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NASA's John C. Stennis Space Center conducts rocket tests like this a 52-second test firing of the liquid-fuel AJ26 engine that will power the first stage of a private space launch vessel. (Harlan Kirgan/The Mississippi Press)

HUNTSVILLE, Alabama - Federal watchdogs today criticized NASA for spending $352 million to refurbish a Mississippi test stand for critical upcoming tests on the Space Launch System when cheaper test stands were available faster in Huntsville and California. NASA responded by admitting it didn't follow its own rules and agreements, but "is confident it made the right decision."

NASA is spending the money to upgrade the B-2 test stand at the John C. Stennis Space Center in south Mississippi, according to a report released today by NASA Inspector General Paul Martin. Read the full report here. The stand will be used to test the core stage of NASA's new heavy lift rocket called the Space Launch System. That core stage includes the rocket's liquid hydrogen and oxygen fuel tanks, subsystem hardware and avionics, and four engines.

NASA didn't follow its own policies or its agreement with the Department of Defense (DOD) to share rocket facilities where possible to save tax dollars, Martin's report said. Further, Martin said NASA couldn't justify its decision "given that refurbishing the B-2 stand will be more costly and take longer than two other possible options: an Air Force test stand at Edwards Air Force Base in California and a test stand at the Marshall Space Flight Center."

Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville is leading development of the Space Launch System for NASA and is in charge of testing at Stennis.

Martin issued several recommendations for changes in NASA policies, and his press release says NASA has agreed or partially agreed to his suggestions. But the agency is "confident it made the right decision" considering all the risks to the core stage and the SLS program.