The Flickr Saturnc1 Image Generatr

Saturn I/Dyna-Soar wind tunnel model. Posted as accompaniment to my below linked ‘photo’.

At/from:

thehighfrontier.blog/2017/02/27/clusters-last-stand-the-s...

Specifically:

thehighfrontier.blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/img_4114.jpg
Both above credit: Chris B. Petty/"The High Frontier" blog website

Man, I hope this somehow survived. 🙏

In this striking & exceedingly rare Douglas Aircraft Company artist’s concept, a Saturn C-1 (Saturn I) booster is depicted at the moment of first stage jettison and staging, while delivering an X-20/Dyna-Soar into earth orbit.
Note the blowout panels of the second (S-IV?) stage…kinda looks like the eyes of a big flaming-mouthed jack-o’-lantern with pointed ears. Speaking of those “ears”, I find the addition of the fins interesting…very “retro sci-fi/vintage Monogram model I gotta have” cool. 😉

~¾” tear near the upper right corner, which does extend into the image, does not detract. Still of very high luster/gloss.
8.5" x 11".

This is the first & only inflight depiction of the Dyna-Soar/Saturn C-1 (Saturn I) combination I’ve ever seen. The configuration was apparently considered in 1961 but quickly ruled out in favor of the Titan III.

Beautiful artwork by Don Charles…or Ron Simpson…who I still sorta suspect to be one and the same. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

One of MANY articles regarding the X-20 Dyna-Soar:

www.drewexmachina.com/2016/04/10/the-future-that-never-ca...
Credit: Andrew LePage/Drew Ex Machina website

“An artist concept of Saturn C1 configuration. Planned in several versions, Saturn will be one of the nation's prime space exploration vehicles for several years. Fueled, the C1 version weighs about one million pounds. The second stage S-IV is built by Douglas Aircraft Corp., it will generate 90,000 lbs. of thrust. The S-IV in later Saturn configurations will be the third stage."

The above description is associated with the following:

stellar-views.com/images/Apollo_61-SA1-19.jpg
Credit: Stellar Views website, home to many other nice photos

In both the above linked image & my large "poster print" version (linked to below), the artist's last name, “Case”, is visible, who was likely employed by Douglas Aircraft Company/Corporation. Unfortunately, I have nothing on him/her.

A Saturn I first (S-1) stage is shown being transported, most likely from the Marshall Space Flight Center, then to be transferred to barge, for its journey to Cape Canaveral to make history.

Meticulous 1960 artwork by Don R. Davis, not to be confused with Don E. Davis. Complete with babbling brook...err culvert, and quite the picturesque setting for a piece of rocket hardware. Other than the hardware, I think Bob Ross would’ve approved. Note also the driver of the transporter, located at the front right wheel assembly...along with the noticeably flat tires, intentionally so, in order to better absorb road surface irregularities.

When compared to the obviously earlier iteration (linked to below), note the alternating black & white peripheral/”clustered” tanks (RP-1 & Liquid Oxygen respectively), the “UNITED STATES” lettering, fore/aft environmental coverings/tarps, and finally, the updated prime mover/towing tractor being an M-26 tank retriever. Cool stuff.

Another one of those incredibly glossy (on both sides) "celluloid-like" feel/appearance photos, with the single precise notched edge & peripheral "ANSCO SAFETY FILM" wording/identification.

7.875” x 9.875”.

Pertinent & always wonderful/informative:

heroicrelics.org/info/saturn-i-and-ib/sa-1-handling.html#...
Credit: Mike Jetzer/heroicrelics.org

“The second Saturn C-1 heavy space vehicle at ignition during its second flight from Cape Canaveral, Fla. The C-1, developed by the Marshall Space flight Center, a facility of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, is being built for the manned lunar landing effort. This vehicle is 162 feet in height, weighs about 927,000 pounds at liftoff and develops 1.3 million pounds thrust.”

“The Saturn C-1 will be used for Apollo earth-orbital flights. It will have the capability of placing the Apollo command center, together with its propulsion and orbiting laboratory units, into an earth orbit between 150 and 300 miles above the earth’s surface.

In order to accelerate the Apollo spacecraft to escape velocity, which is nearly one-and-one-half times satellite velocity, a more powerful launch vehicle other than the Saturn C-1 will be needed. For the Apollo circumlunar flight, therefore, the Saturn C-2 will be employed. The Saturn C-2 differs from the C-1 in that it has a large hydrogen-oxygen propelled second stage. It will have the capability of sending the Apollo spacecraft and its propulsion unit to the vicinity of the moon. Both the Saturn C-1 and C-2 are currently under development. Before a manned lunar landing can be made, a launch vehicle that is much more powerful than the Saturn C-2 must be developed. The name given to such a vehicle, is Nova. A conceptual version of the Nova vehicle is shown on the figure, roughly to the same scale as the Saturn C-1 and C-2; it may approach one-half the height of the Washington Monument. Nova will employ, in its first stage, either a cluster of 1-1/2 million pound F-1 liquid fuel engines, or a cluster of large solid propellant engines.”

