The F-1 engine, producing 1.5 million pounds of thrust, was the powerplant for the first stage of the giant 363-foot long Saturn V launch vehicle that took a dozen astronauts to the Moon in six lunar landing missions between 1969 and 1972 in the Project Apollo program.

The first stage was fitted with five F-1s for a total lift-off thrust of 7.5 million pounds. The fully-fueled Saturn V weighed 6.5 million pounds.

The F-1 used RP-1, a type of kerosene, and liquid oxygen as the propellants. The turbopump for the engine pumped in the propellants at 42,500 gallons per minute. The F-1 was developed and built by Rocketdyne, Division of the Rockwell International Corp.

The engine was transferred to the Smithsonian from the NASA Marshall Space Flight Center in 1975.

Display Status

This object is not on display at the National Air and Space Museum. It is either on loan or in storage.

Object Details

Country of Origin

United States of America

Type

PROPULSION-Rocket Engines

Manufacturer

Rocketdyne Division, Rockwell International

Dimensions

Overall: 220 15/16 in. long x 144 5/16 in. diameter, 18340 lb. (561.24 x 366.52cm, 8319kg)

Materials

Cooling tubes (178 tubes), Inconel X; injector, stainless steel and copper; propellant lines, aluminum; valves, aluminum and stainless steel

Inventory Number

A19751448000

Credit Line

Transferred from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Data Source

National Air and Space Museum

Restrictions & Rights

Usage conditions apply
For more information, visit the Smithsonians Terms of Use.