Saturn S-II Stage Operational Experience

The purpose of this paper is to relate some of the operational experience on the second stage (S-II) of the Saturn V launch vehicle. A review of the performance of the major stage systems during static firing and flight operations is presented.

The malfunction experienced was the premature shutdown of two J-2 engines. The S-II stage has accomplished all of its mission objectives except that the propulsion demonstration was only partially accomplished because of the engine shutdown.