WEBVTT

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President Kennedy:
We choose to go to

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the moon in this decade
and do the other things,

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not because they are easy,
but because they are hard.

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In 1961, President
John F. Kennedy

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challenged this country
to send humans to the moon and back.

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To do that,
NASA needed rockets,

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big rockets.

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They needed a place to build, launch
command and test those rockets.

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For testing, NASA needed a location
with lots of room, access to water,

768845bb-ff6f-4d93-a697-26db4b672e00
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good weather year round and a
supporting community.

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After considering several locations,
a largely uninhabited, rather

7c7da733-01d9-415b-8eb0-de0226034ccf
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untamed area in Hancock County,
Mississippi,

321efd67-3c66-4f77-9e9c-b94d8313ce49
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fit the bill best.

bce68139-8728-4227-9fd1-9202b826e1e8
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NASA made the announcement
on October 25th, 1961,

83cac097-14ea-42ea-953c-a4e1ef2f8f38
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the space race
was coming to South Mississippi.

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There were challenges
to overcome.

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NASA's had to win local
sentiment for its plan.

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Building Stennis required
relocating residents

e943eb27-3ed2-4c9c-ad07-f942146f4ee0
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in several small communities.

88cbf528-8ae3-491c-bce6-e0b26e2a0b23
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U.S. Senator John C. Stennis,

d2f49cdb-c19a-4cda-a918-003ca3b76821
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the site's eventual
namesake, paved the way.

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Promising citizens

93645a40-2366-42a7-b8d3-0500f0ecbaeb
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their sacrifice would contribute
and lead to something great.

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NASA bought a total of 13,800 acres
to build the site.

ef2b687f-57af-4d52-98a8-306f1351ee9b
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This is called the fee area
because it was purchased outright.

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All site facilities
are located in the fee area.

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NASA also acquired the

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rights to another 125,000
acres encircling

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the fee area, primarily
through permanent lease.

cc98d8f7-f1f9-4827-a9a3-9a069847243b
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This area is left undeveloped
to serve as a buffer zone

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against the noise and power
of rocket engine and stage tests.

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The buffer zone extends outward
from the area for several miles

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in all directions and still
is considered a national asset.

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NASA was racing a clock

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that began ticking with President
Kennedy's challenge.

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Time for launching a moon mission
by the end of the decade was short.

004269b9-5d53-4a14-9e24-f458d7b597bd
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In South Mississippi, workers
battled snakes, rain, mosquitos,

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mud, heat, hurricanes
and even an unseasonable snowfall

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to build the facilities
and massive structures needed

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for testing Apollo program
rocket engines and stages.

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The construction project
was the largest in Mississippi

07bd262b-3dc5-4f0a-a91e-3a28abea5d55
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at the time and one of the
largest in the nation.

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At one point,
6,100 employees were on site,

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representing 30 prime contractors
and 250 subcontractors.

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The moment of truth came
in the spring of 1966.

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Test operators worked through
the night at the recently completed

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A-2 test stand, preparing
for the site's first test.

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At 7:27 a.m.

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on April 23rd, 1966,
the South Mississippi silence

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was broken by the roar of 21 million
horsepower,

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equal to 52,500 race car engines.
[engines roaring]

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The test of the first Saturn
five rocket booster lasted

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only 15 seconds, but it ushered
south Mississippi into the space age

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and set the nation
squarely on its way to the moon.

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South Mississippi has remained

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at the forefront of America's
space program ever since.

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During the Apollo program, Stennis
tested every first and second

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stage of the Saturn V rockets
that launched humans to the moon.

fec029a0-299c-4c47-9bc6-0ef25739a772
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In the process,
Stennis personnel totaled 2,475

c56fc30b-645c-4311-b4ed-e61c6a07aa87
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cumulative hours of testing,
experience and expertise.

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During the space shuttle program.

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Stennis tested every engine
that powered astronauts

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on 135 missions.

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It also tested the Space Shuttle
Main Propulsion Test Article,

10f47dc9-0e79-4875-8aa1-289c09bbcbee
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a network of three engines
firing simultaneously.

