The F-1 engine was the powerhouse of the first stage of the Saturn V rocket that launched the Apollo lunar missions. The thrust chamber was located near the top of the engine. It contained the combustion chamber, where the liquid oxygen (LOX) and rocket-grade kerosene (RP-1) propellants were burned, and a nozzle to then expel the produced gases, thereby generating the required thrust.
This thrust chamber was part of an F-1 engine that launched the Apollo 11 Saturn V. Around 2.5 minutes after launch, the first stage was jettisoned and fell into the Atlantic Ocean. In 2013, F-1 components were recovered from the ocean floor by Bezos Expeditions.
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration transferred the engine parts to the National Air and Space Museum in 2016.
Display Status
This object is on display in Destination Moon at the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC.
Object Details
Date
1969
Country of Origin
United States of America
Type
PROPULSION-Components (Engine Parts)
Manufacturer
Rocketdyne Div., North American Rockwell
Dimensions
3-D: 142.2 × 223.5 × 147.3cm (4 ft. 8 in. × 7 ft. 4 in. × 4 ft. 10 in.)
3-D (With stand): 1197.5kg (2640lb.)
Overall (Object Height on Display Stand): 160cm (5 ft. 3 in.)
Materials
Iron alloy, nickel, electrical wiring, plastic
Inventory Number
A20160016000
Credit Line
Transferred from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Data Source
National Air and Space Museum
Restrictions & Rights
Usage conditions apply
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