#sa-506

Launch of Artemis II SLS on April 1, 2026.

Launch Apollo 11 Saturn V on July 16, 1969.

AP Photo/John Raoux: link

The first stage of the Saturn V, that will carry the Apollo 11 astronauts to the moon, under construction at the Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans, Louisiana.

"The major components of S-IC-6 – its base, its kerosene and liquid oxygen tanks, and its forward and center sections – were completed in September, 1966, or 10 months after the start of assembly.

Vertical assembly of the 12-story high booster started Sept. 30, 1966. This is the process in which the major parts are stacked one atop the other. It was completed Jan. 4, 1967.

The vehicle then was lifted from its assembly tower in the vertical assembly building to the adjoining factory building, where its engines, electronic equipment and other internal systems were installed. The stage was completed May 8, 1967, and it was rolled out June 1, 1967.

Then began computer simulations of flight and other post-manufacturing tests handled in the stage checkout building at Michoud. These tests were completed July 26, 1967.

The rocket was taken by barge on March 1, 1968, to the Mississippi Test Center in Hancock County. It was successfully test fired for 125.10 seconds on Aug. 13, 1968.

It was returned to Michoud by barge on Aug. 29, 1968, and underwent refurbishment and checking until Dec. 9, 1968. It was placed in storage before being loaded onto a barge which departed for Cape Kennedy last Feb. 16.”

Date: January 4, 1967

"The Apollo 11 mission launched from the Kennedy Space Center (KSC) in Florida via the Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) developed Saturn V launch vehicle on July 16, 1969 and safely returned to Earth on July 24, 1969. Aboard the space craft were astronauts Neil A. Armstrong, commander; Michael Collins, Command Module (CM) pilot; and Edwin E. (Buzz) Aldrin Jr., Lunar Module (LM) pilot. With the success of Apollo 11, the national objective to land men on the Moon and return them safely to Earth had been accomplished. These sketches illustrate four events of the Apollo 11 spacecraft and crew enroute to the Moon. Panels housing the LM were jettisoned and the CM turned 180 degrees in the transposition maneuver. The CM docked with the LM and extracted it from the third stage instrument unit of the Saturn V launch vehicle. Astronauts performed navigation checks enroute to the moon. The service propulsion system was fired to slow the spacecraft and permitted it to enter lunar orbit."

Date: July 6, 1969

"The Apollo 11 Saturn V (CSM-107/LM-5/SA-506) climbs toward orbit after liftoff from Pad 39A at 9:32 a.m. EDT on July 16, 1969. In 2 1/2 minutes of powered flight, the S-IC booster lifts the vehicle to an altitude of about 39 miles some 55 miles downrange. This photo was taken with a 70mm telescopic camera mounted in an Air Force EC-135N plane. Onboard are astronauts Neil A. Armstrong, Michael Collins and Edwin E. Aldrin, Jr."

Date: July 16, 1969

The S-II stage being stacked onto the S-IC for Apollo 11 Saturn V (SA-506) in Vertical Assembly Building, Kennedy Space Center.

Date: March 5, 1969

Apollo 11 Saturn V (CSM-107/LM-5/SA-506) on the pad during the Countdown Demonstration Test (CDDT).

Date: July 1, 1969

Scanned by Kipp Teague.

The transporter carries the mobile service structure away from Apollo 11 (CSM-107/LM-5/SA-506), for a countdown demonstration test (CDDT).

Date: July 1-2, 1969

"Apollo 11 Saturn V space vehicle lifted off with Astronauts Neil A. Armstrong, Michael Collins and Edwin E. Aldrin Jr., at 9:32 a.m. EDT July 16, 1969, from Kennedy Space Center's Launch Complex 39A. During the planned eight-day mission, Armstrong and Aldrin will descend in a lunar module to the Moon's surface while Collins orbits overhead in the command module. The two astronauts are to spend 22 hours on the Moon, including two and one-half hours outside the lunar module. They will gather samples of lunar material and willl deploy scientific experiments which will transmit data about the lunar environment. They will rejoin Collins in the command module for the return trip to Earth."

Date: July 16, 1969