{"id":617926,"date":"2024-02-23T17:20:23","date_gmt":"2024-02-23T22:20:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/?post_type=topic&p=617926"},"modified":"2024-02-23T17:24:28","modified_gmt":"2024-02-23T22:24:28","slug":"electronics-research-center","status":"publish","type":"topic","link":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/electronics-research-center\/","title":{"rendered":"NASA’s Electronics Research Center"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-topic-hero position-relative bg-carbon-black overflow-hidden width-full maxw-full grid-container display-flex flex-align-center flex-justify-center minh-tablet padding-y-9 padding-x-3 color-mode-dark hds-module hds-module-full wp-block-nasa-blocks-topic-hero\"><figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1418\" height=\"841\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/erc-exterior-2.jpg?w=1418\" class=\"attachment-1536x1536 size-1536x1536\" alt=\"Exterior view of building.\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 0% 59%; object-position: 0% 59%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/erc-exterior-2.jpg 1418w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/erc-exterior-2.jpg?resize=300,178 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/erc-exterior-2.jpg?resize=768,455 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/erc-exterior-2.jpg?resize=1024,607 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/erc-exterior-2.jpg?resize=400,237 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/erc-exterior-2.jpg?resize=600,356 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/erc-exterior-2.jpg?resize=900,534 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/erc-exterior-2.jpg?resize=1200,712 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1418px) 100vw, 1418px\" loading=\"eager\" \/><\/figure><div class=\"skrim-overlay skrim-left mobile-skrim-top\"><\/div>\n\t<div class=\"hds-grid-container position-relative display-flex flex-align-center flex-justify-start width-full\">\n\t\t<div class=\"width-full maxw-tablet\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"margin-bottom-7\">\n\t\t\t\t<h1 class=\"display-72 font-weight-extrabold line-height-sm margin-bottom-2 color-spacesuit-white-important\">NASA’s Electronics Research Center<\/h1>\n\t\t\t\t<p class=\"p-lg margin-0 color-spacesuit-white-important\">NASA created the Electronics Research Center in Massachusetts to develop electronics for the space program and improve coordination with universities and industry working in the field. The center performed an array of research before agency budget reductions led to it closure in 1970.<\/p>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-topic-hero-stats\">\n\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"color-spacesuit-white-important label margin-bottom-2\"><\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-row\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-col grid-row flex-align-center padding-right-2 desktop:padding-right-4\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-col grid-col-auto\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"stat-number line-height-sm color-nasa-blue-tint font-weight-thin font-mono-2xl\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"color-spacesuit-white-important grid-col padding-left-2 tablet:padding-left-3\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h4 class=\"stat-value line-height-md\"><\/h4>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-col grid-row flex-align-center padding-right-2  desktop:padding-right-4\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-col grid-col-auto\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"stat-number line-height-sm color-nasa-blue-tint font-weight-thin font-mono-2xl\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"color-spacesuit-white-important grid-col padding-left-2 tablet:padding-left-3 tablet:padding-left-3\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h4 class=\"stat-value line-height-md\"><\/h4>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<p>The Electronics Research Center (ERC) was established at Cambridge, Massachusetts in September 1964 to improve NASA’s electronics research capabilities for the space program. The agency had previously relied on existing electronic technologies from industry and universities. The ERC complex consisted of ten laboratories used to study instrumentation, communications, data processing, navigation, guidance, and control. Its 850-person staff authored nearly 300 technical reports on a wide array of aerospace topic in just six years. The center, which was politically contentious from the beginning, was closed in 1970 due to NASA budget cutbacks.  The ERC is the only NASA center to be closed.<\/p>\n\n\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-media hds-module wp-block-image\"><div class=\"margin-left-auto margin-right-auto nasa-block-align-inline\"><div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\"><figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-fit \"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/erc-model-phase-1.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1769\" height=\"1266\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/erc-model-phase-1.jpg?w=1769\" class=\"attachment-2048x2048 size-2048x2048\" alt=\"Illustration of ERC complex\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/erc-model-phase-1.jpg 1769w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/erc-model-phase-1.jpg?resize=300,215 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/erc-model-phase-1.jpg?resize=768,550 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/erc-model-phase-1.jpg?resize=1024,733 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/erc-model-phase-1.jpg?resize=1536,1099 1536w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/erc-model-phase-1.jpg?resize=400,286 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/erc-model-phase-1.jpg?resize=600,429 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/erc-model-phase-1.jpg?resize=900,644 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/erc-model-phase-1.jpg?resize=1200,859 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1769px) 100vw, 1769px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><figcaption class=\"hds-caption padding-y-2\"><div class=\"hds-caption-text p-sm margin-0\">Model depicting first phase of planned construction of the Electronics Research Center in Cambridge’s Kendall Square.