Calaway, Michael J.

NASA Technical Reports Server

https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=20160005890 2019-08-31T03:27:03+00:00Z
MSC 1965 Aerial Photo
Bldg. 31 Location Before Ground Breaking
NASA Johnson Space Center (JSC) Building 31 is 
located northwest of Fifth Street, southeast of 
Building 9 and Fourth Street and southwest of 
building 37.
. . . In The Beginning
In 1964, the temporary facilities at Ellington Air Force Base
for Science and Applied Technology Development were not
adequate to facilitate the Apollo program requirements. The
Lunar Mission and Space Exploration Facility, Building 31,
was built between 1965 – 1966 to support the critical role of
science and applied technology in the Apollo program at
NASA’s Manned Spaceflight Center (MSC), Houston, TX
(now JSC). The Lunar Mission and Space Exploration Facility
was specifically designed to permanently house the office
space and laboratories required to support applied technology
for cislunar space, lunar surface, and planetary environments
where Apollo and future human spaceflight would operate. In
addition, the facility supported the development of
engineering and scientific experiments to be conducted by the
astronauts on the lunar surface, and the scientific training
required for the operation of these experiments by the
astronauts.
(1964 B31 Facility Design Criterion Report)
Bldg. 31 Foundation Poured in 1965
(Bldg. 10 in background)
Laying the Foundation
The Fisher Construction Company commenced the
construction of MSC Bldg. 31 on April 20, 1965 and
concluded on March 23, 1966 at an estimated cost of
$1,721,000.00 (FY1965).
The facility was designed in June 1964 by Engineers of the
Southwest, Houston, TX; which consisted of Lockwood,
Andres & Newman, Inc., Bovay Engineers, Inc., and Turner &
Collie, Consulting Engineers, Inc. along with the architectural
firm Kenneth Bentsen associates, Houston, TX.
The facility was designed for a permanent staff of 125
personnel and 5 to 10 visiting scientists and experiments.
Based on the 1964 MSC Master Plan, the building was
designed as a permanent facility requiring minimum
maintenance for a 20 year life requirement.
[ . . . and it is now 50 years old]
1965 Site Aerial Photo
Bldg. 31 
First Floor Complete;
Starting Second Story
1966 Site Aerial Photo:  Bldg. 31 Completed
Bldg. 37 Ground Breaking for Lunar Receiving Facility
Completed March 23, 1966
The finished facility consisted of a two-story
office and laboratory wing, a low-bay laboratory
wing, and a single story connecting wing housing
the mechanical equipment and lobby; all
oriented with the long axis on a northwest-
southwest direction. The combined gross floor
space of this facility was approximately 52,148
square feet in 1966. Expansion of the mezzanine
level (second floor) low-bay laboratory wing in
June 1968 raised this to approximately 60,000
square feet.
(1964 B31 Facility Design Criterion Report)
“Black Sheep” Story
As one walks around JSC, all the 1964 – 1967 office-
laboratory buildings are similarly designed with an
external architectural motif of standard steel frame
construction with white precast exposed aggregate facing
(PEAF) panels and glass window walls. However, Bldg.
31 is strikingly different from other buildings with white
PEAF first floor columns. The architectural firm chose
black first floor PEAF covered columns instead of white
columns; “to contrast the white of the second floor and
enhance the cantilever of the upper story.” Since Bldg. 31
has the only black columns on-site, early MSC scientists
who had offices in building 31 would jokingly be called the
“black sheep of the family.”
1967 Site Aerial Photo
Bldg. 31 and Bldg. 37 Completed
Bldg. 31 Black 1st Floor PEAF Columns Today
In 1966, Building 31 facility was originally designed with the following laboratories to facilitate the Apollo program: 
• Geoscience Laboratory: To develop and evaluate operational and experimental concepts and to provide the training for geological and geophysical
experimentation and exploration of the lunar surface.
• Cartographic and Photo-Interpretation Laboratory: To develop lunar surface maps and convert photographic, radar and geophysical
data to topographical information. The requirements for development of Gemini and Apollo cartographic support for earth orbital missions would be carried out
here.
• Radiation Environment Laboratory: To develop Apollo radiation instruments and experimental techniques for Apollo in-flight equipment in the
area of environment measurement, dosimetry, space vehicle shield verifications, and nuclear activation analysis.
• Geo-chemical Laboratory: To develop and evaluate techniques and experiments that would be used to determine the composition of lunar
materials. This includes the development of handling techniques for collecting lunar samples and returning them to earth uncontaminated. Astronauts would be
trained in these methods.
• Mission Experiments: To test, modify and evaluate experimental packages to be carried on Apollo space flights.
• Physical Optics Laboratory: To test and modify for spacecraft uses special scientific experiments which involve optical components. Also included
optical devices for detecting micrometerorite impacts on spacecraft surfaces.
