NASA's Glenn Research Center's world-class facilities and expert staff help develop and verify cutting-edge technologies in the areas of aeronautics, aerospace and space. Our premier ground test facilities support powered flight through the atmosphere and beyond.
The Aero-Acoustic Propulsion Laboratory (AAPL) is a world-class facility for conducting aero-propulsion noise reduction research. With over 20 years of testing experience in acoustic research and development, the AAPL, located at NASA’s Glenn Research Center, is a world-class facility providing outstanding testing services in aircraft propulsion acoustic noise reduction and performance research. Unique in testing … Read the rest ⇢
The Space Environments Complex (SEC) houses the world’s largest and most powerful space environment simulation facilities. The Space Simulation Vacuum Chamber is the world’s largest space simulation vacuum and EMI chamber, measuring 30.5 m (100 ft) in diameter by 37.2 m (122 ft) high. The Reverberant Acoustic Test Facility (RATF) is the world’s most powerful … Read the rest ⇢
The Advanced Subsonic Combustion Rig (ASCR) is a unique high-pressure and high temperature combustor facility. It is significant because of its one-of-a kind ability to simulate combustor tests up to 60 atmospheres. The Advanced Subsonic Combustion Rig (ASCR) at NASA’s Glenn Research Center (GRC) is a high-pressure, high-temperature combustion rig that simulates combustor inlet test … Read the rest ⇢
The Chemical Propulsion Research Complex (CPRC) develops advanced chemical propulsion concepts and evaluates safer propellants for launch vehicles, spacecraft thrusters and advanced ignition systems for next generation launch vehicles. It has the capability to perform sea level and simulated altitude testing, as well as advanced plume diagnostics. Workhorse hardware is available to perform component level … Read the rest ⇢
The 1- by 1-Foot Supersonic Wind Tunnel (1×1) specializes in conducting fundamental research in supersonic and hypersonic fluid mechanics, supersonic-vehicle-focused research and detailed benchmark quality experiments for computational fluid dynamics (CFD) code validation. The 1×1 is a facility located in the Engine Research Building (ERB) at NASA’s Glenn Research Center in Cleveland, Ohio. This facility … Read the rest ⇢
The Advanced Subsonic Combustion Rig (ASCR) is a unique high-pressure and high temperature combustor facility. It is significant because of its one-of-a kind ability to simulate combustor tests up to 60 atmospheres. The Advanced Subsonic Combustion Rig (ASCR) at NASA’s Glenn Research Center (GRC) is a high-pressure, high-temperature combustion rig that simulates combustor inlet test … Read the rest ⇢
The Engine Research Building (ERB) supports research in all aspects of engine development, providing superior testing of turbomachinery, aerodynamics flow, physics, aeropropulsion heat transfer, mechanical components, and combustor facilities. The Engine Research Building (ERB) is the largest and most adaptable test facility complex at Glenn, with 152,235 square feet of floor space housing more than … Read the rest ⇢
The Compass Lab conducts rapid conceptual spacecraft designs for NASA, industry, and the scientific community.
The design and construction of the Cryogenic Test Complex at NASA’s Neil A. Armstrong Test Facility (ATF) located in Sandusky, OH allows large-scale liquid hydrogen (LH2) experiments to be conducted safely. Control systems are located in a separate, remote building. The Combined Effects Chamber (CEC) is a space-environment test chamber 25 ft in diameter with … Read the rest ⇢
The Creek Road Cryogenics Complex (CRCC) is a state-of-art facility at NASA’s Glenn Research Center in Cleveland. It consists of four separate test cells: the Small Multi-purpose Research Facility (SMiRF), Cryogenics Components Lab 7 (CCL-7), Cryomotor Test Bed, and 20K to 90K Calorimeter Test Bed.
