The National Aeronautics and Space Administration's Marshall Space Flight Center made and presented this Saturn V model to Dr. Charles S. Draper. America's largest operational launch vehicle, a Saturn V first launched a manned Apollo spacecraft in December 1968 when the crew of Apollo 8 was placed into lunar orbit. In July 1969, the rocket sent astronauts Neil Armstrong and Edward Aldrin, Jr. of Apollo 11 to the surface of the moon, while Michael Collins remained in lunar orbit. Saturn V was utilized in the remaining six Apollo missions to the moon during 1969-1972 and to launch the Skylab Orbital Workshop into earth orbit in May 1973. Dr. Draper received this model for his extensive work on the guidance, navigation, and control systems of the Apollo spacecraft. Along with a collection of his awards, Dr. Draper donated this model to the National Collection in 1974.
This object is not on display at the National Air and Space Museum. It is either on loan or in storage.