Aerodynamic Decelerator Systems Technical Committee Effort to Archive Parachute Technology

Abstract

Some years ago, a number of technical committee members became concerned that a spate of Department of Defense base closings and realignments along with reorganizations of industrial firms could result in the inadvertent loss of recorded parachute technology. It was feared that retention of old reports and data would be a low priority during large scale relocations. A data team was formed with the objective of establishing a location where parachute technology reports could be archived and cataloged on a long term basis. No Department of Defense or parachute industry organization was ready to agree to such a commitment. The AIAA was queried and it was found that archiving and cataloging nonAIAA publications was beyond its scope. However AIAA did recommend contact with the Linda Hall Library for Science and Engineering in Kansas City, MO. Linda Hall Library was interested and thus began a fruitful relationship which has gone a long way to meeting the technical committee’s goals for technology preservation. This paper will describe the role of Linda Hall Library, present the results of the efforts thus far and describe the procedures for accessing the material.