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We Have Liftoff: National Air and Space Museum Projects Saturn V Rocket on Washington Monument

On Tuesday through Thursday nights, the 363-foot Saturn V rocket will be projected on the east face of the Washington Monument

In honor of the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 mission, the National Air and Space Museum is recreating the historic moment with a life-sized projection of the Saturn V rocket on the Washington Monument.

Saturday night is the last opportunity to watch the "once-in-a-lifetime" event.

A 17-minute show, "Apollo 50: Go for the Moon," will play on two screens on either side of the Washington Monument before the rocket "launches."

The free show runs at 9:30 p.m., 10:30 p.m. and 11:30 p.m. and it's viewable on the National Mall in front of the Smithsonian Castle between 9th and 12th streets. The viewing area was outfitted with full sound, projection screens and a 40-foot-wide recreation of the countdown clock that was at the Kennedy Space Center.

Saturn V was used for NASA space missions between 1967 and 1973.

The "Apollo 50: Go for the Moon" presentation is a joint effort between the U.S. Department of the Interior, 59 Productions and the National Air and Space Museum.

Other parts of the Smithsonian's 50th anniversary celebration for Apollo 11 included a five-day festival on the National Mall, featuring tents from organizations like NASA and PBS. According to a news release from the LEGO Group, LEGO will be displaying a life-size astronaut model from Thursday through Saturday, and will invite visitors to help build a 20-foot SLS Rocket out of the plastic blocks.

The National Air and Space Museum also has Neil Armstrong’s  space suit on display for the first time in 13 years, and will be hosting a late-night celebration in the museum Saturday.

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