When NASA Glenn scientists test hardware bound for extreme environments in space such as Venus, they pressurize, heat and fill a chamber, known as the Glenn Extreme Environments Rig (GEER), with toxic gases. To verify that GEER’s environment meets the most extreme conditions, scientists asked Gustavo Costa to measure and test the gas mixtures.
After scavenging various laboratories at Glenn for spare parts, the Brazilian born researcher built a small mass spectrometer. Now he collects samples to ensure accuracy during GEER experiments.
NASA Glenn scientist Gustavo Costa created a device from spare parts to measure the chemical mixture in our extreme environments rig. Credits: NASA
Meet the Makers
NASA has a history of advancing science and exploration because our engineers, scientists and technologists find new solutions to meet mission goals. These “makers” take a hands-on approach to move research forward by thinking outside the box. Learn about other innovators at NASA Glenn.
Nancy Smith Kilkenny, ATS
NASA Glenn Research Center
