Folks looking to see what it’s like to be a space engineer are invited to experience an interactive exhibit at NASA’s Stennis Space Center in Hancock County.
The permanent exhibit, now open and located within Stennis’ visitor center, gives guests the chance to put their skills to work as they guide an RS-25 engine through a simulated hot fire test. Sitting at a console mirroring the actual NASA Stennis Test Control Center, users are immersed in the complex engine testing process. Participants will encounter cutting-edge software and visual displays to teach them how to manage liquid oxygen, liquid hydrogen propellants, and other essential elements during a hot fire.
Users follow step-by-step instructions that include pressing buttons, managing propellant tanks, and even closing the flare stack, just as real engineers do at the space center. Once the test is complete, they are congratulated for successfully conducting their own rocket engine hot fire.
“It is an exhilarating opportunity to feel what it is like to be a NASA engineer, responsible for making sure the engine is safely tested for launch,” NASA engineer Chris Barnett-Woods said.
The interactive exhibit is not just about pushing buttons. It is packed with interesting facts about the RS-25 engine, which helps power NASA’s Artemis missions as the agency explores secrets of the universe for the benefit of all. Visitors also can view real hot fires conducted at Stennis from multiple angles, deepening their understanding of rocket propulsion testing and NASA’s journey back to the moon and further into space.
The revitalized exhibit, previously used when the visitor center was located onsite, represents a collaborative effort. It started as an intern project in the summer of 2023 before evolving into a full-scale experience. Engineers built on the initial concept, integrating carpentry, audio, and video to educate and inspire future space explorers. Users can repeat the simulation as often as they like as they learn more with each attempt.
