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Comment by mstade | Hacker News Reader

I can highly recommend a visit to the Saturn V center[1] at Kennedy Space Center, where you can begin to truly appreciate the immense scale of the Saturn V rocket. I’ve been several times at this point and it still blows my mind just how huge that thing is. If you think of going, and have a flexible schedule, I can definitely recommend planning a trip to see a rocket launch on site. It’s a fantastic experience, but be prepared to come back several days in a row in that case, if they scrub the launch.

[1]: https://www.kennedyspacecenter.com/explore-attractions/race-...

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I will never forget the feeling of awe when I entered that hanger and saw the butt end of the Saturn V. It is really is something that needs to be seen to be appreciated.

And then, after walking quite a distance down the length of the rocket, realising they’ve left out the middle stage because it doesn’t fit in the vast building it is in. I laughed in disbelief.

It really can’t be explained, can it? Anyone remotely interested in space exploration will have their jaw on the floor, dragging it all along the way. I have lots of pictures from there of course, but none that are able to convey the scale or sheer awesomeness of it all.

Also very cool to sit on the bleachers outside when there’s a launch. I’ve only witnessed one launch and it was from the LC39 viewing gantry, but that was the second attempt. The first night I couldn’t get tickets for the gantry but I could for the Saturn V center. Even though they scrubbed the launch that night it was great – the air so thick with anticipation I swear you could cut it with a knife. Everyone’s attention fixed on the rocket out over the creek, mission control over the loudspeakers... Can’t wait to go back!

The 1st stage of the Saturn V alone is enough to debunk the moon hoaxers. Hundreds of thousands of people saw a whole bunch of those things launch, and they were tracked by astronomers. Just what is faking the last part of the mission supposed to "save?"

There are one and a quarter F-1 engines from a Saturn V at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum in DC, with a bunch of mirrors to fake the rest of the engines: https://airandspace.si.edu/collection-objects/rocket-engine-.... Seeing that was really impressive, the entire thing must be even better :)

I went down the KSC every year during undergrad for the NASA Robotic Mining Competition. In 2012 we had the banquet under the Saturn V rocket. We were also very lucky to see a launch 3 out of the 4 years.

It is really cool to see such a large rocket on its side, and to walk through the control room they used.

Oh man I’d definitely pay cash monies to attend a banquet under that rocket, even if it’s space food from silvery packets. :o)

No joke, the chunks of butter for the bread were space shuttles. Now I need to dig into my photos to see if I can find them...

Oh please please please share if you do find them! :o)

Based on my recent experience, (with CRS-13) it's best to avoid committing to any plans until the morning of the launch, if possible.

Johnson Space Center in Houston has a Saturn V similarly displayed.

Do they have a Saturn V at Marshall Space Flight Center? I remember visiting there with my Cub Scout den in the 80's and just standing next to the cones of one of the rockets, staring in awe at just.how.big it was.

Marshall doesn't currently allow visitors.

However, there's one in Huntsville, at the US Space and Rocket Center (also home to space camp, for those of us who grew up with that). On it's side, on the ground, in pieces/stages. When I was last there it was out in the open. Apparently it's now enclosed in it's own building after restoration.

There's a replica standing up in their rocket garden / rocket park; it is just a mock-up, not the real thing, wiki says it was done in 1999.

There's also a real one in Houston (Johnson Space Center), and of course the one at KSC.

Yep, the US Space and Rocket Center is a museum right outside the base. The Davidson Center for Space Exploration (seen here https://www.rocketcenter.com/admission) has a Saturn V rocket broken down into stages. I had an hour to run through there while on a work trip, wish I could have spent more time.

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