at took astronauts to the Moon for six successful landing missions between 1969 and 1972 in the Project Apollo program. The first stage of the Saturn V had five F-1s for a total lift-off thrust of 7.5 million pounds. The fully-fueled Saturn V weighed 6.5 million pounds.
The F-1 used RP-1, a type of kerosene, and liquid oxygen as the propellants. The F-1's 2,500-pound turbopump pumped in the propellants at 42,500 gallons per minute. This engine was constructed in 1963 by the Rocketdyne Division of Rockwell International and underwent four start tests, totaling 192.6 seconds.
The engine was donated to the Smithsonian in 1970 by the NASA Marshall Space Flight Center.
Display Status
This object is on display in
Destination Moon
at the
National Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC .
Video
Video
The F-1 Engine and the Conquest of Space
Object Details
Key Accomplishment(s)
World's most powerful single-chamber rocket engine
Brief Description
The F-1 engine was the powerplant for the first stage of the 111-meter (363-foot) tall Saturn V launch vehicle. Saturn V launched Apollo astronauts to the Moon and the Skylab space station. Saturn V's first stage had five F-1's that created more power than 85 Hoover Dams.
Date
1963
Country of Origin
United States of America
Type
PROPULSION-Rocket Engines
Manufacturer
Rocketdyne Division, Rockwell International (CA)
Dimensions
Overall: 18 ft. 4 15/16 in. long x 12 ft. 5/16 in. diameter, 18340 lb. (561.24 x 366.52cm, 8319kg)
Materials
Cooling tubes (178 tubes): Inconel X Injector: stainless steel and copper Propellant lines: aluminum Valves: aluminum and stainless steel
Alternate Name
F-1 Rocket Engine
Inventory Number
A19700271000
Credit Line
Transferred from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Data Source
National Air and Space Museum
Restrictions & Rights
Usage conditions apply For more information, visit the Smithsonian’s Terms of Use .
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# Why did each F-1 engine have dual fuel feedlines?
Tags: propulsion, history, engine-design, design, saturn-v
- Score: 14
- Views: 2141
- Answers: 1
- Answered: yes
- Asked by: Organic Marble (200965 rep)
- Asked: 2021-05-31
- Site: space
## Question
Each F-1 engine had two fuel feedlines connecting it to the fuel tank as shown in these contemporary photographs and drawings.
The corresponding LOX system only had one feedline.
The engine had a single turbopump which pumped both propellants.
Why was the engine and stage designed to utilize dual feedlines for the fuel?
Image sources
F-1 Training Manual
F-1 Engine System Launch Information
## Answers
### Answer by Ludo (score: 17 [ACCEPTED])
This was done for load balancing purposes.
The turbopump arrangement was as follows:
the LOX pump at the top
the fuel pump in the middle
the turbine at the bottom
The fuel was fed from two sides of the pump, and there were also two outlets. In this way, any fluctuation in input or output pressure was balanced, avoiding sideways forces acting on the pump shaft.
LOX was fed from the top directly above the shaft, so input pressure fluctuations did not induce sideways forces. The LOX pump
Everything we examined (2)
This check searched the claim as stated. It did not run a separate search for evidence against it.