[ Music ]
Good evening.
My name is Misty Sager, and on behalf of our director,
William Griswold, and our Board of Trustees,
I would like to welcome you to the Cleveland Museum of Art.
It is our absolute pleasure to host you
on your 75th anniversary.
While you were just spreading your wings in 1941,
we here at the museum were celebrating our 25th
Silver Anniversary.
It is because of the dreamers in both your institution and ours
that has led to our current place
of recognition around the globe.
Here at the museum, we now welcome between 600,000
and 700,000 visitors annually.
We have a collection of almost 50,000 works spanning
over 4,000 years of history.
Our world-renowned collection contains works
of great significance in our works on paper, Asian,
and impressionist collections, just to name a few.
As if this isn't reason enough for us to celebrate,
the visionaries of today have provided nearly $320 million
to transform this institution so that we are ready
to greet the next generation of visitors.
Tonight, our home is your home.
When we were founded in 1916, our charter stated
that the museum would be for the benefit of all the people.
We stand true to this mission today,
and provide artistic excellent --
excellence, year-round to people
from around the globe, free of charge.
As you look towards your next 75 years, please think
of the Cleveland Museum of Art, and take us on your exploration.
So that we can continue to share it artistically with the city
of Cleveland, the region, and the world.
I invite you to return to the museum,
so that you may be inspired to continue to do the kind
of important work that you do on behalf
of our nation and humankind.
Thank you for choosing the Cleveland Museum
of Art together this evening.
And I hope that you have had a most enjoyable evening.
Now I'd like to welcome to the stage, Jeff Roth.
[ Applause ]
Well good evening everyone.
On behalf of the Ohio Aerospace Institute, it's a great pleasure
and privilege to welcome all of you
to this Third Annual NASA Glenn Evening with the Stars.
The event brings forward to the local community an understanding
of the cutting edge research
and technology development taking place every day right
here in our back yard at NASA Glenn Research Center.
The dedicated men and women of NASA create breakthroughs
in technology that affect all of us in our daily lives.
Enable human beings to bet-
be better stewards of our own world.
And also to explore the solar system in the universe.
To carry out this great work,
the NASA Glenn Research Center appreciates the continued
support from the community.
That support is demonstrated by the many generous sponsors
of this evening's event who are being acknowledged
on the screen, and listed in this evening's program.
I think I counted over 30 sponsors out there tonight.
To our sponsors, thank you for your commitment
to supporting NASA Glenn Research Center,
and getting the message
out about this tremendous research asset
to our community and the nation.
Could we please give a hand to all of our sponsors?
[ Applause ]
It really is absolutely vital
that NASA Glenn Research Center have the support
of our dedicated public officials as well.
We're fortunate to have elected officials at the local, state,
and national level who care deeply
about this center's future.
With us this evening, I see just here in the second row, our, uh,
state representatives Nan Baker, uh, Ken Smith, and um,
I believe there's one more -- uh, oh yes, I'll get a --
a special in- uh, welcome
to representative Rick Perales also, uh,
Chairman of the Ohio Aerospace
and Aviation Technology Committee.
I've been working with -- with Rick for some years now.
He's doing so much to support our great state
in aviation aerospace.
Thank you all for taking the time to be with us this evening
from your very busy schedules.
And folks, please give our public officials a hand as well.
[ Applause ]
OAI places tremendous value on our partnership
with NASA Glenn Research Center.
A partnership that has extended for more than 27 years.
Tonight I congratulate Center Director Dr. Janet Kavandi
and her entire team for the outstanding work that they do.
We're really proud to be part of that community at OAI.
Our NASA colleagues represent so much
of what is truly great about our nation.
Courage. Dedication.
Perseverance.
Brilliant ideas and solutions.
In a few moments you'll hear from Dr. Janet Kavandi.
And I put in parentheses here, a "very courageous".
When I think about the courage that it takes,
that many of us will never know.
What it's like to sit on top of a rocket and go into space.
I me- I mean I get frayed when I go on the Millennium
or the Dragster at Cedar Point [background laughter].
So, uh, recognize that of Dr. Kavandi.
And she's logged more than 33 days in space; traveling more
than 13.1 million miles and 535 Earth orbits.
Dr. Kavandi will then, in her normal, humble fashion,
will introduce you to some
of the brightest stars at NASA Glenn.
Persons who through their work and their support
of our astronauts, create a better life on Earth,
and make a safer place for the astronauts.
And help us with exploration
to understand the far reaches of the universe.
Really exciting stuff.
And now it's my great pleasure to introduce you
to a valued colleague and supporter
of NASA Glenn Research Center in the aerospace industry in Ohio.
Ladies and gentlemen, my friend, Dr. Carlos Grodsinsky,
Chairman of the Ohio Aerospace and Aviation Council,
and Chief Operating Officer of ZIN Technologies.
[ Applause ]
Thank you very much Jeff, and good evening everyone.
I would like to thank OAI and NASA Glenn Research Center
for the opportunity to speak to you today about Ohio's aerospace
and aviation industry.
