SaturnⅤ is the largest super launch vehicle ever used in the Apollo program.
The mission is to transfer the Apollo spacecraft to the lunar orbit, with a diameter of 10.1m and a height of 110.6m and a weight of 2870.9t. The payload capacity has been certified by the Guinness Record.

Launched from Cape Canaveral launch complex, LC39A, it was active from 1961 until the end of Apollo 17 mission, transferring a total of 13 astronauts to the moon 13 times. The LC39A is currently used by SpaceX.

Falcon Heavy waiting for launch at LC39A (photo by author)
SpaceX's factory can be seen in the back

Background ~the Cold War and the enthusiasm of Apollo mission~

SaturnⅤ was launched during the Cold War between the United States and the Soviet Union. In October 1957, the Soviet Union successfully launched the first  satellite, Sputnik. The US citizens who known that an unknown object was orbiting the US strongly feared(Sputnik shock).
In April 1961, the spacecraft Vostok and Yuri Gagarin launched successfully as the first manned flight. The Soviet Union overwhelmed the US on a space race.
Meanwhile, the speech of a certain person attracts the attention of the world.

President Kennedy's speech, famous for "We choose to go to the moon."

In the US, the Apollo program was proceeded with the development and manufacture of the SaturnIB launch vehicle, and the Apollo8 was launched on SaturnV successfully in lunar orbit for the first time.

Launch vehicle development was started with the official approval of the Apollo program in 1961, and a super heavy launch vehicle assembly building "VAB" and launch complex "LC39" have been constructed at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Historical facilities and launch site that are still active.

VAB at Kennedy Space Center (photo by author)
It is a huge facility with a height of 160m, and the blue part of the stars and stripes are same size as the basketball court

And on July 16, 1969, Apollo 11 with three crews, Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins, was launched by Saturn V (Unit 6) to land on the moon.

The Saturn V continued to launch the Apollo spacecraft after July 20, 1969, mankind stepped a great leap, but the US enthusiasm would be terminated after the Apollo17 mission.

For about 50 years, mankind has stopped going to the moon.

Performance ~3 stage booster and overwhelming thrust~

SaturnV boosters consist of 3 stages. The first stage is equipped with 5 liquid engines that use kerosene and liquid oxygen as propellants.

SaturnV displayed at Kennedy Space Center (photo by author)
It can be observed the 5 engines of the first stage

The second stage is equipped with 5 liquid engines that use liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen. The third stage is equipped with one engine.

5 engines of the second stage

One engine of the third stage

These engines can carry a payload of 104t in Earth orbit and 43t in lunar orbit.

To the Artemis program

Trump has announced an Artemis program to land a mankind moon by 2024.

Space Launch System(SLS), launch vehicle currently under development, and the Orion spacecraft are used. Lander is being developed by private companies.

The Apollo program was a “government-led” in the context of the Cold War.

However, there are space companies around the world now, such as SpaceX the US space company, which launches on a monthly basis. Now, mankind space exploration has entered the next era, New Space.
The wisdom of the public and private sectors will once again pave the way to the moon.

Comic "A Space Race"

The comic above is created by @_Pkrin, who belongs to the online salon "Anman Salon" managed by @wakanjyu321, Japanese genius / beautiful manga artist. Grateful thanks!

Click here for "Anman Salon" which can deal with the mission of space law and rocket girls project.

SaturnV is a strongly heavy launch vehicle that has contributed mankind go to the moon, the technology implemented at that time is still being used.
In fact, the mechanism based on the nine Marlin engines implemented on Falcon 9 is an application of the SaturnV mechanism(reference: SpaceX Website).

The Apollo program was a life-threatening mission took the American prestige.

When creating the characters, it is expressed the dignity of the US, the overwhelming feeling of a heavy launch vehicle, the obsession with missions, and the grave feeling that can also be a casket for astronauts.

There is no doubt that the war has accelerated space technology. Contrary to what was happening on Earth at the time, the beauty of the Earth from the moon would have been beyond words.
Fifty years later, how does the Earth viewed from the moon land under international cooperation?

As the development of SLS and Starship is progressing toward the moon and Mars, and it is also the 50th anniversary of Apollo11, It may be important to learn the technology and developers' thoughts at that time, and the many people who were sacrificed to manufacture launch vehicle, in learning about space exploration today.

Reference:
・JAXA Space Information Center "Saturn"
http://spaceinfo.jaxa.jp/ja/saturn_1.html
・A book that understands the whole space project
・Easy Book of Space Rocket 3rd Edition　Yasunori Matogawa
・Two scientists aiming for the moon-the trajectory of Apollo and Sputnik-　Yasunori Matogawa