by P. D. Nicaise
Building 4487, A-wing, Main Entry
Photos by P. D. Nicaise, 1969
Building 4487 was constructed as an electronic research and development facility for the U. S. Army starting around 1950. It was next door to the Army Headquarters building 4488 that served primarily as office space for Major General Medaris, Wernher von Braun and their staff during the ABMA era. When von Braun and the rocket team transferred to NASA in 1960, 4487 became one of their major facilities. Engineers and technicians came in from Squirrel Hill and other smaller buildings to staff the six-wing, two-story monolith. It was originally called the Guidance & Control Laboratory, but was soon renamed Astrionics to encompass the entire field of space electronics.
The gyro & sensors engineers were on the first floor of A-wing. G&C system and Flight Dynamics engineers were on the second floor. B & C wings held specialists in everything electronic—power, circuits, instrumentation, telemetry, digital computers, optics, and feedback control. Some of the world’s renowned avionic specialists of the day walked these floors. They studied, designed and tested flight hardware and software including stability analysis in closed loop simulation.
Huge F1 actuators were tested in the basement. CMG’s were tested below ground for safety concerns. It was a world of specialists, precision electronics and powerful machines.
This view of 4487 (looking north) shows the east end of A-wing in the foreground. The Drop Tower (Kroeger’s Tombstone) is to the right, Building 4200 (von Braun Hilton) is in the background with 4201 under construction. The rocket display to the left is along Rideout Road. The other four wings of the building are not visible, nor is the main parking lot on the west side.
Dr. Walter Haeussermann was 1st Director of Astrionics Laboratory. He was very reserved, but highly respected for his technical ability. F. Brooks Moore was the 2nd Director and one of the first American engineers to serve as a laboratory director. The director’s office was in the west end of A-wing on the 2nd floor. Hundreds of engineers and technicians served in this building in various divisions, branches and sections. They were located in the sprawling wings according to technical discipline. The building was alive with electrical machinery and test equipment.
Brooks parked his Pontiac in a reserved spot in the front lot (visible in previous photo). He was usually there by 7 AM. He was a hands-on manager who kept up with all projects by his NASA team and contractors. He reported directly to the Director of Science and Engineering. He was a senior manager throughout the development of the Saturn IU (Instrument Unit) that guided and controlled each stage of Saturn from launch pad to lunar insertion.
