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U.S. Space & Rocket Center

The U.S. Space & Rocket Center is located in Huntsville, AL, and serves as the Visitor Center for Marshall Space Flight Center.

The USSRC holds a special place in my heart: While I've always been interested in the space program, that interest lay dormant from about the time I graduated school until 2002, when a coworker who went to a NASCAR race in Talladega brought back some pictures from a side trip to the USSRC. As I avidly thumbed through his pictures, he said that it was only a day's drive away. And so I made that 11½ hour trip down I-65 that summer, and again, and again -- sometimes two or three times a year. As of April 2024, it's 30 trips (and counting).

It was on the drive home from that first USSRC trip when I thought to myself, "Well, there are only 15 manned Apollo command modules; it shouldn't be that hard to see all of them." Around that time I discovered the Field Guide to American Spacecraft, and the rest is history (or at least this website).

I've been visiting the Rocket Center for over 20 years, and as one might expect, there have been many changes at the museum over the years. The most obvious change is the construction of the Davidson Center for Space Exploration: When I started visiting, all of the artifacts were located in what is now the "old" building (at the time, it was the "only" building :-) The main exhibit gallery was Space Hall, where most of the big-ticket items were located. A number of smaller artifacts were located in the Rocket City Legacy exhibit, with a smaller number being exhibited on the West Mezzanine. The Saturn V, of course, was located in the Rocket Park.

Starting in summer 2007, artifacts started moving into the Davidson Center. First, it was the Saturn V (during "Rocket Roll"). Additional artifacts were moved to the Davidson Center prior to its grand opening on January 31, 2008 (the 50th anniversary of the first successful U.S. satellite launch). Over the course of the next couple of years, nearly all of the artifacts (other than those on the West Mezzanine) were moved from the old museum to the Davidson Center, with Space Hall primarily hosting travelling exhibits and the old Rocket City Legacy area given over to virtual reality, simulators, and smaller temporary exhibits.

The Rocket Park underwent additional changes starting in summer 2018, as all of the Chrysler rockets (i.e., those based on Jupiter and Redstone missiles), the V-1, and the MOLAB were taken off of display for restoration. By spring 2024, the Rocket Park was being completely reconstructed, with all of the blacktop and walls east of the simulated lunar surface being removed and redone. As of my last visit, work was still underway and these artifacts were still off display.

I've tried to arrange the artifacts on this page in some sort of logical fashion, which is something of a daunting task with all of these changes! I've settled upon presenting all of the (more-or-less) current exhibits, in approximately the order they would be encountered by first walking through the museum and then taking a stroll in the Rocket Park. Then I've placed my photos of of artifacts that are no longer on exhibit or which have been moved, again beginning with the former indoor exhibits and then artifacts which had been in the Rocket Park.

Google Maps link.

As of now, I have not yet sorted through all of my pictures from the USSRC, 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.

