"It's all there!" (Saturn V Relocation) Release

The U.S. Space & Rocket Center formerly hosted the press release announcing completion of the move of the Saturn V into the Davidson Center Saturn V Center (as it was called at the time) on their Website, but it no longer does so. I had saved it off, so I am hosting it here.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 24, 2007

It's all there!

Huntsville's Saturn V rocket vehicle has been successfully moved into its new home inside the Davidson Saturn V Center at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center.

Earlier today, workers hoisted the last component, the Command Module and Launch Escape System, into place high above the floor of the new facility. It joins the Service Module, Instrument Unit, and three booster stages already in place to form the complete lunar rocket vehicle.

Construction on the Davidson Saturn V Center continues on schedule with completion expected in November. At that time, Center staff will begin the task of erecting the new displays, working towards a grand opening on January 31, 50 years to the day after America’s first orbiting satellite, Explorer 1, was launched.

"This is another important milestone for us," said Larry Capps, the U.S. Space & Rocket Center's CEO. "We knew from the artist's renderings what it was supposed to look like with the complete rocket in place, but to actually see it there is really impressive," he said.

The 68,000 square foot facility will not only house the massive Saturn V, protecting it for future generations, but will also feature a 350 seat theater and auditorium, complete commercial kitchen for night functions and special events, and dramatic displays that highlight Alabama's crucial role in America’s space program from the launch of the nation's first satellite to the design of NASA’s next generation of spacecraft.

The Space Center, along with several partnership agencies and a host of corporate sponsors, are planning a ten-day series of special events and celebrations in Huntsville marking the 50th anniversary of America in space, culminating with the grand opening of the Davidson Saturn V Center.

The "Davidson Saturn V Center" was subsequently renamed to be the "Davidson Center for Space Exploration". The grand opening gala did take place on January 31, 2008.

Download Links

The original U.S. Space & Rocket Center 2007 press release regarding the completion of the Saturn V move [73K PDF].