“SATURN C-1 AT LAUNCH”

Note the date, exactly one year prior to the launch of SA-1.

MSFC technicians appear to be installing one of the four central H-1 engines at the base of an unidentified Saturn I first stage, possibly SA-4, possibly circa 1962.

I submit 1962 because the leading “2” may be 1962 abbreviated. Weak, I know, but who really cares. If so, maybe SA-4 based on the entries here:

history.nasa.gov/MHR-5/part-3.htm

An excellent photograph, all kinds of detail resolvable.

“Saturn SA-1
Open house – 1961
Manufacturing Engineering Div
Marshall Space Flight Center
Huntsville, Alabama”

The above is beautifully handwritten by pen, in cursive, on the verso. Obviously by someone intelligent, articulate, possessing excellent penmanship and MOST importantly, ‘in the know’. Therefore, SA-1 it is. Which is what I assumed, despite not a single bit of documentation, etc., that I’ve come across that clearly states such.
Several (of the few) sources have namby-pamby descriptions/wording of the iconic views of the rocket in this horizontally ‘assembled’ & displayed state – that can be interpreted to imply that it’s SA-1…kinda/sorta/maybe.
But, if it's not...oh well. At least I made a legitimate attempt. Which is more than I can say about those whose responsibility it was/should’ve been.

The “Space Launch Report” website, the LONE site which actually referred to it as SA-1 is history, the domain having expired. A HUGE loss for someone such as myself, or anyone else conscientiously attempting to accurately catalog & preserve NASA photographic history…which obviously exceeds their ability/capability.

The caption affixed to another very similar black & white NASA-MSFC issued photograph, date stamped “JUL 7 ‘61” reads as follows:

An estimated 45,000 to 50,000 persons streamed through the George C. Marshall Space Flight Center, NASA, during the Center's "Space Day" open house, commemorating the first anniversary of the establishment of the Center. In this picture, visitors view a three-stage Saturn C-1 in an assembly hangar. This rocket is identical to the first Saturn which will be launched later this year.

And finally, from the May 1974 iteration of “AN ILLUSTRATED CHRONOLOGY OF THE NASA MARSHALL CENTER AND MSFC PROGRAMS 1960-1973”:

An estimated 45,000 to 50,000 "Space Day" visitors attended MSFC's first open house on July 1. Attending were such national figures as the NASA Administrator James E. Webb; the Director of NASA Launch Vehicle Programs, Maj. Don Ostrander; and numerous other national state, and local dignitaries. Most of the visitors observed one of the four Saturn H-1 engine static firings during the day.”

A rare, delightful unicorn containing valuable (IMHO) historical information, and brimming with wonderful nostalgia. And it’s on that exquisite super-duper smooth glossy film-like ‘paper’. You really gotta see/feel it to appreciate it…seriously.

The two exaggeratedly rectangular, tripod-mounted cameras (to the lower right) look to be, to me, Polaroid Pathfinders (110/110A/110B/120?), or 800’s maybe? It even looks like the fellow is either loading film or about to pull an exposed ‘shot’ out of one of them.

camerapedia.fandom.com/wiki/Polaroid_Pathfinder
Credit FANDOM/CAMERAPEDIA website

Finally, note the congregation of primarily males, their attention focused on the fetching young lady wearing the “SPACE(?) PRINCESS” sash. And to her right appears to be a queen and another sash-wearing “SPACE(?) PRINCESS”. So, obviously, the queen and her court…possibly from an on-site(?) MSFC parade earlier in the day.

A wonderful & rare photograph of possibly one of the earliest ‘clusterings’ of the Saturn I/C-1 first stage in Building 4705, Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC). Based on the stamped ‘identification’ on the verso, possibly/probably taken in 1959. Not knowing the workflow of Saturn first stage clustering, the 70-inch RP-1/LOX tank(s) photographed could either be that/those of the initial mock-up or SA-T. I’d think it to be too early for it/them to be that/those of SA-1. I have no idea what the cylindrical segments in the foreground to the left are. It does make consider; were the 70-inch tanks also first assembled in Bldg 4705, prior to their actual clustering? Who knows.
Finally & delightfully, a first seen for me – a full-size cross-sectional ‘template’ of the S-I stage on the wall! It depicts not only the compartmented octagonal structure of the spider beam of the S-I stage, it even includes the transporter cradle…and…by dashed lines, its wheels! I only knew of the subsequent Saturn V S-IC stage template!
Outstanding.

