For me, however, my fate as an astronaut was sealed by the time I was in ninth grade and had already reached a stature of six feet-several inches too tall to be an astronaut. I did, however, get to see the space shuttle Columbia up close after its maiden voyage from space (another Air Force perk), but my astronaut aspirations changed to mostly reading about the space program, building and flying countless model rockets, and watching intently from the sidelines, wishing it could be me up there.

When the opportunity arose to introduce Inside Northside readers to the John C. Stennis Space Center in Hancock County, Mississippi, I jumped at the chance. I already knew that the Stennis Space Center plays an important role in NASA's manned space flight programs by testing the rocket engines, but I also discovered there is a lot more going on at Stennis than one might expect to find.

NASA teams conduct vital research and rocket engine testing at Stennis that help keep the space program moving forward, according to David Carstens, manager of external affairs at Stennis. He explains that the center plays host to a number of governmental agencies and contractors that are geared toward developing space technology for applications here on earth. Stennis also provides educational opportunities to help attract students to engineering careers in aerospace and other sciences, encouraging students K-12 to put down the gameboy and actually experience something worthwhile.

Mission Ready

The selection of the Mississippi test facility by NASA was due largely to the efforts of the state's former U.S. Senator, John C. Stennis. Senator Stennis lobbied Congress and NASA extensively, extolling the virtues of the large wilderness area in Hancock County that surrounds the space center and the relative ease the Pearl River provides in transporting awkwardly shaped rocket components to the site for testing. Construction began at Stennis Space Center, then called Mississippi Test Operations, in 1961. In May 1988, it was renamed the John C. Stennis Space Center in honor of his steadfast leadership and staunch support of the nation's space program. Since 1967, every manned NASA space flight begins at Stennis, as well as the Lockheed/Martin Michoud facility in New Orleans East.

The Michoud facility currently builds the massive external fuel tanks for the space shuttle. In the 1960s, however, Michoud built the most powerful rocket ever built, the Saturn V, which sent the Apollo astronauts to the moon and back. Sixteen of these 364-foot giants were built, nine of which flew to the moon.

The first stage of the three-stage Saturn V required five powerful F-1 rocket engines to lift the 6.3 million-pound rocket and its crew of three off the ground. Each F-1 engine produced over one and a half million pounds of thrust. Once in space, five slightly smaller J-2 engines in the second stage pushed the Saturn V into earth orbit prior to its trip to the moon. Ensuring the reliability of the engines in stages one and two of Saturn V fell upon the engineers and technicians at the Stennis Space Center.

The primary mission at Stennis is testing and flight certifying the rocket engines used in manned space flight. Originally built to test engines for the Saturn V rocket, Stennis now tests and certifies the space shuttle main engines, and has done so for the past twenty-five years. Stennis also tests various rocket engines used in other NASA programs as well.

It's A Blast!

According to David Carstens, the rocket test firings are an impressive spectator event, with some visitors lucky enough to view a routine test firing. For a really spectacular show, the public is invited to view a scheduled test firing of the shuttle main engines, which makes for a much more dramatic engine firing.

"We take visitors to a public viewing area where they are allowed to view the test. It's pretty neat!" says Carstens of the public test firings, with obvious excitement in his voice. Up to 5,000 visitors are invited to view the scheduled public test firings, which are usually held in the evenings for an even more dramatic effect.

Because of increased security concerns since 9/11, public test firings are announced only a few days prior to the actual tests. A public test firing is scheduled for the fall and announcements will be made in the local news media as to the specific day and time. You can also check the Stennis website at www.ssc.nasa.gov for more news.

Not Just Rocket Science

While its primary mission is rocket engine certification, Stennis is also a research center involving a number of different governmental agencies, contractors and universities.

"Stennis is a unique facility," explains Carstens. "There are over thirty different agencies represented at Stennis. NASA acts as the 'mayor,' if you will, of the 'city'. It's an arrangement where economies of scale come into play. The costs of operating the center are shared among the various entities working at Stennis, thus reducing overall expenses and making it more cost effective for each agency to accomplish its mission."

