The Final Journey of the Saturn V

Book excerpt: The Saturn V rocket carried men to the moon, and its history reflects the US space program's rise, success and demise. In 1961, John F. Kennedy challenged America to put a man on the moon and win the space race. Neil Armstrong set foot on the moon in 1969 as the culmination of a concerted scientific and technological effort. A little over a decade later, the Saturn rocket was tossed aside to rot in a field near the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The rocket's carcass became the home to flora and fauna. Like the space program itself, the rocket was forgotten. Finally in the mid 1990s, supported by the Smithsonian Institute, the Saturn V was brought back to life. Leading the restoration was Paul Thomarios, the son of Greek immigrants. The reconditioning of the rocket is part of the story, but the story is also that of Thomarios. This book details both, showing how pride and dedication made the Saturn rocket and Paul Thomarios.