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The sign which accompanied the replica on my first visit to the USSRC. It reads

Saturn V

Used during the Apollo Lunar Landing program of the 1960s and 1970s, the Saturn V rocket remains the largest, most powerful rocket ever built.

This full-scale Saturn V mock-up was completed in July 1999 to serve as the focal point for the 30th anniversary celebration of the first manned lunar landing. The U.S. Space & Rocket Center dedicates this replica to the memory of Dr. Wernher von Braun and to the brave men and women who helped make the dream of spaceflight a reality. The Apollo Moon program remains one of the greatest scientific achievements in the history of the United States. Of all the artifacts that represent the triumph and glory of the golden Apollo years, none stands taller than the Saturn V rocket. It is an enduring symbol of the passion, courage, and pioneering spirit of the American people.

At over 363 feet tall, the Saturn V stood higher than a 36-story building and generated over 7,500,000 pounds of thrust at liftoff - that is enough power to launch 40 Boeing 747s!

Saturn V Stages

The S-IC first stage of the Saturn V was 138 feet tall and 33 feet in diameter. It was powered by five Rocketdyne F-1 engines which burned for 2.5 minutes before separating and falling into the Atlantic Ocean.

The S-II second stage of the Saturn V measured 81.5 feet tall and 33 feet in diameter. It was powered by five J-2 engines which produced a combined thrust of 1,000,000 pounds.

The S-IVB third stage was 58 feet, 8 inches tall and 21 feet, 8 inches in diameter. It was powered by one Rocketdyne J-2 engine which produced 200,000 pounds of thrust. With the Command Module, Lunar Module, and Service Module in place, the Saturn V assembly weighed over six million pounds.

The Saturn V was conceived and designed by a team of scientists and engineers in Huntsville, Alabama, at the George C. Marshall Space Flight Center working under the direction and leadership of German rocket scientist Dr. Wernher von Braun.