Ames Research Center Image Library

September 14, 2009 5:19 PM

Ames Research Center Image Library

Highlights from Ames - images from the Ames Research Center image library, which includes lots of great photography from the past and present. Such as:

• Cicra 1968 - 1969: Biosatellite model with monkey shown in the front of the capsule and the life spport package in the rear.
• Hubert Vykukal (designer) demonstrates mobility of the Hardsuit AX-3 Space Suit design
• M-1 model of reentry body in 3.5ft Hypersonic Wind Tunnel throat
• Boeing 747 wake vortex test-440 in thr 40x80ft. w.t. with Rufiange, Vern Rossow, Eloy Martinez

Also available at the Internet Archive

posted by shoesfullofdust (7 comments total)

Just for fun, I searched the image library for 'nerva', and was rewarded with a couple of cutaway drawings and some pictures of nuclear-thermal rocket engines. Cool. And sad that these never went anywhere after the 60's.
posted by FishBike at 5:41 PM on September 14, 2009

Now those are all pretty cool but not nearly as cool as the Spacemobile!

Backing singers: "Spaaa-ce-mob-ile..."
posted by Fiasco da Gama at 6:42 PM on September 14, 2009

The real monkeys could only dream of riding in that biosatellite model.
posted by Edward L at 7:15 PM on September 14, 2009

You missed this one of the space aliens hidden at Ames!

My dad worked at Ames for 30 years so it's neat to see these pics (none are of him though.)
posted by vespabelle at 7:43 PM on September 14, 2009

I wonder if there were engineers who spent their entire careers working on the Hardsuit AX-3 Space Suit only to see their creation never be used in space.
posted by digsrus at 8:02 PM on September 14, 2009

To get a good idea of how Silicon Valley has grown since Ames Research Center was built, compare this photo with this Google Satellite view. And this is just a tiny portion of Silicon Valley.

Notice all the farmland around Ames in the first picture. As a friend of mine likes to say, Santa Clara County has some of the best farmland in the US--all covered up with asphalt. It was once all fruit orchards. Now it is all tilt-ups.
posted by eye of newt at 8:24 PM on September 14, 2009

I love you this much.</a
posted by Ogre Lawless at 10:43 AM on September 15, 2009