Saturn V Instrument Unit (IU)

Saturn V Instrument Unit (IU)

Installation at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center

Chantilly, VA

Smithsonian

National Air and Space Museum

Paul E. CeruzziDivision of Space History

September 10, 2004

The “Other” Apollo Guidance Computer

Instrument Unit: Structural part of Saturn V RocketHoneycomb Aluminum

22’ Diameter3’ high4,500 pounds

Between 3rd Stage and Payload (LTA)

Saturn V and I-B Instrument Units werealmost identical

Launch Vehicle Digital Computer(LVDC) and Data Adapter

IBM Federal Systems Division, Owego Integrated at IBM Huntsville

Hybrid circuits, similar to System/360

Serial logic, 28 bit word length

Triple Redundancy

Core memory: 32,768 words

82 microsec. Cycle time

At IBM Huntsville Facility

In the Vehicle Assembly Building

NASM IU, Number 514(Apollo 17 was Saturn # 512)

Interior, Cleaned & Prepped

Where LVDC and Data Adapter were installed

Gas Bottle, Missing IMU

Flight Control Computer, Analog

Loaded on Truck, Suitland, MD

Waiting for Midnight

To Dulles via Wilson Bridge, I-66, Route 50

Arrival at Dulles (Next to the Enterprise)

The Space Hangar at the Udvar-Hazy Center (opens October 2004)