The Redstone Technical Test Center (RTTC) was one of eight test centers that comprised the Developmental Test Command within the U.S. Army Test and Evaluation Command.1 RTTC was responsible for conducting flight-testing of small rockets and guided missiles, as well as performing life cycle testing for weapon components.2 It occupied over 265 buildings and 14,000 acres (22 sq mi, or 57 km2), or about one-third the area of Redstone Arsenal, near Huntsville, Alabama.13
In 2010, the merger of RTTC and the Aviation Technical Test Center (ATTC) formed the U.S. Army Redstone Test Center (RTC).4
History
The origin of RTTC traces back to the Test and Evaluation Directorate of the Missile Research, Development and Engineering Center (MRDEC). The directorate conducted testing on a variety of missile components and subsystems.4 MICOM's RDEC was formed in 1985 as a part of the U.S. Army Missile Command (MICOM), with MICOM having been formed as part of the U.S. Army Materiel Command (AMC) in 1962.56
In 1990, the MRDEC Test and Evaluation Directorate became known as the Redstone Technical Test Center (RTTC) when it was transferred to the U.S. Army Test and Evaluation Command (TECOM), a component of AMC.47
In October 2010, resulting from the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) efforts, RTTC was combined with the Aviation Technical Test Center (ATTC) from Fort Rucker, Alabama, to form the U.S. Army Redstone Test Center (RTC).4
Role in NRPTA
RTTC developed a capability of static firing hypergolic, liquid rocket engines. RTTC facilities and procedures were available to test liquid rocket engines of the Army, DoD, NASA, and private industry, as part of the National Rocket Propulsion Test Alliance (NRPTA).8
References
References
- "Organization | Redstone Technical Test Center". www.rttc.army.mil. Archived from the original on 27 January 2008. Retrieved 19 May 2026.
- "Mission and Vision | Redstone Technical Test Center". www.rttc.army.mil. Archived from the original on 17 November 2007. Retrieved 19 May 2026.
- "Overview | Redstone Technical Test Center". www.rttc.army.mil. Archived from the original on 17 November 2007. Retrieved 19 May 2026.
- "The History of RTC". atec.army.mil. Archived from the original on 19 May 2026. Retrieved 19 May 2026.
- "RDECOM Report on Research and Technology Capabilities Available for Partnership" (PDF). www.govinfo.gov. U.S. Army Research, Development and Engineering Command. 2010. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 May 2026. Retrieved 19 May 2026.
In May 1985, AML [aka Army Missile Laboratory] was redesignated the Research, Development and Engineering Center (RDEC), in compliance with AMC directions to establish research, development and engineering (RD&E) centers(.)
- "History | DEVCOM Aviation and Missile Center". www.avmc.army.mil. Archived from the original on 26 November 2025. Retrieved 19 May 2026.
- "U.S. Army Materiel Command Annual Historical Review FY90". www.google.com/books. Historical Office, Headquarters, U.S. Army Materiel Command. 1992. pp. 208 / pdf p. 259. Archived from the original on 19 May 2026. Retrieved 19 May 2026.
Mr. W. Hollis, the Deputy Undersecretary of the Army for Operation Research (DUSA [OR]) tasked AMC to develop implementation plans to execute PBD 936 [Program budget decision - p.385 / pdf p.436]. This was a DMR [Defense management review - p.381 / pdf p.432] initiative to reduce AMC operating costs by consolidating test and evaluation activities spread among AMC MSCs [aka major subordinate commands] into TECOM. ... In coordination with TECOM(,) it was recommended that the entire MICOM RDEC Test and Evaluation Directorate and a small caliber weapon firing range under the control of AMCCOM [aka U.S. Army Armament, Munitions and Chemical Command] be transferred. By the end of FY90(,) these units were provisionally transferred to TECOM(.)
- "Redstone Technical Test Center". NASA. Archived from the original on 2006-09-28.
34°37′45″N 86°39′34″W / 34.62917°N 86.65944°W / 34.62917; -86.65944