 
U.S. Space & Rocket Center
U.S. Space & Rocket Center
A-12
A-12
Saturn V Replica
Saturn V Replica
Davidson Center for Space Exploration
Davidson Center for Space Exploration
Wernher von Braun Team Tribute
Wernher von Braun Team Tribute
F-1 Engine (Outdoors)
F-1 Engine (Outdoors)
Saturn V (Davidson Center)
Saturn V (Davidson Center)
Saturn V S-IC (First) Stage (Davidson Center)
Saturn V S-IC (First) Stage (Davidson Center)
Saturn V S-II (Second) Stage (Davidson Center)
Saturn V S-II (Second) Stage (Davidson Center)
Saturn V S-IVB (Third) Stage (Davidson Center)
Saturn V S-IVB (Third) Stage (Davidson Center)
Instrument Unit (IU) on Saturn V
Instrument Unit (IU) on Saturn V
Saturn V CSM & SLA (Davidson Center)
Saturn V CSM & SLA (Davidson Center)
von Braun Bike
von Braun Bike
von Braun Office (Davidson Center)
von Braun Office (Davidson Center)
V-2 (Davidson Center)
V-2 (Davidson Center)
V-2 Engine (Davidson Center)
V-2 Engine (Davidson Center)
A-7 Engine (Davidson Center)
A-7 Engine (Davidson Center)
Explorer I Launch Console (Davidson Center)
Explorer I Launch Console (Davidson Center)
Juno I Apex Determinator
Juno I Apex Determinator
Miss Baker Couch
Miss Baker Couch
Mercury Procedures Trainer
Mercury Procedures Trainer
Gemini Helmet
Gemini Helmet
Gemini Boots
Gemini Boots
Gemini Glove
Gemini Glove
Gemini EVA Umbilical
Gemini EVA Umbilical
Gemini Hand-Held Maneuvering Unit
Gemini Hand-Held Maneuvering Unit
Gemini Mission Simulator (Davidson Center)
Gemini Mission Simulator (Davidson Center)
Gemini Ingress/Egress Trainer
Gemini Ingress/Egress Trainer
H-1 Engine (Davidson Center)
H-1 Engine (Davidson Center)
H-1 Engine Propellant Valves
H-1 Engine Propellant Valves
S-3D Engine Turbine
S-3D Engine Turbine
RL10 Engine (Davidson Center)
RL10 Engine (Davidson Center)
RL10 Engine Turbopump
RL10 Engine Turbopump
RL10 Thrust Chamber Section
RL10 Thrust Chamber Section
F-1 Engine (Davidson Center)
F-1 Engine (Davidson Center)
F-1 Dolly
F-1 Dolly
F-1 Engine LOX Flow Meter
F-1 Engine LOX Flow Meter
J-2 Engine (Davidson Center)
J-2 Engine (Davidson Center)
The Force
The Force
Test Stand Model
Test Stand Model
O2/H2 Burner (Helium Heater)
O2/H2 Burner (Helium Heater)
Instrument Unit (Davidson Center)
Instrument Unit (Davidson Center)
Mind of Saturn
Mind of Saturn
SA-7 Camera Capsule
SA-7 Camera Capsule
LES Pitch Motor
LES Pitch Motor
Saturn V Range Safety Decoder
Saturn V Range Safety Decoder
S-IVB APS Ullage Engine
S-IVB APS Ullage Engine
S-II Common Bulkhead Insulation
S-II Common Bulkhead Insulation
F-1 Engine Gas Generator Injector
F-1 Engine Gas Generator Injector
F-1 Engine Injector Baffle
F-1 Engine Injector Baffle
S-IC Y-Ring
S-IC Y-Ring
Apollo Crew Side Hatch Handle
Apollo Crew Side Hatch Handle
Apollo 1 Suits (Davidson Center)
Apollo 1 Suits (Davidson Center)
Swing Arm 8
Swing Arm 8
White Room
White Room
Gemini Fuel Cell (Davidson Center)
Gemini Fuel Cell (Davidson Center)
Apollo Fuel Cell (Davidson Center)
Apollo Fuel Cell (Davidson Center)
Lunar Module (Davidson Center)
Lunar Module (Davidson Center)
Lunar Roving Vehicle (Davidson Center)
Lunar Roving Vehicle (Davidson Center)
DPS Engine (Davidson Center)
DPS Engine (Davidson Center)
APS Engine (Davidson Center)
APS Engine (Davidson Center)
Apollo 16 (Davidson Center)
Apollo 16 (Davidson Center)
