J-2 Engine (Davidson Center)

The USSRC displays a J-2 rocket engine. (Prior to the opening of the Davidson Center for Space Exploration, the engine was displayed in Space Hall in the "old" museum).

This is an early engine. The famous Saturn V stage separation film, which was shot on Apollo 4 (AS-501), shows engines which were painted white; this paint was typical of early flights but subsequent flights had unpainted engines. Additionally, this engine has the original augmented spark igniter fuel line.

In its previous home in Space Hall in the "old" museum and during its early stay in the Davidson Center, this rocket engine was a free-standing exhibit, just an engine on its handler. However, in summer of 2009 the engine was incorporated into a larger exhibit called "The Force." The exhibit is packed with great information and fascinating, obscure, propulsion-related artifacts, but it does limit one's access to the engine. I photograph this engine prior to it becoming one with The Force (as a Jedi Knight might say ...), so photos from certain angles are partially obscured.

I have a number of J-2-related resources.

As of now, I have not yet sorted through all of my pictures of the J-2 engine, but some other page references this location. Thus, this is a "place holder" version right now, with only the pictures actually referenced. Come back some time later to see if I've finished up, or drop me an email to request me to prioritize the rest of these pictures.