<\/div><div class=\"hds-credits\">Boston Public Library\/Brearley Collection<\/div><\/figcaption><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Electronics Research Center History <\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>By Andrew Butrica<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>NASA’s Electronics Research Center (ERC), was located in Cambridge, MA, across the street from MIT at Kendall Square (formerly Technology Square). The ERC opened in September 1964, taking over the administration of contracts, grants, and other NASA business in New England from the antecedent North Eastern Operations Office (created in July 1962), and closed in June 1970. It served to develop the space agency’s in-house expertise in electronics during the Apollo era. A second key function was to serve as a graduate and post-graduate training center within the framework of a regional government-industry-university alliance. The ERC was just as important a NASA field center as the Langley Research Center or the Marshall Space Flight Center. By fiscal year 1968, NASA planned for the ERC to be employing 1,600 professional and technical workers plus another 500 in administrative and support positions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/erc-site-selection-materials-1963.pdf?emrc=0d6bce\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">ERC Site Selection Materials (1963-1964)<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/nasa-eyes-hanscom-for-new-erc-2024.pdf?emrc=a9653c\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">NASA Eye’s Hanscom for New ERC article <\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/mission-of-the-erc-press-release-1964-1.pdf?emrc=29efb9\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Electronics Research Center Mission press release (1963)<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/erc-fy1964-budget-estimates.pdf?emrc=ed826b\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">ERC Fiscal Year 1964 Budget Estimates<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-media hds-module wp-block-image\"><div class=\"margin-left-auto margin-right-auto nasa-block-align-inline\"><div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\"><figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-cover \"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/gpn-2003-00048.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1536\" height=\"1118\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/gpn-2003-00048.jpg?w=1536\" class=\"attachment-2048x2048 size-2048x2048\" alt=\"Aerial view of construction site.\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 53% 59%; object-position: 53% 59%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/gpn-2003-00048.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/gpn-2003-00048.jpg?resize=300,218 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/gpn-2003-00048.jpg?resize=768,559 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/gpn-2003-00048.jpg?resize=1024,745 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/gpn-2003-00048.jpg?resize=400,291 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/gpn-2003-00048.jpg?resize=600,437 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/gpn-2003-00048.jpg?resize=900,655 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/gpn-2003-00048.jpg?resize=1200,873 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1536px) 100vw, 1536px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><figcaption class=\"hds-caption padding-y-2\"><div class=\"hds-caption-text p-sm margin-0\">Construction site for NASA’s Electronics Research Center at Kendall Square in Cambridge.<\/div><div class=\"hds-credits\">NASA<\/div><\/figcaption><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<p>The location of the ERC allowed it to take advantage of the close proximity to MIT and (to a lesser extent) Harvard, MIT Lincoln Laboratory, the Air Force Cambridge Research Laboratory, and the electronics industry located along Route 128. At the time, the technical, industrial, and commercial aspects of microelectronics were ascendant, especially in the Boston-Cambridge technopolis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Research at the ERC was conducted in ten different laboratories: space guidance, systems, computers, instrumentation research, space optics, power conditioning and distribution, microwave radiation, electronics components, qualifications and standards, and control and information systems. Researchers investigated such areas as microwave and laser communications; the miniaturization and radiation resistance of electronic components; guidance and control systems; photovoltaic energy conversion; information display devices; instrumentation; and computers and data processing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Selected Research Reports<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/ntrs.nasa.gov\/api\/citations\/19670013292\/downloads\/19670013292.