Confirmed: F-1 Rocket Engine Salvaged By Amazon's Bezos Is From Apollo 11

willith writes "The folks at Bezos Expeditions have confirmed that faintly visible serial numbers on one of the large engine components they lifted from three miles below the ocean's surface match the serial number of F-1 engine F-6044, which flew in the center position on Saturn V number SA-506 — Apollo 11. With the 44th anniversary of the first lunar landing coming up tomorrow, the confirmation comes at an auspicious time. The F-1 engine remains to this day the largest single-chamber liquid fueled engine ever produced — although NASA is considering using a newer uprated design designated as the F-1B to help boost future heavy-lift rockets into orbit."

Comments

Important Question

[errxn]

Does it qualify for Super Saver Shipping?

"Auspicious time"

[swampfriend]

I'm glad that the scientific community will benefit from these good auspices. NASA's in-house seers predict this will totally compensate for the bad omen earlier this year, when seven ravens got incinerated on the launchpad.

what a pity

[bitt3n]

It's a pity this engine wasn't from Apollo 13. I bet Tom Hanks would have paid a pretty penny for an engine from the rocket he piloted, and then Bezos could have used the proceeds to retire a wealthy man, just like Cameron did when he salvaged the Titanic.