I am reposting this blog entry along with an update. The original posting disappeared while migrating the website to a new server.
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While researching past Earth-to-orbit space transportation systems, I came across this excellent series of historical documents related to NASA’s Space Transportation System. This work was undertaken by the Space Transportation System Recording Project, Historic American Engineering Record, National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior. It has produced a series of drawings, photographs, and historical narrative describing the development and operation of the Space Transportation System.
- Description of the process used to prepare the information. This contains several interesting YouTube videos.
- Detailed drawing of the Space Transportation System. The individual drawings are also available from the Library of Congress here.
- Extensive 728-page written and photographic record of the development and operation of the Space Transportation System.
- Extensive Library of Congress record of the photographs taken as part of the preparation of the drawings.
- HAER two-page drawing package of the Space Shuttle Main Engine.
The Historic American Engineering Record and the associated Historic American Building Survey have records of 40,000 American structures and sites. It has started to include key space structures and sites. The collection may be searched here.