|STENNIS SPACE CENTER TEST STAND PASSES HISTORIC MARK| Water
vapor billows from the A-1 Test Stand at NASA Stennis Space
Center today during SSC's 1,000th test of a space shuttle main
engine on that test stand. SSC engineers began testing SSMEs in
1975, and since that time have tested every one of the complex
engines that power the space shuttle. Mounted on the space
shuttle and fueled by super-cold liquid hydrogen and liquid
oxygen, the three SSMEs exert the 1,254,000 pounds of thrust
required to lift the shuttle into orbit. Set to retire in 2010,
the space shuttle will be replaced by NASA's new crew and cargo
launch vehicles, the Ares I and Ares V. In October, SSC will
temporarily decommission its A-1 Test Stand to modify it to
begin testing engines for the new spacecraft that will replace
the shuttle.