My name is Carlos Grodsinsky, as Jeff just mentioned.
And I represent both ZIN Technologies,
and a small business in aerospace sector
in Northeast Ohio, and the Ohio Aerospace and Aviation Council.
ZIN Technologies is a local engineering firm
with a long history supporting NASA Glenn Research Center.
We provide space flight hardware for physical and life sciences,
human research investigations, in-space power,
electric propulsion, and communications applications.
A lot of the work that you'll be hearing about, um, here shortly.
In terms of the Ohio Aerospace and Aviation Council,
our mission is to promote
and support the federal aerospace facilities here
in Ohio.
To retain jobs, and generate future opportunities.
The Council is dedicated to working with all of our Ohio
and federal partners, universities,
and industry leaders to enhance NASA Glenn's visibility,
and to increase awareness of its value to our community
and to Ohio and the nation.
The Council is proud to have NASA Glenn as a key member
of our council, and to participate
in this evening's 75th anniversary event.
And I'd like to also, uh, represent all of the wonderful,
uh, companies that have sponsored this event,
as well as work with us at NASA Glenn.
Thank you for your time.
And I would like to introduce NASA Sen-
Glenn Center Director, Dr. Janet Kavandi.
[ Applause ]
Well Good evening.
Thank you very much Carlos and Jeff,
and thanks to everyone for coming tonight.
We are so excited to have you all here, and we're very --
uh, very proud of this program.
And -- and we hope that you'll very much enjoy what you're
about to hear tonight.
Uh, last year was my first opportunity
to attend this Evening with the Stars event.
And I was so impressed with professionalism
with which our presenters talked
about the research that they did.
In a way that was understandable to everyone out there,
because this is some pretty deep
and heavy stuff that these folks do.
And so to be able to communicate
that in a way that's understandable
to everyone is what helps us tell our story better.
And to gather the support that we need for our space program
and our aviation research.
So again, thank you all for coming tonight.
I really hate reading speeches, and my people know
that I don't like to do that.
But I'm forced to do it tonight because I will forget.
Um, but anyway, I wanted to thank you again for coming.
Uh, we're celebrating the culmination of NASA's --
NASA Glenn's 75th anniversary, and the beginning
of the next phase of our center's history;
shaping the world of tomorrow.
Before we get started, there are a few people that I would also
like to thank for putting this evening together.
First of all, I want to thank Ohar-
Ohio Aerospace Institute's new president and CEO, Jeff Rolf.
Um, and Executive and Vice-President Anne Hayward,
for again, stepping up to offer their tireless support
of their institution.
And reaching out to the generous sponsors
that you have heard about tonight.
So thank you guys, uh, or both of you for --
for coming here and supporting.
[ Applause ]
Also my thanks to Carlos, uh, and Ohio Aeorospa- space
and Aviation Council Chairman, who's Carlos
who you just heard from, and ZIN Technology's Chief Operating
Officer, and Senior Vice-President of Technology.
So Carlos, thank you very much for -- for attending tonight,
and for providing that nice welcome to everyone.
So Thank you for Carlos as well.
[ Applause ]
Also to, uh, Dr. William Griswold, Director and President
of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
Dr. Griswold and his staff have provided --
uh, proved to be the most gracious hosts here,
and went above and beyond, don't you think?
To help us with arranging the space for this event.
It's a beautiful, uh, space,
and we really appreciate their support as well.
So thanks to the Cleveland Museum of Art.
[ Applause ]
And thanks to Susan Fuehrer,
Director of the Louis Stokes Veterans Administration Medical
Center for providing the parking tonight.
So that was also very helpful, so thanks to her.
And also to Dr. Kirsten Ellenbogen
for being here tonight as the custodian
of our NASA Glenn visitor's center.
Dr. Ellenbogen and her team have opened their doors and --
at several NASA events this past year.
So we thank Kirsten for attending as well.
So thanks to both of those as well.
[ Applause ]
And now I'd like to recognize Representative Perales, if --
I believe he would like to come up and, uh,
present something for us.
[ Silence ]
Well good evening.
It is such a pleasure to be here.
I always enjoy coming, and actually for -- um, I'm --
I'm up here with my colleagues, Nan Baker, who is on the, um,
Ohio Aerospace and Aviation Technology Committee with me
and my colleague, Kent Smith [phonetic].
And we are very pleased to be here.
We -- We kind of inserted ourselves in the program.
That's not -- that's why you don't see it in there.
And I was told I have about 2 minutes, which never works.
But we're gonna get through it quickly here
[background laughter].
Uh, yeah [laughs] hear some laughs there, right.
Thank you General.
Um, but listen.
It was so very important for us to --
to, um, to express to the folks here tonight; this audience,
how important NASA Glenn Research Center is
to the state of Ohio.
Not just to the local community; to the state of Ohio.
So we have a resolution here I want to present to the director.
Um, and I'm not one for reading, uh, resolutions --
the whole thing -- especially when I only have two minutes.
But there is one line here that I think is really special.
