Since the Ares V has about the same payload as the Saturn V, why didn't they just bring back the Saturn V

Question

Since the Ares V has about the same payload as the Saturn V, why didn't they just bring back the Saturn V

Answer 1

The Saturn V was made with obsolete technology.  The Ares V was developed from the Saturn V.  Also, it appears that the Ares V, when combined with the Ares I, can send significantly more payload to the moon.

"Under the goals of NASA's exploration mission, Ares V is a vital part of the cost-effective space transportation infrastructure being developed by NASA's Constellation Program to carry human explorers back to the moon, and then onward to Mars and other destinations in the solar system.

The Ares V effort includes multiple hardware and propulsion element teams at NASA centers and contractor organizations around the nation, and is led by the Ares Projects Office at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala. These teams rely on nearly a half century of NASA spaceflight experience and aerospace technology advances. Together, they are developing new vehicle hardware and flight systems and maturing technologies evolved from powerful, proven Saturn rocket and space shuttle propulsion elements and knowledge.

The versatile, heavy-lifting Ares V is a two-stage, vertically stacked launch vehicle. It can carry nearly 414,000 pounds (188 metric tons) to low-Earth orbit. When working together with the Ares I crew launch vehicle to launch payloads into Earth orbit, Ares V can send nearly 157,000 pounds (71 metric tons) to the moon."

Saturn V

Payload to orbit: 129,300 kg (285,000 lb)

Payload to Moon: 48,500 kg (107,000 lb)

Answer 2

The companies that built it are no longer in business.

Some of the plans were lost.

The technology has changed.

After the end of the Apollo program the left over spacecraft parts were used to run the Skylab program and later the docking with the Russian Spacecraft.  What was left was put on display and has aged and weathered away.

Meanwhile the companies that built the parts to the Saturn V and Apollo spacecraft no longer exist and some of the data on how to do it was lost.  So NASA had to start from scratch.

The Space Shuttle was supposed to replace the Apollo and there were no plans made after that.  The government and hence NASA is very shortsighted.

There is as much computing power in a digital watch as in the Lunar Module Landing computer.  Material science has changed, electronics and computers have changed, even the fuel used in spacecraft has changed.

The Apollo spacecraft held 3 men, the Ares manned portion will hold 4.

Answer 3

The Saturn V was built using 1960's technology. the Ares will be built with 21st century technology. That may not sound like it should be much improvement, but it encompasses things like using lighter composite material in places, where the Saturn used heavier steel and other metal bits, improved engine technology & computer control, and possibly even a different fuel system.

It's a bit like asking, since cars still carry people, why don't we just use 1960's style automobiles.  

Answer 4

Ares V - Payload to lunar orbit = 71,000 kg.

Saturn V - Payload to Lunar Orbit = 47,000 kg.

Ares V - Payload to Low Earth orbit = 188,000 kg.

Saturn V - Payload to Low Earth Orbit = 118.000 kg.

What does this mean? Ares V can lift much more than Saturn V.

Answer 5

Because all of the launch and support facilities for the Saturn V have been destroyed.  You would have to recreate them.  And doing that for a rocket that is less efficient than the Ares, just doesn't make sense.

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Answer 6

1. The parts of the Saturn V are no longer available. Also the tools needed for building Saturn V parts are no longer available and partially painfully outdated.

2. The Saturn V was designed primarily for LOR, the new Ares V will fly a EOR+LOR mission profile. It is thus more flexible.

3. The infrastructure on KSC requires compatible hardware, which the Saturn V no longer is. For example, there is no longer kerosene stored on LC-39.

4. For reaching the 120 tons performance, the Saturn V needed to launch into a very low orbit (160 km) , which would decay quickly by atmospheric drag.

5. The Saturn V was much more expensive at it's days as the Ares V today. The Saturn V required all parts to be made especially for it, while the Ares V uses existing available and mass-produced parts.

6. The Ares V EDS can transport almost 50% more mass to the moon as the Saturn V S-IVB stage, thanks to lighter and better materials.

(I hope the ghost of Wernher von Braun can forgive me for defending the Ares V. Of course it is a bad design compared to the alternatives, but it is still better as reanimating the dead)

Answer 7

Cause, they shot them all off, a long time ago.