1. Saturn V Instrument Unit (IU)
Smithsonian
National Air and Space Museum
Saturn V Instrument Unit (IU)
Installation at the
Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center
Chantilly, VA
Paul E. Ceruzzi
Division of Space History
September 10, 2004

2. The “Other” Apollo Guidance Computer
Instrument Unit:
Structural part of Saturn V Rocket
Honeycomb Aluminum
22’ Diameter
3’ high
4,500 pounds
Between 3rd Stage and Payload (LTA)
Saturn V and I-B Instrument Units were
almost identical

3. 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

4. At IBM Huntsville Facility

5. In the Vehicle Assembly Building

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

7. Interior, Cleaned & Prepped

8. Where LVDC and Data Adapter were installed

9. Gas Bottle, Missing IMU

10. Flight Control Computer, Analog

11. Loaded on Truck, Suitland, MD

12. Waiting for Midnight

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

14. Arrival at Dulles (Next to the Enterprise)

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