Stennis

Stennis may refer to the John C. Stennis Space Center, NASA's rocket propulsion testing facility in Hancock County, Mississippi, near Bay St. Louis. Named in honor of U.S. Senator John C. Stennis, the center began life in 1961 as the Mississippi Test Facility and was renamed in the 1980s. It is NASA's primary site for testing large rocket engines and propulsion systems for spaceflight programs, conducting engine tests and research for government, commercial, and international partners.

John Caldwell Stennis (1901–1995) was an American politician who served as a Democratic U.S. Senator from Mississippi from 1947 to 1989. During his tenure he influenced U.S. defense and space policy and held leadership roles on defense-related committees. The space center named after him honors his long public service and his impact on national programs related to national security and space exploration.

Stennis also appears as a surname. In addition to the space center, the name is borne by various individuals in history and contemporary life. The most prominent association for the name in public discourse is the federal facility and its connection to John C. Stennis.