NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration

David King, Marshall Center Director. Image Credit: NASA/MSFC
> Biography Welcome to Marshall Space Flight Center!

Something exciting is happening this year at NASA -- we're celebrating 50 years of science and space exploration! Great accomplishments in space history have been recorded during the past five decades, including John Glenn's historic lunar orbit, Neil Armstrong’s first steps on the moon, Skylab, the space shuttle, the International Space Station, Chandra and Hubble, and many more. With the science and discovery enabled by these accomplishments, NASA has firmly established America's leadership role in space exploration.

Here at Marshall, our contributions to the nation's space programs are very diverse. Our crosscutting expertise in science and engineering provides the agency with unique and critical capabilities to take the next giant leap in space exploration.

We are responsible for space shuttle propulsion elements, hardware and payload operations for the International Space Station, and science missions such as the Discovery and New Frontiers programs and the Chandra X-ray Observatory. Marshall will continue to lead the way in propulsion, science, and discovery, in part because of Marshall’s exceptional team of renowned experts and its more than 50 unique, specialized laboratories and facilities.

Advances in technology and a renewed interest in deep space exploration have led to the need to replace the shuttle fleet with a new generation of vehicles capable of both short- and long-duration missions. Marshall is designing and developing the Ares I and Ares V launch vehicles, essential components in the plan to establish a lunar base and eventually fly longer duration exploration missions. Living on the moon will allow us to learn how to thrive in the hostile environment of space so that we can extend our reach farther into the universe -- exploring Mars, asteroids, and other locations. To accomplish this, Marshall is developing specialized, scientific spacecraft, including new robotic lunar orbiters and landers.

Marshall Space Flight Center has a distinctive mission. Our work is intriguing, and we have an incredible team of dedicated people who help drive our success. Enjoy your visit on our Web site as you learn more about your space program and the ways the space program benefits life on Earth.

This is an exciting time for America's space program, and I appreciate that you've joined us for the ride. Enjoy the journey!

Dave King
Director

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Robert M. Lightfoot, Deputy Director, Marshall Space Flight Center. Image Credit: NASA/MSFC
Robert M. Lightfoot Jr.
Robert M. Lightfoot Jr. was named Deputy Director of NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala., in May 2007, sharing responsibility for managing one of NASA's largest field installations with more than 6,500 civil service and contract employees and a $2.3 billion annual budget.
> Biography

Robin Henderson, Associate Director, Marshall Space Flight Center. Image Credit: NASA/MSFC
Robin Henderson
Robin Henderson, associate director of NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala., helps guide daily business decisions and management processes across the center, provides executive leadership to project and institutional management, and advises Marshall Center leadership on strategic planning.
> Biography