Spacecraft Propulsion Research Facility
United States historic place in Sandusky, Ohio. Built 1968. Added to the National Register in 1985, and a National Historic Landmark.
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What it is
The Spacecraft Propulsion Research Facility, now known as the In-Space Propulsion Facility, is, the "world’s only facility capable of testing full-scale upper-stage launch vehicles and rocket engines under simulated high-altitude conditions." The facility, located at NASA's Neil A. Armstrong Test Facility of the Glenn Research Center near Sandusky, Ohio, was built in 1968. Its first major use was for testing stages of the Centaur Rocket, which was used to launch some of America's most important space probes. The facility was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1985.
Text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
The record
| Property type | Structure |
| Address | Lewis Research Center, Plum Brook Station, Sandusky, OH |
| County | Erie County |
| Listed | Oct 3, 1985 |
| Listed for | Engineering, Transportation |
| Level of significance | National |
| Reference number | 85002802 |
| Built | 1968 · more from the 1960s |
| Type of place | laboratory, building of public administration |
| Designations | National Historic Landmark |
| Contributing resources | 3 buildings, 4 structures |
The nomination form, the document that argues why this place matters, is in the National Archives: Read the nomination ↗
Visiting
| Address | Lewis Research Center, Plum Brook Station, Sandusky, OH |
| Website | www1.grc.nasa.gov/facilities/isp ↗ |
| Coordinates | 41.3671° N, 82.6836° W · Directions ↗ |
| Also in Sandusky | 119 listed places in Sandusky → · walking tours → |
| Nearest national park unit | Perry's Victory & International Peace Memorial · 21 miles · on Park Atlas |
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Map
Nearby in Erie County
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Guidebooks to historic places and travel in Ohio
Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
When was Spacecraft Propulsion Research Facility listed on the National Register?
Oct 3, 1985. It is also a National Historic Landmark, the higher of the two designations.
Source: National Park Service
When was Spacecraft Propulsion Research Facility built?
1968.
Source: Wikidata
Can I visit Spacecraft Propulsion Research Facility?
Probably. Places of this type are usually open to the public, but the record lists no hours; the official website will have them.
Source: Official website
Where is Spacecraft Propulsion Research Facility?
Lewis Research Center, Plum Brook Station, Sandusky, Erie County, Ohio. The nearest national park unit is Perry's Victory & International Peace Memorial, 21 miles away.
What does the Spacecraft Propulsion Research Facility listing include?
The listing counts 7 contributing resources. Those are 3 buildings and 4 structures. A contributing resource is a part of the listed property that carries its historic significance.
Source: National Park Service
Where is the nomination form for Spacecraft Propulsion Research Facility?
The National Archives holds the nomination form, the document that made the case for listing.
Source: National Archives
Is there cell service at Spacecraft Propulsion Research Facility?
FCC coverage maps show Verizon 5G, AT&T 5G, and T-Mobile 5G at the listed point. Coverage indoors and behind old masonry is another matter.
Source: FCC Broadband Map
Sources
Location, type and contributing counts come from the National Park Service's National Register spatial data. Listing dates come from the National Register office's spreadsheet where it carries the listing. Construction date, architect, style, photograph and encyclopedia link come from Wikidata and Wikimedia Commons, matched on reference number 85002802. Nothing here is transcribed by hand. The nomination form and photographs ↗ at NPGallery are the original nomination as filed with the National Park Service, and the form is often the best description of the place. The description under "What it is" is the opening of the Wikipedia article, CC BY-SA.