And, you know, I -- I have been coming --
over the last three years I have been coming to NASA Glenn a lot.
As a matter of fact, some of the directorates are talking
about getting a parking spot, and I can even give some
of the presentations now, I've been here so often.
But I can tell ya, it's the people here.
It's you folks out there.
And, uh, you do wonderful work.
We're talking about, uh, one major objective
of the aerospace committee is to draw the state
of Ohio tighter and closer together.
And -- and that starts with Wright Patterson
and NASA Glenn Research Center coming together.
And I sa- I know Colonel Oberg's out there from the, uh,
Wright Patterson -- Colonel, thank you for being here.
We have a great number of people
from the Wright Patterson area here to --
to share this great event with you.
So, um, the um -- Director, if you come over here,
I'd like to present you with this.
And I will just note, Director, this line; second paragraph.
The noteworthy success
of the NASA Glenn Research Center is attributable largely
to its highly qualified and committed staff.
And we couldn't be prouder to be here.
We want to wish you -- I think we need
to take a couple pictures, if we're still -- where we're --
you want to move this way?
[Background laughter] we know how to do --
we know how to take pictures.
Okay. So again, I'd like to say thank you.
And, uh, happy 71- uh, 75th.
And we hope for 75 more good years
from NASA Glenn Research Center.
Thank you.
[ Applause ]
Well that was very, very nice.
Thank you so much for that, uh, unexpected pleasure
to have you all here, and to -- to receive this proclamation.
We will frame that, and we're re- redoing our hallway,
so this will find a nice place with prominence in our ha-
in our new, renovated hallway.
Um, I also wanted to make one more thank you.
I really wanted to thank the women and men at NASA Glenn.
Because it's their efforts that allow us to present
to you this evening, this incredible,
uh, research that we do.
And so we have -- and we can only do a few people at a time,
so we've chosen three, very capable people
that you'll hear from tonight.
But it's just a small sampling of all kinds
of research that's done at the center.
So if you want -- would like to know more, we'd be happy
to bring people out and give you tours, and --
and show you more of what we do.
Um, but anyway, to start off, um,
you're gonna hear a little bit about our past tonight.
But more importantly, you'll hear about the research
that we're conducting, and technologies
that we're developing today
to solve the challenges of the future.
So to kick off this evening's program, it is my pleasure
to introduce a message
from someone very special to all of us at NASA.
He has served this nation for nearly 40 years.
First, in uniform as a US Marine, and a combat pilot.
And later as a test pilot and an astronaut.
After becoming an astronaut in 1980,
he flew aboard the space shuttle orbiting Earth on four missions
between the years of 1986 and 1994.
He commanded two of those missions,
and piloted two others.
His most notable pli- flight to you, was probably SES-31,
which is the flight where the Hubble Space Telescope
was deployed.
He left NASA in 1994, but returned in 2009
to serve as our administrator.
Since then, he has led the renewed commitment
to this nation's goal of building a spacecraft
that will take American astronauts to Mars.
Ladies and gentlemen, NASA administrator, Charlie Bolden.
[applause]
Good evening, I'm Charlie Bolen, NASA Administrator.
I hope you'll accept my apology
for not being there with you in person.
Welcome to the third annual Evening with the Stars program.
The year 2016 has been extra special
for our very own Glenn Research Center in Cleveland.
The center commemorated its 75th anniversary.
And honored its past accomplishments, and the people
who made those accomplishments possible.
Cleveland institutions, large and small,
joined in the celebration at several area events.
Once again demonstrating the strength of NASA partnerships
in the local community.
Glenn opened its doors to the public
for the first time in 8 years.
And welcomed thousands of NASA fans at the center's Louis Field
and Plum Brook Station campuses.
Tonight, you are part of that story too.
As the center's anniversary activities culminate
with this special Evening with the Stars.
But the story doesn't end here.
While celebrating 75 years of service
to our nation's space program, Glenn has been setting the stage
for the next chapter
in our nation's aeronautics breakthroughs,
and our journey to Mars.
At NASA Glenn, there's no looking back.
The center is all about the future.
And tonight, you'll get a glimpse of what
that future has in store.
You'll hear about X planes, and the next generation
of 737 size passenger aircraft, that NASA is helping design
with our own academic and industry partners.
These aircraft will be even more efficient and quieter
than the fleet of aircraft flying today.
You'll hear about Glenn's ongoing progress
in testing the Crew's Service Module
for NASA's next human spacecraft, Orion,
at Plum Brook Station in Sandusky, Ohio.
And Glenn's role in the development
of Orion's upcoming exploration Mission One, in 2018.
You'll also hear about the incredible NASA communications
and health science technologies that were developed for space,
but are now finding beneficial applications
in everyday life here on Earth.
NASA and Glenn are all about the future, and the promise
that future holds for those who dream big.
We're working hard to make this world better.
And making the impossible possible as we travel farther.
Thank you for being here, and enjoy this evening's program.
[ Applause ]
Well that's a nice way to begin our program.