3d841ed1-f8b3-4aaa-a074-2971521b4301
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The test article was installed
on the B-2 test stand

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and all three engines fired
just as during an actual launch.

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The testing was critical
NASA had to make sure

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its system of three engines
would perform as needed.

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There were no test flights
for the shuttle, the first time

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it launched in 1981,
It carried a pair of astronauts.

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Stennis made that possible.

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All of the original large
rocket stands were involved

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in those test projects and have been
historically recognized.

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Today, Stennis stands
as the second largest in terms

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of geographic size of ten NASA
centers in the United States.

245b64d4-27d5-4602-bd7b-074833f4f08d
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It has grown into a large

8344aa21-d2e4-49b9-a04c-da956803f347
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federal city site
with more than 50 resident agencies.

4576c224-2e7e-48e4-baec-a5f2594e80d9
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The various tenants share
the operating expenses of the site

e5fa4249-c876-4b15-98ac-4c4b58ece21d
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while working on individual
missions.

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It is a great and very cost saving

c70beff2-097c-43d5-8caa-3b2f38de5061
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partnership.

4d83fec8-2b90-4ace-9f73-057908a38efa
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Tenants span the spectrum
from Lockheed Martin

906484a2-efd7-4322-a741-b875a3fdfcb3
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to Mississippi State University

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to the National Oceanic
and Atmospheric Administration,

ca584025-9040-4f84-9b91-b634a17d651d
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to the Mississippi Enterprise
for Technology.

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The largest

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and most historically
significant tenant on the site

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is the U.S. Navy.

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The Navy arrived
at Stennis in 1975.

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Its move was critical
in the development of Stennis

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as a federal city.

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The Navy now has several offices
at Stennis, including the Naval

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Research Laboratories

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and the Naval Meteorology
and Oceanography Command,

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which administers a worldwide
organization of 3,000 naval officers

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and personnel.

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The Navy also conducts
riverine gunboat training

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on Stennis waterways.

a6e468b6-4960-48e8-921c-e58ca4714ce9
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The largest collection
of oceanographers and hydrographer

5993eb57-aa88-4aa0-9de6-9cfa6dfd9332
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in the world is located at Stennis,
and the site is home

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to the only active duty naval
admiral located in Mississippi.

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All in all, more than 5,000
people work at Stennis Space Center

8dee36bf-817e-4e59-9ca8-aec107f8b739
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and they live as valuable members
of surrounding communities.

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The majority of Stennis employees
reside in three Mississippi

dfd07b74-2e48-4026-bd1d-59fb29ad790c
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counties.

91aba0d0-1a9d-47b7-9453-97767b15ccea
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However, 30%
also live in neighboring Louisiana.

07399728-de95-47b3-8157-7c817dd86003
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The Stennis

0025be60-2c4b-4c1b-9760-f09500b20c7e
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workforce comprises a diverse group
from all walks of life.

41722692-a0a0-4a59-b6fd-8cf9c80c852f
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Year in and year out, half
hold a college bachelor's degree

aaf55c12-39e6-4c99-b4f3-63343850bd16
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or better.

434e4f32-6117-4ef1-939e-26311f1945a2
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Typically, about 15%
hold a master's degree,

663b0cda-b9f3-4db4-87b6-b55a0c7005b5
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and up to 5% have earned doctorates.

66a86805-7dac-4610-8200-7dd39dfc6a16
00:07:08.294 --> 00:07:12.465
About 60% of Stennis employees
work in scientific engineering

406192f3-2190-4c6a-9218-cc11f6f4ae91
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or technical positions.
The rest fill business,

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00:07:15.434 --> 00:07:17.970
professional, administrative
and other roles.

68e55a80-fd24-43eb-b9a8-fd3300c00c9b
00:07:18.337 --> 00:07:23.209
Together, they form a Stennis team
that are characterized as a family.

9e1ae14a-cc01-49d6-bfe6-e3d341d7d3fb
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The NASA team pursues a full mission
to support space exploration.

