Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) 

Center Assets: Located on the Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, AL, MSFC employs over 2,500 

civil servants, consisting mainly of professional engineers and scientists with expertise in rocket 

propulsion technology, and building launch vehicles, spacecraft, and scientific instruments. 

Center capabilities that will be tapped in the President’s new program include systems 

engineering, propulsion and transportation systems, and management of robotic missions. 

Specific new activities include the following. 

Heavy Lift and Propulsion Research and Development Program (HLPRD) Program Office: This 

new program will investigate a broad scope of R&D activities to support next-generation space 

launch propulsion technologies to both reduce costs and shorten development timeframes for 

future heavy-lift and in-space systems. Target R&D activities include new approaches to firststage launch propulsion; in-space advanced engine technology development and demonstrations; 

and foundational propulsion research. Projects may also include intra-governmental, 

commercial, academic and international partnerships. As the Program Office, MSFC will 

coordinate programmatic activities with the Exploration Systems Mission Directorate and 

provide management oversight and integration across the technology project elements. Most of 

these technology development projects involve collaborations between Centers, with industry, 

and/or with academia. MSFC’s many capabilities in engine and propulsion development will be 

utilized in leading this program. 

Highlights*:

 Heavy Lift and Propulsion Research and Development Program: New Program Office to

manage $559 million in FY 2011 and $3.1 billion over five years to develop next‐generation

engines and propulsion technologies.   

 Exploration Precursor Robotic Program:  New Program Office to manage approximately $105

million in FY 2011 and $2.6 billion over five years allocated to scout locations for eventual

human visits.

 Space Technology Demonstrations:  New Program Office to manage $75 million in FY 2011

and $1.4 billion over five years to oversee flight testing of crosscutting aerospace

technologies.    

 Centennial Challenges Program:  New Program Office to manage $10 million in FY 2011 and

$50 million over five years for this innovative prize program.   

*   Proposals regarding Program Office assignments will be implemented following Congressional approval of the FY

2011 budget; and funding amounts include the cost of civil service labor.
Exploration Robotic Precursor Program (xPRP) Program Office: This new program will send 

robotic precursor missions to the Moon, Mars and its moons, Lagrange points, and nearby 

asteroids to scout targets for future human activities, and identify the hazards and resources that 

will determine the future course of the expansion of human civilization into space. Program 

goals include gaining critical knowledge, proving technologies, and testing operational concepts 

that will benefit future human explorers at these destinations. As the Program Office, MSFC 

will coordinate programmatic activities and provide management oversight and integration 

across mission elements. MSFC’s existing lunar robotic management capabilities will serve as 

the foundation for this new program. 

Technology Demonstrations Missions Program Office: The new Technology Demonstration 

Missions Program will support crosscutting technologies with potential to benefit to multiple 

NASA mission directorates, other government agencies or the space industry. Performing flight 

demonstrations will advance the technology readiness of the selected systems, provide tangible 

products from the NASA innovation and technology program and capture significant public 

interest and awareness. Executing these engaging and technically challenging space flight 

demonstrations, including designing the flight test program, building the flight hardware and 

performing/operating the mission is also an outstanding means for preparing the current NASA 

and industry workforce to handle more challenging space missions in the future. As the Program 

Office, MSFC will coordinate and manage these activities across the nation in collaboration with 

NASA’s Office of the Chief Technologist. 

Centennial Challenges Program Office: The Centennial Challenges Program seeks innovative 

solutions to technical problems that can drive progress in aerospace technology, and be of value 

to NASA's missions in space operations, science, exploration and aeronautics. The program 

encourages the participation of independent teams, individual inventors, student groups and 

private companies of all sizes, and from diverse backgrounds (from non-traditional sources to 

established aerospace research and development organizations), to seek the most innovative 

solutions to technical challenges through competition and cooperation. NASA's original seven 

prize challenges have been successful in encouraging broad participation by innovators across 

our nation and across generations. Many of these technical challenges also have direct relevance 

to national and global needs such as energy and transportation. As the Program Office, MSFC 

will manage this program in collaboration with NASA’s Office of the Chief Technologist to 

benefit all of NASA and the private sector.