In 1947, North American Aviation (NAA) bought the first parcel of what today is the roughly 2,850-acre SSFL. The remote property was purchased as a test laboratory for rocket engines, facilities to support the development of nuclear energy, and a Department of Energy center of excellence for research involving liquid metals.
The Santa Susana Field Laboratory (SSFL) is comprised of four distinct operational areas with two adjacent undeveloped properties. Historically, DOE leased a 90-acre portion of the 290-acre Area IV for government sponsored activities. These 90 acres are known as the Energy Technology Engineering Center (ETEC).
The Boeing Company acquired the site in 1996 and became the landowner of a majority of SSFL. Read about the four operational areas below.
- Area I - Mostly owned by Boeing, except a portion that belongs to the Federal Government
- Area II - Owned by the U.S. Government and administered by NASA, this area was primarily used for rocket engine testing
- Area III - Owned by Boeing
- Area IV - Owned by Boeing, which leased the 90-acre ETEC to DOE for government-sponsored activities
Visit the Boeing and NASA websites for more information about SSFL activities.