This is a pretty good book. It does fail to compare and contrast the different stages of the Saturn launch vehicle.
For example, the S-II, the 2nd stage, and the S-IVB, the 3rd stage, use a "common" dome between fuel and oxidizer tanks. The S-I, first stage, did not. Why? The S-II apparently used elliptical domes on both fuel and oxidizer tanks, but it appears that the S-IV and S-I used hemispherical domes. There's advantages and disadvantages to both, but why not set a standard? Titans all used "square-root of 2" elliptical domes, and I believe that the Centaur upper stage did as well.
Anyway, a compare-and-contrast on technical issues would have gone a long way with me.
Comments
This is a pretty good book. It does fail to compare and contrast the different stages of the Saturn launch vehicle.
For example, the S-II, the 2nd stage, and the S-IVB, the 3rd stage, use a "common" dome between fuel and oxidizer tanks. The S-I, first stage, did not. Why? The S-II apparently used elliptical domes on both fuel and oxidizer tanks, but it appears that the S-IV and S-I used hemispherical domes. There's advantages and disadvantages to both, but why not set a standard? Titans all used "square-root of 2" elliptical domes, and I believe that the Centaur upper stage did as well.
Anyway, a compare-and-contrast on technical issues would have gone a long way with me.