Saturn I SA-5 1:110 Scale Model
I was first introduced to the Saturn I rocket, the precursor to the Saturn V, when interning at NASA in Huntsville, Alabama. There I saw two versions of the rocket, an early iteration at the rocket park in the Marshall Space and Flight Center (left) and a later version at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center (right). This inspired me to design my own model of this pivotal rocket.
The Saturn I rocket was NASA’s first medium-scale launch vehicle, serving as a crucial stepping stone toward the Apollo program. The Saturn-Apollo 5 (SA-5) was the fifth flight of the Saturn I rocket, and marked a major milestone by successfully launching a second stage into orbit for the first time, proving the multi-stage concept and laying the groundwork for the powerful Saturn V. President John F. Kennedy believed its 1964 launch (right) to be when the U.S. lift capacity would finally surpass the Soviets. I chose to model this version of the Saturn I both for its significance in the advancement of space flight and its recognizable design.
I designed the model on the CAD software Onshape, using online images, plans, and pictures I took as references. The model consisted of many different parts that could be fitted together upon being 3D printed. The majority of the parts are either black or white, but some small details are red, yellow, or silver.
At 1:110 scale, the 180 foot rocket is reduced to a height of 20 inches. This scale matches the scale of the lego Saturn V rocket, so both can be displayed next to each other. The model was printed on an Ultimaker 3 printer in four main sections. Now I am working on designing all the Saturn 1 launch models, and have finished designing and printing SA-6 and SA-8, which can be seen displayed next to SA-5 on the far right. This image also shows an updated SA-5 design.
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