Insane Engineering: The Saturn F-1 Engine

Jeff Larson

Thanks Fran. I loved this video as I am a big fan of the Apollo program. Your video had some details that I had not run across before. I like how you illustrated the drawings with the highlighted areas. Any details on how helium bubbles where handled in the lox? Did the He just end up going through the engine?

Peter Knazko

It always amazed me that the Saturn 5 launch vehicle never twisted or rolled, as it pushed skyward. The balance of forces that was created to keep the thing so without rotary movement and to not just veer off in any direction is truly impressive. I love how ethylene glycol -- i.e.: car antifreeze -- was used as the buffer to keep the initial launch cycle from jarring the rest of the rocket into smithereens. Great stuff, thanks Fran!

Same here, but only remember bland schematics/infographics in many publications at the time. Exhaust nozlle --->

Excellent stuff, Fran. I sometimes wondered about this black flame, but attribtuted it to some photographic limitation, some 'solarization' effect or similar, due to the very high temp. Now I should believe in my own observations: it IS black :)

Bill Rule

That was really fascinating! Thanks Fran.

Good stuff Fran! The most digestible and engaging overview of the F1 that I've seen. I still remember the excitement and majesty of the Apollo 11 launch despite only watching it on a small black & white TV in my school kid pyjamas. Many years later I was lucky to be almost overwhelmed by the experience of a live Shuttle launch while at the Cape - thinking if that was impressive, then what must a real Saturn V launch be like! 😁

God of Ramblers

Hi Fran! That was a very enjoyable video. I have been watching the Spacex launches with the merlin engines and following Everyday Astronaut' descriptions of the principles so this is very relevant for me. I also saw an article about the Evolution engines that are metal 3d printed where they mentioned the injection manifold of the F1. Thanks for a very compelling and informative addition to the new age of rocketry.

Once again I'm amazed by the ability of the engineers at that time to create such a massive engine. Thank you Fran, this was information I as a 10 year old at that time would have spent hours pouring over.

lohphat

OK, last try at posting this comment via Patreon's sucky UI: Here is the video about rocket engine nozzles where Scott Manley talks about exhaust gas pressure vs ambient air pressure: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l5l3CHWoHSI The jet of gasses is moving at high velocity but it's the ambient air pressure which really shapes the gas stream.

Very interesting Fran. Thanks.

I enjoyed that. you featured some details and procedures that i hadn't seen before. cheers

Mixmad

This is information that I'd never been exposed to in the past (and I was around when the F-1 was being used, and always curious about details just like these). Thanks for a beautiful explanation and covering what I agree are some of the most fascinating aspects of the F-1! Fran, you're always "only the best"!

David Peaker

I have read a lot about the design and development of the Saturn 5, but much of this was new to me and fascinating. Thank you, Fran.

William Alsing

Serious power.