To view items in this collection, use the Online Finding Aid

Summary

The Redstone engine is one of the most significant developments in US rocket technology. This collection consists of 36 pages of 17 x 11 inch schematic drawings of the Redstone launch vehicle's advanced electrical systems.

Biographical / Historical

The Redstone engine is one of the most significant developments in US rocket technology. As the power plant for the Redstone missile, it was this country's first large-scale operational rocket engine. It went on to power the Jupiter-C, a modification of the Redstone missile that placed the US's first artificial satellite, Explorer 1, in 1958. In 1961, another modified Redstone, the Mercury-Redstone 3, launched the first American into space, Alan B. Shepard. The thrust of the engine as used in the Redstone missile was 78,000 lbs. As modified for use as a booster for Shepard's Mercury spacecraft, it produced 83,000 lbs of thrust.

Identifier

NASM.2008.0014

Creator

Redstone Arsenal

Date

1960

Provenance

Tom Hancock, Gift, 2008, NASM.2008.0014

Extent

0.07 Cubic feet (4 map folders)

Archival Repository

National Air and Space Museum Archives

Scope and Contents

This collection consists of 36 pages of 17 x 11 inch schematic drawings of the Redstone launch vehicle's advanced electrical systems. The drawings have been marked and corrected ("redlined"). The packet is stamped "Systems Test Section" on the first page.

Arrangement note

Collection is in original order.

Rights

Material is subject to Smithsonian Terms of Use. Should you wish to use NASM material in any medium, please submit an Application for Permission to Reproduce NASM Material, available at Permissions Requests

Restrictions

No restrictions on access.

Citation

Mercury Project, Redstone Launch Vehicle Advanced Electrical Schematic Drawings, NASM.2008.0014, National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution.

Topics

Astronautics

Manned space flight

Launch vehicles (Astronautics)

Mercury Project, Redstone Launch Vehicle

Type

Collection descriptions

Archival materials

Technical drawings