Saturn V Rocket at the Kennedy Space Center

To see a Saturn V Rocket in person is an awe-inspiring experience. From Johnson Space Center in Houston to the U.S. Space and Rocket Center in Alabama, I've had the pleasure of photographing several of these giant engineering marvels before, but seeing the Apollo / Saturn V at Kennedy Space Center at Cape Canaveral in Florida was something special.

It was on July 16, 1969 that Apollo 11 launched from Kennedy Space Center as the fifth crewed mission of NASA's Apollo Program. On July 20 the Apollo Lunar Module Eagle touched down, and with over 600 million people around the globe tuning in to see it broadcast live, Neil Armstrong became the first man to set foot on the moon.

With a countdown of the launch played out in a control room before you enter the Saturn V exhibit, it's easy to get swept up in the emotion surrounding this profound moment in history. In addition to the rocket, this exhibit at the Kennedy Space Center features some incredible artifacts, including Alan Shepard's moon dust covered space suit and a lunar sample brought back by Apollo 15 in 1971. The Space Shuttle Atlantis exhibit is also not to be missed.     

Lunar sample on display at Kennedy Space Center.