Saturn V Launch Vehicle
Also known as: Saturn V Rocket
Why it's listed
A Saturn V rocket lies in four horizontal sections along the edge of a visitor parking lot at Johnson Space Center in Houston. It consists of a first stage, second stage, third stage and the Apollo spacecraft group, built around 1970 by Boeing, North American Rockwell and Douglas, with spacecraft parts by North American Aviation. The first and third stages were meant for the cancelled Apollo 18 mission, and the second was a Skylab backup. The Saturn V launched the Apollo missions that took astronauts to the moon, and its last flight lifted the Skylab space station in 1973. This example is described as the only intact Saturn V made of stages intended to fly, and one of three surviving in the United States, the others being in Florida and Alabama. It belongs to the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum and is on loan to the center. Years outdoors have caused serious deterioration, so restoration and enclosure were planned.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the vehicle is nationally significant for its technological achievement in transportation, engineering and space exploration. It is described as the only intact Saturn V made of all flyable stages intended for Apollo missions. It is one of only three surviving Saturn V rockets in the United States.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 02001731, listed February 4, 2003. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Johnson Space Center, Houston |
|---|---|
| County | Harris County |
| Listed | February 4, 2003 |
| Reference number | 02001731 |
| Resource type | Structure |
| Period of significance | 1970-1973 |
| Architect / builder | Boeing Aircraft, Douglas Aircraft Company, North American Rockwell Corporation |
| Architectural style | No style |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Transportation, Engineering, Other |
| Level of significance | National |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Stored outdoors for about 25 years and badly weathered by air pollution and the elements; restoration and an enclosed protective structure were being planned. Displayed as a museum artifact. |
| Acreage | 2.5 |
| Coordinates | 29.55747, -95.08910 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 02001731.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q110002212
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.