Discover the Saturn V Rocket at the Kennedy Space Center

Would you like to stand beside a rocket taller than the Statue of Liberty?

At the Kennedy Space Center, you can do that!

See the iconic Saturn V rocket, an engineering marvel that once carried astronauts on historic missions to the moon.

Saturn V remains the largest rocket ever built and was constructed for the Apollo program.

Thirteen Saturn V rockets were launched between 1967 and 1973 to carry Apollo missions and the Skylab space station. 

Every part of the giant rocket is used and discarded during a mission. Only the tiny command module returns to Earth.

Skylab’s first American space station was also launched using the Saturn V.

After its retirement, the super heavy-lift launch vehicle rests peacefully inside the Apollo/Saturn V Center, where millions of visitors look at it up close.

What’s the story behind this towering giant? Let’s take a closer look at this incredible piece of history.

What is the Saturn V Rocket?

The  Saturn V Rocket was an enormous and powerful launch vehicle built by NASA for the Apollo program.

It was designed to carry astronauts to the moon, marking a significant milestone in space exploration.

Its height is 363 feet (60 feet taller than the Statue of Liberty) and weighs 2.8 million kilograms.

Although 13 Saturn V rockets were launched, this is one of only three remaining in the United States.

Function: It sent American astronauts to the moon’s surface.

Size: The rocket was 363 feet tall and weighed about 2.8 million kilograms.

Location: Apollo/ Saturn V Center at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida

How to Reach: Hop on a Bus Tour to Apollo/Saturn V Center (Accessible only by Bus)

Owner:  Saturn V was developed by NASA and designed under the direction of Wernher von Braun, the lead contractors of which were Boeing, North American Aviation, Douglas Aircraft Company, and IBM.

Where is the Saturn V Rocket located?

The Saturn V Rocket is located inside the Apollo/Saturn V Center, called the Race to the Moon.

The center is located northwest of Launch Complex 39 and is accessible through the KSC Shuttle Bus Tour, which runs every fifteen minutes.

The Apollo Saturn V Center was constructed to house a restored Saturn V rocket and other interactive exhibits related to the Apollo program.

 Why is the  Saturn V Rocket Famous? 

• The Saturn V rocket was the first one made under the Apollo program to take people to explore the moon.
  
• The first Saturn V rocket launched with a crew was called Apollo 8.
  
• On 20 July 1969, Saturn V Rocket carried the Apollo 11 mission that successfully landed astronaut Neil Armstrong and fellow astronauts on the moon.
  
• The  Saturn V also launched Skylab, the United States’ first space station, into Earth’s orbit.
  
• Its size and power are unbeatable. It remains the largest and most powerful rocket ever built.
  
• Its success solidified America’s position as a leader in space exploration and made America the first and only country to have landed astronauts on the moon.

History of the Saturn V Rocket 

The Saturn V Rocket, now the center of attraction at the Apollo/Saturn V Center, opened on December 17, 1996.

It was a tribute to the astronauts, crew, and the 400,000 people who helped build the rocket.

Before this building was constructed, the Saturn V was displayed horizontally outdoors for many years.

It lay just south of the famous Vehicle Assembly Building, and tour buses used to take visitors there.

Built to house Saturn V, the Apollo/Saturn V Center also has other interactive exhibits related to the Apollo program.

Saturn V Rocket Missions and Launches 

Between 1967 and 1973, the  Saturn V rocket was used for 13 missions, including crewed moon landings and the launch of Skylab, the US’s first space station.

Missions: Apollo 4 (1967), Apollo 6 (1968), Apollo 8 (1968), Apollo 9 (1969), Apollo 10 (1969), Apollo 11 (1969), Apollo 12 (1969), Apollo 13 (1970), Apollo 14 (1971), Apollo 15 (1971), Apollo 16 (1972), Apollo 17 (1972), and Skylab 1 (1973).

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