Along a quiet stretch of pine-lined Highway 607 in Hancock County, Mississippi, a sign alerts motorists: Now Entering NASA/SSC Security Enforcement Area. Beyond this point lies the vast Stennis Space Center, where engines for Apollo, the Space Shuttle, and Artemis have been tested at full throttle. The reminder of security restrictions — paired with the speed limit notice — reflects how an otherwise ordinary southern highway doubles as the gateway to one of the most advanced propulsion test facilities in the world.

Nestled in the woods of Hancock County, Mississippi, the Stennis Space Center has been a cornerstone of NASA’s propulsion testing since the 1960s. The security gate, painted in the agency’s signature red, white, and blue, greets all who enter the sprawling complex where engines for Apollo, the Space Shuttle, and today’s Artemis missions have been put through their paces. The unassuming roadside checkpoint belies the scale of the technological achievements within, underscoring how a quiet patch of southern forest became central to America’s spaceflight history.