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">ERC Computer-Aided Circuit Design Seminar (1967)<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/ntrs.nasa.gov\/api\/citations\/19680021941\/downloads\/19680021941.pdf\" rel=\"noopener\">Future Aspects of Supersonic Transport Navigation (1967)<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Require<a href=\"https:\/\/ntrs.nasa.gov\/api\/citations\/19670019422\/downloads\/19670019422.pdf\" rel=\"noopener\">ments Placed on Electron Tubes for Space Applications (1967)<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/ntrs.nasa.gov\/api\/citations\/19710002749\/downloads\/19710002749.pdf\" rel=\"noopener\">Automatic Control Theory in Helicopter Manual Control System Synthesis (1968)<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/ntrs.nasa.gov\/api\/citations\/19690017889\/downloads\/19690017889.pdf\" rel=\"noopener\">Development of an Optical Pilot Warning Indicator System (1969)<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/ntrs.nasa.gov\/api\/citations\/19710019142\/downloads\/19710019142.pdf\" rel=\"noopener\">Color Television  Systems using Single Gun Color Cathode Ray Tube Patent (1971)<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-media hds-module wp-block-image\"><div class=\"margin-left-auto margin-right-auto nasa-block-align-inline\"><div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\"><figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-fit \"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/gpn-2003-00054.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1536\" height=\"1209\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/gpn-2003-00054.jpg?w=1536\" class=\"attachment-2048x2048 size-2048x2048\" alt=\"Man with test equipment.\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 71% 62%; object-position: 71% 62%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/gpn-2003-00054.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/gpn-2003-00054.jpg?resize=300,236 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/gpn-2003-00054.jpg?resize=768,605 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/gpn-2003-00054.jpg?resize=1024,806 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/gpn-2003-00054.jpg?resize=400,315 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/gpn-2003-00054.jpg?resize=600,472 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/gpn-2003-00054.jpg?resize=900,708 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/gpn-2003-00054.jpg?resize=1200,945 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1536px) 100vw, 1536px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><figcaption class=\"hds-caption padding-y-2\"><div class=\"hds-caption-text p-sm margin-0\">NASA researcher at the ERC studies the performance of magnetic materials in high temperatures.<\/div><div class=\"hds-credits\">NASA<\/div><\/figcaption><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<p>Although no publication to date has investigated the nature of the research or professional training conducted at the ERC, an internal NASA publication lists a few accomplishments identified with the center in passing. These included a high-frequency (30 GHz) oscillator, a miniaturized tunnel-diode transducer, and a transistor more tolerant of space radiation. “One particularly interesting development,” the source added, “has been in the area of holography. At the Electronics Research Center, holography has been used for data storage, and has permitted a remarkable degree of data compression in the storing of star patterns.” Dr. Winston Kock’s book “Lasers and Holography: An Introduction to Coherent Optics” indicates some of the facility’s contributions, such as Lowell Rosen’s improvement of so-called focused-image holography.<\/p>\n\n\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-media hds-module wp-block-image\"><div class=\"margin-left-auto margin-right-auto nasa-block-align-inline\"><div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\"><figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-fit \"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/gpn-2002-000218.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1208\" height=\"1457\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/gpn-2002-000218.jpg?w=1208\" class=\"attachment-2048x2048 size-2048x2048\" alt=\"Woman holding sampling instrument.\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/gpn-2002-000218.jpg 1208w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/gpn-2002-000218.jpg?resize=249,300 249w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/gpn-2002-000218.jpg?resize=768,926 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/gpn-2002-000218.jpg?resize=849,1024 849w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/gpn-2002-000218.jpg?resize=332,400 332w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/gpn-2002-000218.jpg?resize=497,600 497w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/gpn-2002-000218.jpg?resize=746,900 746w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/gpn-2002-000218.jpg?resize=995,1200 995w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1208px) 100vw, 1208px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><figcaption class=\"hds-caption padding-y-2\"><div class=\"hds-caption-text p-sm margin-0\">Theresa Thibodeau of the ERC\u2019s Instrumentation Lab with an aerosol particle analyzer designed to measure microscopic liquid matter in the Apollo capsule.<\/div><div class=\"hds-credits\">NASA<\/div><\/figcaption><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<p>The Electronics Research Center was at the heart of political controversy from the start. The conception, siting, and shutting down of the ERC is an engaging political tale. President Kennedy and Webb kept the project out of the budget process until after Ted Kennedy’s successful first election to the Senate. His campaign slogan had promised that he could “do more for Massachusetts.” After the President belatedly put the ERC project in the budget process, Congress rebelled. In addition to Republican members, Representatives from the Midwest and other regions feeling swindled out of the NASA largesse repeatedly fought efforts to fund the ERC. The issue split the Congress along both party and regional lines (Murphy). As a result, the ERC had the most deliberated and defended existence and siting of any NASA Center.