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Special Projects Laboratory Image Gallery

Image Gallery for the Special Projects Laboratory (SPL) website: www.nasa.gov/special-projects-laboratory/. The SPL played an important role in NASA's Glenn Research Center's aeropropulsion research for over 70 years. The facility, named the Jet Propulsion Static Laboratory (JPSL) from 1944 to 1961, made notable contributions to the center’s propulsion and materials research before being removed in 2018.

Hallway in the northern end of the Special Project Laboratory (1975).
View of hallway and test cells in northern portion of the SPL.
A General Electric TG-180 engine in Cell 6 of the Jet Propulsion Static Laboratory (1950).
Engine in Cell 6 of the JPSL .
Thermal Fatigue Rig in Cell 3 of the Special Projects Laboratory (1976).
Thermal Fatigue Rig in Cell 3 of the SPL.
ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION SITE IN BUILDING 24
View of large air compressor inside SPL
Ingersoll-Rand compressor in the Special Projects Laboratory prior to its demolition in 2017.
View of large air compressor inside SPL.
500-hp compressor inside the Special Project Laboratory (1975).
View of large air compressor inside SPL.
The 500-hp Ingersoll Rand compressor and support equipment in Room 106 of the Jet Propulsion Static Laboratory.
Researcher checks the Thermal Fatigue Rig in the Researcher checks the Thermal Fatigue Rig in the JPSL (1959).
Man squatting in lab with clipboard.
Magnetostrictive Water Cavitation Facility in the SPL, including the transducer, specimen holder, and glass beaker test chamber (1967).
Close up of cavitation test equipment.
View inside the Liquid Metal Cavitation Facility in the Special Project Laboratory with the sample and heat treatment chamber below...
View of Water Cavitation Facility in SPL
A researcher works with the Liquid Metal Cavitation Facility in Room 116 of the Special Projects Laboratory (1964).
Researcher with hands in glovebox of cavitation facility
Engineers examine the Brayton Cycle power generator in the Special Projects Laboratory (1969).
Two engineers examine Brayton rig assembly.
One of many wooden stubs used to analyze and perfect the bonding and joint design of wind turbine blades (1980).
Rectangular wood stub for blade testing
A NASA-designed plug nozzle installed on a GE J-85 engine to reduce noise (1969).
Close up of conical nozzle on aircraft engine.
Control panels in Room 112 for operating engines in Cell 2 of the Special Projects Laboratory (1967).
Panels in control room.
A variable area nozzle on a General Electric J-85 engine for testing in Cell 2 of the Special Projects Laboratory...
Close up of nozzle on jet engine.
Shroud on the tailpipe of a General Electric J-85 engine installed in Cell 2 of the Special Projects Laboratory (1967).
Engine nozzle shroud entering duct.
Warner Stewart (left) discusses Allison T-63 exhaust stack with colleagues in the Special Projects Laboratory (1978).
Three men looking at engine and blueprints.
Allison T-63 in Cell 2 of the Special Projects Laboratory with standard ejectors that direct the rearward (1977) .
Close up of engine installation.
Experimental vertical ejectors for the Allison T-63 engine being tested in Cell 2 of the Special Projects Laboratory (1976).
Exhaust ejectors for T-63 on test stand
Installation of NASA's Low Cost engine in Cell 1 of the Special Projects Laboratory for testing (1971).
Instrumentation on experimental engine.
The NASA Low Cost Engine on display in Lewis' Visitor Information Center (1982).
Small engine with exhibit.
Installation of NASA's Low Cost engine in the Special Projects Laboratory for testing (1981).
Engine installation in test cell.
Harold Gold (left) and Peter Batterton examine a Low Cost Engine prior to its shipment in 1973.
Two men looking at small engine.
100,000-pounds force multi-axial tension machine in Room 104 of the Special Projects Laboratory (1978).
View of actuator rig in SPL
NASA-ERDA Mod-A experimental wind turbine installed at Clayton, New Mexico (1981).
Side view of wind turbine at sunset
Installation of a section of wind turbine blade at the Army's Fort Eustis Facility (1983).
Wind turbine blade mounted in test stand.
A researcher examines a test article for the Thermal Fatigue Rig in Cell 3 of the Special Projects Laboratory (1967).
Man holds test sample.
A technician assembles the Replaceable Blade Turbine Rig prior to its installation in Cell 1 of the Special Projects Laboratory...
Man working on table-mounted rig.
A researcher examines the Replaceable Blade Turbine Facility used to study the effects of hot corrosion on materials (1982).
Man examining rig in test cell.
Researchers work with a phase shifter in the Special Projects Laboratory (1979).
Two men at control panel.
Researcher works with Bi-axial Test Rig in the Special Projects Laboratory (1986).
Man examining test specimens on table.
A NASA researcher adjusts high temperature furnace in the Special Projects Laboratory (1986).
Woman examining test equipment.
The Hot Corrosion Test Rig in Cell 1of the Special Projects Laboratory (1992).
Horizontal test rig.
The inactive High Pressure Burner Rig inside Cell 6 of the Special Projects Laboratory in 2017.
Unlit view of test rig inside of Cell 6
A test specimen being inserted into the test section of the High Pressure Burner Rig in Cell 6 of the...
test specimen being inserted into the test section or rig.
The High Pressure Burner Rig in Cell 6 of the Special Projects Laboratory after reconfiguration for Enabling Propulsion Materials program...
Test rig in test cell.
Multi-tube automatic high-temperature cyclic oxidation rig.
Diagram of the Multi-tube automatic high-temperature cyclic oxidation rig
Close-up of cavitation damage to test specimens viewed under uniform lighting (1968).
Composite image of 6 discs.
Mike Cuy monitors testing in the High Pressure Burner Rig from the adjacent control room (1989).
Researcher seated in control room