                        Astronomy Picture of the Day

    Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our
      fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation
                    written by a professional astronomer.

                               2019 November 9

                              Saturn the Giant
                             Image Credit: NASA

   Explanation: On May 25, 1961 U.S. president John Kennedy announced the
   goal of landing astronauts on the Moon by the end of the decade. By
   November 9, 1967 this Saturn V rocket was ready for launch and the
   first full test of its capabilities on the Apollo 4 mission. Its
   development directed by rocket pioneer Wernher Von Braun, the three
   stage Saturn V stood over 36 stories tall. It had a cluster of five
   first stage engines fueled by liquid oxygen and kerosene which together
   were capable of producing 7.9 million pounds of thrust. Giant Saturn V
   rockets ultimately hurled nine Apollo missions to the Moon and back
   again with six landing on the lunar surface. The first landing mission,
   Apollo 11, achieved Kennedy's goal on July 20, 1969.

     Watch: the November 11 Transit of Mercury from Earth or from Space.
                    Tomorrow's picture: WISE Young Stars
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       Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff (MTU) & Jerry Bonnell (UMCP)
            NASA Official: Phillip Newman Specific rights apply.
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                      A service of: ASD at NASA / GSFC
                             & Michigan Tech. U.

