Saturn II

Saturn II
Saturn II proposals: INT-17, INT-18, INT-19.
FunctionOrbital launch vehicle
ManufacturerNorth American (S-II)
Douglas (S-IVB)
Country of originUnited States
Size
Height167 feet (51 m)
Diameter33 feet (10 m)
Mass1,112,000 to 4,178,200 pounds (504,400 to 1,895,200 kg)
Stages2
Capacity
Payload to LEO (100 nmi (185 km), 28° inclination)
Mass47,000 to 146,400 pounds (21,300 to 66,400 kg)
Associated rockets
FamilySaturn
Derivative work
  • INT-17
  • INT-18
  • INT-19
Launch history
StatusStudy 1966
Launch sitesKennedy Space Center Launch Complex 39,
Total launches0
Boosters (INT-18) – UA1207
No. boosters2 or 4
Powered by1
Maximum thrust1,600,000 lbf (7,100 kN) SL
Total thrust3,200,000 lbf (14,000 kN) or 6,400,000 lbf (28,000 kN) SL
Specific impulse272 seconds SL
Burn time120 seconds
PropellantAPCP
First stage (INT-17) – S-II–INT-17
Height81.49 feet (24.84 m)
Diameter33.0 feet (10.1 m)
Empty mass105,000 pounds (48,000 kg)[note 1]
Gross mass1,091,000 pounds (495,000 kg)[note 1]
Powered by7 HG-3-SL
Maximum thrust1,334,000 lbf (5,930 kN) SL
Specific impulse
  • 275 seconds (2.70 km/s) SL
  • 450 seconds (4.4 km/s) vac
Burn time200 seconds
PropellantLH2 / LOX
First stage (INT-18) – S-II
Height81.49 feet (24.84 m)
Diameter33.0 feet (10.1 m)
Empty mass86,090 pounds (39,050 kg)[note 1]
Gross mass1,082,000 pounds (491,000 kg)[note 1]
Powered by5 Rocketdyne J-2
Maximum thrust
  • 551,700 lbf (2,454 kN) SL
  • 1,161,300 lbf (5,166 kN) vac
Specific impulse
  • 200 seconds (2.0 km/s) SL
  • 421 seconds (4.13 km/s) vac
Burn time390 seconds
PropellantLH2 / LOX
Second stage – S-IVB-200
Height58.3 feet (17.8 m)
Diameter21.68 feet (6.61 m)
Empty mass28,400 pounds (12,900 kg)[note 2]
Gross mass261,900 pounds (118,800 kg)[note 2]
Powered by1 Rocketdyne J-2
Maximum thrust231,900 lbf (1,032 kN) vac
Specific impulse421 seconds (4.13 km/s) vac
Burn time475 seconds
PropellantLH2 / LOX

The Saturn II was a series of American expendable launch vehicles, studied by North American Aviation under a NASA contract in 1966, derived from the Saturn V rocket used for the Apollo lunar program.[1] The intent of the study was to eliminate production of the Saturn IB, and create a lower-cost heavy launch vehicle based on Saturn V hardware. North American studied three versions with the S-IC first stage removed: the INT-17, a two-stage vehicle with a low Earth orbit payload capability of 47,000 pounds (21,000 kg); the INT-18, which added Titan UA1204 or UA1207 strap-on solid rocket boosters, with payloads ranging from 47,000 pounds (21,000 kg) to 146,400 pounds (66,400 kg); and the INT-19, using solid boosters derived from the Minuteman missile first stage.

For this study, the Boeing company also investigated configurations designated INT-20 and INT-21 which employed its S-IC first stage, and eliminated either North American's S-II second stage, or the Douglas S-IVB third stage. Budget constraints led to cancellation of the study and exclusive use of the Space Shuttle for orbital payloads.


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  1. ^ Final Report - Studies of Improved Saturn V Vehicles and Intermediate Payload Vehicles (P-115) (PDF). Boeing Space Division. October 1966. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2006-06-14.