CLEVELAND — Who better to show off the advancements NASA Glenn Research Center in Cleveland is making than the facility's new director, Dr. James Kenyon. He gave 3News a tour of the Electric Propulsion and Power Laboratory, where thrusters are tested in large vacuum chambers.
"You want to create a space environment. Which means it's a vacuum. It's going to be no air. Very, very cold," remarked Dr. James Kenyon.
The electronic thrusters are only about the size of a basketball, yet they are a big part of NASA’s plans to get humans back to the Moon’s surface, this time to stay.
"The Gateway is going to establish a unique capability. A space station that's going to orbit the moon," Kenyon said.
Six thrusters allow the Gateway to maneuver. The technology developed and tested right here in Cleveland.
"Lighting it, seeing it work is awesome," said Kenyon.
Power, propulsion, and commutations are hallmarks of NASA Glenn. One of 10 different centers with the agency, it may not be launching rockets, but Dr. Kenyon says it’s just as vital.
"No spacecraft and no aircraft has ever flown without power, propulsion and communications,” stated Kenyon. “And no spacecraft and no aircraft will ever fly without power, propulsion and communication. So, we are very relevant to the agency's overall mission."
Throughout his career, Dr. Kenyon has worked in aviation and was familiar with only the aeronautical work done here.
"I had no idea what all we were doing in space,” remarked Kenyon. “And that has just been really incredible to learn, an incredible journey and then to be actually part of the launch, part of what's flying around the moon. That was that was wicked cool."
And while the importance of Glenn is recognized throughout NASA, it is here at home that Dr. Kenyon hopes to make the biggest impact.
"We have to show the people in Cleveland that they can do this, too,” Kenyon said. “This year, we hosted over 200 Cleveland Metropolitan School District students here on campus to have people talk, to do science experiments or science demonstrations. We gave them tours of some of the facilities. And the key message there was you can be here, too, and we want you to be here too. And if I can open that door for somebody and give them an opportunity, I'm all about that."
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