Plum Brook Reactor Facility

NASA Glenn Research Center Historic Facility

The Plum Brook Reactor Facility (PBRF) at Plum Brook Station (today, Neil Armstrong Test Facility) operated from 1962 to 1973. The National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA) purchased the land in 1956 to build a test reactor to support nuclear propulsion research, first for aircraft then rockets. The 60-MW reactor conducted over 70 experiments, most of which studied the effects of radiation on various materials. The reactor ceased operation in 1973 when the Nation’s nuclear rocket program was canceled. NASA began decommissioning work in 1998, and the facility was complete removed by October 2012.

History Publications

Science in Flux

This book traces the history of the PBRF, one of the nation's most powerful nuclear test reactors and the only nuclear facility ever built by NASA (NASA SP–2006–4317).

NASA's Nuclear Frontier

A heavily-illustrated history of the Plum Brook Reactor Facility (NASA SP–2004–4533).

Of Ashes and Atoms

This feature length documentary (NASA SP-2005-4605), reviews the history of the PBRF and its work to advance the understanding of the effects of radiation. The film includes discussions with former NASA engineers and operators.

Glenn History and Mitigation

Glenn Historic Facilities

This collection of webpages documents some of the historic facilities formerly located at NASA's Glenn Research Center in Cleveland, Ohio.

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Glenn Historic Preservation

NASA Glenn has worked with the Ohio State Historic Preservation Office to mitigate the loss of some of its historic facilities.

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Glenn History Office

The NASA Glenn History Office documents the research, facilities, and people who have contributed to the center’s extensive history and manages the Glenn History Collection.

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