It had been a while since our last launch but this was a great day weather-wise. Rather hot, muggy, but hardly a breeze. It was our first launch since our rocketry friend Roy Green died, so I’m dedicating this launch to him.
This was Roy Green’s Saturn 1B. Kevin restored it to flying condition for the launch. The Saturn 1B was an American expendable launch vehicle used in the Apollo program during the 1960s and early 1970s. It was designed as a smaller and less powerful version of the Saturn V, primarily used for Earth orbit missions. Standing at approximately 224 feet tall, the Saturn 1B had a two-stage configuration and was capable of delivering payloads weighing up to 46,000 pounds into low Earth orbit.
The Saturn 1B was used for the Skylab missions. Skylab served as a platform for scientific research and experimentation in microgravity. It hosted three manned missions, during which astronauts conducted various experiments in areas such as solar physics, Earth observation, biomedical research, and materials science. Skylab’s contributions to space science and human spaceflight laid the foundation for future space station endeavors, such as the International Space Station (ISS).
The Skylab 4/Saturn 1B space vehicle launched from Pad B, Launch Complex 39, Kennedy Space Center, Florida, at 9:01:23 a.m. EST, Friday, Nov. 16, 1973. Skylab 4 was the third and last of three scheduled manned Skylab missions. Aboard the Skylab 4 Command/Service Module were astronauts Gerald P. Carr, Edward G. Gibson, and William R. Pogue. In addition to the CSM and its launch escape system, the Skylab 4 space vehicle consisted of the Saturn 1B first (S-1B) stage and the Saturn 1B second (S-IVB) stage.
Ultimately, Skylab reentered Earth’s atmosphere and disintegrated on July 11, 1979, over the Indian Ocean.
It played a crucial role in the Apollo program, launching the unmanned Apollo 5 and Apollo 7 missions, as well as the manned Apollo 7, Apollo 9, and Apollo 10 missions. The Saturn 1B’s successful performance paved the way for the larger Saturn V and the historic Apollo 11 lunar landing. Overall, Saturn 1B played a vital role in advancing human space exploration and remains an important milestone in spaceflight history. These flights here, by Kevin, were on E18-4s.
This is Kevin’s beautiful Boyce Aerospace Nike Hercules. The Nike Hercules was a surface-to-air missile (SAM) system developed by the United States during the Cold War era. It was an upgraded version of its predecessor, the Nike Ajax, and was primarily designed for defense against enemy aircraft and ballistic missiles. Developed by the U.S. Army, the Nike Hercules had an increased range, improved radar capabilities, and a more potent warhead compared to the Nike Ajax. The missile itself was a two-stage solid-fueled rocket that could reach speeds of Mach 3.5. It had a range of up to 90 miles and could reach altitudes of around 150,000 feet. The Nike Hercules system consisted of missile launch sites, radar tracking systems, and command centers to coordinate the defense network. It utilized radar-guided missiles that could be remotely controlled or programmed to intercept incoming targets. The Nike Hercules was widely deployed across the United States and in various NATO countries during the Cold War. It played a significant role in the defense strategy against potential air attacks or missile threats.
However, with advancements in technology and the development of more sophisticated SAM systems, the Nike Hercules eventually became obsolete and was phased out of service by the late 1980s.
Despite its retirement from active duty, the Nike Hercules remains an important part of military history, representing a significant milestone in the development of surface-to-air missile systems during the Cold War. Kevin’s Nike Hercules is flying on a cluster of 4, Estes D12-3 motors.
Kevin’s tribute to Roy Green is this beautiful ‘Der Roy Green’ rocket. I met Roy Green at the third Southern Area Rocketry (SoAR) launch, the first for us both. Roy told me he had previously been in a defunct Atlanta rocketry club called GAMMA. We both joined at that launch. He was SoAR #005, and I am SoAR #006. Roy was always active in the club and administered their website for many years.
Roy was very knowledgeable in model rocketry and traveled to several National Association of Rocketry (NAR) events. Besides launches, you could also easily find him on the web in all the rocketry-related groups. I came across his posts on many occasions. Roy was a nice guy and we will all miss him very much.
Vern Estes and Roy Green posing with their Estes Alpha rockets.
Awesome job Doyle!