The giant spacecraft was sent aloft to conduct only one experiment. And after only four orbits, it disintegrated in flight. For all the brevity of its mission, though, the flight of the 29-ton SIV B vehicle last week was singularly important. It gave anxious earthbound scientists their first close look at the behavior of liquid hydrogen in space.
Liquid hydrogen is the most effective rocket fuel ever developed. Some 40% more powerful than the kerosene fuel used in the Saturn booster, it will place the Apollo spacecraft in earth orbit, then be used...
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