Valve, Propellant, Rocket, Liquid Fuel, ARS No. 3

American Rocket Society (ARS) member John Shesta designed this lanyard-operated valve, also called the "quick turn-on valve," in September 1934 for use on the rocket ARS No. 3. It was designed so that when the remote operator pulled a fishing line, the valve came off, the fuel and oxidizer flowed into the rocket motor, initiating combustion. It is not known if the valve was actually used. ARS No. 3 was tested on 9 September 1934 but never flown because the liquid oxygen evaporated too quickly.

The American Rocket Society was formed in 1930 in New York City and was originally called the American Interplanetary Society. Between November 1932 and September 1934, the ARS attempted four launches with rudimentary rockets, two of which succeeded. It then switched to static tests of rocket motors, which were cheaper. ARS founder G. Edward Pendray gave this object to the Smithsonian in 1966.