The NASA Glenn Research Center is pushing the envelope of research and technology to enable NASA missions in Aeronautics Research, Space Exploration, Science, and Space Operations. We excel in aeropropulsion, structures and materials, and instrumentation and control research, enabling next-generation transportation systems that are faster, more environmentally friendly, more fuel efficient, and safer. We develop critical space-flight systems enabled by advanced power, propulsion, communications, and human health systems to advance the exploration of our solar system.
Our work is critical to making the Nation’s vision for future space exploration a reality. For human space-flight systems, we are leading the development of the Service Module of the Orion Crew Exploration Vehicle, which will provide Orion with maneuvering capability (via the propulsion system), generate its power (via solar arrays), and keep it cool (via heat-rejection radiators). We are designing and testing key subsystems of the upper stage for the Ares I Crew Launch Vehicle, and we are developing and manufacturing the test vehicle that will prove the viability of the upper-stage rocket. For the Ares V heavy-lift vehicle, we are leading efforts on the thrust vector control systems that will keep the vehicle under control during ascent, providing the electrical power systems, and developing the world’s largest payload shroud to protect the lunar lander. We have key roles in providing propulsion, power, and testing for the lunar lander; and we will supply power and communications for lunar surface systems such as rovers, spacesuits, and the lunar base.
Our world-class research, technology, and capability development efforts also are critical for our Nation to maintain global leadership in aeronautics. We contribute to economic growth and national security by developing technology for safe, superior, and environmentally compatible U.S. aircraft propulsion systems. Several examples of our aeronautic success were demonstrated in 2007. Our advanced materials development was recognized for enabling the GEnx engine, which was certified by the Federal Aviation Administration and will power the New Boeing 787 Dreamliner; our alternative fuel research resulted in the successful completion of the first-ever alternative fuel test in an ultra-high-bypass-ratio engine, which demonstrated the feasibility of adopting alternative aviation fuel; and our instrumentation research achieved a world record for high-temperature silicon carbide integrated-circuit operation at 500 °C for over 5000 hours, in comparison to less than 10 hours of operation previously demonstrated.
Our recent accomplishments in electric propulsion and radioisotope power systems are noteworthy. We designed, built, tested, and delivered to the Department of Energy/Lockheed Martin three advanced Stirling convertors that have demonstrated a 6 times improvement of specific power over the current state-of-art for radioisotope power systems. The NASA Science Mission Directorate has since identified the use of a pair of advanced Stirling radioisotope generators for the Discovery 13 missions. Also, NASA’s Evolutionary Xenon Thruster (NEXT) long-duration test article exceeded the highest total impulse and most propellant throughput ever demonstrated by an ion thruster of the spare Deep Space-1 engine.
Glenn has two locations. Our Cleveland campus, located on 350 acres adjacent to the Cleveland Hopkins International Airport, has more than 140 buildings that include 24 major facilities and over 500 specialized research and test facilities. Plum Brook Station, located 50 miles west of Cleveland, offers four large, world-class facilities for space technology and capability development on 6,400 acres. Our team consists of over 3,000 dedicated civil service employees and support service contractor personnel. We aggressively strive for technical excellence through continuing education, increased diversity in our workforce, and continuous improvement in our management and business practices.
I hope that the information found in this technical accomplishments report is useful to you. If additional information is desired, you are encouraged to contact the researchers identified at the end of each article and to visit our Web site at http://www.nasa.gov/glenn/. Thank you for your interest in and continued support of the NASA Glenn Research Center.
Woodrow Whitlow, Jr., Ph.D.
Director
Last updated: November 25, 2008
Web page curator: Nancy.L.Obryan@nasa.gov (RS Information Systems, Inc.)
