National Aeronautics and

Space Administration

NASA’s Glenn Research Center

Center Overview

NASA’s Glenn Research Center in Cleveland designs, develops, and tests innovative technology to revolutionize 

air travel, advance space exploration, and improve life on Earth. 

One of 10 NASA centers, and the only one in the Midwest, Glenn is a vital contributor to the region’s economy 

and culture.

Glenn

• Partners with local and national businesses

• Collaborates with colleges and universities

• Shares NASA’s message at schools, fairs, and events

• Offers internships, mentorships, and fellowships

What We Do

Glenn supports all of the agency’s missions and major programs. A multitude of NASA missions have included 

Glenn contributions, from Mercury and the Space Shuttle Program to the International Space Station and Artemis. 

Every U.S. aircraft has NASA Glenn technology on board, making flight cleaner, safer, and quieter. Today, we 

are conducting revolutionary aeronautics research in electrified aircraft propulsion, advanced materials, and 

alternative fuels to help the nation achieve its climate change goals. We are also exploring next-generation 

supersonic and hypersonic aircraft. 

The road to the Moon goes through Ohio. Glenn’s world-class test facilities and unrivaled expertise in power, 

propulsion, and communications are crucial to advancing the Artemis program. Glenn’s solar electric propulsion 

will help propel future exploration missions to the Moon and eventually Mars, where astronauts will conduct 

scientific research and establish a presence on the surface.

Our Expertise

• Air-Breathing Propulsion (Jet Engines)

• Communications

• In-Space Propulsion and Cryogenic Fluids Management

• Power, Energy Storage, and Conversion

• Materials and Structures for Extreme Environments

• Physical Sciences and Biomedical Technologies in Space
PS–03357–0623

NASA’s Glenn Research Center—Center Overview

Economic Impact

Glenn is essential to the Ohio economy, fueling industries, 

supporting job growth, and increasing the demand for a highly 

skilled workforce. According to an economic impact study by 

Cleveland State University, Glenn’s impact in Ohio was nearly

$1.9 billion per year. The center’s activities in Northeast Ohio 

created and supported more than 9,000 jobs, increasing labor 

income by over $853 million.

Brief History

NASA Glenn was founded in 1941 by the National Advisory 

Committee for Aeronautics (NACA), which was the precursor 

to NASA. Glenn was initially called the Aircraft Engine Research 

Laboratory. After several name changes, in 1999 it received its 

current name, the NASA John H. Glenn Research Center. The 

center was named in honor of former senator John H. Glenn, an 

Ohioan who was the first American to orbit Earth when he piloted 

“Friendship 7” around the globe three times in 1962.

Facilities

Located near Cleveland Hopkins International Airport and the 

Cleveland Metroparks’ Rocky River Reservation, Glenn’s main 

campus, Lewis Field, is situated on 307 acres of land and contains 

more than 100 buildings. The world-class facilities at Lewis Field 

include wind tunnels, drop towers, vacuum chambers, and an 

aircraft hangar.

NASA’s Neil Armstrong Test Facility, a subset of NASA Glenn, 

is located 50 miles west of Cleveland in Sandusky, Ohio, on 

6,400 acres of land. It has large, unique facilities that simulate 

the environment of space. Both locations bring NASA, military, 

academic, and private industry customers to Ohio to perform 

aerospace research and testing.

The NASA Glenn Visitor Center is located at Great Lakes Science 

Center in downtown Cleveland.

Staff

More than 3,200 people work at Glenn, including civil servants 

and on-site contractors. A highly skilled workforce of scientists, 

engineers, technicians, and administrative and support personnel 

comprise the diverse Glenn team.

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Glenn Research Center

21000 Brookpark Road

Cleveland, Ohio 44135

www.nasa.gov/glenn

www.nasa.gov