Marshall Orientation Home   The Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala., is one of NASA's largest and most diversified installations. The Marshall Center has been a key contributor to numerous significant NASA programs during the Agency's 45-plus-year history -- from the 1961 flight of the first U.S. astronaut into space, to the Apollo missions exploring the Moon, to development and operation of America's Space Shuttle fleet, and construction of and scientific discovery aboard the International Space Station. Today, the Marshall Center is again contributing its collective expertise, ingenuity and energy as NASA and the nation begin carrying out the Vision for Space Exploration, which seeks to extend human presence across the Solar System -- starting with a human return to the Moon in preparation for human exploration of Mars and other destinations. Engineers and scientists at the Marshall Center use state-of-the-art equipment and facilities to accomplish NASA's mission. Marshall manages the key propulsion hardware and technologies of the Space Shuttle, develops the next generation of space transportation and propulsion systems, oversees science and hardware development for the International Space Station, and handles a variety of associated scientific endeavors to benefit space exploration and improve life here on Earth. We are NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center -- engineering America's future in space.