The Saturn V rocket used three main stages to send Apollo spacecraft toward the Moon.
The first stage, known as S-IC, used five F-1 engines and lifted the vehicle through the early part of its ascent. The second stage, S-II, used five J-2 engines and continued acceleration after the first stage separated. The third stage, S-IVB, used one J-2 engine to place Apollo into Earth orbit and then perform the translunar injection burn.
Above the three stages were the instrument unit and the Apollo spacecraft, which included the command module, service module, and lunar module. After the S-IVB sent the spacecraft toward the Moon, the crew turned and docked with the lunar module.
The Saturn V is often described as a five-engine rocket because of its first-stage engine cluster, but that refers to engines, not stages. The rocket stood about 111 metres tall and was used for Apollo lunar missions and Skylab.