Historic Documents
Collection of links to PDFs of historical documents, reference material, and technical reports related to PSL No. 1 and 2.
Overview
A great deal of information has been collected regarding the Propulsion Systems Laboratory No. 1 and 2. This includes original documents, articles, reports, and speeches spanning from 1948 to 2007. Topics include general PSL information, construction, turbojets, ramjets, rockets, turbofan engines, support buildings, and the demolition. PDFs of some of these materials have been assembled here for research and reference. Also included are NACA and NASA technical reports regarding tests conducted in the PSL.
PSL History
- Pursuit of Power: NASA’s Propulsion Systems Laboratory No. 1 and 2 (NASA SP-2012-4548)
- PSL HAER Report
- PSL No. 1 and 2 Original Website (PDF version)
Center History
- Model Research: The National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics, 1915 – 1958
- Engines & Innovation: Lewis Lab and American Propulsion Technology
- Bringing the Future Within Reach: Celebrating 75 Years of NASA Glenn
PSL Design and Construction
- New Altitude Test Facilities Aid Improvements of Turbojets (1952)
- Preliminary Proposal for PSL (1948)
- PSL Construction articles (1948-50)
- PSL Construction Progress Reports (1949)
- PSL Construction Progress Reports (1950) pt 2
- PSL Construction Reports (1950) pt 1
- PSL Test Chamber Specifications (1948)
- Wasielewski Retirement article (1956)
Missiles and Turbojets
- Engine Research Division Reorganization (1951)
- Jet Engines for War talk by Dryden (1951)
- PSL Operations Summary (1953-57)
- Full Scale Engine Research talk (1954)
- Free-jet Tests of 48-inch Diameter Ramjet with Annular Can-type Flameholder (1955)
- Investigation of Engine Dynamics and Controls for 48-inch Ramjet (1956)
- Pentaborane Fuel in a 48-inch Diameter Ramjet Engine (1957)
- Experimental Investigation of Dynamic Relations in a 48-inch Ram-Jet Engine (1957)
- Some Operating Experience During Operation of a Free-Jet Facility (1957)
- Free-Jet Investigation of Dynamics of a 28-inch Diameter Ramjet (1957)
- Investigation of Marquardt Shock-Positioning Control Unit (1957)
- Investigation of Marquardt Shock-Positioning Control Unit (1958)
- Altitude Investigation of J73-GE-1A Engine Components (1954)
- Performance of YJ73-GE-3 Turbojet Engine in Altitude Test Chamber (1955)
- Altitude Performance Characteristics of the J73-GE-1A Turbojet Engine (1954)
- Preliminary Performance Data for Variable-Ejector Assembly on XJ79-GE-1 (1956)
- Altitude Performance of the Afterburner on the Iroquois Turbojet Engine (1958)
- History of Ramjet Development at the Marquardt Company (2005)
Rocket Engines
- Design Report for RL-10-A-3-3 (1966)
- ASME Report on RL-10 (1970s)
- Characteristics of Centaur Gimbal System Under Thrust Load (1966)
- Effect of Several Injector Face Baffle Configurations on Screech (1966)
- Effect of Propellant Injection Velocity on Screech (1966)
- Experimental Rocket Performance of Apollo Storable Propellants (1966)
Turbofan Engines
- F-100 Multivariable Control Synthesis Program (1983)
- Propulsion Controls, 1979
- Full Scale Engine Program article (1978)
- Researchers Complete Tests of Control System article (1979)
- PSL MVCS Testing Correspondence (1975)
- Status of NASA Full-Scale Engine Aeroelasticity Research (1980)
- Characteristics of Aeroelastic Instabilities in Turbomachinery (1979)
- Inlet Temperature Distortion on the Stall Limits of J85-GE-13 (1974)
- Afterburner Equipped Turbofan with and Without Inlet Flow Distortion (1970)
- Inducing Controlled Steady-state and Dynamic Inlet Pressure Disturbances (1970)
- Air Jets as a Steady-State Inlet Flow Distortion Device (1970)
Equipment Building Explosion
- Equipment Building Explosion article (1971)
- Recertification Program article (1987)
- 1971 Building 64 Explosion briefing (2005)
Return to Jet Engines
- 1971 Building 64 Explosion briefing (2005)
- Contract Let for PSL Expansion (1968)
- Equipment Building Explosion article (1971)
- Full Scale Engine Program article (1978)
- Propulsion Systems Lab No. 3-4 brochure (1991)
- PSL MVCS Testing Correspondence (1975)
- PSL No. 3-4 Construction articles (1967-70)
- PSL No. 3-4 Operation article (1972)
- Recertification Program article (1987)
- Researchers Complete Tests of Control System article (1979)
Shutdown and Demolition
- Mothballing of PSL 1-2 article (1979)
- Why Phase Out PSL article (1978)
- PSL Historical Mitigation Agreement (2007)
- History of PSL No. 1 and 2 slides (2006)
- Demolition Plan and Environmental slides (2006)
- Impact Historical Mitigation slides (2006)
- ACHP Section 106 Process Demo PSL 1 and 2
Floor Plans and Facility Descriptions
- New Building to House Library (1949)
- PSL Floor Plans (1956)
- PSL Facility Description (1957)
- Equipment Building Floor Plans (1956-62)
- Access Building Floor Plans (1956-67)
- PSL Buildings Description (1975)
- Central Air Systems Growth chart (c1980)
PSL No. 3 and 4
- PSL No. 3 and 4 website (2018)
- Contract Let for PSL Expansion (1968)
- Propulsion Systems Lab No. 3-4 brochure (1991)
- PSL No. 3-4 Construction articles (1967-70)
- PSL No. 3-4 Operation article (1972)
- Hypersonics Test in PSL (1998)
- Advances in PSL Test Capabilities (2006)
Support Buildings
- Access Building Floor Plans (1956-67)
- Central Air Systems Growth chart (c1980)
- Equipment Building Floor Plans (1956-62)
- New Building to House Library (1949)
- PSL Buildings Description (1975)
- PSL Facility Description (1957)
- PSL Floor Plans (1956)
PSL’s Final Years
- ACHP Section 106 Process Demo PSL 1 and 2
- Advances in PSL Test Capabilities (2006)
- Demolition Plan and Environmental slides (2006)
- History of PSL No. 1 and 2 slides (2006)
- Hypersonics Test in PSL (1998)
- Impact Historical Mitigation slides (2006)
- Mothballing of PSL 1-2 article (1979)
- PSL Historical Mitigation Agreement (2007)
- Why Phase Out PSL article (1978)