On this day in space! Nov. 9, 1967: NASA launches the Saturn V moon rocket for the first time on Apollo 4, but no astronauts were aboard

On Nov. 9, 1967, NASA launched the powerful new Saturn V rocket on its maiden voyage.

The Saturn V moon rocket was 363 feet tall. That's taller than the Statue of Liberty! It was the biggest and most powerful rocket ever built at the time (though SpaceX's Starship megarocket has since surpassed it). NASA needed such a powerful rocket to launch astronauts to the moon. However, the first Saturn V launch didn't carry astronauts, because it was only a test flight.

During the launch, the rocket created a loud shockwave that surprised nearby observers. The ground shook so hard that it rattled buildings miles away, and all the shaking caused a huge shower of dust and debris NASA's new launch center, the Kennedy Space Center...