Saturn V Launch Vehicle
historic place
In Houston, Texas, within Harris County, stands the Saturn V Launch Vehicle. This historic place is located at the Johnson Space Center, in George W.S. Abbey Rocket Park. An historical marker, erected in 1980 by The American Society of Mechanical Engineers, provides context. It states the Saturn V was the largest rocket built for the first missions to the Moon. From 1967 to 1972, it carried the 45-ton Apollo spacecraft on Earth orbital and lunar missions. It also launched the 120-ton Skylab into Earth orbit on May 14, 1973. The Saturn V at Johnson Space Center is one of only three surviving rockets of its kind. It is unique for being comprised of all flight-certified hardware. This vehicle measures 363 feet tall and could generate 7.5 million pounds of thrust. This site is historically significant for its role in the Apollo program's lunar landings and the launch of the Skylab space station. It represents a key period of technological achievement in space exploration.