The first pic is of the second stage structures.



Second pic is of an interesting design for a C-3 alternative vehicle consisting of a first stage with a cluster of 7 SRMs topped by a second stage with 6 J-2 engines. It would make an interesting model. Note the stage/service module under the CM with it's cluster of LR-115 (RL-10) engines.



Third pic is the Saturn C-4, consisting of a 30 foot diameter first stage with 4 peripherally mounted F-1 engine, a second stage powered by 4 J-2 engines, and a 19 foot diameter single J-2 powered third stage for cargo missions, or a 14 foot diameter J-2 powered stage for the Apollo spacecraft...



The fourth pic is the NOVA C-8 concept... it would have a 48 foot diameter first stage powered by 8 peripherally mounted F-1 engines, a 34 foot diameter second stage powered by an 8 engine cluster of J-2's, and a 26 foot diameter third stage powered by a pair of J-2's. Vehicle height is shown to be 363 feet tall, which is exactly what Saturn V ended up being in lunar configuration!



The fifth pic is another C-8 Nova configuration that was studied (probably later since I don't think this pic came from the same study, but it was in the folder with it...) The second stage uses the familiar 396 inch diameter of the Saturn V's second stage (obviously S-II derived) with a cluster of 8 J-2's (which was also proposed in some Saturn V improvement studies as well along with 6 J-2 clusters) and the third stage shares the common 260 inch diameter of the S-IVB stage, though it's obviously stretched to hold propellant for a pair of J-2 engines. This would be a MUCH more likely NOVA candidate, due to the commonalities with stage sizes used on Saturn V... (tank stretches are relatively easy, but changing diameters requires all new tooling and handling fixtures, essentially a whole new stage!)



Later! OL JR

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