On June 24, 1977, MPTA-098 was delivered by Rockwell International to the National Space Technology Laboratory (NSTL), in Hancock County, Mississippi, where it was mated with the Main Propulsion Test Article External Tank (MPTA-ET), mounted in a launch orientation and used for static engine tests.
Microvascular Free-Tissue Transfer: The Anatomy and Application of Free Flaps in Contemporary Head and Neck Reconstruction. American Academy of Otolaryngology - Head & Neck, 2006 ISBN 1-56772-098-6
As a result, Louisiana Tech President F. Jay Taylor initiated the construction of the 8,098 capacity Thomas Assembly Center.
The original building, completed in 1889, at a cost of £9,098 was designed by the prolific theatre architect Frank Matcham, who also designed the nearby Grand Theatre and the Tower Ballroom.