sa01_v_c_o_n (NASA-Marshall Photo, verso hand-annotated M61-1490-6)

“Saturn SA-1
Open house – 1961
Manufacturing Engineering Div
Marshall Space Flight Center
Huntsville, Alabama”

The above is beautifully handwritten by pen, in cursive, on the verso. Obviously by someone intelligent, articulate, possessing excellent penmanship and MOST importantly, ‘in the know’. Therefore, SA-1 it is. Which is what I assumed, despite not a single bit of documentation, etc., that I’ve come across that clearly states such.
Several (of the few) sources have namby-pamby descriptions/wording of the iconic views of the rocket in this horizontally ‘assembled’ & displayed state – that can be interpreted to imply that it’s SA-1…kinda/sorta/maybe.
But, if it's not...oh well. At least I made a legitimate attempt. Which is more than I can say about those whose responsibility it was/should’ve been.

The “Space Launch Report” website, the LONE site which actually referred to it as SA-1 is history, the domain having expired. A HUGE loss for someone such as myself, or anyone else conscientiously attempting to accurately catalog & preserve NASA photographic history…which obviously exceeds their ability/capability.

The caption affixed to another very similar black & white NASA-MSFC issued photograph, date stamped “JUL 7 ‘61” reads as follows:

An estimated 45,000 to 50,000 persons streamed through the George C. Marshall Space Flight Center, NASA, during the Center's "Space Day" open house, commemorating the first anniversary of the establishment of the Center. In this picture, visitors view a three-stage Saturn C-1 in an assembly hangar. This rocket is identical to the first Saturn which will be launched later this year.

And finally, from the May 1974 iteration of “AN ILLUSTRATED CHRONOLOGY OF THE NASA MARSHALL CENTER AND MSFC PROGRAMS 1960-1973”:

An estimated 45,000 to 50,000 "Space Day" visitors attended MSFC's first open house on July 1. Attending were such national figures as the NASA Administrator James E. Webb; the Director of NASA Launch Vehicle Programs, Maj. Don Ostrander; and numerous other national state, and local dignitaries. Most of the visitors observed one of the four Saturn H-1 engine static firings during the day.”

A rare, delightful unicorn containing valuable (IMHO) historical information, and brimming with wonderful nostalgia. And it’s on that exquisite super-duper smooth glossy film-like ‘paper’. You really gotta see/feel it to appreciate it…seriously.

The two exaggeratedly rectangular, tripod-mounted cameras (to the lower right) look to be, to me, Polaroid Pathfinders (110/110A/110B/120?), or 800’s maybe? It even looks like the fellow is either loading film or about to pull an exposed ‘shot’ out of one of them.

camerapedia.fandom.com/wiki/Polaroid_Pathfinder
Credit FANDOM/CAMERAPEDIA website

Finally, note the congregation of primarily males, their attention focused on the fetching young lady wearing the “SPACE(?) PRINCESS” sash. And to her right appears to be a queen and another sash-wearing “SPACE(?) PRINCESS”. So, obviously, the queen and her court…possibly from an on-site(?) MSFC parade earlier in the day.

Taken on: June 4, 2022

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Sets appears in: • Breaking The Bonds & Firsts • Early Apollo: Construction, Testing & Flying Begin

Groups appears in: • Rocket • Apollo program more » • Real Rockets (no models please) • Missiles & Rockets • Polaroid Pathfinder • Polaroid Cameras « less

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