It was a birthday present to myself… a visit to Cleveland's NASA Glenn Research Center's 🚀- 75 Year Anniversary Open House on May 22, 2016. When I read that the sprawling facility was going to be open to the public with many areas previously unseen – I just HAD to “get onboard!”
The facilities have contributed to some of the nation’s greatest innovations over the last 75 years (now 80 years).
Visitors were guided through world-class facilities where we saw technologies that contribute to the future of NASA in aeronautics and our journey to Mars. We saw a research plane, rocket, a couple of wind tunnels, the Zero-Gravity facility, GRUVE Lab, Propulsion System Lab, Engine Research Building, Glenn Extreme Environment Rig (GEER), the COMPASS Lab and so much more!
There were presentations by NASA Glenn’s technologists and researchers and hands-on activities for kids including making a handheld jet engine, straw rockets and solar energy bracelets as well as demonstration carts on lunar robotics, soda bottle rockets, alternative energy and more. You can see the full list of activities here. (A new browser window will open)
I created this video from photos I took at the open house. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do!
I've always been a “space geek” going all the way back to my elementary school days. I remember watching the Gemini missions 🚀 in the 1960s when teachers rolled TVs into the classroom so we could see launches and splashdowns live!
When asked what I wanted to be when I grew up – ASTRONAUT 👨🚀 was always my resounding answer. I'm still fascinated by the American space program and just watched the NASA “Perseverance” rover land on Mars via live TV. It was not only exciting to see the mission unfold but I actually got emotional as I saw the amazing scientists and technicians at mission control high-fiving each other and letting out shouts of joy when they got word that the spacecraft had successfully landed.
To this day I have dreamed of working for NASA in some capacity… like as a staff photographer. A couple years ago, I was called in for an interview for a photographer position at Cleveland's NASA Glenn Research Center and was honored to make it to the final five applicants out of more than 100. Unfortunately, I wasn't chosen. 🥺
Have you ever been to Cleveland’s NASA Glenn Research Center or any other NASA facility? What did you like most about it? Please share your experience with a comment, here!