8” x 10.5”.

“The first separation, as we see here, is when the booster separates from the remaining stage and Apollo capsule. The Apollo is not only an extension of the Mercury-man-in-space program, it has other capabilities. For instance, men can use it to observe the surface and environment of the moon before a manned landing takes place. The Apollo is also sufficiently flexible to serve as a manned orbiting laboratory….a laboratory where man can perform useful space research in a low earth orbit. This orbiting laboratory is a necessary step leading toward a permanent manned space station. This will be the main application of the Saturn rocket….man into space.”

This is a WIN, not in the usual way, but a win nonetheless. For the handful of folks like me…pathetic & kind of old, you’ve seen this image a bazillion times, likely in a manual, similar publication or book, at an inferior resolution…with probably little to no descriptive text.
I posted a 7” x 9” version several years ago, which at least substantially bumped up the resolution available, HOWEVER, this is the pinnacle. An official NASA printing of it, at 8” x 10” WITH caption…which usually is a negative. Surprisingly, this is naively, quaintly & somewhat awkwardly – a thoroughly amusing & entertaining read, composed by someone with an actual personality & solid grasp of the English language.
All making for an unexpected WIN.

“Pre-launch view of Saturn SA-2, Pad 34, CCMTA. NASA/SATURN.”

“Dr. Wernher von Braun, Marshall Space Flight Center's first director, points out details on a Saturn rocket to President Dwight D. Eisenhower. President Eisenhower was at Marshall to participate in the center's dedication ceremony, Sept. 8, 1960.

Two years earlier on July 29, 1958, President Eisenhower signed into law the National Aeronautics and Space Act (Pub. L. 85-568), the United States federal statute that created NASA…”

From/at:

www.nasa.gov/multimedia/imagegallery/image_feature_1185.html

And/or:

“Dr. von Braun briefs President Eisenhower at the front of the S1 Stage (first Stage) of the Saturn 1 vehicle at the Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) on September 8, 1960. The President's visit was to dedicate Marshall Space Flight Center as a new NASA field center in honor of General George C. Marshall.”

From/at:

images.nasa.gov/details-6020316

Some funky processing, developing…something…was used on this photograph. The physical condition is very good with the understood yellowing. However, upon close inspection, it looks like the photograph was developed from/of a photograph that had been marked, highlighted, etc., for press purposes of the time. That is, they're incorporated into the photograph. Weird. Also, the obverse is of a soft satin/nearly matte finish, whereas the verso is a uniform mottled semi-gloss.

Finally, I’m considering the 'number' associated with the image online to possibly be a sort of bastardized version of the original.

Regardless of all of the above, it’s an historic ‘space’ image.

Based upon multiple visual clues & the process of elimination, I believe this to be the SA-2 (S-I-2) booster, just after being unloaded from the barge Palaemon, ca. February 1962, commencing its overland detour/transport to subsequently be loaded aboard the barge Compromise (renamed Promise).
Promise arrived at Cape Canaveral February 27, 1962. SA-2 was successfully launched from LC-34, April 25, 1962.

If the hand-annotated photo number is correct, and based solely on the following linked site, this stunning image is either that of the SA-1 or SA-2 first stage, in bldg. 4705, Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC), during some point of its construction & testing.
Note the darkened appearance of the aft end of the fuel tank at the top. It would seem to match that seen in the black & white photo below, which I previously identified as being SA-1, with I believe supporting evidence, once again linked to below.
Although the SA-3 first stage was also within bldg. 4705 during 1961, I don't think it would've been far enough along during clustering/construction to look anything like this.
While I'm winging it, I can't help but notice the circular/cylindrical? object to the farthest left. Possibly the end of a fuel tank? If so, for which launch vehicle…SA-3? Or maybe it’s GSE?

history.nasa.gov/MHR-5/part-2.htm

On a slick glossy photo paper that has the feel of photo film, but thick. Very reminiscent of old-school camera film.

Same one? We'll probably never know, but at least it's another image:

www.allpar.com/threads/chrysler-lifts-nasa-the-next-step-...
Credit: ALLPAR website

Finally, always superior - what we’re looking at nearest the camera:

heroicrelics.org/info/saturn-i-and-ib/block-i-adapter.html
Credit: Mike Jetzer/HEROIC RELICS website

An excellent view of the S-I stage (S-I-7), of the SA-7 launch vehicle during assembly in Bldg. 4705, Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC), I assume sometime during 1963. I have no idea which Saturn I the other S-I stage is associated with.

