This auction is for one extremely rare and original Rocketdyne manual. This textbook was used to train rocket engineers during the 1950s and 60s and became the forerunner to what would become the standard textbook for future aerospace engineers the world over. It is a truly wonderful historical document for space enthusiasts, collectors as well as professional engineers who actually work in today’s commercial space flight industry.

This manual could possibly be the holy grail of rocket engine propulsion theory and design. Browsing through its contents certainly gives me the impression that this is what “rocket science” is all about…Lots of differential and math equations (certainly beyond my comprehension but still very fascinating to browse thru).

Rocketdyne was the contractor that designed and manufactured three of the significant engines for the Saturn V rocket (the F-1, J-2 and H-1) and the F-1 is still considered as the most powerful rocket engine ever produced. The nickname “King Kong” was appropriately used for the F-1 engine!

The following timeline/milestones gives a perspective of when this manual (1st edition rev. 2) became relevant during the early US space program:

1955 ROCKETDYNE manual printing

1958 NASA established (July 29th)

1958 MERCURY program (ended 1963)

1960 APOLLO program (ended 1972)

1961 GEMINI program (ended 1966)

This massive manual was produced by the NORTH AMERICAN AVIATION-Propulsion Engineering and has more than 460 pages, weighing in at almost 3.5 pounds. There are 16 chapters covering basic fundamentals up to advanced theory and practical engineering designs and applications of actual systems and machines.

The book is in near mint condition. There are no markings or highlighting on any of the pages and I may even surmise that it may be a master or internal library copy at Rocketdyne’s Downey California facility.

This manual/textbook was used to train Rocketdyne engineers. The training took a total of 45 hours and was given from 1pm to 2:30pm twice a week. The training would have been completed in approximately 40 weeks.

The distribution of this manual was restricted to military organizations as stated in the manual itself and this seems to be consistent with the fact that the USAF was the original customer for the F-1 engine and oversaw the Mercury Program as well, both of which were eventually taken over by NASA in 1958.

This rare and historical manual is a must have for space exploration aficionados and collectors and maybe should actually belong in a space museum. The material contained in this volume enabled and literally “empowered” humanity in 14 short years to land on the moon, quite amazing when we think how Homo sapiens humans have been roaming the earth for a few thousand years.

I should mention three individuals listed in the “acknowledgments” page:

David E. Aldrich (program manager for the E-1 and F-1 engine) and Paul D. Castenholz (engineer in charge of the team that resolved the combustion instability problems of the F-1). The instability problem would have doomed the Apollo program if it was not resolved by Paul’s team. The third person of significance is the one who’s handwritten signature is on the cover page. It is none other than GEORGE PAUL SUTTON, former Chief Scientist of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) and the Executive Director of Rocketdyne, whose seminal book Rocket Propulsion has guided rocket scientists and engineers across nine editions thus far. Mr Sutton passed away peacefully from natural causes on October 15, 2020… a true legend!

Due to the rarity of this manual, USPS PRIORITY INSURED shipping would the minimum I will use, but if you prefer expedited (next day) shipping, then let me know ahead of time.