SSFL History | SSFL

Overview

The Santa Susana Field Laboratory (SSFL) is located on approximately 2,850 acres in the Simi Hills in Ventura County, California, roughly 30 miles northwest of downtown Los Angeles. The SSFL facility opened in 1948 when North American Aviation (which later became NAA Rocketdyne Division, then Rockwell International, and, more recently, Boeing) began research, development, and testing of rocket engines, in cooperation with the U.S. Army Air Forces. The site is divided into four Administrative Areas — Area I, II, III and IV. Most of Area I and Areas III and IV, and two "undeveloped areas" are owned and operated by the Boeing Company. The Department of Energy (DOE) leased a portion of Area IV for energy research. Area II and a small portion of Area I are owned by the U.S. Government and administered by NASA. NASA acquired Area II, consisting of 409.5 acres, from the U.S. Air Force in 1973 and a 41.7-acre parcel in Area I was acquired in 1976. Both areas were used for the development and testing of rocket engines and engine components.

Pre-1900s

Ethnographically, several Native American groups, generally identified by language group, inhabited and used Ventura County in the areas surrounding the Simi Hills. In alphabetical order, they include Chumash, Fernandeño, Gabrieleño/Kizh, and Tataviam.

To this day, the site remains culturally significant to members of those tribes. Native American sacred and archeological sites, ancient pictographs and petroglyphs, stone tool production sites and habitation sites are located on the SSFL property.

The Burro Flats Site is a prehistoric archaeological sacred site that is known for its pictographs (rock art paintings) and petroglyphs (rock art that has been scored or incised into the rock surface). Based on cultural materials excavated, the site dates from as early as 5000 BCE. Cultural materials indicate occupation during the Mission period through approximately 1833 CE.

Twentieth Century

After World War II, North American Aviation (NAA) leased and later purchased land in the Simi Hills for rocket engine testing. NAA formed the aerospace company Rocketdyne, which later merged with Rockwell International Corporation. In 1954, NAA obtained an adjacent 838-acre area of undeveloped land from Henry Silvernale and Elizabeth Hall. Property ownership records identify Henry Silvernale and Elizabeth Hall as the earliest recorded owners of the property. This new parcel included the land that would become Area II, as well as the 41.7 acres in Area I that later would make up the LOX (Liquid Oxygen) plant. These portions subsequently were transferred to the U.S. government.

In December 1958, NAA deeded three parcels of the former Silvernale property to the U.S. Air Force (USAF). Parcels 1 and 2, consisting of 409.5 acres, became the site of USAF Plant 57, now Area II. Parcel 3 was used for USAF Plant 64, now the LOX plant. The Grant Deed also granted legal access for roads.

Since 1954, Area II has been operated by Boeing, Rockwell, and its predecessor, NAA, under USAF facility contracts. In 1973, the USAF Plant 57 (Area II) land was transferred to NASA and the USAF Plant 57 designation was no longer used.

In 1976, the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) transferred the LOX plant (USAF Plant 64) from the USAF to NASA, but the Air Force retained possession of the structures. Under the terms of a facilities contract, Rockwell administered the LOX plant for NASA. The LOX plant was removed in the early 1970s except for a small weigh station and concrete tank supports.