Apollo Lunar Surface Tools
Apollo Lunar Surface Tools
PLSS
PLSS
Apollo A7LB PGA
Apollo A7LB PGA
Shuttle Liquid Cooling and Ventilation Garment (Davidson Center)
Shuttle Liquid Cooling and Ventilation Garment (Davidson Center)
Apollo Spacesuit Urine Collection and Transfer Assembly
Apollo Spacesuit Urine Collection and Transfer Assembly
Apollo 11 Hand Casts
Apollo 11 Hand Casts
Flying Apollo
Flying Apollo
Apollo: Life Aboard
Apollo: Life Aboard
Apollo: Safely Home
Apollo: Safely Home
Apollo Probe & Drogue System
Apollo Probe & Drogue System
Apollo Command Module Trainer (Davidson Center)
Apollo Command Module Trainer (Davidson Center)
Lunar Module Mission Simulator (Davidson Center)
Lunar Module Mission Simulator (Davidson Center)
Skylab Solar Array (Davidson Center)
Skylab Solar Array (Davidson Center)
Skylab Oxygen Tank (Davidson Center)
Skylab Oxygen Tank (Davidson Center)
Skylab Prototype Cutter Tool
Skylab Prototype Cutter Tool
Space Shuttle Main Engine (SSME) Powerhead
Space Shuttle Main Engine (SSME) Powerhead
Shuttle SRB Hold-Down Bolt
Shuttle SRB Hold-Down Bolt
Project Mercury Suit
Project Mercury Suit
Gemini G2C Suit (Charles Laine)
Gemini G2C Suit (Charles Laine)
Dick Gordon's Apollo 18 Suit
Dick Gordon's Apollo 18 Suit
Shuttle Ejection Escape Suit
Shuttle Ejection Escape Suit
CST-100 Pressure Vessel
CST-100 Pressure Vessel
Space Camp
Space Camp
Cosmic Apple Tree
Cosmic Apple Tree
Saturn IB Model (Education Center)
Saturn IB Model (Education Center)
Rocket Park
Rocket Park
Saturn I
Saturn I
Saturn I Interior
Saturn I Interior
Saturn I Block I Support Arm
Saturn I Block I Support Arm
Atlas
Atlas
Chinook Helicopter
Chinook Helicopter
LM Mockup
LM Mockup
Skylab Mockup
Skylab Mockup
SPS Engine
SPS Engine
Saturn V Interstages
Saturn V Interstages
Space Shuttle Pathfinder
Space Shuttle Pathfinder
Pathfinder Restoration
Pathfinder Restoration
Shuttle Main Propulsion Test Article (MPTA)
Shuttle Main Propulsion Test Article (MPTA)
Bone Yard
Bone Yard
IU (Boneyard)
IU (Boneyard)
Redstone Thrust Unit 2024
Redstone Thrust Unit 2024
Skylab Shroud
Skylab Shroud
FLEEP (Davidson Center)
FLEEP (Davidson Center)
LM Lunar Surface Sensing Probe
LM Lunar Surface Sensing Probe
LM Landing Gear Strut
LM Landing Gear Strut
Young Apollo 16 Suit
Young Apollo 16 Suit
J-2X Engine
J-2X Engine
Red Bull Stratos Travelling Exhibit
Red Bull Stratos Travelling Exhibit
FLEEP
FLEEP
DPS Engine Mockup
DPS Engine Mockup
APS Engine Mockup
APS Engine Mockup
Kerwin Skylab Suit
Kerwin Skylab Suit
Apollo TMG Boot
Apollo TMG Boot
Apollo A6L Lunar Overboot
Apollo A6L Lunar Overboot
Mattingly's Apollo 16 A7LB IV Glove
Mattingly's Apollo 16 A7LB IV Glove
Apollo A7L EVA Glove Components
Apollo A7L EVA Glove Components
Apollo Suit Pressure Gauge
Apollo Suit Pressure Gauge
Apollo A7L/A7LB Suit Connectors
Apollo A7L/A7LB Suit Connectors
Apollo Urine Collection & Transfer Assembly
Apollo Urine Collection & Transfer Assembly
Skylab Food
Skylab Food
Chimp Couch
Chimp Couch
Test Nose Cone
Test Nose Cone
Apollo 1 Suits
Apollo 1 Suits
Apollo 16 Hatch
Apollo 16 Hatch
Apollo Lunar Extravehicular Visor Assembly (LEVA)
Apollo Lunar Extravehicular Visor Assembly (LEVA)
von Braun's ABMA Office (Rocket City Legacy)
von Braun's ABMA Office (Rocket City Legacy)
Rocket City Legacy
Rocket City Legacy
