This a section of an I-beam from the Vertical Test Stand No. 1 at the Santa Susana Field Laboratory, of Rocketdyne, in the Santa Susana Mountains, CA. The Vertical Test Stand No. 1, or VTS-1, was an extremely important site used by Rocketdyne from the 1950s for the testing of many of the U.S.'s first large-scale liquid propellant rocket engines, starting with the Redstone missile engine. This engine, actually derived from the Navaho missile project, was the start of the evolution of big engines that included the Thor, Jupiter, Atlas, the H-1, J-2, F-1, and up to the Shuttle Main Engine. (Rocketdyne was formed in 1955 as a Division of North American Aviation, which had started its rocketry activities at its Aerophysics Laboratory.)

VTS-1 was finally demolished in 1996, along with other obsolete stands, as a cost-saving measure due to their expensive upkeep. The Rocketdyne Division of Rockwell International donated this artifact to the Museum in 2001.

Display Status

This object is not on display at the National Air and Space Museum. It is either on loan or in storage.

Object Details

Country of Origin

United States of America

Type

PROPULSION-Miscellaneous

Manufacturer

Rocketdyne Division, Rockwell International

Dimensions

3-D: 48.6 × 13.7 × 19.8cm, 14.5kg (1 ft. 7 1/8 in. × 5 3/8 in. × 7 13/16 in., 32lb.)

Materials

Steel
Paint
Ink

Inventory Number

A20040138000

Credit Line

Gift of Rockwell International Corporation, Rocketdyne Division.

Data Source

National Air and Space Museum

Restrictions & Rights

Usage conditions apply
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