We Test Like We Fly

The Aero-Acoustic Propulsion Laboratory is a world-class facility for conducting aero-propulsion noise reduction research.

The Space Environments Complex houses the most powerful space environment simulation facilities, including the Reverberant Acoustic Test Facility.

The Advanced Subsonic Combustion Rig 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 Chemical Propulsion Research Complex develops advanced chemical propulsion concepts and evaluates safer propellants for launch vehicles, spacecraft thrusters and advanced ignition systems for next generation launch vehicles.

The 1- by 1-Foot Supersonic Wind Tunnel specializes in fundamental research in supersonic and hypersonic fluid mechanics, supersonic-vehicle-focused research, and detailed benchmark quality experiments for computational fluid dynamics code validation.

The Engine Research Building supports research in all aspects of engine development, providing superior testing of turbomachinery, aerodynamics flow, physics, aero-propulsion heat transfer, mechanical components, and combustor facilities.

The Compass Lab conducts rapid conceptual spacecraft designs for NASA, industry, and the scientific community.

The Combined Effects Chamber is part of NASA's Cryogenic Test Complex which allows large-scale liquid hydrogen experiments to be conducted safely. 

The Creek Road Cryogenics Complex consists of four test cells: the Small Multi-Purpose Research Facility, Cryogenics Components Lab 7, Cryomotor Test Bed, and 20K to 90K Calorimeter Test Bed.

The Electromagnetic Interference Laboratory offers analysis of hardware requirements and specification comparisons, electronic component testing, testing of hardware for shielding effectiveness, and final qualification testing of experiments.

The Microsystems Fabrication Laboratory supports design, fabrication, packaging, and testing of durable, extreme- environment silicon carbide sensors and electronics

The Structural Dynamics Laboratory 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 Static Laboratory 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.

The 2.2 Second Drop Tower has been used for nearly 50 years to study the effects of microgravity on physical phenomena such as combustion and fluid dynamics and to develop technology for future space missions.

The Electro-Motive Drop Tower is a proposed upgrade to the existing Zero Gravity Research Facility – NASA Glenn’s 5.2-second drop tower.

The Zero Gravity Research Facility is the largest facility of its kind in the world. It provides researchers with a near weightless environment for a duration of 5.18 seconds.

NASA Glenn’s mTRAX Planetary Exploration team operates test rigs to evaluate planetary roving vehicle systems and components in simulated planetary and lunar conditions.

The Power Systems Facility provides development, testing, and validation capabilities of electrical power systems and associated support systems for a variety of aerospace applications in the International Space Station.

The Fuel Cell Testing Laboratory consists of multiple testing stations. This cell has been designed to accommodate a wide variety of sizes and types of fuel cells, including hydrogen/air and hydrogen/oxygen fuel cells ranging from 1 kW up to 125 kW.

The Chemical Propulsion Research Complex develops advanced chemical propulsion concepts and evaluates safer propellants for launch vehicles, thrusters, and advanced ignition systems.

The Electric Propulsion and Power Laboratory supports research and development of spacecraft power and electric propulsion systems.

The Electric Propulsion Research Building houses eight vacuum chambers and five bell jars to conduct fundamental research in space power and electric propulsion.

The Propulsion Systems Laboratory is NASA’s only ground-based test facility that provides true flight simulation for experimental research on air-breathing propulsion systems.

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 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 1- by 1-Foot Supersonic Wind Tunnel specializes in conducting research in supersonic and hypersonic fluid mechanics, supersonic-vehicle-focused research and detailed benchmark quality experiments for computational fluid dynamics code validation.

The 8- by 6-Foot Supersonic Wind Tunnel 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 9- by 15-Foot Low-Speed Wind Tunnel 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 Icing Research Tunnel supports the development of tools and methods for simulating the growth of ice on aircraft surfaces and the development and certification of ice protection systems.

The Space Environments Complex houses some of the world’s largest and most powerful space environment simulation facilities, including the largest vacuum chamber, most powerful spacecraft acoustic test chamber, and most high-powered spacecraft shaker.

NASA’s In-Space Propulsion Facility is the world’s only facility capable of testing full-scale upper-stage launch vehicles and rocket engines under simulated high-altitude conditions.

The Combined Effects Chamber is part of NASA's Cryogenic Test Complex which allows large-scale liquid hydrogen experiments to be conducted safely. 

The hypersonic tunnel facility is a hypersonic (Mach 5, 6, and 7) blowdown, nonvitiated freejet facility that tests large-scale hypersonic air-breathing propulsion systems.

The NASA Electric Aircraft Testbed is an aeronautics test facility that provides end-to-end testing of megawatt -scale electrified aircraft powertrains to demonstrate next-generation hybrid and turboelectric commercial aircraft capabilities.

Megawatt-scale electrified aircraft powertrain testing under simulated flight altitude conditions to enable next-generation hybrid and turboelectric commercial aircraft.

The High-Power Advanced Cable Technology rig is designed to evaluate the thermal performance of advanced wiring technology for future electrified aircraft systems.

A low-power, direct current, single-string testbed that helps familiarize engineers with electrified aircraft powertrains, verify operations, and characterize motor and inverter components.

A high-power, direct current testbed designed to investigate electric powertrain architectures and support development of new power standards and verification guidelines for vertical lift vehicles and electrified air transportation.

Cryogenic testing that enables quick, low-cost methods for conducting low-temperature tests on aircraft components.

Vibration and structural mode properties testing of rotating aircraft engine systems and components.