• Astronautic Scientific Training Area: To instruct the astronauts in the conduct of scientific experiments. This would be primarily a classroom
area.
• Applied Physics Laboratory: To simulate the lunar surface. This laboratory was equipped with electro-magnetic detectors and general purpose
physics laboratory equipment.
• High Velocity Impact Range: To investigate cratering phenomena in metallic and non-metallic targets, including representative lunar soils, under
simulated meteoroid impact.
• Particle Physics Laboratory: To investigate the interaction of the Apollo LEM rocket exhaust and the lunar surface; erosion of optical surfaces
such as the windows and telescope of the LEM by meteoroid technology; evaluate, develop and check out flight experiments for evaluating the aforementioned
laboratory tests.
From 1963 to 1966, all Lunar and space science at MSC for the Apollo
program was under the Directorate of Engineering and Development (EA)
headed by Maxime A. Faget. The majority of the geologists and space
scientist in the directorate were located at MSC site 8, building 341 at
Ellington Air Force Base. In 1966, upon completion of building 31 at MSC
main campus, most scientists at Ellington were moved to their new facility.
With increased demands placed on Apollo surface science program and
opening of the Lunar Receiving Laboratory, bldg. 37 in 1967, the
Directorate of Science and Applications (TA) was formed in 1967 with Dr.
Wilmot N. Hess as Director and Robert O. Piland as Deputy. The
Directorate of Science and Applications occupied Bldg. 31 and 37
throughout the Apollo program.
By 1972, the MSC's Directorate of Science and Applications had three
distinct divisions, similar to ARES today:
• Earth Observations Division
• Planetary and Earth Sciences Division
• Lunar Receiving Laboratory (Division)
The following slides show the Directorate of Science and Applications
laboratories housed in building 31, circa 1972 from the MSC Science and
Applications Facility Handbook.
Apollo 12 Astronaut Alan L. Bean
unloads the Apollo Lunar Surface
Experiment Package (ALSEP)
Apollo 16 Lunar sample handling 
in LRL; "Big Muhley“ sample
Dr. Wilmot N. Hess
First Director, 1967
Directorate of Science 
and Applications 
Earth Observations Division
Directorate of Science and Applications – Circa 1972
 Applied Physics Laboratories: These facilities were formulated for remote sensing technology to determine
electromagnetic radiation characteristics of phenomena. The Measurements Laboratory contained the diffraction pattern sampling
system used to obtain geometrical pattern information from photographs. The lab also had facilities for the design, fabrication,
calibration, and integration of specialized remote sensing systems. The Mobile Field Measurements Laboratory was used to acquire
ground-truth measurements of selected targets to calibrate and interpret airborne/spaceborne remote-sensor data. The Camera
Calibration Laboratory was used to calibrate the cameras used in the Apollo program and in the earth resources program.
 Data Applications Analysis Facilities: This facility was used to display and interpret tape-recorded remote sensor data
from aircraft, earth resources technology satellites (ERTS), and earth resources experiment packages (EREP).
 Mapping Sciences Laboratory: This facility provided a complete photogrammetric capability and housed the Earth
Resources Research Data Facility (REDAF) that provided the resources to access a wide variety of earth resources and Apollo data,
maps and photographs.
Mobile Field Measurement Laboratory
AS11 Analytical Stereoplotter
Diffraction Pattern Sampling System
Camera Calibration Laboratory 
Data Facility: layout and material breakdown area
Planetary and Earth Sciences Division 
Directorate of Science and Applications – Circa 1972
 Physics Laboratories: The Cosmic Ray Physics Laboratory was beginning to
develop a Space Shuttle Cosmic Ray Physics Laboratory (SSCRPL) that contained a cosmic
ray spectrometer with a superconducting magnet producing a field of 50 kilogauss. The facility
developed experiments and instrument prototypes for the SSCRPL, developed a Space
Shuttle Auroral Observatory, and established a Small Astronomical Facility and an
Atmospheric Sciences Facility. Balloonborne cosmic ray and ultraviolet spectrometer
experiments were routinely being conducted as precursors to space shuttle programs, and
automated data reduction techniques were being developed to analyze nuclear emulsions.
These balloons were assembled in the building 31 low-bay using the 2-ton hoist and
monorail.
 Geochemistry Laboratories: These laboratories performed chemical analyses of
lunar, terrestrial, and meteoritic materials. Major instrumentation included thermal ionization-
source mass spectrometers, X-ray fluorescence spectrometers, electron and ion microprobes,
scanning electron microscope, thermal analyzer/mass spectrometer, and single crystal X-ray
diffractometer apparatus.
