CLEVELAND — This year, you can tour NASA’s Glenn Research Center in Cleveland from the comfort of your own home, with virtual guided public tours beginning in April and continuing through October.
From a home computer or mobile device, guests can join a NASA expert for a guided virtual tour and live question-and-answer session, according to a news release from the center.
Below is the full schedule of virtual tours being offered, from the GRC news release:
April 21 from 2-3 p.m. 8x6 Supersonic Wind Tunnel - NASA’s only transonic wind tunnel, this world-class facility is used to test models for the next generation of supersonic aircraft.
May 19 from 2-3 p.m. Ballistic Impact Facility - This lab has a wide range of gas guns capable of performing ballistic impact testing on flat panels and composites primarily to address problems affecting aerospace propulsion and power systems.
June 22 from 10-11 a.m. Space Environments Complex - Located at NASA’s Neil A. Armstrong Test Facility in Sandusky, Ohio, this building houses the largest and most powerful space environment simulation facilities in the world, including the world’s largest vacuum chamber.
July 13 from 2-3 p.m. Simulated Lunar Operations Laboratory – This unique indoor laboratory designed to mimic lunar and planetary surface operations contains several large soil bins for rover testing, including an adjustable tilt-bed and equipment for evaluating the performance of tires, excavation tools, and other vehicle components.
Aug. 19 from 10-11 a.m. Flight Research Facility - This aircraft hangar is home to modified aircraft used for scientific research and aeronautical test purposes. It also has a full-scale metal, battery, and avionics shop.
Sept. 22 from 10-11 a.m. Zero Gravity Research Facility - The largest of its kind in the world, this drop tower is used to study the effects of microgravity on physical phenomena such as combustion, fluid physics, biotechnology, and materials science.
Oct. 7 from 11 a.m. to noon Electric Propulsion and Power Laboratory - With 12 space environment simulation chambers, this facility supports research and development of spacecraft power and electric propulsion systems.
Learn more about these tours and register online here.
The GRC also offers self-guided virtual tours that can be viewed any time, including 360-degree tours that offer an inside look at where researchers are developing space flight systems and advanced technologies.
There’s even a virtual gift shop at the Glenn Research Center Exchange online store, where you can purchase space memorabilia and NASA gear.
