-1/LOX |
The S-IC (pronounced S-one-C) was the first stage of the American Saturn V rocket. The S-IC stage was manufactured by the Boeing Company. Like the first stages of most rockets, more than 90% of the mass at launch was propellant, in this case RP-1 rocket fuel and liquid oxygen (LOX) oxidizer. It was 42 m (138 ft) tall and 10 m (33 ft) in diameter. The stage provided 34,500 kN (7,750,000 lbf) of thrust at sea level to get the rocket through the first 61 km (38 mi) of ascent. The stage had five F-1 engines in a quincunx arrangement. The center engine was fixed in position, while the four outer engines could be hydraulically gimballed to control the rocket.