Tishomingo County Ms

Dynetics to Build New Rocket Engine Test Site in Mississippi

Huntsville, Alabama-based Dynetics has teamed with Tishomingo County, Mississippi and the Tishomingo Tri-State Commerce Park to establish a test facility to provide affordable propulsion testing services for various sizes of thrusters and engines. The new site will be used for propulsion testing of small- to medium-class thrusters, rocket engines, and stages using various fuel types and will be one of a few commercial hydrazine test facilities in the U.S.

The new test site will be located in Iuka on the proposed (but not built) Yellow Creek Nuclear Power Plant site, according to the Dynetics press release, with buildings and infrastructure already in place, reports AI.com .  

Hopefully Dynetics will have better luck than the two previous proposals for the site. TVA cancelled the construction of two planned nuclear reactors in Yellow Creak in 1984.   NASA had planned to build solid rocket motors at the site in the late 80s and was 80 percent complete before Congress shut funding down in 1993.

Dynetics officials have a three phase long-term plan for the site. Phases I and II will involve upgrades and modifications to existing infrastructure. Phase III may include leasing an additional building to conduct launch vehicle and/or payload separation and drop tests.

Plans are to have the test site operational by early July 2011 and politicians at all levels are happy.

“We are excited about the potential of Dynetics and we feel that advanced technology is the key to the future of our citizens,” said James McDowell, President of the Tishomingo County Board of Supervisors. “Tishomingo County is proud to welcome Dynetics and we are delighted to be a partner in the advancement of technology in the USA.”

U.S. Senator Thad Cochran of Mississippi noted the site's key location and the fact it would help diversify the economic base in Tishmingo County.  “With this site in North Mississippi and Stennis Space Center in South Mississippi, our state will have the unique national capability to test rocket engines ranging from the very small all the way up to the world’s largest,” said Senator Cochran.

Dynetics isn't the only commercial firm to expand its rocket test facilities.

Dynetics, Mississippi partners to build propulsion test facility ...

(From release) Dynetics, Tishomingo County, Miss., and Tishomingo’s Tri-State Commerce Park have partnered to establish a multipurpose test facility that will provide affordable propulsion testing services to customers for varying sizes of thrusters and engines.

This new test site, located in Iuka on the former Yellow Creek site, will be used for propulsion testing of small- to medium-class thrusters, rocket engines and stages using various fuel types. It is one of only a few commercial hydrazine test facilities in the United States.

Barry King, Director of Space Test and Operations for Dynetics, said: “This is an ideal location for this facility and it supports our test schedule needs. Buildings and infrastructure are already in place, and by creating our own test capability, we are able to offer a more affordable and efficient option for testing. Iuka is in close proximity to Alabama, only 31 miles from the Shoals and 14.3 miles from Cherokee.”

James McDowell, President of the Tishomingo County Board of Supervisors, said: “We are excited about the potential of Dynetics and we feel that advanced technology is the key to the future of our citizens. Tishomingo County is proud to welcome Dynetics and we are delighted to be a partner in the advancement of technology in the USA.”

According to King, Dynetics officials have laid out options for a long-term plan for the site, which is divided into three phases: Phases I and II will involve upgrades and modifications to existing infrastructure, and Phase III plans may include leasing an additional building to conduct launch vehicle and/or payload separation and drop tests. Tishomingo County District 1 Supervisor Brandon Grissom emphasized that Tishomingo County “welcomes Dynetics and the cutting edge technology coming here.”

He said, “Dynetics is a respected name among companies that serve the aerospace industry and the military. We look forward to continued growth of the company.” Plans are to have the test site operational by early July 2011. “The Dynetics decision to base a test facility in Iuka is very positive,” said U.S. Senator Thad Cochran of Mississippi. “The Yellow Creek site is a valuable asset to our state and to the nation. I am pleased it is being rehabilitated to support rocket development activities in the region. With this site in North Mississippi and Stennis Space Center in South Mississippi, our state will have the unique national capability to test rocket engines ranging from the very small all the way up to the world’s largest. Finally, it will also help diversify the economic base in Tishomingo County. I commend the public-private cooperation that led to this development.

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