5abf93aa-dab4-4640-a7fb-0f3948445f00
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They work to develop and share space
related technology

ceda6c68-f926-4f4a-8794-dd9e8d20225b
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with the larger world
to tell the NASA's story

99c01c11-0c47-4d49-b4e7-975396d2143e
00:07:36.088 --> 00:07:39.692
and to encourage young people
to pursue activities and careers

0e2dcb63-5a94-474d-81d1-a8bc4a2709e2
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that will make them the science,
technology, engineering

466f9140-fc2b-45b7-bbf7-cabb17fd5fbf
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and math leaders of tomorrow.

59daa600-c02c-4ecd-a26a-8fbca0bbc431
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It all adds up

0d0a5061-36bd-41fd-8eb7-2000cb46ad5a
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to a pretty influential
and powerful place.

f985ebc7-c5df-4621-9c10-a525294d5b31
00:07:56.342 --> 00:07:57.610
Annual studies show

33cfe3a0-b44a-43d0-9b5a-8452818f5883
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Stennis is a major economic engine
for the entire Gulf Coast region.

c63581a2-e09b-4822-a0c3-fa4e459d675d
00:08:02.281 --> 00:08:05.885
It offers a range of employment
opportunities with an average salary

97cce35c-3233-4c86-b737-b1a8aebc7a15
00:08:05.952 --> 00:08:08.521
and benefits of about $90,000.

9580ab28-2e95-4f46-ae2d-a8690fc0097d
00:08:10.189 --> 00:08:13.226
Decades after it was
established, testing

9fa80d47-97b4-479d-a48e-21e5630052cd
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remains the heart of all
Stennis is and does.

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00:08:17.363 --> 00:08:20.900
The site is widely recognized
as a center of excellence

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for rocket engine and stage testing.

cbfa63d9-64a7-4bc6-a714-c912d317b4b4
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It currently is testing engines
that will carry astronauts

f92794e9-0ff4-4a94-bf58-86ffb8cb9cbe
00:08:26.772 --> 00:08:30.476
aboard NASA's new Space
Launch System, which will fly

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further and deeper
into space than ever.

f104c153-c5f8-4e57-9727-8e371b10759a
00:08:34.247 --> 00:08:59.238
[rocket rumbling]

1f452980-462d-438f-a5a2-82d661a37739
00:09:00.606 --> 00:09:03.276
Stennis test
stands and facilities are valued

d6d8d76c-7bfc-4efc-9b32-6885439e0d1a
00:09:03.342 --> 00:09:06.545
at more than $2 billion.

5c963fbe-f6fe-4c1b-a7c0-1d46522235dc
00:09:06.612 --> 00:09:09.515
If Stennis and its buffer
zone did not exist.

9432497e-c216-4114-8dcc-ec3acb628bfc
00:09:09.782 --> 00:09:12.485
NASA would have to build something
like it in order

d8cfc9fc-22f7-4f47-ae00-5ae97b35c8cd
00:09:12.551 --> 00:09:18.124
to test the engines and stages
it needs for space missions.

56771179-fa12-4ea0-845a-55ce40289c0d
00:09:18.357 --> 00:09:21.294
Rocket scientist Wernher von
Braun said at first.

ab9e32a8-e001-4cda-8b1c-bafef23d47aa
00:09:21.360 --> 00:09:24.497
And folks at Stennis
still say a version of it now.

c5528ec4-b75e-420c-abe4-cc45f835be36
00:09:24.697 --> 00:09:28.200
If you want to get to deep space,
you have to go through

1c8f2fe4-289d-4cba-8771-fb93984de778
00:09:28.267 --> 00:09:29.702
south Mississippi.

9e0e983d-6183-4a74-939d-a423286a5609
00:09:33.205 --> 00:09:34.874
A look at the Stennis test area

88160e5c-5109-4407-95ba-3d8e261d748a
00:09:34.941 --> 00:09:37.643
shows the complexity
and value of the site.

