Original Date: 04/26/1999
Revision Date: 01/18/2007

Years before the National Aeronautics and Space Administration was established, a group of scientists and engineers known as the von Braun team became prominent in America’s fledgling space program. During World War II, Dr. Wernher von Braun and his team developed the V-2 rocket for Germany. However, von Braun’s real interest lay in developing rockets for space exploration. By June 1945, many of Germany’s experts surrendered to Allied forces and were sent to the United States via Operation Paperclip. Eventually, a group (including von Braun) ended up at the U.S. Army’s Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, Alabama. Between 1950 and 1956, von Braun led the team at the Development Operations Division of the Army Ballistic Missile Agency in designing the Redstone and Jupiter-C rockets. Still dreaming of space exploration, von Braun published articles (e.g., concepts of space stations, lunar landing vehicles) in Collier’s and worked with Disney Studios (e.g., space exploration films for television) in hopes of bringing about greater public interest in a space program. On January 31, 1958, the Army Ballistic Missile Agency used a Jupiter-C rocket to launch Explorer 1, America’s first orbiting satellite. This event signaled the start of the U.S. space program. Two years later, NASA established the Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) and named von Braun as its first Center Director.

Originally organized by obtaining buildings, land, space projects, and personnel from the Army Ballistic Missile Agency, MSFC was officially dedicated on September 8, 1960 by President Dwight D. Eisenhower. This NASA facility was named in honor of General George C. Marshall, the acclaimed Army Chief of Staff, Secretary of State, and Nobel Prize winner who developed the Marshall Plan for rebuilding Europe after World War II. Not long after MSFC opened, the United States sent its first astronaut, Alan Shepard, into space onboard a Mercury-Redstone vehicle. Visitors can see the historic Redstone Test Stand where the rocket used for this suborbital flight was tested. In addition, the Center built the Saturn V rockets that launched Apollo astronauts to the moon. Test firing of the Saturn rockets was an unparalleled spectacle of sight and sound in the Land of the Earth Shakers. The event was described as total flame, total sound, and total power. Often the noise was heard in a radius in excess of 100 miles. The Saturn V Dynamic Test Stand is also designated as a national historic landmark at the Center. Throughout its history, MSFC participated in many significant space projects including the Redstone, Juno, and Saturn rockets; Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo programs; Lunar Roving Vehicles; Apollo-Soyuz mission; Skylab space station; Redshift Experiment; Space Shuttle program; and the Hubble Space Telescope.

Today, MSFC is NASA’s Center of Excellence for Space Propulsion, and specializes in three mission areas: (1) Space Transportation Systems Development, (2) Microgravity, and (3) Optics Manufacturing Technology. In addition, MSFC provides its customers with high quality products and services; actively participates in the local community; adapts to change through innovative thinking and flexibility; and enhances and sustains its highly skilled, diverse, and motivated workforce. The Center employed 2,715 personnel, encompassed 1,841 acres, and had a fiscal budget of $2.33 billion in FY98. MSFC is a world leader in access to space and the use of space for research and development to benefit humanity. Among the best practices documented were MSFC’s unsteady computational fluid dynamic analysis of turbines; rapid prototyping; plume induced environments; NASA/Air Force cost model; the Collaborative Engineering Center; and the X-Ray Calibration Facility.

MSFC has a legacy of extraordinary advancements that help make the impossible become a reality. With its unique blend of knowledge and capabilities, the Center continues to be an innovative force behind many of NASA’s breakthroughs. In addition, MSFC partners with local businesses and academia; pioneers environmental and safety efforts; and fosters technology transfer. Current and future programs involve advanced space propulsion systems; chemical engines; automated rendezvous and capture capabilities; reusable launch vehicles; tether systems; the Chandra X-Ray Observatory; and the International Space Station. The BMP survey team considers the following practices to be among the best in industry and government.

TABLE OF ACRONYMS:
The following acronyms were used in this report:

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