The Electromagnetic Interference Laboratory (EMI) offers analysis of hardware requirements and specification comparisons, electronic component testing, testing of hardware for shielding effectiveness, and final qualification testing of experiments. The Electromagnetic Interference (EMI) Laboratory offers several Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) services like EMC hardware design to meet the desired requirement, specification comparisons, consultation during design development, and … Read the rest ⇢
Design, Fabrication, Packaging, and Testing of Uniquely Durable Extreme Environment Silicon Carbide (SiC) Sensors and Electronics
The Structural Dynamics Laboratory (SDL) performs structural dynamic testing to verify the survivability of a component or assembly when exposed to vibration stress screening, or a controlled simulation of the actual flight or service vibration environment. The Structural Dynamics Laboratory, or SDL, performs tests to verify the survivability of a component or assembly when exposed … Read the rest ⇢
The Structural Static Laboratory (SSL) performs tests to verify the structural integrity of space flight and ground test hardware. It can also be used to verify the modes of failure of a design when exposed to simulated service loads. Structural testing is performed to verify the structural integrity of space flight and ground test hardware. … Read the rest ⇢
The 2.2 Second Drop Tower has been used for nearly 50 years by researchers from around the world to study the effects of microgravity on physical phenomena such as combustion and fluid dynamics and to develop technology for future space missions. The NASA Glenn 2.2 Second Drop Tower is one of two drop towers located … Read the rest ⇢
The Electro-Motive Drop Tower (EMDT) is a proposed upgrade to the existing Zero Gravity Research Facility (ZGF) – NASA GRC’s 5.2-second drop tower. The initiative aims to improve the ZGF; increasing test throughput, low gravity duration, and providing intermediate gravity levels, such as lunar and Martian gravity. The concept is similar to what has been … Read the rest ⇢
The Zero Gravity Research Facility is NASA’s premier facility for ground based microgravity research, and the largest facility of its kind in the world. It provides researchers with a near weightless environment for a duration of 5.18 seconds. The Zero Gravity Research Facility is NASA’s premier facility for ground based microgravity research, and the largest … Read the rest ⇢
There are several state-of-the-art test rigs and facilities at the NASA Glenn Research Center (GRC) operated by GRC’s mTRAX Planetary Exploration team. These rigs serve to test planetary roving vehicle systems and components in simulated planetary and lunar conditions. There are several state-of-the-art test rigs and facilities at the NASA Glenn Research Center (GRC) operated … Read the rest ⇢
The Power Systems Facility (PSF) provides capability to maintain and enhance Glenn Research Center’s leadership in power technology, including development, testing, and validation of electrical power systems and associated support systems for a variety of aerospace applications in the International Space Station (ISS) and other space and aeronautic applications. The Power Systems Facility (PSF) was … Read the rest ⇢
The Chemical Propulsion Research Complex (CPRC) develops advanced chemical propulsion concepts and evaluates safer propellants for launch vehicles, spacecraft thrusters and advanced ignition systems for next generation launch vehicles. It has the capability to perform sea level and simulated altitude testing, as well as advanced plume diagnostics. Workhorse hardware is available to perform component level … Read the rest ⇢
The Electric Propulsion and Power Laboratory (EPPL) supports research and development of spacecraft power and electric propulsion systems. The staff of EPPL have been supporting electric propulsion and power system testing for over 40 years. The Electric Propulsion and Power Laboratory (EPPL), formerly known as the Electric Propulsion Laboratory (EPL), supports research and development of … Read the rest ⇢
The Electric Propulsion Research Building (EPRB) has eight vacuum chambers and five bell jars that provide the required simulated space to conduct fundamental research in space power and electric propulsion. The Electric Propulsion Research Building (EPRB) supports research and development of spacecraft power, electric propulsion, and space environmental effects. Presently, EPRB is supporting research focused … Read the rest ⇢
NASA’s In-Space Propulsion Facility (ISP) is the world’s only facility capable of testing full-scale upper-stage launch vehicles and rocket engines under simulated high-altitude conditions.
The Propulsion Systems Laboratory (PSL) is NASA’s only ground-based test facility that provides true flight simulation for experimental research on air-breathing propulsion systems. The PSL has recently added the capability to simulate clouds of ice crystals and liquid water droplets. The Propulsion Systems Laboratory (PSL) complex provides world-class test and evaluation capabilities in support of … Read the rest ⇢
The Research Support Building (RSB) is NASA Glenn Research Center’s second phase of the Facility Master Plan multiyear effort to revitalize the central campus and renovate or replace WWII era campus buildings. RSB will be a 64,000-square-foot multi use office building providing office space for approximately 160 permanent occupants. The building will also be home … Read the rest ⇢
The Chemical Propulsion Research Complex (CPRC) develops advanced chemical propulsion concepts and evaluates safer propellants for launch vehicles, spacecraft thrusters and advanced ignition systems for next generation launch vehicles. It has the capability to perform sea level and simulated altitude testing, as well as advanced plume diagnostics. Workhorse hardware is available to perform component level … Read the rest ⇢
The Creek Road Cryogenics Complex (CRCC) is a state-of-art facility at NASA’s Glenn Research Center in Cleveland. It consists of four separate test cells: the Small Multi-purpose Research Facility (SMiRF), Cryogenics Components Lab 7 (CCL-7), Cryomotor Test Bed, and 20K to 90K Calorimeter Test Bed.
