The H-1 liquid-propellant rocket engine was an outgrowth of the LR-79 which served as the basic power plant for the USAF Thor missile. The H-1 was used in the 8-engine cluster of the first stage of the Saturn 1 and 1B launch vehicles.

The H-1 burns liquid oxygen and a grade of aviation kerosene to produce a total thrust of 92,986 kilograms (205,000 pounds). Each engine functions as an independent unit, with its own combustion chamber and turbopump, but fuel is drawn from common tanks.

The Saturn 1B was first launched on February 26, 1966, and most recently on July 15, 1975, in the launch of the U.S. crew of the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project.

It was developed by Rocketdyne, a division of North American Rockwell Corporation.

The engine on exhibit is from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.