AS-103

High school (ages 12+)
Transportation

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/as-103

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. How high is AS-103?Approximately 42 miles (67 km)
2. What is the designation?S-IC
3. What is the manufacturer?Boeing (structure), Rocketdyne (engines)
4. Why was AS-103 so tall and wide?It was 138 feet tall and 33 feet wide because it had to hold a huge amount of fuel and powerful engines to lift the heavy rocket.
5. How many engines did AS-103 have and how powerful were they?It had five F‑1 engines, each making more than 1.5 million pounds of thrust, giving the stage a total push of about 7.5 million pounds.

Liquid-Propellant Rocket Engine: An engine that uses liquid fuels and oxidizers, providing high thrust and controllability.
RP-1: A highly refined form of kerosene used as rocket fuel, known for its high density and energy content.
Gimbaling: The ability of rocket engines to pivot slightly, allowing for directional control of the rocket during flight.