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The power of these engines was phenomenal. The five F-1 engines in the first stage ignited, producing 7.5 million pounds of thrust. As the SaturnV lifted off, the roar shook buildings and drowned out conversations for miles around. Turbopumps, working together with the strength of 30 diesel locomotives, forced 15 tons of fuel per second into the engines. Steadily increasing acceleration pushed the astronauts back into their couches as the rocket generated 4.5 times the force of earth's gravity. After 2.5 minutes, the first stage had burned its 4,492,000 pounds of propellants and was discarded at about 38 miles altitude. |