NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Solar array panels, seen from Space Shuttle Endeavour while docked with the International Space Station. Image Credit: NASA/JSC
Marshall Space Flight Center is laying the groundwork for NASA's exploration missions to travel beyond our orbit to other worlds. The center is supporting the agency's directive to fly the space shuttle safely until its retirement in 2010, complete construction of the International Space Station, and prepare to send robotic spacecraft and humans to the moon.

For nearly three decades and more than 120 missions, the space shuttle has carried cargo and crew into orbit. Shuttle flights have been home to unique microgravity research through the Spacelab missions, and have launched scientific spacecraft such as giant telescopes that are exploring the universe. Shuttle flights now are primarily engaged in the construction of the International Space Station, scheduled for completion in 2010.

The space station will continue to serve as an international research platform to advance exploration and science; sustain human presence in space; prepare for future space exploration missions to the moon and beyond; and preserve America's leadership role in space among the nations of the world.

Marshall's Role in Space Shuttle
NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center is responsible for the manufacture, assembly and operation of the primary propulsion elements on one of the most complex machines ever built, the space shuttle. These propulsion elements -- the main engines, the external tank and the twin solid rocket boosters that hold the reusable solid rocket motors -- launch and accelerate the orbiter to a velocity of 17,500 mph -- 25 times faster than the speed of sound. For each shuttle mission, Marshall provides and manages these propulsion systems for the space shuttle's 8.5 minute flight into orbit.

In 2010, the space shuttle will be retired from service, making way for a new generation of space transportation systems. The Ares I and Ares V rockets, which are taking advantage of the shuttle's best engineering and systems, are already being designed at Marshall.

Marshall's Role in the International Space Station
Marshall plays a critical role in completing the International Space Station and managing station science operations. The center manages the development and integration of connecting "nodes" that enable large structures such as habitation and laboratory modules to be attached. Marshall also integrates experiments into rack systems and manages the logistics modules that transport experiments to the station. Experiments are managed through the Payload Operations Center at Marshall.

The operations center coordinates all U.S. scientific and commercial experiments on the station, synchronizes payload activities of international partners, and directs communications between researchers around the world and their onboard experiments. Although the space station’s primary role is research, as NASA moves forward with its focus on traveling beyond Earth orbit, the station serves as a testbed for living and working in space. Marshall is designing, constructing, and testing critical life support systems for crews in space. The center developed the Wastewater Recovery System, which recycles waste water into usable water, and the Oxygen Generation System, which provides oxygen for breathing air for the crew, reducing the need for costly re-supply to the space station.

Advancing life-support technology will become increasingly important as NASA pursues missions to the moon and beyond. Today, Marshall engineers are exploring how key aspects of the station's Environmental Control and Life Support System waste water processor technology might work for humans living on the moon.