01020ade-9fdf-4199-b538-308300a1650a
00:09:40.413 --> 00:09:41.180
A high pressure

67018128-a409-403a-94f4-e9465ef09230
00:09:41.247 --> 00:09:45.117
gas facility produces four high
pressure gases needed for testing

10abff67-a757-4ea2-aa00-7ecf7e46c1f1
00:09:45.184 --> 00:09:50.156
rocket engines and stages;
nitrogen, helium, hydrogen and air.

e68bd29d-fdca-481a-b40d-cec4506bd417
00:09:50.623 --> 00:09:54.727
The gas facility went online
in the mid 1960s and has remained

c6678f46-72d2-4589-a1ae-454d5daa7e5f
00:09:54.794 --> 00:09:59.598
in continual operation
24/7/365 ever since.

b22c2fab-998e-40e5-a451-5270dbb139dd
00:10:00.399 --> 00:10:01.400
There are facilities

206ceb72-3900-4cec-a705-8e0437bed87b
00:10:01.467 --> 00:10:03.903
for handling the rocket
propellants or fuel,

54b01039-0f70-4062-b09b-e33b53678107
00:10:03.970 --> 00:10:05.004
needed for testing.

a49bfc1d-88c8-44bf-8687-496dff30d3d8
00:10:05.338 --> 00:10:06.739
These are fuels like liquid

36e28835-7280-4249-9b92-8cf37b13ade2
00:10:06.806 --> 00:10:10.242
hydrogen and liquid oxygen
that require precise care.

60c60b3b-2e23-41cc-853e-7ced45f1b303
00:10:10.676 --> 00:10:14.613
Stennis is among the world's largest
consumers of liquid hydrogen.

f1ce3886-bec8-44f4-af99-b2d12742d435
00:10:15.047 --> 00:10:18.451
Trucks regularly deliver the liquid
propellants needed for testing.

f63f3e9f-c001-4444-9e74-913e1a033141
00:10:18.818 --> 00:10:21.821
These liquids are stored
in well-insulated tanks

95ebcba2-0411-462a-ac38-9e8fd81015b9
00:10:21.887 --> 00:10:24.690
because they are kept at
super cold temperatures,

e039a55f-5339-49d7-8eb3-7debe52fd017
00:10:24.757 --> 00:10:29.161
as low as -450°
Fahrenheit.

89ffd67d-e448-4f14-9144-ddbe4820f207
00:10:31.197 --> 00:10:33.199
Propellants are delivered
from the tanks

b4a98c8a-850b-4d80-8fe4-69980e4fb16f
00:10:33.265 --> 00:10:36.602
to the stands for testing
by specially designed barges,

c2adaaa4-cf87-4333-b547-2159743c8731
00:10:36.669 --> 00:10:41.240
using a seven and a half mile
canal system.

057cd762-c12d-48ac-abd2-d795be6c7d2b
00:10:41.941 --> 00:10:44.744
The canal system connects
the Stennis test stands

48682073-0e5b-4fc1-9f92-1fc1ca98edf8
00:10:44.810 --> 00:10:46.178
to the East Pearl River,

55423f63-1d67-485a-b683-3637e2b030d1
00:10:46.245 --> 00:10:50.750
so large rocket stages
can be delivered by water transport.

2b2380c8-8cea-4e0d-80c4-fb34111e2911
00:10:52.018 --> 00:10:55.154
The stages enter the Stennis system
by traveling through

761587f5-3442-4cbc-9672-5732b429602a
00:10:55.221 --> 00:11:00.426
a smaller version of the Panama
Canal lock and dam format.

704196ac-1a24-4892-b274-919e73ce3dea
00:11:01.427 --> 00:11:03.696
A high pressure
water facility provides

00b4131d-95ca-48bf-85ef-72eb68a1df4f
00:11:03.763 --> 00:11:07.033
the water needed for testing.

4b8bacc0-a58e-435a-bc2a-2ad2ebbbef74
00:11:07.633 --> 00:11:10.136
The water is pumped from a
66 million

2d773612-db2a-4a2a-ace2-36e631807f29
00:11:10.202 --> 00:11:13.039
gallon reservoir.

