Apollo 8: Saturn V liftoff from tower camera

[garethmurtagh]

I'm pretty sure that music was from 2010 Odyssey 2, it went great with the video!

[PiccoloNamek]

What is that music? It sounds very familiar.

[franxthe1]

un-fkn-believable... i'd like 2b a moon hoaxer to claim this is just fantasy...

[rakrupski]

Another Q: What was the umbilical on the SM for? Electrical power? Supercritical helium? Something else?

[rakrupski]

Seen it a million time - but it's always worth seeing again. The background music I could do without though.

Looking at the Saturn V... is it the camera or mount that is swaying up and down, or is the whole booster actually doing a slow compression-rebound oscillation?

[chadman1231]

best part is when you can see USA go by

[zazfilm]

deal with THAT, usa detractors

[johnbell58]

I always get nervous that the swing arms will not swing away, and that the umbilicals will not disconnect - but they always do

Stunning power and daring - thanks UGOWAR

[BeamshipGeneral]

You got nervous? How about the guys who built it, standing 3 miles away in the blockhouse, their fingernails digging into their thighs: "oh god please work, oh god please work"

Or the Grumman lunar module guys: they have to wait until the two astronauts climb back into the CM before they can start breathing again. LM's ascent engine couldn't be tested, it would either work or it wouldn't. But I know what you mean. Read about the timing on the hold down braces, it's amazing it worked as planned.

[BeamshipGeneral]

Apollo 1 probably provided some unanticipated motivation to double and triple check that everything worked as it should.

[Rob260259]

This is a cool (!) video. Every time I watch a monster like a Saturn V go up I get the shivers. Awesome!

[chellysell]

It kind of looks like the tower camera for Skylab 2 on the movie: SKYLAB: THE FIRST 40 DAYS.

[shenanigan87]

The vibrating top of that metal box on the swingarm really shows what such a launch must sound (and feel like). Absolutely stunning to say the least.

[johnbell58]

Does anyone know, by what mechanism are those arms swung back? Hydraulic, mechanical, electric motors maybe? They swing at the last moment, and make me a bit nervous. I would hate to hit one on the way up. :-)

Thanks

[striker3]

johnbell58 I believe that is a utility and ground data link,gantry that also was used for service of the SaturnV also emergency exit for the folks

up to a point.

[bc1969214]

Hydraulic/pneumatic with many backups to ensure they retract. If you google SA-503 Saturn V Flight Manual (15.6MB PDF file) you'll find the detail in the Apollo 8 Flight Journal page links.

[hbme2103]

what are those white smokes coming out of the hull of the rocket?

[ugowar]

Water vapor. Liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen are very cold and the hull of the rocket gets very cold, causing ice and this wapor. Part of the vapor comes from oxygen relief vents.

If you look real close you can also see ice sticking to parts of the rocket.

[stuartthegrant]

The best yet.

[OhMyScience1]

Amazing video. Great Music!

[JohnCerveza]

what exactly is the function of the umbilical cord?

[ugowar]

The swingarms (a total of 9 of them on a Saturn V) provide electrical interfaces (telemetry and power) with ground infrastructure, propellant loading and replenishment of subsequent boil-off losses.

[JohnCerveza]

thanks!!