Aerial view of the test area at Marshall Space Flight Center

The George C. Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) is a lead NASA center for propulsion, Space Shuttle propulsion, external fuel tank, crew training and payloads, International Space Station (ISS) design and construction, for computers, networks, and information management. The center also contains one of the Shuttle mission operation centers known as the HOSC where some mission and pre-missions operations are controlled. Image File history File links Aerial view of Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama. ... Image File history File links Aerial view of Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama. ... NASA logo Listen to this article · (info) This audio file was created from an article revision dated 2005-09-01, and does not reflect subsequent edits to the article. ... A remote camera captures a close-up view of a Space Shuttle Main Engine during a test firing at the John C. Stennis Space Center in Hancock County, Mississippi Spacecraft propulsion is used to change the velocity of spacecraft and artificial satellites, or in short, to provide delta-v. ... The Space Shuttle Columbia seconds after engine ignition, 1981 (NASA). ... ISS Statistics Crew: 2 As of August 21, 2005 Perigee: 352. ...

The Huntsville Operations Support Center (HOSC) is a facility which supports Space Shuttle launch activities at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The HOSC also monitors rocket launches from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station when a Marshall Center payload is on board.

MSFC arose from the U.S. Army's Ballistic Missile Agency (ABMA, later the AOMC) centered at Redstone Arsenal. The transition from military to Civilian space exploration came when President Dwight D. Eisenhower announced on site the formation of the National Aeronautics and Space Agency (NASA) on July 1, 1960. At this time Marshall also received its name and a bronze bust of the General from the President. The center became the civilian base for Dr. Wernher von Braun, his team of German rocket scientists and a large host of military and civilian contractors. Hermann Oberth (front) with officials of the ABMA in 1956. ... Dwight David Ike Eisenhower (October 14, 1890–March 28, 1969), American soldier and politician, was the 34th President of the United States (1953–1961) and supreme commander of the Allied forces in Europe during World War II, with the rank of General of the Army. ... Wernher von Braun stands at his desk in the Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, Alabama in May 1964, with models of rockets developed and in progress. ...

Ceremony of transfer from Army to NASA

Historical projects include the Hermes, an early U.S. adaptation of the German V-2, the Jupiter-C, used to launch the Explorer I satellite, the Redstone rocket, the ABMA/AOMC to NASA transition vehicle used in the ballistic missile program and the Mercury space program, the Juno, the Atlas, with the US Air Force used in the ballistic missile program and the Mercury and Gemini space program, the Titan, also used for Gemini, the Saturn series (I-V), used in the Apollo and Skylab programs. Modern boosters include the Space Shuttle liquid and solid propellant engines and the Delta series, used in satellite and Mars mission launches. Image File history File links Army_nasa_transfer_01. ... Image File history File links Army_nasa_transfer_01. ... The V-2 rocket or Vergeltungswaffe 2 (Retaliation Weapon 2) was an early ballistic missile used by the German Army during the later stages of World War II against mostly British and Belgian targets. ... The Jupiter-C Intermediate Range Ballistic Missile (IRBM) was designed by the Army Ballistic Missile Agency (ABMA) The vehicle consists of a modified Redstone ballistic missile with three solid-propellant upper stages. ... Explorer-I, officially known as Satellite 1958 Alpha, was the first United States Earth satellite and was sent aloft as part of the United States program for the International Geophysical Year 1957-1958. ... First launched in 1953, the American Redstone rocket was a direct descendant of the German V-2. ... Project Mercury was the United States first successful manned spaceflight program. ... Jupiter IRBM mobile missile The Jupiter Intermediate Range Ballistic Missile, first tested in 1957, was the United States second Intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM). ... Mercury Atlas 9 rocket and capsule on pad The Atlas is a venerable line of space launch vehicles built by Lockheed Martin. ... Project Gemini insignia Project Gemini was the second human spaceflight program in which the United States of America sent humans into space, between Projects Mercury and Apollo, during the years 1963-1966. ... Titan was a family of U.S. expendable rockets used between 1959 and 2005. ... Apollo Program insignia Project Apollo was a series of human spaceflight missions undertaken by the United States of America using the Apollo spacecraft and Saturn launch vehicle, conducted during the years 1961–1972. ... Drawing of Skylab with components labelled Skylab was the first space station the United States launched into orbit. ... Mars is the fourth planet from the Sun in the solar system, named after the Roman god of war (the counterpart of the Greek Ares), on account of its blood red color as viewed in the night sky. ...

Many vestiges of the early programs are still visible around the center, including engine test stands, several of which are shown in the photo to the right.

Located on the Redstone Arsenal, Huntsville, Alabama, in Madison County, Alabama, the center was named in honor of General George Marshall. Redstone Arsenal is a census-designated place and U.S. Army post located next to the city of Huntsville in Madison County, Alabama. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Official language(s) English Capital Montgomery Largest city Birmingham Area  - Total  - Width  - Length  - % water  - Latitude  - Longitude Ranked 30th 52,423 mi²/135,775 km² 190 mi/306 km 330 mi/531 km 3. ... Madison County is a county of the State of Alabama. ... George C. Marshall For the Olympic athlete, see George Marshall (athlete). ...

External links

• Official site
• Power to Explore: A History of Marshall Space Flight Center, 1960-1990 (NASA SP-4313, 1999)