108e4728-b5ca-4422-9ed2-7cc692ced268
00:11:13.773 --> 00:11:18.411
Testing can use as much as 335,000
gallons of water per minute,

5c40b5e3-bd9f-4794-b288-0bf1d76942b7
00:11:18.477 --> 00:11:22.548
which is considerably more than
what you get out of a garden hose.

29323194-d552-4853-b96e-f9b251161ad9
00:11:23.849 --> 00:11:26.285
Some pipes in the test complex
water system

caf734b7-285b-4d80-879d-04a160cfddc7
00:11:26.352 --> 00:11:30.423
are 96 inches in diameter.

5b2d58d9-63e4-489c-b3d6-d50864a2bfe8
00:11:30.823 --> 00:11:34.960
Team members conduct engine tests
from a pair of test control centers.

9f8d07e8-029e-4313-b110-b0180b9868c2
00:11:35.194 --> 00:11:39.165
As you would expect, no one can be
on a stand during a test.

d7ccf76e-d368-47b0-8998-2bc9df269a47
00:11:39.665 --> 00:11:43.169
There is even a wide safety area
which no one can enter.

ad1aa32c-88b9-45db-a299-182a64cc1a43
00:11:43.436 --> 00:11:45.938
You have to view tests
from a safe distance.

bd4e06a6-0594-44aa-bbb0-5caec75fdce9
00:11:47.073 --> 00:11:50.776
No doubt, the test stands are
the main attraction of the center.

a063bdbd-9bc1-4b69-9131-9444471b2033
00:11:51.610 --> 00:11:55.748
Stennis actually features three test
complexes with different stands.

aef9f754-4edf-4e95-bc2f-b8d3cd25ac83
00:11:56.715 --> 00:11:59.285
The E-Test
complex is the newest area

cfe1ba5c-fa8b-43ea-8bfc-9d9335d4ffcc
00:11:59.351 --> 00:12:02.388
built in the late 1980s
and early 1990s.

a829ae0f-2342-44a0-8c9b-3cd57d704303
00:12:03.622 --> 00:12:07.293
It has three smaller stands
with seven separate test cells.

36cc143f-3bd3-4eb0-b760-ad48fda63de7
00:12:08.160 --> 00:12:11.664
It offers versatile options
for testing engines and components.

eb0f08d2-0146-48e5-b1b1-8314f77f4dd2
00:12:13.065 --> 00:12:15.501
Companies such as
Aerojet Rocketdyne,

accfb257-0480-41c0-8425-43eb19357a10
00:12:15.568 --> 00:12:18.704
SpaceX, and Blue Origin
have used the complex

5224903d-2e53-48cf-9d08-d1b6c96c4edf
00:12:18.771 --> 00:12:21.740
for test projects.

992b54a6-fe41-4bb0-b95f-9ccfb88e6e9e
00:12:23.242 --> 00:12:25.544
Stennis also has entered
into an agreement

e5f908cb-eba0-4496-abc3-3a38591fe31a
00:12:25.611 --> 00:12:29.181
with Relativity Space
for use of an E complex area.

abe0c1ae-42cb-49e9-8b64-4037b35f98f1
00:12:30.816 --> 00:12:33.986
The A-Test complex has
three test stands

8ff446e8-cb52-4588-a873-a66214c0f934
00:12:34.053 --> 00:12:37.623
A1, A2 and A3.

5cd1798c-6e8f-4a7b-a66e-99fde169dfcb
00:12:38.290 --> 00:12:40.826
The B test complex has one
stand with side

1dde6343-2206-47c1-a9db-c31131ab0888
00:12:40.893 --> 00:12:44.096
by side test capabilities B1 and B2.

212191cf-f24b-47d5-b896-0f62adb6c31e
00:12:45.197 --> 00:12:47.800
Each of these large concrete
and steel stands

e2740a04-c1cf-4687-bd67-db5542332725
00:12:47.867 --> 00:12:49.835
are marvels of engineering.

de990d1d-d90f-4852-bd85-40e7de01905d
00:12:49.902 --> 00:12:53.973
As tall as they are,
they also extend far into the ground

86992be4-9245-4504-ad80-2fc69bf1a3e5
00:12:54.173 --> 00:12:57.243
from 50 to almost 150 feet.

