Marshall Space Flight Center Space Orientation Center Booklet

I have in my collection a small booklet promoting MSFC's Space Orientation Center. The Space Orientation Center was located adjacent to Marshall's rocket garden and contained space-related exhibits, functioning much like a modern NASA center's visitor center.

From the booklet's preface by Wernher von Braun:

Our Space Orientation Center seeks to enable every visitor to understand better the exciting Age of Space.

America is helping to make significant history in our space age. Only from a broad base of communication can we develop sustained understanding and participation in space exploration. A continuing mandate from the people will allow America to pursue a sound space program worthy of our imagination and ideals, permitting us to use this knowledge for the benefit of all mankind.

The booklet is undated; the most recent event referenced in the book was the launch of SA-3 (November 16, 1962). Based on the locations and roll patterns on the missiles in the rocket garden, the booklet was certainly published prior to early 1964. Additionally, SA-4 was launched on March 28, 1963; the booklets handed out at the Space Orientation Center would almost certainly have been updated to tout the latest mission, so the booklet probably dates to the November 1962 to April 1964 timeframe.

Proceed to download links.

Here are some sample pages from the booklet:

Marshall Space Flight Center MSFC Space Orientation Center booklet
cover

Marshall Space Flight Center MSFC Space Orientation Center booklet
forward from Wernher von Braun page from Marshall Space Flight Center MSFC Space Orientation Center
pictures of Wernher von Braun: Distinguished Federal Civilian Service
Award with President Eisenhower, receiving honorary degree, with
President Kennedy in September 1962

Marshall Space Flight Center MSFC Space Orientation Center booklet
page with chart of Saturn I, Saturn IB, Saturn V

Marshall Space Flight Center MSFC Space Orientation Center booklet
page showing crowd standing in line

Marshall Space Flight Center MSFC Space Orientation Center booklet
page showing exhibits such as launch console and Saturn I Block I
model

Marshall Space Flight Center MSFC Space Orientation Center booklet
page showing exhibits such as RL-10 engine and Juno II and Jupiter C
upper stages

Marshall Space Flight Center MSFC Space Orientation Center booklet
page showing Mercury space suit exhibit

Marshall Space Flight Center MSFC Space Orientation Center booklet
page showing map and gate 1, 2, 3, 9, 10

Download Links

I've prepared three PDFs:

A web-resolution PDF for the casual visitor; 1.3 megabytes. View now.
A medium-resolution version for serious study; 2.9 megabytes. Download now.
A full-resolution version for those of you out there with really beefy PCs and like to zoom in to 800%, or want to go to your local copy shop and print up a copy of your own 30.8 megabytes. Download now.