As Charlie said a few moments ago, it's been quite a year
for NASA Glenn as we celebrated our 75th anniversary.
We've had a grand vision.
Earlier I mentioned to you that you'll hear a little bit
about our past and about our future.
We know where we've been, and tonight,
our presenters will show you where we're going.
These are the next generation of NASA's visionaries.
Those who will carry on the legacy of those
who have go- come before.
They're helping transfer NASA technologies
to the commercial sector that will make the world
in which we live a better place for all.
They're developing the architecture
that will be the basis for the aircraft of the future.
As Charlie mentioned, the X-planes--
which is what we call them.
And they're leading our agency
in advancing hybrid electric propulsion.
They're insuring the mission success of the Orion spacecraft.
Today, NASA's Orion spacecraft figures prominently
in our journey to Mars, and that journey continues
to pass through Ohio.
Testing of the European Service Module at Plum Brook Station
in Sandusky continues.
This spring, we will, um, welcome additional components
of Orion for testing, including the stack
for Exploration Mission One -- or EM1 --
the last flight before our crude missions begin.
Recently, NASA Glenn signed an agreement with NASA --
NASA's Marshall Spaceflight Center
to oversee the procurement of the Universal Stage Adapter --
or USA, because we have a lot of acronyms.
The USA will make the lower portion
of the Space Launch System -- the largest rocket ever built --
with the Orion Service Module and the spacecraft,
for the first crude flight around the moon since Apollo.
The USA will be one of the most sophisticated adapters ever
built, and it will be NASA Glenn's largest procurement
in nearly two decades.
Before we proceed, let's take one last look
at what has been NASA's 75-year history.
[ Music Video Plays ]
Well that was a very quick 75-year history [laughs].
I was expecting two or three more minutes of that.
We do have a longer version
which has got a little more information in it.
But that's a really quick, brief --
because we do want to get to our speakers very quickly.
So let me get to that right now.
It's now my pleasure to introdu-
introduce tonight's presenta- uh, presenters.
Like last year, our presenters will be back-to-back
with no intermission.
And we will be hearing from the following.
This first speaker is Any Hiltabi- Hiltabidel,
who is the Licensing Manager
for the NASA Glenn Technology Transfer Office.
She will share with us all the modern conveniences we have come
to expect in everyday life, that head their Genesis
and NASA technologies.
Ms. Susan Motil.
The Manager of the European Service Module Integration
Office for the Orion program, offers an inside look
at the testing that is taking place
at NASA Glenn's Plum Brook Station.
She will discuss the current testing.
What's on the horizon, and what that means for NASA Glenn.
And the future of deep space exploration.
And Dr. James Heidman.
Acting Director of NASAs Advanced Air Transport
Technology Project.
He will share NASA's vigin- vision
for aircraft of the future.
Just as our country marveled
at the right flier during the infancy of aviation
in this country, Jim and other supporting NASA's aeronautics
research and development are pioneers
in developing alternative airframes in propulsion systems
to make air travel greener and quieter in the decades to come.
For those of you who follow us on Twitter at NASA Glenn,
we welcome your thoughts about tonight's presentation.
Just use the hashtag #NASAGlenn75.
You can also post your comments to our Facebook page.
So with that, ladies and gentlemen, it is my pleasure
to welcome our first presenter to the stage, Amy.
[ Music ]
When you think of the word, "innovation",
what kinds of things do you think of?
Perhaps things like the internet?
Cars. Airplanes.
Antibiotics and cell phones.
What about when you think of NASA?
Do you think of rockets blasting off into space?
Or fantastically colored images of distant galaxies?
NASA's innovations.
Those amazing technologies that enable rockets
and the transmission of images from planets
in our solar system have had a tremendous impact closer
to home.
Everyone in this room has benefitted from NASA innovation.
From quieter aircraft.
To cleaner water.
To enhanced crop yields.
To fire suppression systems.
To the microchips and the tiniest cameras
in your cell phones.
NASA's innovation benefits us all.
Arguably, one of the most impactful
of NASA's innovations is space communications.
Since its inception, NASA has pioneered space communications.
Starting with passive satellite experiments
where large surfaces, such as those of a balloon,
were used to reflect signals to a receiver.
These experiments went well, and in 1958,
NASA launched its first dynamic satellite called, "Explorer 1".
Explorer revolutionized space exploration.
For the first time, science data can be transmitted to Earth.
Our understanding of space grew exponentially,
starting with the study of the Van Allen Radiation Belts.
NASA's disruptive work in space communication continued
with a partnership with the Canadian Department
of Communications to develop the Communications
Technology Satellite.
Launched in 1976, this satellite enabled,
for the very first time, real-time, direct communications
to individual homes and communities.
Operating at much higher powers and frequencies
than earlier satellites,
the communications technology satellite demonstrated
telemedicine to remote areas of Canada and the delivery
of educational programming.
This crucially important work was acknowledged in 1987
when the National Academy of Television Arts
and Sciences awarded the Emmy
to the Canadian Communications Research Center and NASA,
celebrating the great accomplishments in the field
of television broadcasting and its applications.