 Geology Laboratories: These laboratories studied meteoroids, their interaction with
the earth's atmosphere, the probability of collisions with spacecraft and the effects of such
collisions have a direct bearing on the safety of manned spaceflight. The effects of the impact
of high-velocity projectiles simulating micrometeoroids on spacecraft materials were
conducted in the high-velocity impact lab. During Apollo, command module windows were
examined before and after flight to determine meteoroid impact phenomena. These labs also
studied shock deformation of geological materials.
 Geophysics Laboratories: These laboratories were mainly comprised of the
Magnetics Facility that housed both spinner and vibrating magnetometers for the study of
remnant magnetization in lunar and terrestrial samples. In addition, a sophisticated cryogenic
magnetometer operating in a static mode is employed for measurements of very weak fields.
Small Astronomical Facility (SAF) 
Vibrator Magnetometer 
Alternating Current Field Demagnetizer 
Superconducting Magnet
X-ray Fluorescence Spectrometer
Ion Microprobe Mass Analyzer 
Single-crystal X-ray Diffractometer 
Electron Microprobe
Scanning Electron Microprobe
Thermal Analyzer/Mass Spectrometer
Mass Spectrometer
1972 Sample Science . . .
Lunar Receiving Laboratory (Division)
Directorate of Science and Applications – Circa 1972
Lunar Sample Curatorial Facility 
 Sterile Nitrogen Atmosphere Processing Laboratory (Bldg. 37): This
laboratory was designed to accommodate the initial processing of the contents of the two Apollo
Lunar Sample Return Containers (ALSRC) returned by Apollo missions. This consists of sample
identification and sorting, orthogonal and stereophotography, scientific description, and rock
modeling, chipping, and packaging. Decommissioned at the end of Apollo Program in 1972.
 Nonsterile Nitrogen Processing Laboratory (Bldg. 37): This laboratory
provides the same functions as the Sterile Nitrogen Atmosphere Processing Laboratory, except that
only the contents of sample collection bags (SCB) are processed. Decommissioned at the end of
Apollo Program in 1972.
 Sample Storage and Processing Laboratory (Bldg. 31): Operational in
April 1972, this laboratory was utilized to process, package, and preserve the integrity of lunar
material following initial processing in bldg. 37 laboratories described above. This includes storage
and processing cabinetry, with provisions for band sawing, wire sawing, core tube milling, core
processing, and sample storage. In addition, the numerous other functions are provided which are
required to prepare lunar material for allocation to Principal Investigators for detailed analysis.
 Returned Sample Processing Laboratory (Bldg. 31): Operational in April
1972, this laboratory was used primarily to process and inventory samples returned by Principal
Investigators, to prepare display samples for the Public Affairs Office, and to provide areas for
visiting scientists to examine samples.
 Thin-Section Laboratory (Bldg. 31): The Thin-section Laboratory was established to
prepare a variety of petrographic sections of lunar material. Its operation is similar to the operation
of other petrographic thin-section laboratories, except that greater caution is required to conserve
and maintain sample integrity.
1972 Lunar Curation . . .
1960
1965
1980
1975
1970
2010
1995
1990
1985
2000
2005
2015
Directorate of Science and Applications (TA), 1967 – 1976
Lunar and Planetary Sciences Division (SN) 1977 – 1979
In the Directorate of Space and Life Sciences (SA)
Astromaterials Research & Exploration Science (ARES) Division, 2014 to Present
In the Exploration, Integration & Science Directorate
Lunar Surface Technology Branch (ET3) 1963 – 1966
Space Science Division (EF) 1966
In the Advanced Spacecraft Technology Division (ET)
Directorate of Engineering and Development (EA)
Astromaterials Research & Exploration Science (ARES) 
Directorate (KA), 2004 – 2014
Bldg. 31 MSC/JSC Directorate Timeline
1967: Bldg. 37 LRL Facility Operational
1975:  Lunar Remote Storage Facility
Brooks AFB, San Antonio, TX
1972: Bldg. 31 
Lunar Curation Facility
1979: Bldg. 31A(N)
Lunar Curation Facility
Planetary and Earth Sciences Division (SN) 1980 – 1983
In the Directorate of Space and Life Sciences (SA)
Office of Astromaterials Research & Exploration Science (ARES) 2002 – 2004 
In the Directorate of Space and Life Sciences (SA)
Earth Science & Solar System Exploration Division (SN) 1994 – 2001
In the Directorate of Space and Life Sciences (SA)
Solar System Exploration Division (SN) 1984 – 1994
In the Directorate of Space and Life Sciences (SA)
1966: Bldg. 31 Offices and Lab Facilities Operational
1963 to 1966: MSC site 8, building 341 
at Ellington Air Force Base
1968: Bldg. 31 Second Floor low-bay laboratory wing built 
1969: Apollo 11 Samples
1972: Bldg. 37 LRL Facility 
Decommissioned
Early Facility Timeline 1960
1965
1980
1975
1970


50th Anniversary of JSC Building 31 (1966 - 2016)

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