R. Gilbert Moore papers, 1935-2008

The first series is called “New Mexico State University,” and it contains reports and class project materials from the 1950s and 1960s written by both Gil Moore and other authors from Mexico State University. Some reports are not necessarily affiliated with Mexico State University, however, they contain information that is pertinent to some of the reports that are affiliated. These projects deal with primarily astrophysics and the development of rocket technologies.

The “Thiokol” Series is divided into four subcategories. The “Projects” category consists of reports about the development of rockets and projects in which Thiokol has participated. In addition to projects dealing with the development of rockets, there are also files concerning the development of Heart Sound Screening equipment and participation in the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project, with which Thiokol sent an experiment. The next category, “Solid Rocket Motor for the Space Shuttle Program,” contains reports and correspondence concerning the development and experimentation with solid rocket motors. This section also contains documents pertaining to the aftermath of the Challenger Space Shuttle disaster. “Bubbles for Structural Elements in Outer Space” deals with an engineering project for which Thiokol and Utah State University collaborated to investigate new ways to construct rockets. Finally, “Thiokol Newsletters, History, and Files” consists mostly of papers dealing with Thiokol’s corporate side and history, as well as newsletters and magazines that Thiokol published. Additionally, this section has correspondence and company memoranda dealing with various topics throughout the 1960s and 1980s.

“Ogden Chamber of Commerce” contains memoranda, correspondence and newsletters produced by the Ogden City Chamber of Commerce. Specifically, there is information from the Education Committee.

The “Society of Persons Born in Space,” was an organization for anyone born in the Santa Rita Hospital in New Mexico. The Society was formed by Gil Moore and the Apollo 17 Lunar Module Pilot, Jack Schmitt, in the 1970s. This series contains mostly letters to potential members of the society.

The “Rotary Club,” series documents the activities of the Ogden Rotary Club in the 1970s. It contains various correspondence and administrative documents regarding the projects undertaken by the Rotary Club including their Student Exchange Project and Greenbelt Project, which aimed at creating a parkway on the Ogden River.

The “Get Away Special” series houses materials from various GAS projects from the 1980s to the 1990s. It contains reports and plans from the NASA and USU sponsored GAS programs over the years. Within this series there is also a section about the Northern Utah Satellite (NUSAT) containing blueprints, reports, and plans for this project which was a part of GAS.

The “Ballooning” Series consists of papers pertaining to scientific high altitude balloon launches. The balloons carried equipment for studying the composition and pressure of the stratosphere. Gil Moore was involved in many such projects while at Utah State University and the United States Air Force Academy and often involved his students in the research. The first section of this series, “Miscellaneous Balloon Research and News” contains various research articles and other papers related to research using high altitude balloons. The “USU Ballooning Projects” section contains papers from various research projects undertaken by Utah State University, often in collaboration with the Bridgerland Amateur Radio Club. One of these projects was the Superpressure Balloon Launch which tested ozone concentrations and global wind patterns. Finally “Project Glacier” contains launch reports, blueprints, and correspondence related to Project Glacier. Glacier was undertaken by Gil Moore’s students at the United States Air Force Academy.

The “Utah State University” series contains course materials and administrative files from the USU physics department, of which Gil Moore was a part. Within this section there are also class materials, reports, and details of experiments and projects undertaken by the physics department.

The “United States Air Force Academy” Series contains administrative as well as educational papers from when Gil Moore taught there. Course materials used by Gil Moore as well as staff meeting records from the Academy are included in this section. There are also papers related to some projects that Moore’s classes undertook such as the Blue Moon Project. The objective of Blue Moon was to send a microsatellite into the Lunar Orbit.

“The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA)” Section contains correspondence, event newsletters, and conference papers produced by AIAA. This series also contains many files from the Utah Section of AIAA.

“Starshine” has files relating to Project Starshine (Student Tracked Atmosphere Research Satellite for Heuristic International Networking Experiment). Half of this section is comprised of correspondence relating to Starshine, such as letters to the schools receiving mirrors for polishing and letters relating to the administrative side of Starshine. Other documents in this section are files about Starshine’s construction, launches, and results.

“NASA,” consists of reports, pamphlets, and other materials published or sponsored by NASA.

The “Reports and Publications” series contains any reports or materials that do not fit into the previous categories. Within this series there is a section of newsletters and publications from various organizations. Most of the reports have to do with Astrophysics and space technologies.

The “Events and Projects” series holds documents from conferences, exhibits, meetings, symposiums, and workshops hosted by various organizations.

“Company Information,” consists of files, reports, and pamphlets with information about various companies that Gil Moore was involved with or had interest in.

“People and Correspondence” contains letters to or from Gil Moore. It is organized alphabetically by the last name of the person writing to Moore or receiving correspondence from Gil Moore.

“Personal Materials,” contains materials pertaining to the Moore family including Gil Moore’s awards and certificates, his resume, and other materials related to his private, rather than professional, life.

The series called “Oversized” is composed of materials that were too large to fit in standard sized boxes. The materials from this series could pertain to some of the previous series and consist of posters, certificates, and awards. Box 2 of this series contains the Getaway Special capsule that carried the G-001 experiment and orbited the earth in the cargo hold of Space Shuttle Orbiter OV-102, Columbia from June 27th to July 4th 1982.