These advances led to many satellites operating
in the geosynchronous orbit.
Which is quickly becoming overcrowded.
Plus, commercial companies are seeking greater communications
capacity to support many services, such as high-speed,
high-security financial transactions.
And wireless mobile networks for consumers.
In response, NASA launched its most revolutionary breakthroughs
in space communication.
The Advanced Communications Technology Satellite.
This satellite, launched in 1993, is the first all-digital,
gigabit capacity communications satellite, carrying data
at standard fiber optic data rates.
With the same transmission quality.
Operating at even higher frequencies,
the technologies onboard this satellite enabled the
transmission of even more data to even the most remote areas
on Earth using small portable antennas.
Services such as remote medical imaging diagnostics,
global personal communications, and the interconnection
of distal super computers were demonstrated for the first time.
NASA partnered with hundreds of scientists and engineers
at universities and corporations to develop applications
that we take for granted today.
Such as live video conferencing.
Making and receiving phone calls in our cars.
And the uninterrupted satellite transmission of live television.
NASA continues to make space communications more powerful
and even more flexible,
by introducing a new communications test bed called
The Space Communications and Navigation -- or SCAN --
launched in 2012 and installed
on the International Space Station.
The SCAN is an on-orbit, adaptable,
software defined radio facility, with corresponding ground
and operational systems.
Software defined radio is the next evolution in fast
and secure communication.
A fully programmable radio that can be remotely reconfigured
to change the functionality of radio communications
through software in space.
Software-defined radio offers a flexible, affordable, adaptable,
and powerful way to maintain
and expand our current standard of communication.
From binge-watching "Game
of Thrones" along the beautiful shores of Lake Erie,
to Rocky Mount as you drive across the country
to visit your Aunt Donna in Kansas, to emergency operations
in disaster-stricken areas.
NASA's advances
in communications make our lives better every day.
Space-related innovations are fairly straight
forward spinoffs.
After all, it is the National Aeronautics
and Space Administration.
But would you believe that today's method
of removing cataracts evolved from propulsion technology.
Cataracts are cloudy, or opaque area of the eye's lens,
causing blurry vision and can sometimes lead to blindness.
Earlier methods to remove cataracts involve some gruesome
techniques that required a large incision.
Many stitches to keep the lens in place.
And a 10-day hospital stay.
In the 1970s, a local eye surgeon determined there had
to be a better way.
He partnered with the Retina Foundation of Boston
and NASA Glenn to apply advanced technology
in the fields of fluid mechanics.
High-speed rotating machinery.
Miniature mechanisms.
Pumps, seals and bearings.
To develop the first tiny cutter pump.
A device that macerates the cataract
through a small incision in the cornea,
and pumps the liquefied material from the eye.
The cutter pump is driven by a tiny turbine,
and includes a pressure regulator
to maintain ocular pressure during the procedure.
Today's method, called phacoemulsification is based
on the same principals, but it uses ultrasound
to macerate the cataract.
When you're not feeling well, you may go see your doctor.
He'll take a good look at you.
Listen to your heart and lungs.
Peer into your eyes, ears, and nose.
And maybe even order some blood
and urine tests for good measure.
But what happens if you fall ill in space?
Typically, there are medical doctors available.
Either on the mission itself,
or through ground support to take a look.
However, they need a little bit more information in order
to assist the unwell astronaut.
NASA is actively developing remote monitoring technologies
to enable real-time health diagnostics
to keep our astronauts at optimum health.
For example, NASA Glenn developed a low-power, rugged,
and plannable biotelemetry system
that can be interrogated wirelessly
to monitor astronauts in flight.
NASA Glenn's licensee, Endotronics --
took this novel system, and is developing the technology
to remotely monitor patients with heart failure.
With this system, patients can spend more time
at home doing the things they enjoy.
Also, their doctors and caregivers can be alerted
of any problems, so the patient can receive care before
requiring an extensive hospital stay.
Blood and urine analysis are difficult
in a microgravity environment.
So having an easy, fast, and accurate health diagnostic
that can be conducted using a drop of blood in a simple,
handheld machine is highly desired.
DMI is developing a novel, handheld laboratory capable
of complete blood analysis in a reusable package.
The Our Health System is a universal, biomedical laboratory
for performing blood and urine analysis in orbit,
rather than relying on ground-based analysis.
The device was evaluated
in microgravity environments during parabolic flight.
Our Health performed flawlessly, and is anticipated
for evaluation on the International Space Station.
From real-time monitoring, a renal function for those
on dialysis, to quick, complete blood analysis
in emergency settings,
to monitoring high-performance athletes,
the device could potentially improve the life
for so many people with chronic illnesses.
And those who just need to know a little bit more
about their bodies.
NASA's innovations are everywhere,
and they impact us daily.
And the really awesome thing is
that these people continue to innovate.
We are limited only by our imaginations.
So just imagine how the innovations developed today will
benefit us tomorrow.
Thank you.
[ Applause ]
[ Music ]
Exploration.
