This is a 1:48 scale model of the Saturn V rocket, which was made and donated by the model shop at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's Marshall Space Flight Center. A three-stage, liquid-fuel rocket, the Saturn V was developed for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration for use in the Apollo program. The world's largest operational launch vehicle, a Saturn V first launched a crewed Apollo spacecraft in December 1968 when Apollo 8 was placed in lunar orbit. In July 1969, the rocket sent the Apollo 11 astronauts on their historic journey to the moon. The Saturn V was utilized in the six remaining Apollo missions to the moon during 1969-1972 and to launch the Skylab Orbital Workshop into earth orbit in May 1973.
This object is not on display at the National Air and Space Museum. It is either on loan or in storage.