Friends of NASA Plum Brook Station; Sandusky, Ohio
Space operations (launching rockets, operating vehicles like satellites, manned spacecraft, and planetary rovers) is expensive, and the environment is severe and unforgiving. That's why NASA has test facilities like the Plum Brook Station. The key to successful operations in space is to thoroughly test everything in an environment as close as possible to actual space environment conditions. And while many places can test small components, history has shown that there is no substitute for full-scale testing prior to launch.
The NASA Plum Brook Test Station is part of the Glenn Research Center, located in Cleveland, OH. It's value is providing space environmental test facilities for full scale vehicles and their components. This location is a 6,400 acre site that hosts the WORLD's largest and 4th largest thermal vacuum chambers; along with several other key facilities for testing vehicles flying in space. From small cyrogenic valves & pumps, entire engines and stages, vehicles, and complete satellites; the people and facilities here can simulate space conditions to find and fix problems before launch (and remember, AAA service in space is REALLY EXPENSIVE!!!!).
This world-class test station offers our nation's spacecraft manufacturers and operators (both civilian & military) the ability to identify & fix potential issues with their equipment prior to launch. There have been numerous missions where full-scale testing at Plum Brook have literally saved missions from failure. From testing the entire Centaur upper stage, International Space Station radiator panels, Mars landing bag systems, payload fairings, and many other items this place has proven that full scale testing before launch is the best (and least expensive) way to fly hardware into space!
Remember, when failure is not an option.....Save Money, Test First
The NASA Plum Brook Test Station is part of the Glenn Research Center, located in Cleveland, OH. It's value is providing space environmental test facilities for full scale vehicles and their components. This location is a 6,400 acre site that hosts the WORLD's largest and 4th largest thermal vacuum chambers; along with several other key facilities for testing vehicles flying in space. From small cyrogenic valves & pumps, entire engines and stages, vehicles, and complete satellites; the people and facilities here can simulate space conditions to find and fix problems before launch (and remember, AAA service in space is REALLY EXPENSIVE!!!!).
This world-class test station offers our nation's spacecraft manufacturers and operators (both civilian & military) the ability to identify & fix potential issues with their equipment prior to launch. There have been numerous missions where full-scale testing at Plum Brook have literally saved missions from failure. From testing the entire Centaur upper stage, International Space Station radiator panels, Mars landing bag systems, payload fairings, and many other items this place has proven that full scale testing before launch is the best (and least expensive) way to fly hardware into space!
Remember, when failure is not an option.....Save Money, Test First
