National Historic Landmark

Lunar Landing Research Facility

Hampton (Independent City), Hampton County, Virginia
Listed
October 2, 1985
Type
Structure
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
85002808

About this property

The Lunar Landing Research Facility (LLRF) was an area at NASA's Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia that was used to simulate Apollo Moon landings with a mock Lunar Module powered by a small rocket motor suspended from a crane over a simulated lunar landscape. Completed in 1965 at a cost of $3.5 million, the facility was used by 24 astronauts, including Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin, to practice solving piloting problems they would encounter in the last 150 feet (46 m) of descent to the surface of the Moon. The structure was used to facilitate "flying" a full-scale Lunar Excursion Module Simulator (LEMS). The LEMS was suspended from a 200-foot (61 m)-tall, 400-foot (120 m)-long A-frame gantry by an overhead bridge crane. The LEMS is now on display at the Virginia Air and Space Center.

Location

Hampton (Independent City), Hampton County, Virginia
37.10161, -76.38947

Categories

OTHERENGINEERINGTRANSPORTATION
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Unlimited access

Everything a full report reveals about Lunar Landing Research Facility

This page lists Lunar Landing Research Facility. A full Aubrey report for an address near it pulls together this listing alongside battlefield records, land patents, and every other historical record within a chosen radius:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
First month just $5.99, then $11.99 a month. Unlimited locations, cancel anytime.

Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.

Start your Lunar Landing Research Facility report
Or see a real report first

Nearby Historic Sites

NASA Langley Research Center (LaRC) Historic District
Listed
1.2 mi
Rendezvous Docking Simulator
Listed
1.3 mi
Full Scale Tunnel
Industrial
2.9 mi
Variable Density Tunnel
Industrial
3 mi
Eight-Foot High Speed Tunnel
Industrial
3 mi

Nearby Battles

Battle of Big Bethel
1861Civil War
3.3 mi
Big Bethel
1861Civil War
3.5 mi
Big Bethel Battle (June 10, 1861)
1861Civil War
4.7 mi

Questions about this property

When was Lunar Landing Research Facility listed on the National Register?

Lunar Landing Research Facility was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on October 2, 1985.

What type of historic resource is Lunar Landing Research Facility?

Lunar Landing Research Facility is classified as a structure in the National Register of Historic Places.

Is Lunar Landing Research Facility a National Historic Landmark?

Yes. Lunar Landing Research Facility has been designated a National Historic Landmark (NHL), the highest level of federal recognition for historic properties in the United States.

What is the period of significance for Lunar Landing Research Facility?

The period of significance for Lunar Landing Research Facility is recorded as the industrial era.

Can I research the history near Lunar Landing Research Facility?

Yes. Aubrey Research reports search National Register listings, battlefield records, land patents, and other primary historical sources within any radius of a US address. A report for an address near Lunar Landing Research Facility will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.

More in Hampton County

Historic places, battles, and census history across Hampton County.

Explore HamptonCounty ›

More historic places in Virginia

Browse all historic places in Virginia.

View Virginiahistoric sites ›

Conflict records

Explore 19,000+ military engagements across American history.

Browse US conflicts ›

Virginia history

Colonial settlement, territorial period, and statehood narrative.

Virginiahistory ›

Research the history near this site

An Aubrey US report for an address near Lunar Landing Research Facility will include this listing alongside battlefield records and other historical sources within your chosen radius.

Research your locationView a free sample report