NASA's primary center for Rocket Propulsion Testing Home to NASA's Earth Science Applications A multi-agency center for More than 30 Resident Agencies

The John C. Stennis Space Center (SSC) in South Mississippi is one of ten NASA field centers in the United States. It is NASA's primary center for testing and proving flight worthy rocket propulsion systems for the Space Shuttle and future generations of space vehicles. Because of its important role in engine testing for four decades, Stennis Space Center is NASA's program manager for rocket propulsion testing with total responsibility for conducting and/or managing all NASA propulsion test programs.

Stennis Space Center tests all Space Shuttle Main Engines. These high-performance, liquid-fueled engines provide most of the total impulse needed during the shuttle's eight and one-half-minute-flight to orbit. All shuttle main engines must pass a series of test firings (below right) at Stennis Space Center prior to being installed in the back of the orbiter (below left).

The Earth Science Applications Directorate matches NASA's scientific and technical knowledge with issues of national concern and the needs of our partners. Partners include local, state, and tribal governments, commercial industry, with educational institutions and other non-profit institutions. Through the Directorate's co-funded partnerships, public and private sector decision makers learn how to apply new technologies to critical environmental, resource management, community growth, and disaster management issues. The Directorate also provides the remote sensing community with a comprehensive array of manmade and natural ground targets, measurement systems, and benchmark processes to help test airborne and space remote sensing systems against performance specifications and customer needs.

Stennis Space Center began "re-inventing government" decades ago before the concept became popular. Over the years, SSC has evolved into a multiagency, multidisciplinary center for federal, state, academic and private organizations engaged in space, oceans, environmental programs and the national defense. In addition to NASA, there are more than 30 other agencies and numerous technology-based organizations located at Stennis. Of approximately 4,500 employees, about l,600 work in the fields of science and engineering.

These agencies work side by side and share common costs related to infrastructure, facility and technical services, thus making it cheaper for each to accomplish its independent mission at SSC.