It is what people have done for centuries.
From crossing the oceans destined to distant lands,
to climbing the highest mountains
and exploring the depths of the seas.
We look to the heavens,
and dream that one day a human can survive the long journey
into our solar system.
It is for this dream today
that NASA's Orion Program is testing the limits
of space flight.
NASA is on a journey to send humans to Mars.
In the midst of a stepping stone approach to getting humans
to Mars, NASA is developing and testing technologies
at progressively farther distances from Earth.
To ensure we have the right capabilities for such a mission.
We are preparing for this first flight,
currently designated Exploration Mission One.
In which the spacecraft will travel thousands
of miles beyond the moon, over the course of about three weeks.
The Orion will launch in November,
2018 on the most powerful rocket in the world, and fly farther
than any spacecraft built for humans.
It will stay in space longer than any ship has done
with astronauts, without docking to a space station.
And return home faster and hotter than ever before.
The Orion EM1 will be the first mission uncrewed.
And it will be able -- be able to test
out the Orion capabilities for this mission.
And push into the proving ground
where we can demonstrate our human and technical capabilities
for long-duration space exploration.
With the goal to proceed on the long voyage to Mars.
For this journey to Mars, NASA has partnered
with the European Space Agency for the European service module.
The development team spans two continents, seven countries,
eight defense contractors, numerous part suppliers
and subcontractors throughout the US and Europe.
The NASA Glenn Research Center is an integral part
of the Orion program.
Managing the integration effort for the --
with the rest of the Orion vehicle,
and conducting critical testing.
The European service module is the powerhouse of Orion.
Comprised of four solar array wings,
the panels provide enough electricity
to power two typical households.
Providing 120 volts of power for computers,
experiments, and other hardware.
It also serves as Orion's primary in-space propulsion
system for the Orion vehicle.
And provides air to breathe, water to drink,
and storage capabilities for future crews.
The unpressurized, cylindrical module is
about 13 feet long by 6.5 feet high.
Including the main engines, and the tanks
for gas and propellant.
During launch, it is held in place
by NASA's spacecraft adapter, and is connected to the capsule
where the astronauts are by the crew module adapter.
NASA Glenn Research Center constructed a test facility
at Plum Brook Station to enable qualification
of large spacecraft, and was built to meet Orion's needs.
This three-and-a-half year renovation project,
using 14.1 million pounds of concrete,
and employing 125 workers,
provides a one-stop human spaceflight environmental
testing capability.
In November 2015, the European Space Agency's contractor --
Air Bus Defense in Space --
delivered a structural test article
to NASA Glenn's Plum Brook Station in Sandusky, Ohio,
for critical environmental testing.
It arrived at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport
above the Antonov 124.
A Russian airlift cargo aircraft capable
of transporting up to 150 tons.
The European structural test article only weighed 33 tons.
Well within the aircraft's limits.
But filled every square inch of the aircraft's cargo hold.
And required four semi truck trailers
to deliver the test article, and support equipment for assembly
to Plum Brook's Space Power Facility.
Immediately following delivery, the teams worked tirelessly
to assemble the test article.
A replica of the flight unit.
For a rigorous series of tests
that will ensure the successful flight of Orion,
the next generation of human-rated spacecraft.
The test campaign aims to analyze
and validate every element and function
of the structural test article.
Which represents Orion's power and life support systems.
The first series of tests was to demonstrate the deployment
of the solar array wing.
The wing is constructed of three solar panels.
And when deployed, spans 63 feet tip-to-tip.
On launch, the wing is folded inside the spacecraft.
Stowed in position by four Kevlar straps.
To release the array wing, thermal knives cut the straps.
Listen for the snap [loud sound and then horn].
Once deployed to orbit, the solar array wing must expand
to allow the Orion vehicle to receive power.
This test was an important first step
to verify Orion's power system.
The test confirmed that the array unfurled properly.
Locked into place.
And that all of the mechanisms functioned as expected.
Following the solar array wing deployment test,
the structural test article was transferred
to the acoustics chamber.
The chamber is the most powerful in the world,
and mimics the launch environment
that the Orion spacecraft will experience.
The test was conducted to ensure the test article could withstand
the force and pressure of the acoustic's environment.
When a powerful rocket launches, such as the space launch system,
which will propel Orion into orbit,
it can produce noise up to 180 decibels.
Levels so high it can vibrate and damage spacecraft components
if they are not designed and built strong enough
to withstand the environment.
The maximum test lasts approximately three minutes.
Microphones and sensors are placed in
and around the test article to determine that the noise
in the test chamber match the expected acoustic environment
inside the service module.
The test confirmed a sound design.
The final series of tests
in the campaign was the mechanical vibration test.
This powerful spacecraft shaker system was used
to assess the test articles ability to withstand the tremor
that a launch will produce.
In this test, we simulated what was predicted the test article
would see, by increasing and decreasing the vibration levels.
The vibration test only lasts a minute.
And during the test, the table sweeps from low
to high frequency movements.
