F-1 Rocket engine thermal insulation

The F-1 engines that powered the Saturn V were covered witha reflective insualtion “batting” to protect them from radiant heat from the neighboring rocketsand hot recirculated gas . However, the appearance of the insulation is always something of a mystery. PR photos and artwork of the F-1 engine and the Saturn V universally showed the F-1 bare, with no insulation in place. Photos of the Saturn V readied for launch do not show the F-1s at all, since they were submerged within the launch platform and couldn’t be seen. Films of the Saturn V in flight show the F-1 hazily at best due to camera jitter, atmospheric haze, bad focussing, the blinding glare from the exhaust, etc. Toys, models, posters, books, all showed this incorrect depiction of the F-1.

Nevertheless, there are a few halfway decent reference images. The drawing came from a report I found at the National Air and Space Museum archive more than a decade ago; the photos are all stills taken from NASA films, and included on Spacecraft Films’ excellent “The Mighty Saturns: Saturn V” DVD. The screenshots are reduced in size from the originals, so go get yourself a copy of the DVDs!

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