Seventy Years of Aeropropulsion Research at NASA Glenn Research Center

Abstract

This paper presents a brief overview of air-breathing propulsion research conducted at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Glenn Research Center (GRC) over the last 70 years. It includes a historical perspective of the center and its various stages of propulsion research in response to the country’s different periods of crises and growth opportunities. The GRC’s research and technology development covered a broad spectrum, from a short-term focus on improving the energy efficiency of aircraft engines to advancing the frontier technologies of high-speed aviation in the supersonic and hypersonic speed regimes. This paper highlights major research programs, showing their impact on industry and aircraft propulsion, and briefly discusses current research programs and future aeropropulsion technology trends in related areas.