I have a question and an observation:

You seem to be talking broadly of aerospace material culture and historic preservation.
Q: How specific do you want to be about aerospace _archaeology_?

There's a vast amount of info on aerospace buildings and structures, and a "Man in Space" theme for the (U.S.) National Historic Landmark program goes back to the 1980s. Much of that info is from architectural historians.

Under your definition of _archaeology_, would you include the preservation of NASA's early lunar images (a physical and digital challenge)?
(http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-lunar22-2009mar22,0,931431.story)

Observation:

Having worked at one of the military bases where space exploration was as part of heritage, I don't have the sense that "only now" are those heritage issues being addressed; they have been addressed increasingly over the last couple decades, as a combination of my cites and yours indicates.

I think aerospace heritage is relatively localized, compared to, say, homesteading or even industrial heritage. Its footprint is physically concentrated, and usually on areas still restricted from public access, resulting in fewer studies and less research in general. Those studies may also have restricted distribution, giving the impression that the topic is less studied than it is. It's not just "gray" literature, but very dark gray literature.

It's an interesting topic, however, and I would bet that those studying it would be glad to chat about their favorite project (assuming, of course, that they can get their papers pre-approved by their contracting agencies in time).

Gwyn Alcock
Riverside, Calif.



________________________________
From: "McAlexander, William" <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask]
Sent: Wednesday, March 25, 2009 6:54:04 AM
Subject: Aerospace Archaeology

Greetings,

I am asking to see if there is enough interest in an aerospace
archaeology symposium for SHA 2010.  Considering that confirmed off the
ground capabilities have been going on for more than 225 years and
design concepts by da Vinci and development in rocketry in China before
that, there is a wealth of possibilities.

For example: Vince Holyoak  has examined aircraft wrecks in England from
before WW I through WW II; P. J. Capelotti examined the use of something
as simple as a rock in active resistance against the Nazi war
industries; Alice Gorman has written articles on orbital space debris
and space cultural landscapes and opression; Joe Flanagan examined the
legacy of the Space Race; Beth O'leary and Ann Darrin have co-edited The
Handbook of Space Engineering, Archaeology and Heritage due out this
summer; several airfields, staging, and research facilities have been
investigated throughout the world; there are museums that keep alive the
chronicle of humanity's attempts to expand beyond our terrestrial
confines, sadly some of those events have brought out the worst side of
us; and finally of all species on this planet, only humans have left
evidence of our existance throughout the solar system and beyond.  

To my mind, that's a lot.  Yet, only now is that body of data just
beginning to be studied and preservation concerns, measures, and laws
being proposed and expounded upon.


Anyway, that's my soap box stand for today.  Anyone interested can
contact me at

William McAlexander
Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department
Environmental Division
10324 I-30
P.O. Box 2261
Little Rock, Ar 72209
(501) 569-2078 wk.
(501) 330-2167 Hm.
(501) 913-5447 cell
[log in to unmask]


Thanks for your time and 
Have a nice day!

William