January 1, 2005

The Stennis International Airport boasts an 8,500-foot lighted and grooved runway, the third longest in the state, and over 70,000 square-feet of hangar space. Its Instrument Landing System affords aircraft all-weather operational capabilities. Located on the airport grounds, the Stennis International Airpark consists of 100 acres adjacent to 4-lane state Hwy. 603 and Interstate 10.

The Engineering & Science Directorate (ESD) is the office responsible for overseeing the safe operation of one of a kind national test facilities valued at over $2 billion and for overseeing several rocket engine propulsion test programs such as Space Shuttle Main Engine acceptance testing and Ares 1 J-2X engine testing for NASA’s next generation of rockets for Lunar and Mars exploration. The Directorate is also engaged in scientific research in support of NASA’s Applied Sciences Program as well as various technology development initiatives.

Specifically, the directorate:

* Manages, develops, operates and maintains SSC’s Rocket Propulsion Test capabilities, including world-class people, facilities, and associated processes and procedures.

* Accomplishes the development, flight certification, and acceptance testing of the Space Shuttle Main Engine.

* Works directly with the Rocket Propulsion Test Management Board (RPTMB) to provide test operations services to a variety of customers including NASA, DoD, commercial entities, and others, for the development of propulsion systems, engines, subsystems, and components.

* Conducts scientific research focusing on the use of remote sensing applications in coastal environments; supports scientific and engineering technology requirements through a series of technology development initiatives.

Stennis Space Center’s Engineering & Science Directorate maintains full scale rocket engine/motor test facilities, component and small engine test facilities, and a materials test facility. Test facilities are comprised of two single position large scale engine test stands; one dual position large scale engine and stage test stand; and the E-Complex for testing of small engine and single/multiple components. Additional details can be found using links from this page. The Directorate also maintains scientific and engineering laboratory capabilities to support ocean color remote sensing, calibration/validation for coastal remote sensing and modeling products, algorithm development, and sensor development to support scientific and propulsion testing applications.

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