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NASA Photographs collection, 1962-2001

 

Summary

Creator:
United States. National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Abstract:
The NASA Photograph collection, 1962-2001 contains over 10,000 color transparencies, color and black and white photographs documenting National Aeronautics and Space Administration's (NASA) activities in the John F. Kennedy Space Center in Florida from 1962 to 2001. The photographs chronicle the building of space shuttle programs such as Skylab, Apollo, Soyuz, and Space Transportation System (STS) missions. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is the United States government's civilian agency responsible for space exploration, aeronautics research, and scientific discovery. Established on October 1, 1958, through the National Aeronautics and Space Act, was created in response to growing national interest in space exploration during the Cold War. NASA has led numerous landmark programs, including the Mercury, Gemini, Apollo, Space Shuttle, and Artemis programs.
Extent:
40.1 Linear Feet 91 boxes
Language:
English
Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], NASA Photographs collection, Special Collections & University Archives, University of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida.

Background

Scope and content:

The NASA Photograph collection, 1962-2001 contains over 10,000 color transparencies, color and black and white photographs documenting National Aeronautics and Space Administration's (NASA) activities in the John F. Kennedy Space Center in Florida from 1962 to 2001. The photographs chronicle the building of space shuttle programs such as Skylab, Apollo, Soyuz, and Space Transportation System (STS) missions.

Series I: Pre-Shuttle Projects, 1964-1977 contains mainly black and white photographs from NASA projects pre-dating preparations for active space shuttle missions at Kennedy Space Center.

Series II: Space Shuttle Photographs, 1978-2001 contains black and white and color photographs concerning shuttle missions at the Kennedy Space Center.

Series III: Space Shuttle Transparencies, 1962-2001 contains transparencies chronicling the building of the space shuttle program at Kennedy Space Center.

Biographical / historical:

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is the United States government's civilian agency responsible for space exploration, aeronautics research, and scientific discovery. Established on October 1, 1958, through the National Aeronautics and Space Act, NASA replaced the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA) and was created in response to growing national interest in space exploration during the Cold War. NASA has led numerous landmark programs, including the Mercury, Gemini, Apollo, Space Shuttle, and Artemis programs, and has advanced scientific knowledge through robotic missions, Earth observation, and international collaboration in space exploration.

Developed in 1972 by North American Rockwell, the space shuttle began with the idea of routine space flights using partially reusable vehicles. The shuttle program aided in research and commercial space ventures, including the Hubble Space Telescope and satellite repairs. From the mid-1990s to 2010, the space shuttle was the primary vehicle for international space exploration, including the Russian Mir Space Station and the International Space Station. In 2004, NASA discontinued the Space Transportation Systems (STS) program.

Acquisition information:
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) donated these materials in 2007 (Accession no. CFM2007_02).
Processing information:

Processed and finding aid prepared by Jamie Winholtz and Laurie Devaney in 2007. Transparencies were processed and added to the collection by John Lynch in 2017. Collection rehoused and finding aid revised by Simone Deluque in 2023. Finding aid revised for consistency by Chloe Lanham in 2026.

Arrangement:

The collection is divided into three series by subject and material type, then in chronological order.

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Access and use

Restrictions:

The entire collection is open for research.

Terms of access:

Unpublished manuscripts are protected by copyright. Permission to publish, quote or reproduce must be secured from the repository and the copyright holder.

Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], NASA Photographs collection, Special Collections & University Archives, University of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida.

Location of this collection:
John C. Hitt Library
12701 Pegasus Drive, Building 2
Orlando
FL
32816-8030
USA