The Texas Collection, Baylor University
Rocketdyne Propulsion Field Laboratory in McGregor, Texas (12)
A solid propellant rocket motor being static tested in a horizontal firing bay at the Rocketdyne Propulsion Field Labratory in McGregor, Texas, in the early 1960s. The "thrust blocks" used to hold the engines in place were made to withstand 50,000 pounds of thrust. For larger units, this McGregor facility had test cells that could withstand thrusts up to 1 million pounds.
In 1952, the 11,500 area Rocketdyne site was established on the grounds of the former Bluebonnet Ordinance Plant. The Bluebonnet Plant was formed at the request of the U.S. Department of Defense to study the German made V-2 missile. from 1952-1959, it was called Astrodyne and formed under a partnership with Phillips Petroleum's rocket fuel division. In its early inception, they tested the V-2 and adapted its burners and fuel systems to match U.S. standards. In doing so, they sought to develop low-cost solid propellant rockets for space missions as well as defense purposes. At this plant, rocket scientists performed research, development, testing and production.
To ship and receive materials needed, the facility was situated on a railroad line having tracks from the Santa Fe and Saint Louis & Southwestern transportation companies. These lines were in loading areas of docks, warehouses, and manufacturing areas. Rocketdyne was part of North American Aviation, Inc., Solid Rocket Division, McGregor, Texas. By the late 1960's, the company had produced 250,000 rockets and this included some used by NASA for the 1969 Apollo Mission to the moon. Some of the land and facilities would later become Hercules and now it is home to SpaceX.
Rocketdyne-A Division of North American Aviation, Inc., Solid Rocket Division, Photographic Department, McGregor, Texas.
Lloyd Gholson Rocketdyne collection, Photographs: Rocket Testing and Blasts, The Texas Collection, Baylor University; Digital ID: tx-phoarch-rocketdyne_2935-prints-0025.tif. Rights: Some rights reserved. E-mail txcoll@baylor.edu for information about the use of our images. Visit www.baylor.edu/lib/texas/ for more information about our collections.
Rocketdyne Propulsion Field Laboratory in McGregor, Texas (12)
A solid propellant rocket motor being static tested in a horizontal firing bay at the Rocketdyne Propulsion Field Labratory in McGregor, Texas, in the early 1960s. The "thrust blocks" used to hold the engines in place were made to withstand 50,000 pounds of thrust. For larger units, this McGregor facility had test cells that could withstand thrusts up to 1 million pounds.
In 1952, the 11,500 area Rocketdyne site was established on the grounds of the former Bluebonnet Ordinance Plant. The Bluebonnet Plant was formed at the request of the U.S. Department of Defense to study the German made V-2 missile. from 1952-1959, it was called Astrodyne and formed under a partnership with Phillips Petroleum's rocket fuel division. In its early inception, they tested the V-2 and adapted its burners and fuel systems to match U.S. standards. In doing so, they sought to develop low-cost solid propellant rockets for space missions as well as defense purposes. At this plant, rocket scientists performed research, development, testing and production.
To ship and receive materials needed, the facility was situated on a railroad line having tracks from the Santa Fe and Saint Louis & Southwestern transportation companies. These lines were in loading areas of docks, warehouses, and manufacturing areas. Rocketdyne was part of North American Aviation, Inc., Solid Rocket Division, McGregor, Texas. By the late 1960's, the company had produced 250,000 rockets and this included some used by NASA for the 1969 Apollo Mission to the moon. Some of the land and facilities would later become Hercules and now it is home to SpaceX.
Rocketdyne-A Division of North American Aviation, Inc., Solid Rocket Division, Photographic Department, McGregor, Texas.
Lloyd Gholson Rocketdyne collection, Photographs: Rocket Testing and Blasts, The Texas Collection, Baylor University; Digital ID: tx-phoarch-rocketdyne_2935-prints-0025.tif. Rights: Some rights reserved. E-mail txcoll@baylor.edu for information about the use of our images. Visit www.baylor.edu/lib/texas/ for more information about our collections.