NASA Test Stands
Marshall Space Flight Center, Alabama
Client:
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Project Size:
7,216 cubic yards of concrete foundations; 4,537 tons of structural steel
Recognition:
National ABC Excellence in Construction Award
ABC Alabama Excellence in Construction Award
ABC North Alabama Excellence in Construction Award
Business Alabama Project of the Year
ENR Best of the Best
ENR Southeast Regional Best Projects- Government/Public Buildings
US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Mobile District Quarterly Celebrate Safety Award
This project consists of construction of two large stands at Marshall Space Flight Center for testing the fuel tanks and other key hardware for NASA’s new Space Launch System (SLS). The project includes 7,216 cubic yards of concrete foundations and 4,537 tons of structural steel.
Engineers will use hydraulic cylinders at each stand to simulate the forces during takeoff of the rocket’s core-stage fuel tanks to ensure that they can withstand launch pressures. One stand will be 215 feet tall with twin towers. This stand will test the 185-foot-tall SLS rocket liquid hydrogen tank. The second stand is 85 feet tall and designed to test the new rocket’s liquid oxygen tank. The Saturn V test stand is located between these new test stands, which are under construction.
Brasfield & Gorrie’s Role in Space Exploration
Did you know that Brasfield & Gorrie played a key role in the launch of Artemis I? Learn more about the SLS Test Stands and this 2022 launch.