The Electric Propulsion and Power Laboratory (EPPL) supports research and development of spacecraft power and electric propulsion systems. The staff of EPPL have been supporting electric propulsion and power system testing for over 40 years. The Electric Propulsion and Power Laboratory (EPPL), formerly known as the Electric Propulsion Laboratory (EPL), supports research and development of … Read the rest ⇢
The Electric Propulsion Research Building (EPRB) has eight vacuum chambers and five bell jars that provide the required simulated space to conduct fundamental research in space power and electric propulsion. The Electric Propulsion Research Building (EPRB) supports research and development of spacecraft power, electric propulsion, and space environmental effects. Presently, EPRB is supporting research focused … Read the rest ⇢
NASA’s In-Space Propulsion Facility (ISP) is the world’s only facility capable of testing full-scale upper-stage launch vehicles and rocket engines under simulated high-altitude conditions.
The Propulsion Systems Laboratory (PSL) is NASA’s only ground-based test facility that provides true flight simulation for experimental research on air-breathing propulsion systems. The PSL has recently added the capability to simulate clouds of ice crystals and liquid water droplets. The Propulsion Systems Laboratory (PSL) complex provides world-class test and evaluation capabilities in support of … Read the rest ⇢
The Space Environments Complex (SEC) houses the world’s largest and most powerful space environment simulation facilities. The Space Simulation Vacuum Chamber is the world’s largest space simulation vacuum and EMI chamber, measuring 30.5 m (100 ft) in diameter by 37.2 m (122 ft) high. The Reverberant Acoustic Test Facility (RATF) is the world’s most powerful … Read the rest ⇢
The Graphics and Visualization Lab applies advanced visualization technology and expertise to create innovative solutions for NASA and the scientific community.
The 10- by 10-Foot Supersonic Wind Tunnel (10×10) is the largest and fastest wind tunnel facility at NASA’s Glenn Research Center and is specifically designed to test supersonic propulsion components from inlets and nozzles to full-scale jet and rocket engines. The Unitary Plan Act, passed by Congress in 1949, was a coordinated national plan of … Read the rest ⇢
The 1- by 1-Foot Supersonic Wind Tunnel (1×1) specializes in conducting fundamental research in supersonic and hypersonic fluid mechanics, supersonic-vehicle-focused research and detailed benchmark quality experiments for computational fluid dynamics (CFD) code validation. The 1×1 is a facility located in the Engine Research Building (ERB) at NASA’s Glenn Research Center in Cleveland, Ohio. This facility … Read the rest ⇢
The 8- by 6-Foot Supersonic Wind Tunnel (8×6) operates either in an aerodynamic closed-loop cycle, testing aerodynamic performance models, or in a propulsion open-loop cycle that tests live fuel burning engines and models. The 8×6 is a world-class facility that provides researchers with the opportunity to explore higher speed regions of flight. It is NASA’s … Read the rest ⇢
The 9- by 15-Foot Low-Speed Wind Tunnel (9×15) is the most utilized low-speed propulsion acoustic facility in the world. It is the only national facility that can simulate takeoff, approach, and landing in a continuous subsonic environment. The 9×15 is a significant asset to the nation and the aero-propulsion community because of its unique ability … Read the rest ⇢
The Hypersonic Tunnel Facility (HTF) at NASA’s Neil A. Armstrong Test Facility (ATF) Neil A. Armstrong Test Facility (ATF) located in Sandusky, OH, originally designed to test nuclear thermal rocket nozzles, is a hypersonic (Mach 5, 6, and 7) blowdown, nonvitiated freejet facility that tests large-scale hypersonic air-breathing propulsion systems. Designed to conduct research, development, … Read the rest ⇢
NASA’s Glenn Research Center’s Icing Research Tunnel supports the development of tools and methods for simulating the growth of ice on aircraft surfaces as well as the development and certification of ice protection systems. The Icing Research Tunnel (IRT) is the longest running, icing facility in the world and has been in operation since 1944. … Read the rest ⇢
NASA’s Glenn Research Center provides ground test facilities to industry, government, and academia. If you are considering testing in one of our facilities or would like further information about a specific facility or capability, please let us know.
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For over 75 years, NASA’s Glenn Research Center has been using its state-of-the-art test facilities to conduct research. Over time, however, some could not meet the requirements of newer technology, and the center has removed these under-utilized facilities, including several that made major technological contributions. The Glenn Historic Facilities section documents these historic facilities and their impact.
