SA-500F

During its time as a test vehicle, SA-500F underwent several unique and critical evaluations to validate the facilities and procedures for the Saturn V program.

SA-500F was first stacked on Mobile Launcher 1 in the Vehicle Assembly Building High Bay 1 up to the Instrument Unit on March 30, 1966.

On June 8, it was rolled back to the VAB temporarily as Hurricane Alma passed, though the ground crew supposed the rollback was more of an exercise than necessity because winds remained below critical for the entire storm.

Engineers manually rocked the Saturn V while it was stacked in the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB), using ropes and their feet to simulate swaying motions.

This unconventional method helped determine the vehicle's response to lateral forces and ensured the platform's stability during actual operations.

The tank's shape was restored after re-pressurization, and the incident led to improved procedures for handling and transferring cryogenic propellants, ensuring safer operations in future launches.

The first stage, S-IC-F, was returned to the Marshall Space Flight Center and was stored there for an extended time (possibly for a few years).

Saturn V Vehicle Configuration (SA-500-F)
The 500F rolls out from the VAB on May 25, 1966.
NASA engineers shook the Saturn V Facilities Checkout article by human effort to ensure its ability to withstand oscillations that might be induced by wind while it was at the launchpad.
S-IC-F stage in August 1963
S-II-F , the second stage of SA-500F was modified to SA-500F/D and used for dynamic testing as well. It is on display (now indoors) at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center .
S-IVB-500F in September 1967, being modified into the Skylab Orbital Workshop