9947f90b-3fc0-4182-bf13-9dd82ffcb70c
00:12:57.643 --> 00:12:59.445
They have to be solidly anchored.

abffd6d9-127f-41c2-a6b3-5ba74a9d5907
00:13:00.713 --> 00:13:03.749
All of the same power that
lifts a rocket into space

55abafc6-0f27-417d-95b1-23a79987aeb2
00:13:04.383 --> 00:13:06.952
is felt on the stand
during a test.

80c641cb-b31b-46e9-bfa7-dc5a46a76e95
00:13:08.420 --> 00:13:11.423
The stand has to be strong enough
to hold the engine

c2e4785a-e823-46cb-aa6e-9362b391258b
00:13:11.490 --> 00:13:14.960
or stage in place and absorb
all of its force.

f105e1fb-1596-4ed9-abe4-9cbcefceb6c0
00:13:17.763 --> 00:13:21.233
On the stands, rocket
engines and stages are installed

b074bf88-e2a6-4603-8e9f-4e9b042e1988
00:13:21.300 --> 00:13:25.604
to fire downward into a large flame
deflector made of solid steel.

7d659507-97d1-4f46-9ee4-3eb9e2b1bc52
00:13:25.905 --> 00:13:29.308
The exhaust from a rocket
engine can reach 6000 degrees

db53f0d1-34c2-49c2-ae1b-62748070ba9f
00:13:29.375 --> 00:13:31.610
Fahrenheit,
which can melt the steel.

73dc8f9f-32a9-4dc3-8c13-f8e0c12cf927
00:13:31.810 --> 00:13:33.012
To keep that from happening,

5fb1a9aa-42af-4c8a-a3f2-abd99c7d3d69
00:13:33.078 --> 00:13:36.715
tens of thousands of small holes
are drilled in the flame deflector.

7b212c43-1332-410a-afd2-0220de04536f
00:13:37.082 --> 00:13:40.319
Water from the high pressure
system is pumped through these holes

9435ad96-9056-41ed-bf78-cd04fc288480
00:13:40.386 --> 00:13:43.822
to cool the engine exhaust
and protect the flame deflector.

535e0819-2597-43f9-bf3f-1ac2b961ab9d
00:13:44.223 --> 00:13:48.727
Now, you know why
so much water is needed.

6e383175-9766-4ed7-a118-2b5ddd836582
00:13:49.461 --> 00:13:51.864
Of course, when water
hits extreme heat,

ba19883c-c28e-4a59-b477-1f9b8c94d6db
00:13:51.931 --> 00:13:55.201
it produces steam.

33f67fc6-96fa-41b8-93d3-a04bf33332df
00:13:55.267 --> 00:13:58.604
[engine roaring]

41e6d372-a30b-41d7-8153-e7309fb7fdb2
00:13:58.671 --> 00:14:00.339
That is the billowing
white cloud

48407f49-6d8f-449b-93a3-65f8d2bda2b6
00:14:00.406 --> 00:14:04.176
you see exiting
the stand during a test.

b0be8271-5bcd-4d11-8bc6-facb484a13f8
00:14:04.243 --> 00:14:06.145
[rumbling]

57f2124a-c48c-4ed9-b40f-79f3607f9634
00:14:06.212 --> 00:14:09.281
If the wind is blowing
right and the cloud passes overhead,

e93b19c9-7233-4b80-81d9-f099aea69471
00:14:09.348 --> 00:14:13.352
you will experience
water vapor, rain.