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Although the only Center ever closed, the ERC actually grew while NASA eliminated major programs and cut staff. Between 1967 and 1970, NASA cut permanent civil service workers at all Centers with one exception, the ERC, whose personnel grew annually. Hardest hit by the cuts had been the Marshall Space Flight Center, whose future was then the subject of agency debate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/ntrs.nasa.gov\/api\/citations\/19710013051\/downloads\/19710013051.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Report on the Closing of the Electronics Research Center (1970)<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/erc-closure-materials-1969-1970.pdf?emrc=8322a7\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">ERC Closure Materials (1969-1970)<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-media hds-module wp-block-image\"><div class=\"margin-left-auto margin-right-auto nasa-block-align-inline\"><div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\"><figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-fit \"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/laid-off-employees-2.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1409\" height=\"1043\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/laid-off-employees-2.jpg?w=1409\" class=\"attachment-2048x2048 size-2048x2048\" alt=\"Men filing out of building.\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/laid-off-employees-2.jpg 1409w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/laid-off-employees-2.jpg?resize=300,222 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/laid-off-employees-2.jpg?resize=768,569 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/laid-off-employees-2.jpg?resize=1024,758 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/laid-off-employees-2.jpg?resize=400,296 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/laid-off-employees-2.jpg?resize=600,444 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/laid-off-employees-2.jpg?resize=900,666 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/laid-off-employees-2.jpg?resize=1200,888 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1409px) 100vw, 1409px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><figcaption class=\"hds-caption padding-y-2\"><div class=\"hds-caption-text p-sm margin-0\">Employees departing the ERC on December 29, 1969 after NASA announced that it was closing the center.<\/div><div class=\"hds-credits\">Boston Public Library\/Brearley Collection<\/div><\/figcaption><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<p>NASA <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/people\/james-e-webb\/\">Administrator James Webb<\/a>, more than any other individual, shaped the ERC. Webb saw it as fulfilling a broader mission as part of the nation’s Cold War struggle on the economic and intellectual battleground of the Space Race. The ERC was an archetype for Webb’s regional “university-industry-government complex” analogous to the military-industrial complex, organized because Webb believed that no single institution had the requisite resources to fight this war. The ERC’s training of critically needed engineers and scientists served the same Cold War aim.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Coda<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Few, even within NASA, are aware of the ERC story. This is perhaps due to its late incorporation into the agency, its short lifespan, or the esoteric nature of the research. The histories that have considered the ERC tend to cover only a portion of its story, usually the politics surrounding its creation or closure and not the center’s research activities.  <\/p>\n\n\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-media hds-module wp-block-image\"><div class=\"margin-left-auto margin-right-auto nasa-block-align-inline\"><div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\"><figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-fit \"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/erc-exterior-1.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1133\" height=\"823\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/erc-exterior-1.jpg?w=1133\" class=\"attachment-2048x2048 size-2048x2048\" alt=\"Exterior view of building.\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/erc-exterior-1.jpg 1133w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/erc-exterior-1.jpg?resize=300,218 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/erc-exterior-1.jpg?resize=768,558 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/erc-exterior-1.jpg?resize=1024,744 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/erc-exterior-1.jpg?resize=400,291 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/erc-exterior-1.jpg?resize=600,436 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/erc-exterior-1.jpg?resize=900,654 900w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1133px) 100vw, 1133px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><figcaption class=\"hds-caption padding-y-2\"><div class=\"hds-caption-text p-sm margin-0\">NASA’s Electronics Research Center in the 1960s.<\/div><div class=\"hds-credits\">Boston Public Library\/Brearley Collection<\/div><\/figcaption><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Additional ERC History Materials<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/erc-bibliography.pdf?emrc=6670643e715cf\">ERC Selected Bibliography<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/klabs.org\/history\/erc\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">ERC Webpage by the NASA Office of Logic Design<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/nasas-erc-we-hardly-knew-ye.pdf?emrc=a0c46e\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/nasas-erc-we-hardly-knew-ye.pdf?emrc=a0c46e\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">NASA’s ERC – We Hardly Knew Ye presentation (2005)<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/ntrs.nasa.gov\/api\/citations\/19650008948\/downloads\/19650008948.