Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering

Biography

Biography: James M. Free

Abstract

As it approaches its seventy-fifth year of existence, the NASA John H. Glenn Research Center has pushed the boundary of technologies for aircraft and spacecraft propulsion. Originally know as the Aircraft Engine Research Laboratory (AERL), the facility began through advancement of aircraft engines in support of the war effort as well as icing research. Moving through its history, the center retained a focus on engine performance, noise and emissions while also unlocking the challenges of high performance in-space propulsion systems. Today, NASA Glenn is pushing the boundaries of future air travel charting a course towards more electric and eventually all-electric aircraft. In parallel, NASA Glenn is leading eh development of high power solar electric propulsion (SEP) systems that will serve to enable human exploration architectures through a robust and efficient logistic train to destinations such as Mars. Rooted in its history and building on the future, NASA Glenn enables electric propulsion.