The Saturn V Command Module was the brain of NASA’s Apollo missions, designed to carry three astronauts safely through space and back to Earth. It sat atop the massive Saturn V rocket and was the only part of the spacecraft to return from space. Shaped like a cone and about 11 feet tall, the Command Module contained the main controls, seats for the astronauts, life support systems, and the heat shield that protected it during the fiery reentry into Earth’s atmosphere. It was built to withstand extreme temperatures and intense pressure, making it one of the most advanced spacecraft of its time.

The Command Module was part of a larger system that included the Service Module and Lunar Module, but it played a unique role—it was the control center and the lifeboat. During each Apollo mission, the Command Module stayed in lunar orbit while the Lunar Module detached and descended to the Moon’s surface. After the Moon landing, astronauts would reunite in the Command Module and begin their journey home. The Command Module's final task was to splash down in the ocean, where astronauts were recovered by the U.S. Navy. Its iconic design and performance made it a symbol of American space exploration.