The Jerry L. Ross papers; (1889-2013; 46.10 cubic feet) document Ross' student life at Purdue, his test flight engineer work, and NASA career as an engineer and astronaut. The collection includes Purdue coursework and memorabilia; papers from Ross' work at Edwards Air Force Base, Wright Patterson Air Force Base, and Test Pilot School; NASA Space Shuttle training, mission documents and mission related scrapbooks, memorabilia, and flight crew films and interviews, along with documents and maps from Ross’ work on Space Shuttle Columbia accident recovery operation. Also included are 64 NASA publications, 45 aerospace, aviation and Purdue journals and publications. Examples of the types of materials in the collection include Purdue textbooks, aircraft flight test manuals, flight reports, mission plans, and checklists for the B-1 aircraft, Test Pilot School materials, NASA course materials, and Space Shuttle Mission checklists, manuals, handbooks, an oral history interview, and 16mm and VHS films. There are numerous clippings featuring Ross and fellow astronauts, space shuttle missions, NASA history, Purdue astronaut reunion and other events. In particular, this collection provides an insider’s view of space exploration, and a window through which we may begin to understand and take measure of the era of the US Space Shuttle Program.