As you can see in the video, we used a hula girl figurine
as a visual to detect table
and test article movement during the test.
At low-frequency, like bobbing up and down in a boat,
the hula girl does a slow sway.
In fact, she doesn't appear to dance at all.
You can, however, see the actuators that control the table
on the right move up and down.
When we sweep to a higher frequency,
this is much harder to see on the table.
That's why we use the hula girl.
The actuators look like they're stopping.
But they're moving so fast you can't see it.
Notice the hula girls start to shimmy.
The test is performed as expected, and we concluded
that the structure is designed
to survive the launch environments.
The development of the European Service Module is an important
next step in our exploration goals.
Testing that has been conducted
to date has helped verify the integrity of the design.
The flight model is currently under production,
and is expected to ship to the United States next year.
The Orion launch is in 2018.
The first unmanned mission to demonstrate
that systems will operate as planned.
Our destiny is to explore the heavens.
But we must make it safe for our crew.
Everything we are doing today,
ensures that the vehicle is designed well,
and crew can survive and return home safely.
Today is a stepping stone, and our proving ground.
Our mission has started.
So please join us on this exciting journey to Mars.
[applause]
I'd like to thank everyone that supplied me
with video, photos, and data.
Special thanks to Aimee Crane and Carol Ginty
who supported this presentation.
There are many to thank in the Orion program,
as well as the European Service Agency,
and the Airbus Defense in Space.
Thank you.
[ Applause ]
[ Music ]
Good evening everyone.
Imagine with me a future
where air travel is significantly cleaner, quieter,
and even faster than today.
NASA's new Aviation Horizon's initiative is laying the
foundation for a future of sustainable aviation.
Through wind tunnel testing of aircraft concepts, engines,
and a renewed emphasis on flight testing or X planes.
A future where green is king.
New Aviation Horizons is all
about supporting a green future for the planet.
Whether it be through the assessment
of advanced alternative and bio fuels in jet engines
and their emissions into the atmosphere,
or one of the many other key technologies
that NASA is developing with industry
and university partners across the nation.
We're at the right place at the right time,
with the right technologies to enable a radical transformation
of the air transportation system.
From concept to reality,
NASA's aeronautical innovators are preparing to put
in the sky an array of X-planes, or experimental vehicles.
Each of which is targeting key technologies
to enable dramatic reductions in fuel burn, noise, emissions,
and even to enable high-speed flight.
Some of these goals include a 50% reduction in fuel usage.
Greater than 50% reduction in carbon emissions.
And aircraft so quiet that you can barely hear them outside the
airport boundary.
New Aviation Horizons is accelerating to a new horizon
of aviation for the nation and for the world.
The details of how we're going to get from here
to there are laid
out in President Obama's Fiscal '17 Budget Request.
A request that lays out a bold, 10-year plan to design, build,
and fly a series of experimental aircraft, or so-called X-planes.
These are X-planes to enable a green future for the nation.
X-planes are nothing new.
They're a way to advance technologies
and accelerate industry's acceptance of these technologies
so they can be brought to market.
In fact, many of the technologies that you
and I enjoy on current aircraft that we fly on,
perhaps that some of you flew on to come here,
have been developed through NASA partnerships with industry.
Through computational fluid dynamics,
many of the engine technologies that you'll see here,
as well as winglets; composite structures.
A lot of these technologies came from NASA developments
with industry partners.
Now NASA Innovation X-planes goes way back
to our predecessor organization, the National Advisory Committee
for Aeronautics, or NACA.
Which worked with the US Air Force
to develop the very first X-plane,
the X-1 vehicle shown here.
Looking forward to future X-planes,
one of the key candidates
for these X-planes is a hybrid wing body concept.
Which gets away from the familiar tube-in-wing aircraft
that we're all familiar with today.
And the wing blends smoothly into the fuselage.
Not only does this offer dramatic fuel burn reduction
potential, but also is much quieter than current aircraft,
as demonstrated by this simulation.
[ Aircraft Sounds ]
Other key technologies that we're focusing on are long,
slender wings supported by a brace.
Non-circular fuselage concepts that allow the aircraft
to get some lift from the fuselage
as well as from the wings.
As well as the engines that are partially embedded
in the fuselage to improve performance.
The truss brace wing concept shown here, has been developed
in partnership with the Boeing Company.
The bracing of the wing from below allows for a long,
slender wing design that reduces drag,
and improves aerodynamic performance.
Wind tunnel tests indicate a 5%
to 10% fuel burn reduction from this technology.
It also has a high wing mount to allow for the incorporation
of large diameter, high bypass engines.
The D-8, or so called "Double Bubble Concept",
because it has a fuselage twice as wide as it is high,
has been developed in partnership with MIT,
Aurora Flight Sciences, and Pratt and Whitney.
In addition to the double wide fuselage,
which provides a lifting characteristic,
it also has engines mounted at the rear of the vehicle
that ingest the boundary layer that flows
over the vehicle itself.
Boundary layer ingestion is important because it allows
for improved performance of the vehicle,
as the engine ingests air that's already been slowed
down by having flown over the vehicle itself.