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">The ERC and Its Relationship with Industry talk (1965)<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/erc-sections-from-preliminary-history-of-nasa-1969.pdf?emrc=037088\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">ERC Sections from Emme’s Preliminary History of NASA (1969)<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Also see Andrew Butrica’s 2002 American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) <a href=\"https:\/\/arc.aiaa.org\/doi\/10.2514\/6.2002-1138\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">paper<\/a>, “The Electronics Research Center – NASA’s little known venture into aerospace electronics.” <\/p>\n\n\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-media hds-module wp-block-image\"><div class=\"margin-left-auto margin-right-auto nasa-block-align-inline\"><div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\"><figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-fit \"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/dsc00154.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1536\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/dsc00154.jpg?w=2048\" class=\"attachment-2048x2048 size-2048x2048\" alt=\"Exterior view of building.\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/dsc00154.jpg 4320w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/dsc00154.jpg?resize=300,225 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/dsc00154.jpg?resize=768,576 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/dsc00154.jpg?resize=1024,768 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/dsc00154.jpg?resize=1536,1152 1536w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/dsc00154.jpg?resize=2048,1536 2048w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/dsc00154.jpg?resize=400,300 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/dsc00154.jpg?resize=600,450 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/dsc00154.jpg?resize=900,675 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/dsc00154.jpg?resize=1200,900 1200w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/dsc00154.jpg?resize=2000,1500 2000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><figcaption class=\"hds-caption padding-y-2\"><div class=\"hds-caption-text p-sm margin-0\">The former NASA ERC building was repurposed as the John A. Volpe National Transportation Systems Center. It is seen here in 2011.<\/div><div class=\"hds-credits\">Wikimedia Commons<\/div><\/figcaption><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n<div id=\"\" class=\"width-full maxw-full bg-carbon-05 padding-bottom-9 padding-top-9 hds-module hds-module-full wp-block-nasa-blocks-featured-link\">\n\t<div class=\"grid-container grid-container-block padding-x-0 padding-top-9 desktop:padding-top-0\">\n\t\t<div class=\"grid-row flex-align-center\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-col-12 desktop:grid-col-6 padding-x-3 desktop:padding-right-5 margin-bottom-5\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"label margin-bottom-2\">NASA HISTORY<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"page-heading-md\">NASA Centers and Facilities History<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t<p class=\"p-md\">Read more about the history of NASA's ten centers and auxiliary facilities.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/history\/explore-nasas-history\/#centers\" target=\"_self\" class=\"button-primary button-primary-md\" aria-label=\"\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"line-height-alt-1\">Learn More<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<svg viewBox=\"0 0 32 32\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><circle class=\"button-primary-circle\" cx=\"16\" cy=\"16\" r=\"16\"><\/circle><path d=\"M8 16.956h12.604l-3.844 4.106 1.252 1.338L24 16l-5.988-6.4-1.252 1.338 3.844 4.106H8v1.912z\" class=\"color-spacesuit-white\"><\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-col-12 desktop:grid-col-6 desktop:padding-left-5\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"width-full\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\"><figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-cover \"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"345\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/grc-1958-c-48958-1.jpg?w=1024\" class=\"attachment-large size-large\" alt=\"Aerial view of NASA hangar roof.\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 75% 34%; object-position: 75% 34%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/grc-1958-c-48958-1.jpg 2488w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/grc-1958-c-48958-1.jpg?resize=300,101 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/grc-1958-c-48958-1.jpg?resize=768,259 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/grc-1958-c-48958-1.jpg?resize=1024,345 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/grc-1958-c-48958-1.jpg?resize=1536,518 1536w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/grc-1958-c-48958-1.jpg?resize=2048,691 2048w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/grc-1958-c-48958-1.jpg?resize=400,135 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/grc-1958-c-48958-1.jpg?resize=600,202 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/grc-1958-c-48958-1.jpg?resize=900,303 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/grc-1958-c-48958-1.jpg?resize=1200,405 1200w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/grc-1958-c-48958-1.jpg?resize=2000,674 2000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure><figcaption class=\"hds-caption padding-y-2\"><div class=\"hds-caption-text p-sm margin-0\">When NACA became NASA, the agency started casting its vision and resources toward space. The roof of the Flight Research Building, or hangar, at the Lewis Research Center was painted to reflect this change shortly after the formation of NASA in October 1958.