9724b3ba-69e9-40f1-806d-5e5666d78fb4
00:14:14.186 --> 00:14:16.555
Stennis tests engines and stages

8c725a2e-1a9c-44e7-983f-bc518ed1427b
00:14:16.622 --> 00:14:19.458
just as they must operate
during an actual mission.

b2d1a9d9-88f8-4d97-92d2-525e0b0d8217
00:14:20.292 --> 00:14:23.028
An engine may fire
a little more than 8 minutes

95375174-aa4f-4864-be69-42a7a70af869
00:14:23.095 --> 00:14:24.863
to lift a rocket to space.

7777b801-239a-4690-9bca-4b9618260595
00:14:24.930 --> 00:14:27.533
So 500-second tests are customary.

64dd6d63-78f6-4acb-a509-05fe5605397a
00:14:28.701 --> 00:14:31.637
When astronauts climb aboard
a rocket powered by

0dd82b7c-d26d-49b0-8d37-9c25b613c7be
00:14:31.704 --> 00:14:36.742
engines tested at Stennis, they know
the engines can perform as needed.

0fb235e7-2b8a-47a5-8953-3f97a9d4e2b9
00:14:37.042 --> 00:14:39.712
No crewed space
mission has ever failed

6a557113-060f-4b39-9aaf-b02cd90a3167
00:14:39.778 --> 00:14:43.549
as a result of the malfunction
or failure of an engine or stage

35afb4f9-f78e-430f-9c22-e2301ab9feaf
00:14:43.616 --> 00:14:47.553
tested at Stennis Space Center.

99b33af0-2a70-44d7-914a-de393bf8568b
00:14:52.825 --> 00:14:54.994
While similar in construction
and function,

22707e4c-3041-4f8d-a663-e905087497f7
00:14:56.161 --> 00:14:58.464
each of the large test
stands has unique

8614221e-286c-4ed7-9827-16af8fc0721a
00:14:58.530 --> 00:15:04.870
capabilities.

facf3f80-7e5e-4a50-87aa-e4bdb6d67757
00:15:04.937 --> 00:15:09.408
The A-1 stand can gimbal test
an engine.

4622911c-510d-483e-9d4c-b09452a2f192
00:15:09.475 --> 00:15:11.343
Gimbling is when an engine is tilted

aa18f68a-4844-4f44-bbb8-15a6ad8ffaf4
00:15:11.410 --> 00:15:14.213
a few degrees in any direction
to direct the thrust.

2dd777a1-90fe-42a5-9373-d675e82a666d
00:15:14.647 --> 00:15:18.017
Since a rocket has no steering
wheel, the engine must be gimbaled

717e1e26-0e62-4ceb-b971-e031bf50bc5b
00:15:18.083 --> 00:15:21.654
to keep
it on the proper flight path.

ca7af98f-fe3c-4265-b9f7-70cdfd051957
00:15:21.720 --> 00:15:24.690
[engine roaring]

03141eed-7d31-48e8-881a-6628e7a94e26
00:15:24.757 --> 00:15:26.659
The A-2 Stand can test engines

5bf2925b-c742-421f-8925-557d8664e509
00:15:26.725 --> 00:15:29.495
at simulated altitudes
up to 60,000 feet.

c92df5cd-bd9f-46fa-a320-e922b9131a7c
00:15:31.030 --> 00:15:33.532
The A3 test stand is designed
to test

cf0445f1-c7a7-486b-8376-37e5f5dbad95
00:15:33.599 --> 00:15:36.669
at simulated altitudes
of up to 100,000 feet.

f0014120-eb50-4430-9179-44852dbcaa6c
00:15:37.169 --> 00:15:38.937
That is an important capability

0ea23dcd-e2d9-4612-a3c5-e7a15e2e970f
00:15:39.004 --> 00:15:42.541
if you want to make sure a rocket
engine will operate in space.

80d3068f-a89b-47be-8822-d37fb1053639
00:15:43.075 --> 00:15:47.146
The B1/B2 stand is the largest
of the test structures at Stennis.

130666e6-60c6-472c-a39c-6334ba989372
00:15:47.212 --> 00:15:50.649
It towers more than
350 feet, ranking it as

34f49212-329f-449e-bab9-2e071ec6db9c
00:15:50.716 --> 00:15:52.985
one of the tallest
structures in Mississippi.

