NASA to demolish aging test facilities at Marshall as part of long-term modernization effort

NASA is moving forward with the planned removal of two historic but aging test facilities at Marshall Space Flight Center, marking the first phase of a broader infrastructure modernization effort at the Huntsville campus.

According to NASA, the agency will conduct a planned, controlled demolition of the Dynamic Test Stand and the Propulsion and Structural Test Facility, known as the T-Tower, on Saturday, January 10.

The structures have reached the end of their safe operational life, and their removal has been long planned as part of a safety-driven initiative to reduce maintenance burdens and modernize Marshall’s footprint.

The demolition represents the first phase of a larger cleanup project that will ultimately remove 25 outdated buildings, along with abandoned slabs and tanks across the center.

NASA officials say clearing the obsolete infrastructure will position Marshall to take full advantage of future NASA center infrastructure investments authorized under President Trump’s Working Families Tax Credit Act, also known as the One Big Beautiful Bill.

“This work reflects smart stewardship of taxpayer resources,” NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman said in a statement to 256 Today.

“Clearing outdated infrastructure allows NASA to safely modernize, streamline operations, and fully leverage the infrastructure investments signed into law by President Trump to keep Marshall positioned at the forefront of aerospace innovation.”

The Dynamic Test Stand, officially known as the Structural Dynamic Test Facility, was built in 1964 to simulate the stresses of spaceflight and was used extensively during development of the Saturn V rocket in the 1960s and the space shuttle in the 1970s. It was last used in the early 2000s for microgravity simulation drop testing. The T-Tower was constructed by the U.S. Army in 1957 as the first permanent test stand at Redstone Arsenal and supported development of the Redstone and Saturn rockets.

Both facilities were designated National Historic Landmarks in 1985 for their role in human spaceflight. In accordance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act, NASA Marshall completed a formal consultation and mitigation process in coordination with Alabama’s State Historic Preservation Officer prior to demolition.

As part of that mitigation, NASA has preserved the history of both structures through detailed architectural drawings, narrative histories, and historic photographs permanently archived at the Library of Congress. Additional efforts include high-resolution digital models created using LiDAR and photogrammetry, a GIS story map of National Historic Landmarks, an interactive virtual tour developed with Auburn University, and plans for physical markers and museum artifacts to ensure public access to the sites’ legacy.

NASA officials noted that the demolitions were planned and funded prior to passage of the Working Families Tax Credit Act. Funding authorized under the act will support future construction, revitalization, and infrastructure improvements made possible by removing outdated facilities.

Marshall officials have previously said the target date for coordinated implosions of the two structures is Jan. 3, 2026, though demolition activities are now moving forward as part of the center’s long-term modernization strategy.