Space

Our innovations in chemical, electric, nuclear propulsion, and propellant management technology allow us to develop capabilities that are critical in NASA’s mission to take astronauts to numerous deep-space destinations.

As humans continue to explore life beyond Earth, experts at NASA Glenn Research Center are experimenting with how a fire can spread in space.

V2 Glasses State Explained

The Glenn Extreme Environment Rig (GEER)

NASA takes first 3-D Microscopic Image on the International Space Station. A composite 3–D model of NASA’s Advanced Colloids Experiment.

What we’re working on

Grid View List View

Acronyms

A collection of acronyms used extensively by the space flight program/projects.

Students participate in NASA’s Drop Tower Challenge program.

Education and Outreach

The astronauts and operators of future robotic vehicles who will explore the Moon, Mars, and beyond are in schools across the country. Educating these future scientists and engineers is a priority for NASA, with programs available at all educational levels for students to get involved with their space program.

ESM — Artist's rendering of the European-built service module for NASA's Orion crew-transport vehicle.

European Service Module

The Orion crew transport vehicle’s European Service Module (ESM) is the spacecraft’s powerhouse, supplying it with electricity, propulsion, thermal control, air, and water in space.

Glenn Extreme Environments Rig (GEER)

GEER is a world-class facility designed to simulate extreme environments

USA — Artists rendering of the Universal Stage Adapter (Credit: Dynetics)

Universal Stage Adapter (USA)

NASA’s Space Launch System (SLS) rocket is designed to be flexible and evolvable to meet a variety of crew and cargo mission needs – and with an exploration upper stage (EUS) planned for future configurations, the Universal Stage Adapter (USA) will connect the rocket to the Orion spacecraft.