Glenn Research Center (GRC) 

Center Assets: Located in Cleveland, OH, GRC employs over 1,600 civil servants: scientists and 

engineers comprise more than half of the workforce, with technical specialists and other skilled 

workforce focused on space flight systems development, aeropropulsion, space propulsion, 

power systems, nuclear systems, and communications. Center capabilities that will be tapped in 

the President’s new program include expertise in space flight systems, power and propulsion, 

program management, and technology innovation, development, and transfer. Specific new 

activities include the following. 

Exploration Technology Development and Demonstration (ETDD) Program Office: This new 

program will provide a path for bringing key exploration technologies to maturity from the 

laboratory environment through ground testing, and ultimately to flight testing. Initial 

demonstration projects are likely to focus on: high-power electric propulsion; autonomous 

precision landing; in-situ resource utilization (including lunar volatiles characterization); humanrobotic systems (including operating robots from planetary orbit); and fission surface power 

systems. As the Program Office, GRC will coordinate and manage these activities across the 

nation. 

Space Technology Research Grants Program Office: This program will meet NASA’s future 

science and exploration needs, as well as the needs of other government agencies and the 

commercial space sector, through technological innovation. This portfolio focuses on 

foundational research in advanced space systems and space technology performed primarily 

through collaborative efforts between academia and NASA Centers, with the option of including 

small business and industry partners. A significant aspect of this program is the Space 

Technology Graduate Fellowship Project which will train the next generation of aerospace 

Highlights*:

 Exploration Technology Development and Demonstration Program:  New Program Office to

manage $223 million in FY 2011 and $1.8 billion over five years to mature key exploration

technologies through laboratory, ground and flight tests.    

 Space Technology Research Grants:  New Program Office to manage $70 million in FY 2011 and

$350 million over five years to support foundational research and graduate studies in key

aerospace‐related disciplines.    

 Aeronautics Research:  The FY 2011 funding augmentation will be used to increase research

activities into green aviation and Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen)

capabilities.

*   Proposals regarding Program Office assignments will be implemented following Congressional approval of the FY 2011

budget; and funding amounts include the cost of civil service labor.
engineers and scientists by funding NASA-related graduate student research performed on 

campus during the academic year and research performed at a NASA Center during the summer 

months, gaining hands-on experience. Research selection for this Project will be based on topics 

that show significant promise for future application toward NASA missions and strategic goals. 

As the Program Office, GRC will spearhead the development of this approach as part of NASA’s 

new Space Technology Program. 

Aeronautics Research Augmentation: 

GRC will support the Integrated Systems Research Program, addressing operational and safety 

issues related to the integration of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) into the national airspace by 

providing expertise in: communications related to allocation of radio frequency spectrum; 

communication links (satellite, line of sight, network and datalink protocols); and simulations 

(NextGen communication schemes scalable to support the introduction of UAS). 

GRC, along with other NASA Centers, will support the augmented research and development 

efforts, including grants and cooperative agreements, to support NASA’s environmentally 

responsible aviation project. These research plans, which are currently being developed, will 

include design and feasibility studies, high-fidelity simulations, flight demonstrations, design 

competitions and prize challenges.