Saturn V Dynamic Test Vehicle (SA-500D) (Huntsville, Alabama)

USA / Alabama / Huntsville / Huntsville, Alabama
 missile on display  Add category
Moved to its current indoor position in 2008, the Saturn V Dynamic Test Vehicle, designated SA-500D, is a prototype Saturn V rocket used by NASA to test the performance of the rocket when vibrated to simulate the shaking which subsequent rockets would experience during launch. SA-500D is the only Saturn V on display that was used for its intended purpose, and the only one to have been assembled prior to museum display.
The place is located in Davidson Center for Space Exploration
Wikipedia article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SA-500D
Nearby cities:
Coordinates:   34°42'38"N   86°39'25"W

Comments

  • Now stored inside a nice climate controlled facility. No longer rusting outside, or providing a home to various wildlife.
  • According to the story I heard while attending Space Camp here in '00, This is one of the last three Saturn V rockets that never flew due to budget cuts. It was going to be scrapped, but Wernher von Braun (and others? can't remember) broke the brakes on the trailers under the rocket, preventing it from being moved, and making it the centerpiece of the collection here. I don't know how much truth is in that story, but I like to think it's true.
  • You'll enjoy the Wikipedia article which has been vastly improved since your comment. The one on display in Huntsville was the dynamic test vehicle - built to shake it and see what parts fell off. They made a few changes to the flight models based on 400 hours of tests. The others on display are cobbled together from various flight parts and S-IC-T (in Florida) which was used to test-fire the F-1 engines in Huntsville.
This article was last modified 11 years ago