"Saturn D" could well have been any of 3 (or more) different things. From the first document you linked, I gather that Saturn D (as such) was a study of the use of nuclear upper stages with the S-I (and possibly S-II) stages of the C-1 and C-2 Saturns.The second document you linked contains the following:"The Saturn SA-D1 is divided into the upper stages consisting of the payload, dummy S-V and dummy S-IV, and the booster or S-I stage ..." I suspect this may be an earlier designation for SA-1 (C-1 configuration with dummy 2nd and 3rd stages, with the added D indicating dummy upper stages, or perhaps demo flight) (flown on October 27th, 1961 from LC-34)Hope this helps ...
The second document you linked contains the following:"The Saturn SA-D1 is divided into the upper stages consisting of the payload, dummy S-V and dummy S-IV, and the booster or S-I stage ..." I suspect this may be an earlier designation for SA-1 (C-1 configuration with dummy 2nd and 3rd stages, with the added D indicating dummy upper stages, or perhaps demo flight) (flown on October 27th, 1961 from LC-34)
SA-D1 was the Saturn I Block I dynamic vehicle stack assembled in the MSFC dynamic test stand during 1961. It consisted of the SA-D first stage, S-IV-H/D second stage, and S-V dummy, configured to simulate the specific SA-1 flight vehicle. After SA-D1 testing was completed, the vehicle was disassembled and modified to simulate the specific SA-2 flight vehicle, this time as the "SA-D2" stack. SA-D3 and SA-D4 dynamic vehicle stacks were also assembled, using the same stages. The SA-D dynamic vehicle is now on display at MSFC. (First Photo)A separate dymanic test first stage was created for the Block II Saturns. It is now on display at the US Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville. (Second Photo) - Ed Kyle
Quote from: edkyle99 on 05/08/2009 04:55 pmSA-D1 was the Saturn I Block I dynamic vehicle stack assembled in the MSFC dynamic test stand during 1961. It consisted of the SA-D first stage, S-IV-H/D second stage, and S-V dummy, configured to simulate the specific SA-1 flight vehicle. After SA-D1 testing was completed, the vehicle was disassembled and modified to simulate the specific SA-2 flight vehicle, this time as the "SA-D2" stack. SA-D3 and SA-D4 dynamic vehicle stacks were also assembled, using the same stages. The SA-D dynamic vehicle is now on display at MSFC. (First Photo)A separate dymanic test first stage was created for the Block II Saturns. It is now on display at the US Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville. (Second Photo) - Ed KyleThanks, Ed -- glad to have that straightened out! Much appreciated.
As for the original question about "Saturn D", it appeared to be assigned, at the time, to future Saturn growth concepts using nuclear upper stages. The GD study listed above was presented to MSFC in 1961, even before the first Saturn C-I (later just Saturn I) had flown. Saturn C-2 was under development at the time, and Saturn C-3 was nearly ready to begin. Saturn C-5 (not renamed Saturn V until 1963) wasn't even on the drawing board, but it would be within a few months. - Ed Kyle
Quote from: edkyle99 on 05/08/2009 05:04 pmAs for the original question about "Saturn D", it appeared to be assigned, at the time, to future Saturn growth concepts using nuclear upper stages. The GD study listed above was presented to MSFC in 1961, even before the first Saturn C-I (later just Saturn I) had flown. Saturn C-2 was under development at the time, and Saturn C-3 was nearly ready to begin. Saturn C-5 (not renamed Saturn V until 1963) wasn't even on the drawing board, but it would be within a few months. - Ed KyleAnd it may have been for a fairly short period of time or even manufacturer specific, later documents which I've seen refer to the NERVA variants with a /N (Eg Saturn Ib/N).
Quote from: Graham2001 on 05/08/2009 11:32 pmQuote from: edkyle99 on 05/08/2009 05:04 pmAs for the original question about "Saturn D", it appeared to be assigned, at the time, to future Saturn growth concepts using nuclear upper stages. The GD study listed above was presented to MSFC in 1961, even before the first Saturn C-I (later just Saturn I) had flown. Saturn C-2 was under development at the time, and Saturn C-3 was nearly ready to begin. Saturn C-5 (not renamed Saturn V until 1963) wasn't even on the drawing board, but it would be within a few months. - Ed KyleAnd it may have been for a fairly short period of time or even manufacturer specific, later documents which I've seen refer to the NERVA variants with a /N (Eg Saturn Ib/N).Yeah, the C also had a Nerva upper stage version:http://www.astronautix.com/graphics/s/satc3b3.gifAnyways, here's the Saturn D design study:<snip>