"Residents" at Stennis are varied, and not all have a direct link to the space program. There are a number of universities who do research at Stennis, as well as over 60 different commercial companies who either support the space program or who work on applied earth sciences, the job of brining space technology to the average consumer. One of the more unusual agencies at Stennis is the U.S. Navy's Special Boat 22, a SEAL command that uses the Pearl River to train for special operations in rivers and inland bodies of water. In total, Carstens estimates there are more than 5,000 people who work daily at Stennis.

To support the space program, there are ten NASA centers across the United States, including Stennis, that perform various functions from research to flight control. With a NASA staff of 300 supported by 1,500 contractors, Stennis is the smallest center in terms of staff. In terms of land area, however, Stennis is one of the largest, with over 125,000 acres of land that act as a buffer surrounding the two rocket engine test stands. Rocket components and fuel are delivered up the Pearl River from the Gulf of Mexico along the Intracoastal Waterway.

See if You Have the Right Stuff

Teachers and parents may already be more familiar with one of Stennis Space Center's most public faces, StennisSphere, part of the NASA commitment to education and the most visible NASA program. Designed to educate all ages about space technology and its applications on earth, the exhibits at StennisSphere also serve to encourage young minds to pursue studies in math and science.

A visit to StennisSphere begins at the aptly named Launch Pad, located off I-10 at Mississippi Exit 2 near the Mississippi Welcome Center. From there, shuttle buses arrive every 15 minutes to take visitors on a brief tour of Stennis Space Center, passing near the test stands on the way to the StennisSphere building. Outside, visitors will find a collection of exhibits that include actual rocket engines and a scale replica of the Saturn V rocket.

Inside, StennisSphere is filled with interactive displays that bring NASA technology right down to earth. A full-scale replica of the space shuttle cockpit gives visitors an opportunity to try their hand at "piloting" the shuttle on a science mission. Nearby, a module of the International Space Station is waiting to be explored. There's even a U.S. Navy exhibit that lets visitors forecast the weather or take a walk under the sea. In all, over 14,000 square feet of exhibits are on display to entertain, encourage and educate inquisitive minds. The exhibits in StennisSphere show students how math and science can be "cool" by demonstrating how theoretical science applies to tangible objects and fun activities.

Educating for the Future

Taking education an important step further, NASA-sponsored Educator Resource Workshops provide materials and lesson plans for educators that reflect recent scientific discoveries about space, oceans and the earth. Carstens emphasizes that by providing these resources, NASA hopes to reverse the declining interest in math and sciences.

"In general, fewer students have been pursuing math, science, engineering and technology fields," Carstens said. He further explains that a shortfall of qualified people affects not only the space program, but could also be potentially damaging to other fields like architecture, medicine and other disciplines requiring this knowledge. "One goal of NASA is to encourage the next generation of students to pursue careers in math, science and engineering."

Travel To Space in 45 Minutes or Less

Just for fun, I asked Carstens what he liked best about his work at Stennis. He replied that living in Mandeville was a definite asset. "It's our home now; we love it!" he said. For Carstens, living in Mandeville and working at Stennis is the best of both worlds. "It's only a 45-minute drive. The work at NASA is rewarding, but when I go home to Mandeville, I feel like I'm on vacation!"

If you're looking for something to entice the kids, Stennis Space Center is a worthwhile trip less than 45 minutes away from Hwy. 190. Admission is free. The StennisSphere is open Monday-Saturday, 9am-5pm; and Sundays, 1-5 pm.

For more information about Stennis Space Center and StennisSphere, visit the Stennis website at www.scc.nasa.gov or call (228) 688-2370. Educators and teachers wishing to find out more about the free educational materials available can visit the Stennis Office of Education website at wwwedu.scc.nasa.gov or call 1-800-237-1821.