Saturn C-8

The Saturn C-8 was the largest Saturn rocket to be designed. It was an alternative to the Nova rocket, should a direct landing method of lunar exploration have been chosen by NASA for the Apollo program. The first stage was an increased diameter version of the S-IC. The second stage was an increased diameter S-II stage. Both of these had eight engines, as opposed to the standard five. The third stage was a stretched S-IVB stage, which retained it... more

The Saturn C-8 was the largest Saturn rocket to be designed. It was an alternative to the Nova rocket, should a direct landing method of lunar exploration have been chosen by NASA for the Apollo program. The first stage was an increased diameter version of the S-IC. The second stage was an increased diameter S-II stage. Both of these had eight engines, as opposed to the standard five. The third stage was a stretched S-IVB stage, which retained its original diameter and engine. Eventually, the Lunar Orbit Rendezvous concept rendered the C-8 obsolete, and the smaller Saturn C-5 was developed instead under the designation "Saturn V", as the LOR spacecraft was within its payload capacity. The C-8 was never taken further than the design process as it was too big and costly. less