Contact
Jerry Berg
Media Relations Department
(256) 544-0034
jerry.berg@msfc.nasa.gov

Release: 01-137

NASA Marshall Center boosts Alabama economy with $774 million in fiscal 2000 expenditures

NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala., contributed $774 million to Alabama’s economy in fiscal year 2000.

That contribution included $238 million in salaries for civil service personnel and related costs, as well as travel. It also included $536 million spent on locally procured services, prime contractor and subcontractor support, and local construction.

Approximately $69 million in retirement annuities were paid in 2000 to 2,515 Marshall retirees residing in Alabama, with 1,604 retirees in Huntsville and Madison receiving $44 million of that amount.

The $774 million spent in Alabama was significantly more than the Marshall Center’s expenditures in any other state. In addition, NASA funding of approximately $128 million was spent in North Alabama for International Space Station hardware development by The Boeing Co., while approximately $57 million was spent was spent on other NASA programs in which Marshall had a supporting role. An additional $43 million was spent on programs where Marshall performed work for other agencies.

Marshall received approximately 16 percent – or $2.2 billion – of NASA’s total budget of $13.6 billion during fiscal 2000. Of Marshall’s allocation, 73 percent was spent for Human Exploration and Development of Space including Space Shuttle and International Space Station activities; 26 percent for Space Science, Earth Science, Aerospace Technology and Biological and Physical Research activities; and about 1 percent on Strategic Support of Marshall Center Programs.

Since it was established in 1960, the Marshall Center has had budget responsibility for more than $67 billion. When yearly figures are adjusted for inflation, this total is equivalent to more than $167 billion in today’s dollar value.

The Marshall Center has paid approximately $5 billion in federal salaries since its creation in 1960 through September. In 2000, Marshall civil service employees collectively paid more than $185 million in federal income taxes and more than $6 million in Alabama state income taxes.

At the end of September, Marshall’s permanent and temporary civil service employees totaled 2,676, including employees at resident offices at prime contractor facilities and at NASA’s Michoud Assembly Facility near New Orleans, La.

Of that workforce, 2,195 were college graduates, with 1,450 holding bachelor’s degrees. There were 165 employees with doctorate degrees and 580 with master’s degrees in fields of engineering, science – predominantly mathematics and physics – as well as other disciplines, predominantly business administration.

During 2000, 23,649 contractor employees were involved in Marshall work, including 2,800 in mission support, 10,502 on prime contract work and 10,347 as subcontractors and vendors. Of the total, 6,980 worked in Alabama. Additionally, 763 contractors were associated with International Space Station work being done by Boeing in Huntsville and 730 with other NASA work supported by Marshall.

During fiscal 2000, 305,079 people toured Marshall, including educators, conference and symposium visitors and news media. Of these, 203,223 toured the Marshall Center as part of the U.S. Space & Rocket Center’s bus tour program. The Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville is Marshall’s official NASA visitor center.

In 2000, more than 48,194 students and 26,587 teachers and faculty representing all 50 states were reached through the operation of Marshall’s education programs. The Marshall Center donated $1 million in research equipment and placed some $189 million in grants, contracts and cooperative agreements through the education programs.

Another way the Marshall Center gives back to the community is through monthly Red Cross Blood Drives. In fiscal 2000, 828 pints of blood were collected from civil service and on-site contractors. Marshall civil service employees also contributed $505,268 to the Combined Federal Campaign. Of this amount, $288,288 was designated to help agencies in Alabama.

The Marshall Space Flight Center celebrated 40 years of operation in 2000. Marshall looks to the future with dedication to continue its role as a vital contributor to America’s future in space, while positively impacting the local, state and federal economy.