RL10 Engine
RL10 Engine
Skylab Spider Experiment
Skylab Spider Experiment
Conrad's Apollo 12 Suit ITMG
Conrad's Apollo 12 Suit ITMG
Schweickart's Apollo 9 Suit
Schweickart's Apollo 9 Suit
Brand's ASTP Suit TLSA
Brand's ASTP Suit TLSA
Gemini G-2G Suit
Gemini G-2G Suit
von Braun's Neutral Buoyancy Simulator Suit
von Braun's Neutral Buoyancy Simulator Suit
Apollo Artifacts
Apollo Artifacts
DPS Engine (Old Museum)
DPS Engine (Old Museum)
APS Engine (Old Museum)
APS Engine (Old Museum)
Explorer I Launch Console
Explorer I Launch Console
Instrument Unit (IU)
Instrument Unit (IU)
Skylab Solar Array
Skylab Solar Array
Gemini Fuel Cell
Gemini Fuel Cell
Apollo Fuel Cell
Apollo Fuel Cell
Saturn V Model
Saturn V Model
Jupiter Reentry Vehicle
Jupiter Reentry Vehicle
Lunar Module (Space Hall)
Lunar Module (Space Hall)
Apollo A7LB Suit
Apollo A7LB Suit
Lunar Roving Vehicle (Space Hall)
Lunar Roving Vehicle (Space Hall)
LRV Model
LRV Model
Biological Isolation Garment
Biological Isolation Garment
Moon Rock
Moon Rock
A-7 Engine (Indoors)
A-7 Engine (Indoors)
V-2
V-2
V-2 Engine
V-2 Engine
Apollo CM Trainer
Apollo CM Trainer
Lunar Module Mission Simulator
Lunar Module Mission Simulator
Apollo 16
Apollo 16
Gemini Mission Simulator
Gemini Mission Simulator
Gemini Artifacts
Gemini Artifacts
Mercury Procedures Traner (Space Hall)
Mercury Procedures Traner (Space Hall)
J-2 Engine (Indoors)
J-2 Engine (Indoors)
F-1 Engine (Indoors)
F-1 Engine (Indoors)
H-1 Engine
H-1 Engine
Space Shuttle Main Engine (SSME) (Old Museum)
Space Shuttle Main Engine (SSME) (Old Museum)
Thrusters
Thrusters
Skylab Artifacts
Skylab Artifacts
Juno/Jupiter-C Upper Stages Mockup
Juno/Jupiter-C Upper Stages Mockup
Gemini AMU
Gemini AMU
McCandless A7LB Suit
McCandless A7LB Suit
Lousma's ASTP Suit
Lousma's ASTP Suit
Shuttle Liquid Cooling and Ventilation Garment
Shuttle Liquid Cooling and Ventilation Garment
Apollo Docking Probe
Apollo Docking Probe
F-1 Rocket Engine Inner-Dome Attach Bolt
F-1 Rocket Engine Inner-Dome Attach Bolt
F-1 Rocket Engine Tubing Flange
F-1 Rocket Engine Tubing Flange
V-2 Engine (Outdoors)
V-2 Engine (Outdoors)
V-1
V-1
Jupiter
Jupiter
Juno II
Juno II
Jupiter Tail Unit Interior
Jupiter Tail Unit Interior
A-7 Engine (Outdoors)
A-7 Engine (Outdoors)
Army Redstone
Army Redstone
Mercury-Redstone Booster
Mercury-Redstone Booster
Mercury-Redstone Tail Unit Interior
Mercury-Redstone Tail Unit Interior
Jupiter-C
Jupiter-C
Redstone Tail Unit
Redstone Tail Unit
Mobile Lunar Laboratory (MOLAB)
Mobile Lunar Laboratory (MOLAB)
NERVA Engine
NERVA Engine
J-2 Engine (Outdoors)
J-2 Engine (Outdoors)
DPS Engine (Outdoors)
DPS Engine (Outdoors)
Saturn V (Rocket Park)
Saturn V (Rocket Park)
Saturn V S-IC (First) Stage
Saturn V S-IC (First) Stage
S-IC Transporter
S-IC Transporter
Saturn V S-II (Second) Stage
Saturn V S-II (Second) Stage
Saturn V S-IVB (Third) Stage
Saturn V S-IVB (Third) Stage
Saturn V CSM & SLA
Saturn V CSM & SLA
Titan II
Titan II
Space Shuttle Main Engine (SSME) (outdoors)
Space Shuttle Main Engine (SSME) (outdoors)
Centaur G-Prime
Centaur G-Prime
Gemini B Adapter
Gemini B Adapter
Gemini Titan 5
Gemini Titan 5
Saturn IB Fin
Saturn IB Fin
Titan I
Titan I
J-2 Engines in Building 7241
J-2 Engines in Building 7241
Apollo Docking Latch
Apollo Docking Latch
Building 7232
Building 7232