Saturn V rocket. Illustration of the three stages of the Saturn V rocket. The Saturn V was the launch vehicle for NASA's Apollo programme of manned missions to the Moon. The rocket consisted of the first stage (bottom), equipped with five F-1 engines used during take-off. These engines burnt liquid oxygen (LOX) and rocket fuel (RP-1), lifting the 3000-tonne rocket to an altitude of 68 kilometres. The second stage (middle) possessed five J-2 engines which boosted the rocket through the upper atmosphere, while the third stage, S-IVB (top), had one J2 engine and set the craft on its course to the Moon. The Lunar Module, which would land on the Moon's surface, was housed in a compartment (seen here with panels open) above the third stage of the rocket, with the Command/Service Module containing the crew above it. Each stage was jettisoned after use.