History
Research and development operations began at Santa Susana in 1948 as the United States began preparations for a national space program. The facility was home to rocket engine testing that supported virtually every major space program in U.S. history, from the earliest satellite launches to the Space Shuttle.
Work at the site also included a number of national defense programs and research, development and testing for nuclear, solar and other alternative energy sources.
Owned and operated by a succession of government agencies and private companies over the years, Boeing's presence at the site began about 10 years ago as operations were winding down and the focus shifted to the ongoing environmental remediation program.
Rocket Engine Testing
On November 15, 1950, at Vertical Test Stand #1, rocket pioneers successfully tested the first American-designed-and-built large liquid propellant rocket engine beginning official testing at Santa Susana. The engines tested at Santa Susana have made history. From the early Atlas, Thor and Jupiter engines to the Space Shuttle Main Engine, the work at Santa Susana has taken us to the moon and back.
Redstone: The first American satellite, Explorer, launched into orbit in 1958 and the first American manned flight in 1961
Apollo: The lunar landing program was powered by F-1 and J-2 engines
Space Shuttle: The first reusable liquid rocket engine ever built, three Space Shuttle Main Engines provide most of the thrust required to reach orbit
Delta/Atlas: America's workhorse satellite launch engine, RS-27A, was the last engine tested at Santa Susana on March 3, 2006
Energy Research
In 1957, the first nuclear power to produce commercial electricity originated from the Sodium Reactor Experiment, a research reactor less than 1% the power of commercial power plants.
The primary mission of the Energy Technology Engineering Center, a U.S. Department of Energy multi-program laboratory, was applied engineering development of solar, conservation, geothermal, fossil, fusion and fission energy technologies.
Development, assembly and ground testing of the System for Nuclear Auxiliary Power program began in the early 1960s. A series of compact, lightweight liquid metal nuclear reactors, this program explored the application of nuclear energy in space such as a power source for satellites.
Nuclear energy research, development and support began to be phased out in the mid-1960s and ceased entirely in 1988.