This is a 1:48 scale model of the Saturn V, one of several rockets developed by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration for use in the Apollo program. America's largest operational launch vehicle, a Saturn V first launched a manned Apollo spacecraft in December 1968 when the crew of Apollo 8 were 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. NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center built this model and transferred it to NASM in 1971.