Back in the spring of 1961 NASA tested a new transport system called Palaemon. This 180 ft barge traveled from the MSFC dock to the MAF, a total of 1,086.7 miles up the Tennessee River and down the Mississippi River. The barges also transported the assembled stages of the Saturn vehicle from the MAF to the Kennedy Space Center, a total of 932.4 miles along the Gulf of Mexico and up along the Atlantic Ocean, for the final assembly and the launch. Named for the Greek sea-god and protector of ships, Palaemon transported Saturn stages to and from MSFC through the Apollo years.

Image Credit: NASA/MSFC