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CHRONOLOGY
Oct. 25, 1961—NASA announced the decision to establish a national rocket testing site in Hancock County, Miss.
Dec. 18, 1961—Site officially named Mississippi Test Operations (MTO).
Oct. 1, 1962—Navy Captain William C. Fortune appointed manager of MTO.
May 17,1963—Workmen cut the first tree to start clearing the test area for construction.
May 6, 1965—Jackson M. Balch named manager, site activation moved into high gear.
Jul. 1, 1965—Mississippi Test Operations was renamed Mississippi Test Facility (MTF).
Aug. 1965—MTF employment reached a peak of 6,299.
Apr. 23, 1966—First rocket (S-ll-T) successfully static fired.
Jun. 16, 1970—NASA Headquarters announced Earth Resources Laboratory would be established at MTF.
Mar. 1, 1971—Space Shuttle Main Engine (SSME) testing assigned to MTF.
Jun. 14, 1974—MTF renamed National Space Technology Laboratories (NSTL) reporting to NASA Headquarters.
Jun. 24, 1975—The first SSME test fired at NSTL.
Jul. 1975—Jackson M. Balch retired. Henry F. Auter became Acting Manager.
Sept. 1, 1976—Jerry Hlass appointed NSTL Manager.
Apr. 21,1978—First system test of Space Shuttle Main Propulsion Test Article was conducted.
Mar. 11, 1988—The Air Force and NASA signed an agreement assigning NSTL a lead role in development of a new space launch vehicle.
May 20, 1988—NSTL officially renamed the NASA John C. Stennis Space Center by Executive Order of the President of the United States.
Jul. 25, 1988—Advanced Solid Rocket Motor Testing assigned to Stennis Space Center (SSC).
Jan. 23, 1989—Roy S. Estess appointed director of SSC.
Aug. 20, 1990—First time that SSME tests were conducted on all three stands in one day.