<\/div><\/figcaption><\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t<\/div>\n\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-topic-cards nasa-gb-align-full maxw-full width-full padding-y-6 padding-x-3 color-mode-dark hds-module hds-module-full wp-block-nasa-blocks-topic-cards\">\t\t<div class=\"grid-container grid-container-block-lg padding-x-0\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-row flex-align-center margin-bottom-3\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"desktop:grid-col-8 margin-bottom-2 desktop:margin-bottom-0\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"label color-carbon-60 margin-bottom-2\">Keep Exploring<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"heading-36 line-height-sm\">Discover More Topics From NASA<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-row grid-gap-2 hds-topic-cards-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/history\/explore-nasas-history\/\" class=\"mobile:grid-col-12 tablet:grid-col-6 desktop:grid-col-3 topic-card margin-bottom-4 desktop:margin-bottom-0\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-topic-card hds-cover-wrapper cover-hover-zoom bg-carbon-black\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"skrim-overlay skrim-overlay-dark skrim-left mobile-skrim-top padding-3 display-flex flex-align-end flex-justify-start z-200\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"hds-topic-card-heading heading-29 color-spacesuit-white line-height-sm margin-top-0 margin-bottom-1\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Explore NASA’s History<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg viewBox=\"0 0 32 32\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><circle class=\"color-nasa-red\" cx=\"16\" cy=\"16\" r=\"16\"><\/circle><path d=\"M8 16.956h12.604l-3.844 4.106 1.252 1.338L24 16l-5.988-6.4-1.252 1.338 3.844 4.106H8v1.912z\" class=\"color-spacesuit-white\"><\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1919\" height=\"1878\" src=\"https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/as17-134-20476\/as17-134-20476~large.jpg?w=1919&h=1878&fit=clip&crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint\" class=\"attachment-1536x1536 size-1536x1536\" alt=\"\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/as17-134-20476\/as17-134-20476~large.jpg?w=1919&h=1878&fit=crop&crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 1919w, https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/as17-134-20476\/as17-134-20476~large.jpg?w=300&h=294&fit=crop&crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 300w, https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/as17-134-20476\/as17-134-20476~large.jpg?w=768&h=752&fit=crop&crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 768w, https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/as17-134-20476\/as17-134-20476~large.jpg?w=1024&h=1002&fit=crop&crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 1024w, https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/as17-134-20476\/as17-134-20476~large.jpg?w=1536&h=1503&fit=crop&crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 1536w, https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/as17-134-20476\/as17-134-20476~large.jpg?w=50&h=49&fit=crop&crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 50w, https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/as17-134-20476\/as17-134-20476~large.jpg?w=400&h=391&fit=crop&crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 400w, https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/as17-134-20476\/as17-134-20476~large.jpg?w=600&h=587&fit=crop&crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 600w, https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/as17-134-20476\/as17-134-20476~large.jpg?w=900&h=881&fit=crop&crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 900w, https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/as17-134-20476\/as17-134-20476~large.jpg?w=1200&h=1174&fit=crop&crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1919px) 100vw, 1919px\" \/><\/figure>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/history\/history-publications-and-resources\/\" class=\"mobile:grid-col-12 tablet:grid-col-6 desktop:grid-col-3 topic-card margin-bottom-4 desktop:margin-bottom-0\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-topic-card hds-cover-wrapper cover-hover-zoom bg-carbon-black\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"skrim-overlay skrim-overlay-dark skrim-left mobile-skrim-top padding-3 display-flex flex-align-end flex-justify-start z-200\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"hds-topic-card-heading heading-29 color-spacesuit-white line-height-sm margin-top-0 margin-bottom-1\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>History Publications and Resources<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg viewBox=\"0 0 32 32\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><circle class=\"color-nasa-red\" cx=\"16\" cy=\"16\" r=\"16\"><\/circle><path d=\"M8 16.956h12.604l-3.844 4.106 1.252 1.338L24 16l-5.988-6.4-1.252 1.338 3.844 4.106H8v1.912z\" class=\"color-spacesuit-white\"><\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1536\" height=\"1229\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/nasa-history-pubs.jpg?w=1536\" class=\"attachment-1536x1536 size-1536x1536\" alt=\"\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/nasa-history-pubs.jpg 2880w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/nasa-history-pubs.jpg?resize=300,240 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/nasa-history-pubs.jpg?resize=768,615 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/nasa-history-pubs.jpg?resize=1024,820 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/nasa-history-pubs.jpg?resize=1536,1229 1536w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/nasa-history-pubs.jpg?resize=2048,1639 2048w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/nasa-history-pubs.jpg?resize=400,320 