JV and the Galaxy Express...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galaxy_Express_999

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b2/Saturn_v_schematic.jpg , 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saturn_V#S-IC_first_stage

From_the_Earth_to_the_Moon#Plot

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galaxy_Express_999#Plot ,

http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=1362

Leiji_Matsumoto was born on January 25, 1938 in Kurume, Fukuoka, Japan.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galaxy_Express_999#Adieu_Galaxy_Express_999 ,

http://fc09.deviantart.net/fs29/f/2009/252/b/0/Galaxy_express_999_Wallpaper_by_Gradyz033.jpg ,

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galaxy_Express_999#Inspirations_and_Influences ,

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Empire_State_Express#Empire_State_Express_No._999 ,

http://www.astronautix.com/lvs/julongun.htm ,

http://rocketry.wordpress.com/2010/01/15/the-quicklauncher-space-gun ,

http://www.fabioruini.eu/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/sav0228ss-jules-verne.jpg ,

http://www.julesverne.ca/vernebooks/jvbkfromearth.html ,

http://jf999.blogspot.com/2009/09/blog-post_7181.html