Marshall Space Flight Center, Redstone Rocket (Missile) Test Stand, Dodd Road, Huntsville, Madison County, AL

Significance: The Redstone Interim Test Stand, in use from 1953 to 1961, was developed by Dr. Wernher von Braun and associates to test the Redstone rocket propulsion system. Constructed for $25,000 out of materials salvaged from the Redstone Arsenal, the Interim Test Stand accommodated 362 static tests, including 200 that led directly to improvements in the Redstone rocket for the Mercury manned flight program. Adapted over the years to new rocket developments, the Interim Test Stand never experienced the progressive growth in size and cost that typified test stands in general, remaining a modest but effective testament to the engineering ingenuity of the rocket pioneers.

Unprocessed Field note material exists for this structure: N182

Survey number: HAER AL-129-A

Building/structure dates: 1952 Initial Construction

Building/structure dates: 1954 Subsequent Work

Building/structure dates: 1959 Subsequent Work

National Register of Historic Places NRIS Number: 76000341

rockets testing alabama marshall space flight center redstone rocket redstone rocket missile dodd dodd road huntsville madison county test flight national space program test stands mercury program space flight army ballistic missile agency thomas m behrens renee bieretz danny j bonenberger historic american engineering record jet lowe facilities office marshall space flight center mercury redstone national aeronautics and space administration richard o connor michael e pugh craig strong wernher von braun amy e vona erin l walsh photo nasa rocket engines rocket technology library of congress national register of historic places

1969 - 1980

Library of Congress

http://www.loc.gov/

No known restrictions on images made by the U.S. Government; images copied from other sources may be restricted. http://www.loc.gov/rr/print/res/114_habs.html