At NASA Glenn we're currently in the process
of testing an advanced fan with an industry partner,
to assess the benefits of BLI, and to optimize the fan design
for this configuration.
We're also very excited about the single aisle,
turbo electric aircraft concept, which is also called
"Stark ABL" for short.
Now this aircraft looks fairly typical to the casual observer,
because it's a tube-in-wing with two engines under the wings.
But note the tail cone thruster fan in the back,
which also takes advantage of this BLI phenomenon.
In addition, the power is routed from the main engines
to that rear fan turboelectrically --
another key innovation.
System studies indicate a 15% fuel burn reduction benefit
for this concept.
NASA's also learning from small-scale demonstrations
such as the latest NASA X plane, the X-57 Maxwell.
This small, electric aircraft allows us to learn
about system integration.
And we can apply those learnings to larger electric aircraft
in the future, such as the N3X concept.
Where all powers distribute electrically across the rear
of the aircraft, and BLI is leveraged fully.
Now all of these concepts are going
to require advanced engines, and in particular,
high-powered NC small compact core,
or the heart of the engine.
At NASA Glenn we're very proud of our heritage
in propulsion technology,
and as these core engines become smaller and more higher-power,
the temperatures go up to very high levels, causing challenges
for material technology.
As well as the size of the components becoming very small,
challenging the manufacturing techniques.
We're working with GE Aviation, Pratt and Whitney,
and other partners on developing these core engine technologies.
Now so far I've shown you concepts that fly subsonically
around Mach point A, or typical of today's airliners.
But what if we could fly across the country
in half the time that it takes today?
That's the idea behind our supersonic X-plane concept.
Where the aircraft is designed in such a way
that it produces a small -- it produces smaller boomlets
that are less objectionable to people on the ground.
Now flight research is a key component
in aeronautics research, but it's only a part.
There's a three-legged stool that we like to talk
about in terms of research.
The first leg being computational
analysis capability.
This is where researchers use sophisticated computer models
and high-speed super computers to predict the flow
over an aircraft, or through an engine,
or over part of an aircraft.
It's critically important
that researchers can understand how an aircraft is going
to perform through analysis, in particular
when the concepts look much different than today.
As in the D-8 aircraft, or an open roader, as shown here.
The second leg of the research tool is experimental,
or wind tunnel testing.
This is where researchers take a scale model of an aircraft,
or part of an aircraft, or an engine or part of engine,
and flow air over that in a wind tunnel,
and measure the data resulting from that.
In this way, researchers can understand the performance
of these concepts.
Look for areas of interest for further research,
and then take the data and go back
and improve the numerical methods
that were used in the first place.
You can then loop back and use those improved models
to improve the designs in a kind of iterative loop.
And the third leg of that research stool is, of course,
to fly the concept and test it in flight.
This is where all the learnings from the computational
and wind tunnel testing are brought
to bear in a flight asset.
And you can really demonstrate
that the benefits are measurable in a flight vehicle.
Not only can you demonstrate the benefits,
but you can also reduce the risk of bringing the concept
to market for the industry.
NASA Glenn Research Center, here in Cleveland, Ohio,
along with our partner centers, NASA Langley in Virginia,
and Ames and Armstrong in California, are working together
to realize the vision of new aviation horizons for NASA.
And at Glenn we're very proud of our heritage in propulsion,
material research, turbine machinery, and many other areas.
They're going to be key contributors towards
this vision.
To quote Dr. Jay Wanshin, NASA's Associated Administrator
for Aeronautics Research.
This is an exciting time for the entire NASA Aeronautics team,
and for those who benefit from Aviation,
which is frankly everyone.
With this 10-year plan to accelerate the transformation
of aviation, the United States can maintain its status
as the world's leader in aviation for many years to come.
Thank you very much, and I'd like to thank all those
who helped with compiling this video,
as well as our many industry and university partners.
Thank you very much.
[ Applause ]
Three incredible speakers.
Thank you very much for your presentations this evening.
These folks memorized most of their presentations,
so quite a feat considering the tech- technical difficulty
that they -- um, that they had to go
through to -- to make this.
So thanks to Amy, to Susan, and to Jim tonight
for their presentations.
Let's give them another round of applause.
[ Applause ]
So tonight you've been given a --
a glimpse of the future of NASA Glenn,
and the incredible research and development that's taking place
in Cleveland and in Northeastern Ohio.
Our presenters are examples of the people
that drive NASA Glenn's most cutting edge research
and technology development efforts that will lead us
into the future, on Earth and in space,
as we seek new discoveries, and increase understanding
of the world around us.
NASA's accomplishments past, present,
and those in the future are the accomplishments of people.
And people like those you've seen
and met tonight are NASA's most valuable resource.
This concludes our program for this evening.
Please join us for cake and coffee in the reception area,
as you continue to engage our presenters,
and the other NASA Glen leadership
and subject matter, uh, experts.
Thank you.
Goodnight, and have a safe drive home.
[ Applause ]