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/nasa-history-pubs.jpg?resize=600,480 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/nasa-history-pubs.jpg?resize=900,720 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/nasa-history-pubs.jpg?resize=1200,960 1200w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/nasa-history-pubs.jpg?resize=2000,1601 2000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1536px) 100vw, 1536px\" \/><\/figure>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/history\/history-publications-and-resources\/oral-histories\/\" class=\"mobile:grid-col-12 tablet:grid-col-6 desktop:grid-col-3 topic-card margin-bottom-4 desktop:margin-bottom-0\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-topic-card hds-cover-wrapper cover-hover-zoom bg-carbon-black\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"skrim-overlay skrim-overlay-dark skrim-left mobile-skrim-top padding-3 display-flex flex-align-end flex-justify-start z-200\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"hds-topic-card-heading heading-29 color-spacesuit-white line-height-sm margin-top-0 margin-bottom-1\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>NASA Oral Histories<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg viewBox=\"0 0 32 32\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><circle class=\"color-nasa-red\" cx=\"16\" cy=\"16\" r=\"16\"><\/circle><path d=\"M8 16.956h12.604l-3.844 4.106 1.252 1.338L24 16l-5.988-6.4-1.252 1.338 3.844 4.106H8v1.912z\" class=\"color-spacesuit-white\"><\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1536\" height=\"1195\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/s62-04057_orig.jpg?w=1536\" class=\"attachment-1536x1536 size-1536x1536\" alt=\"\" style=\"transform: scale(1); 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transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/archivecollage-thumb2.jpg 1214w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/archivecollage-thumb2.jpg?resize=214,300 214w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/archivecollage-thumb2.jpg?resize=768,1075 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/archivecollage-thumb2.jpg?resize=731,1024 731w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/archivecollage-thumb2.jpg?resize=1097,1536 1097w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/archivecollage-thumb2.jpg?resize=286,400 286w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/archivecollage-thumb2.jpg?resize=428,600 428w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/archivecollage-thumb2.jpg?resize=643,900 643w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/archivecollage-thumb2.jpg?resize=857,1200 857w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1097px) 100vw, 1097px\" \/><\/figure>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Electronics Research Center (ERC) was established at Cambridge, Massachusetts in September 1964 to improve NASA’s electronics research capabilities for the space program. The agency had previously relied on existing electronic technologies from industry and universities. The ERC complex consisted of ten laboratories used to study instrumentation, communications, data processing, navigation, guidance, and control. Its […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":119,"featured_media":617935,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"template":"","meta":{"nasa_hds_core_meta_l10n":"en-US","nasa_hds_core_meta_article_editor":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_article_contacts":[],"nasa_hds_core_meta_article_topic":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_linked_locations":[],"nasa_hds_core_meta_article_related_articles":[],"hds_migrate_meta_pr_release_id":"","hds_migrate_meta_pr_release_type":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_location_x":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_location_y":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_gallery_images":[]},"categories":[2665,2671],"news-tags":[],"internal-terms":[12663],"coauthors":[10218],"parsely":{"version":"1.1.0","meta":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@type":"WebPage","headline":"NASA’s Electronics Research Center","url":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/electronics-research-center\/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/electronics-research-center\/"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/erc-exterior-2.jpg?w=150&h=150&crop=1","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/erc-exterior-2.jpg"},"articleSection":"NASA Centers & Facilities","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Robert S. Arrighi"}],"creator":["Robert S. Arrighi"],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"NASA","logo":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/themes\/nasa\/assets\/images\/nasa-logo.svg"},"keywords":["NASA History","NASA Centers & Facilities"],"dateCreated":"2024-02-23T22:20:23Z","datePublished":"2024-02-23T22:20:23Z","dateModified":"2024-02-23T22:24:28Z"},"rendered":"<meta name=\"parsely-title\" content=\"NASA’s Electronics Research Center\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-link\" content=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/electronics-research-center\/\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-type\" content=\"index\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-image-url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/erc-exterior-2.jpg?w=150&h=150&crop=1\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-pub-date\" content=\"2024-02-23T22:20:23Z\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-section\" content=\"NASA Centers & Facilities\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-tags\" content=\"NASA History,NASA Centers & Facilities\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-author\" content=\"Robert S. 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