Astronomy Picture of the Day . ... The X-ray.. ... On August 21, 1995 one of the greatest astrophysicists of modern times passed away. ... Skylab was an orbiting laboratory launched by a Saturn V rocket in May 1973. ... Pictured, a NASA Saturn V rocket blasts off on July 16th, 1969 carrying the crew of Apollo 11 to the Moon. The Saturn V rocket was the largest rocket ever used by NASA, and the only one able to lift the large masses needed to land astronauts on the moon and returning them safely. ...