This is a metal model of the Saturn V rocket built and used for wind tunnel testing by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC). This testing was conducted in the development stage of the Saturn V to observe and measure the rocket's integrity in the launch environment.
The three-stage, liquid-fuel Saturn V was the world's largest operational launch vehicle and launched all ten manned Apollo missions from 1968-1972, including the historic Apollo 11 mission in July 1969 that first landed men on the moon. The Saturn V was last used to launch the Skylab Orbital Workshop into earth orbit in May 1973. This model was transferred from MSFC to the museum in 1975.
This object is not on display at the National Air and Space Museum. It is either on loan or in storage.