The photograph has the familiar “A KODAK PAPER” look & feel, despite devoid of such, or for that matter, any watermark.

“Third and second stages of Saturn C-1 dwarf men standing near
New rocket will be test fired during week of Oct. 16.”

More specifically, the smaller dummy S-V stage appears to be poised/prepared for a possible trial horizontal assembly/integration with its dummy S-IV stage, ca. 1961. Confirmation of the inert, aka ‘dummy’ configuration of the S-V stage is the notable lack of an engine on the protruding aft dome of its fuel tank. For test flights SA-1 thru SA-4, the fuel tanks of both these stages were filled with water for ballast.
If the verso stamped month is correct (which I don’t think it is), it’s definitely not SA-1.
I have no idea how many of the Block I Saturn launch vehicles were assembled horizontally at this stage of production. However, purportedly, SA-1 was horizontally trial assembled February 1961. Although it means squat, I’ve found no such reference to subsequent Block I vehicles. The only thing for certain is that Saturn C-1/I flights SA-1 - SA-4 all had dummy S-IV & S-V stages, so this is definitely one of them. I’m going with SA-1.

If so, this is a genuinely seldom/if ever-seen, unique, rare & highly coveted photograph of an unproven rocket, the success of its historic flight being fundamental & absolutely critical to achieving the goal of “landing a man on the moon and returning him safely to the Earth” before the decade was out.

A few additional pointless observations:
I assume this to be in building 4705 at the Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC).
Note what look to be at least five Rocketdyne H-1 engines on floor behind the gentlemen walking & continuing to the right.

7” x 9”.

Three unidentified VIPs?, politicians?…who knows…posing with an early unidentified, horizontally positioned Saturn I/C-1 within the Fabrication and Assembly Engineering Division, MSFC. Circa 1961/62? The clutter-free work tables in the foreground may be indicative of an impending & requisite “dog & pony” show, of which the three gentlemen might’ve been/will be participants/attendees?
To that point, when this photograph was taken, there was indeed a lot riding on WHAT’S going on here, and HOW WELL it was going on, with many stakeholders involved.

Also, note the two adjacent display/announcement boards to the far left, with a smaller narrow board centered atop them, (which I was able to resolve in another photograph) that bears "THE TEAM BEHIND THE SATURN". So, the checkerboard appearance of the large boards consists of the logos of the contributing contractors & sub-contractors.
Finally & pointlessly, I think the spoked circular things at the far right are the ends of H-1 engine holders/cradles/dollies/transporters...or whatever they’re called.

The photo is also at, accompanied by generic pablum statements which provide no pertinent information WRT this particular photograph. Maybe because no initial record or annotation accompanied it(?), subsequently, probably because nobody had/has a clue, and surely in the future, because nobody will give a flying [fill in the blank]:

www.nasa.gov/centers/marshall/history/gallery/launch-of-s...

An early Saturn I/C-1 first (S-1) stage is shown being transported, most likely from the Marshall Space Flight Center, then to be transferred to barge, for its journey to Cape Canaveral to make history.

Precise 1960 artwork by Don R. Davis, not to be confused with Don E. Davis. Complete with babbling brook...err culvert, and quite the picturesque setting for a piece of rocket hardware. Other than the hardware, I think Bob Ross would’ve approved. Note also the driver of the transporter, located at the front right wheel assembly...along with the noticeably flat tires, intentionally so, in order to better absorb road surface irregularities.
The towing vehicle appears to be an American Coleman (Federal?) CF-55-AF Double-Cab Towing Tractor.

Pulling a B-58...outstanding:

www.goldenageflightmuseum.org/federal-coleman-cf-55-af-tu...
Credit: Golden Age Flight Museum website

“Cape Canaveral, Fla., -- LIFT OFF OF SA-3 -- The third Saturn heavy space vehicle was launched on a research and development flight November 16, 1962, at 12:45 pm EST. A live first stage, powered by eight H-1 engines developing a total of 1.3 million pounds of thrust, carried two dummy upper stages. This was one of ten test launches schedule for Saturn.
The inert upper stages (S-IV and S-V) were ballasted with about 95 tons of water. At the apex of trajectory, the water was released in the ionosphere in continuation of the Project High Water experiment carried out by SA-2.”

ALL TEN test flights were successful - 1961 to 1965 - unheard of - to this day.

The protective cableway enclosure for the instrumentation/electrical cabling, that leads to the Launch Control Center, i.e., blockhouse, is at left.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=gh-fNCZTkDk
Credit: Mark Gray/YouTube