Apollo 11 Saturn V Launch - Slow motion
Video from the channel Peter Taft about Saturn V, linked on its Above Ten Thousand entry. Duration: 8:43. Language: English. Video type: Launch.
The mission
The video shows the liftoff of Apollo 11, the first crewed Moon-landing mission, on July 16, 1969. It was recorded by camera E-8 on 16 mm film at 500 frames per second, from a corner of the mobile launch platform's tower, with a narrator commenting on the footage. At that speed, a little over eight minutes of footage correspond to about 30 real seconds.
Sequence
The video shows the start-up of the Saturn V first stage's five F-1 engines, with kerosene and liquid oxygen mixing before reaching full thrust. The holddown arms keep the rocket in place until all engines are running properly. Once released, the tail service masts retract under their protective hoods. Ice falls from the liquid oxygen tank, which was not insulated. The narrator explains the dark band around the exhaust plume: it is cooler gas from the turbine exhaust, which protects the nozzle extension. He also explains the white ablative paint on the masts, arms and tower, which burns and chars to protect what it covers.
Outcome
With the rocket already clear of the tower, the deluge system releases a large amount of water, much of which turns to steam, and water and debris splash onto the quartz window protecting the camera. The launch took place at 9:32 a.m.