2a98ff82-8bb2-4d86-ae9b-16e2ac7542f9
00:15:53.285 --> 00:15:55.954
The 7,000 tons of steel in
the stand is

7bdf59bb-d667-4f36-baf0-7fcdfa1d52e0
00:15:56.021 --> 00:15:59.124
about as much was needed
to build the Eiffel Tower.

5c6d79d5-a0a5-4214-a772-08894ef4d291
00:15:59.191 --> 00:16:03.462
The stand also has 86,000
cubic yards of concrete,

657eafbb-914a-42ef-ab10-afa1ef44575c
00:16:03.529 --> 00:16:06.598
estimated as enough to build
a sidewalk from Stennis

5f275393-b4ba-4a69-a904-1a1b8e4c4f38
00:16:06.665 --> 00:16:09.668
to Memphis, Tennessee.

88d94d12-24c9-42fe-b68a-2d00669a9255
00:16:09.735 --> 00:16:12.404
[engine roaring]

62027caa-c6ab-4ef0-a918-0dc86dd0325e
00:16:12.471 --> 00:16:14.006
The B-1 side of the stand

3ead730e-091d-4ba4-8bfd-334fe4311482
00:16:14.073 --> 00:16:17.409
is used for single engine testing.

e702b720-5490-4fac-9344-b5f7f531c5fe
00:16:17.476 --> 00:16:19.878
The B-2 side is designed for stage

696e81ff-851f-4c93-aa56-2b500ccffe8c
00:16:19.945 --> 00:16:23.549
and main propulsion system testing.

b4ee5f27-9c23-41d7-a40b-8f538ecabef9
00:16:27.486 --> 00:16:31.090
Stennis truly is a unique
and historic site.

cd7908cd-e8ee-4da5-83b3-6bd8861cd1f0
00:16:31.357 --> 00:16:34.693
It is a great story and we have only
skimmed the high points.

6b2ca34b-842d-41ef-b346-af458435bafc
00:16:34.960 --> 00:16:37.629
The best part is the story continues

39071610-d930-4b69-8e49-9b3c18f18c6e
00:16:37.696 --> 00:16:40.866
to be written as Americans
return to the moon.

bffb6d64-4857-4bc8-b813-e3229538c0c6
00:16:40.933 --> 00:16:45.237
They will ride on rocket engines
and stages tested at Stennis.

b1060815-84c1-4b51-ba58-eeb7b71dad62
00:16:45.504 --> 00:16:48.974
When they ultimately head for Mars,
they will be launched from Earth

8f776bee-cdaf-4775-bda3-6c4866cbf6c7
00:16:49.041 --> 00:16:52.544
by Stennis tested
engines and stages.

35280e61-135a-4acc-81be-92f9abfb87ad
00:16:53.212 --> 00:16:56.849
As long as humans
aspire to travel to other worlds,

73108563-9e0e-4420-8f34-0708f7d11889
00:16:57.182 --> 00:16:59.585
as long as they reach for the stars.

4b1b871c-a570-43be-9740-8e0284efd1f5
00:16:59.885 --> 00:17:02.721
They will need powerful rocket
engines and stages

8c49e138-f73e-4a38-a85c-0a93bef42964
00:17:02.788 --> 00:17:04.056
to take them there.

26664adc-585e-444c-8f31-9528ef3ae0be
00:17:04.123 --> 00:17:07.393
They will need a place
to test those engines and stages.

f245832f-28d0-47d8-8727-b42f4a95396d
00:17:07.593 --> 00:17:09.795
A place to prove what is possible.

370d217d-865b-4fea-b747-dc94a4018206
00:17:10.362 --> 00:17:12.831
A place to power their space dreams.

3497b819-939d-4e21-a6fb-c0d7dcf679a3
00:17:13.232 --> 00:17:19.271
They will need Stennis Space Center.

4770d12b-5af6-4e59-9496-3995c4eb23e5
00:17:19.338 --> 00:17:23.976
[RS-25 engine roaring]