Saving the Last Vestige of the Apollo Era: A Journey to Infinity
The Apollo Legacy
During the golden age of space exploration, the Apollo missions captivated the world. In 1969, Apollo 11 made history as the first crewed mission to land on the moon. The success of Apollo 11 was largely due to the powerful Saturn V rockets that propelled the spacecraft out of Earth’s gravitational pull.
However, not all Saturn V rockets fulfilled their intended purpose. The final three Apollo missions were canceled, leaving behind a lone booster rocket from the Apollo 19 mission. For decades, this relic of the space race has languished in storage, slowly corroding in the salty air of New Orleans.
A New Hope for the Apollo Booster
Now, a Kickstarter campaign is underway to save this last remaining booster rocket and give it a permanent home at the Infinity Science Center in Mississippi. The campaign aims to raise funds for the booster’s transportation from its current storage facility at NASA’s Michoud Assembly Facility to its final resting place in southern Mississippi.
The Significance of the Booster Rocket
The booster rocket played a pivotal role in the Apollo missions. It was the first stage of the Saturn V rocket, providing the initial thrust to lift the spacecraft off the launch pad. Once the rocket reached a certain altitude, the booster stage would detach and fall away, allowing the second and third stages to continue the journey to the moon.
The booster rocket for the Apollo 19 mission is a testament to the engineering marvel of the Saturn V system. Standing 138 feet tall and 33 feet in diameter, it produced an astounding 7.5 million pounds of thrust from its five massive F-1 engines. The roar of these engines was deafening, equivalent to the sound of eight million 1960s-era hi-fi sets.
The Journey to Infinity
Once the Kickstarter campaign reaches its funding goal, the booster rocket will embark on a final journey to the Infinity Science Center. The rocket will first be transported 40 miles across waterways by barge to the Stennis Space Center, where every Apollo rocket and every rocket that has ever carried Americans into space has been tested.
From Stennis Space Center, the booster rocket will be transported to its permanent home at the Infinity Science Center. There, experts will preserve the rocket and put it on display for the public to see.
A Legacy for the Future
The preservation of the Apollo 19 booster rocket is not just about saving a piece of space exploration history. It is also about inspiring future generations to dream big and to strive for the impossible. By showcasing this relic of the past, the Infinity Science Center will help to keep the spirit of the Apollo missions alive for years to come.
A Special Connection
For retired Apollo astronaut Fred Haise, the preservation of the Apollo 19 booster rocket holds a special significance. Haise was the lunar module pilot for the Apollo 13 mission and was slated to be the flight commander for Apollo 19. When NASA canceled the remaining Apollo missions, Haise lost his chance to return to the moon.
Now, with the Kickstarter campaign to save the Apollo 19 booster rocket, Haise sees an opportunity for a piece of his mission to be preserved for posterity. The display of the booster rocket at the Infinity Science Center will serve as a reminder of the indomitable spirit of the Apollo astronauts and the unwavering pursuit of human knowledge and exploration.
