Access to the U.S. Space & Rocket Center Archives is granted by appointment only and is based on staff availability.
The Archives of the U.S. Space & Rocket Center contains some of the most important technical documents and historic papers of the 20th century, including:
- The papers of Dr. Wernher von Braun and other rocket scientists - 108 linear feet of Von Braun's documents alone!
- A collection of hundreds of books covering topics from space history to science fiction
- Technical documents pertaining to the early birth of space exploration
- NASA special publications
- Congressional records from the early space program
- Science fiction materials from the 1920s forward
- The papers of WWII U. S. Army Ordnance Corps officers
- The space collection of Frederick Ordway III, who served as the Technical Advisor for the film 2001: A Space Odyssey.
If you are interested in utilizing the Center’s collection for research, please fill out a research application by clicking here: Archives Research Application Form
U.S. Space & Rocket Center Archives
Rules of Conduct
Handling artifacts and archival materials:
When handling or dealing with any artifacts or archival material from USSRC, please follow the guidelines outlined below.
- No researcher will be left unattended in an area containing archives or objects.
- Always follow instructions provided by the supervising USSRC staff.
- Wear clean gloves that are appropriate to the handling requirements of the artifact:
- Nitrile gloves when handling most objects
- Cotton gloves with nitrile-coated palms when handling large objects that require extra grip
- Never eat, smoke, or drink in the vicinity of collections.
- Use extreme precaution when handling any artifact:
- Do not place the object in any area where you are using tools, liquids, pens, or other non-artifacts
- Be aware of the object’s location at all times to avoid accidental breakage, bumping, or dropping
- When moving an artifact even a short distance, plan where you are going before you go there
- Always lift or hold an object over a surface, never slide or push an object across a surface
- Always use two hands to lift or hold an object (unless it is oversized or awkward, then use several people)
- When moving a spacesuit, a minimum of two people are necessary at all times
- Avoid lifting objects by limbs, handles, spouts, or other extended areas
- Do not clean any artifact.
- If an object breaks or is damaged in some way, collect all broken pieces no matter how small, and label them in a container with object identification.
If you have any other questions, please contact Curator, Ed Stewart, edwards@spacecamp.com or 256-721-5453.
Thank you for your cooperation in extending the life of our artifacts and archives!