The iconic rocket on I-65 is coming back this year
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Do you remember the rocket that stood on the side of the highway in Ardmore? Do you remember when it was taken down a few years ago?
Those days are no more — a Saturn IB rocket replica is officially coming back.
State leaders and the United States Space & Rocket Center have been working tirelessly for months to bring the iconic landmark back, and as of this week, we have liftoff.
“We’re looking forward to working with state leaders to place a replica of the Saturn IB at the Alabama Welcome Center near Ardmore. Our team will bring our expertise to the table in designing and erecting this symbol of our state’s proud history and our ongoing role in space exploration.”
Patricia Ammons, Senior Director of Communications, United States Space & Rocket Center
Keep reading to learn more about this landmark and when we can expect to see it back!
The history + future of Saturn IB
The Saturn IB was an iconic fixture of the Apollo program, serving as the foundational model for the rest of the mission’s rockets.
Its first flight was in 1966 from Cape Canaveral, and it was actively used until July 1975. It is credited with launching five flights into orbit, including serving as a reference for the Saturn V engine which brought us to the Moon.
After retirement, it resided in Ardmore on the side of I-65 for 44 years. In 2023, it was dismantled for safety reasons — leaving many missing the landmark. However, thanks to the tireless efforts of state officials and the USSRC, the rocket is making a comeback:
“We’re getting close to the final steps that’ll let us move into the home stretch on restoring the Saturn IB replica. The U.S. Space & Rocket Center has presented the MOU to the State of Alabama, and we’re just waiting on that final approval. Once it’s in hand, the real excitement begins. This rocket is more than steel and history — it’s Alabama’s welcome mat to the world, showing who we are and what we’ve always been capable of. The USSRC has the know-how, the ability, and the heart to help restore this iconic symbol and protect our state’s proud space heritage.”
Andy Whitt, AL House of Representatives
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