Marshall Space Flight Center

Marshall Space Flight Center is the designated NASA center for propulsion and transportation systems. Historically, Marshall developed the Saturn family of boosters, the propulsion technologies of the Space Shuttle, and (until Barack Obama cancelled Project Constellation) the Ares I and Ares V boosters. Additionally, Marshall develops hardware and instruments for various scientific projects and supports the ISS.

For a time, Marshall oversaw a complete propulsion-based empire: In addition to MSFC proper, Marshall had responsibility for facilities for producing (Michoud Assembly Facility), testing (Mississippi Test Facility and the computing facility in Slidell, Louisiana), and launching (the Launch Operations Directorate) Saturn rockets.

Over time, the Mississippi Test Facility became the Stennis Space Center and the Launch Operations Directorate became a full-fledged NASA center (first the Launch Operations Center and then the Kennedy Space Center). Today, the only other facility overseen by Marshall is the Michoud Assembly Facility.

Marshall has had several of its facilities designated as National Historic Landmarks.

After 9/11, the bus tours of Marshall which had been offered by the U.S. Space and Rocket Center were stopped (although they've briefly resumed before falling victim to COVID), but I've been lucky enough to visit Marshall several times: as a part of a VIP tour and as the guest of active-duty military personnel and MSFC engineers.

I've annotated an aerial overview of some of the Marshall test stands.