This is photograph number 384-3582B, dated April 30, 1963.

About 10 minutes after the InfoBytes announcement went out, James Lux correctly identified this as a shock testing apparatus.  He described the cart on the right, held by an electromagnet until release, which would roll down the track and the attached spring or shock absorber would hit the base of the test stand at left.  Later comments also provided a lot of good information about the test setup and procedures.   The equipment being tested is a Ranger Block III midcourse motor.   After testing, the motor was examined for leaks and other damage.  

The man in the photo was identified by more than one person as Carlo Fea (no S in Carlo).  He’s listed in the April 1963 JPL telephone book and belonged to the Environmental Facilities Section (374).

For more information, see related photos in the Liquid Propulsion (Section 384) online photo albums at https://bravo-lib.jpl.nasa.gov/docushare/dsweb/View/Collection-119437.  They are JPL internal, so you’ll need to log in to see them.  Information can also be found in JPL reports TR 32-829 and SPS 37-22, vol. 6.  Online JPL telephone books can be found at https://bravo-lib.jpl.nasa.gov/docushare/dsweb/View/Collection-114510.

Thank you everyone for your comments.  It’s amazing how many of them were received in the first 45 minutes after the InfoBytes was sent out.  You’re really on the ball!