Special Projects Laboratory

The Special Projects Laboratory (SPL) at NASA’s Glenn Research Center played an important role in the 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. This website seeks to collect and preserve its history for future research.

Kneeling photographer films ramjet engine firing at night.

Introduction

The Jet Propulsion Static Laboratory (JPSL) contributed to the NACA’s Lewis Flight Propulsion Laboratory’s (today, NASA Glenn) overall improvement of jet engine technology in the 1940s, particularly in increasing thrust. As industry needs evolved, the lab’s researchers began using the JPSL to develop better turbine blades and cooling systems in the 1950s.

The 1960s Space Race introduced new areas of research, such as the handling and storage of cryogenic rocket fuels. In 1961, the facility was renamed the Special Projects Laboratory (SPL) to reflect this change. By the late 1960s, however, the SPL returned to aircraft engine testing and materials analysis for engine components. Over the next three decades, researchers in the SPL used various burner, furnace, and laser rigs to make significant advances in thermal barrier coating (TBC) technology. These efforts continued up until the facility was closed in 2016.

History

Early Jet Engines

The JPSL was hurriedly built in 1943 to secretly test early U.S. jet engines and afterburners during World War II.

Turbine Cooling

The JPSL transitioned to turbine work as turbine cooling became a priority in the late 1940s and 1950s.

Turbojet Enhancements

In the post-war years, researchers used the JPSL to develop technologies to increase jet engine thrust.

Space Activities

In the 1960s, researchers used the SPL to test cryogenic insulation, materials for solid rocket nozzle inserts, technologies for nuclear-electric systems, and other space-related projects.

New Era in Aero

NASA Lewis Research Center utilized the SPL during the late 1960s and early 1970s for several niche research efforts while slowly introducing materials and testing equipment that would become prevalent in the ensuing decades.

Materials Research

A variety of materials test rigs installed in the SPL provided researchers with expedient and economical methods to study oxidation and fatigue in various alloys, ceramics, and coatings.

Facility

Facility Evolution

Overview of the evolution of the SPL from a static engine facility to a state-of-the art materials laboratory.

Aerial view of single-story test facility.

Facility Description

The JPSL was a rectangular single-story structure which contained six test cells, three control rooms, several shops and additional test areas.

Side-by-side views of building from different eras.

Before and After Photos

This page contrasts views of the SPL during its years of operation with photographs from its final days.

Research

Timeline

Lists of tests conducted throughout the years in each of the SPL’s main test cells.

Historic Documents

Digital versions of various historical documents related to the Special Projects Laboratory. These include technical reports, newspaper articles, floor plans, correspondence, talks, reports, tutorials, and other documents.