The 7 Most Shocking Future Projects At NASA Glenn Research Center (Fission Power, Artemis, And 2025 Tech)

The NASA Glenn Research Center (GRC), a cornerstone of American aerospace innovation for over 80 years, is currently leading several of the most ambitious and transformative projects in space exploration and aeronautics, with its work directly powering the future of the Artemis program. As of December 2025, the center is not only pushing the boundaries of propulsion and power but is also winning top industry awards for technologies that will enable sustained human presence on the Moon and Mars, solidifying its role as a critical hub for deep-space capability development.

Located primarily in Cleveland, Ohio, GRC’s expertise in high-power, high-efficiency systems is foundational to NASA’s long-term goals, particularly in the realm of nuclear and solar electric propulsion. The center’s recent strategic realignment and its focus on developing crucial technologies like Fission Surface Power and the advanced NEXT-C ion thruster demonstrate a clear, forward-looking roadmap that will define the next decade of space exploration and sustainable aviation, making its current work essential viewing for anyone interested in the future of space technology.

NASA Glenn Research Center: A Profile in Innovation

The NASA John H. Glenn Research Center at Lewis Field has a rich and complex history that traces the evolution of American flight technology from World War II-era aircraft to modern deep-space missions. Its identity is split between two primary locations: Lewis Field in Cleveland and the Neil A. Armstrong Test Facility in Sandusky, Ohio.

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• Location: Lewis Field (Cleveland, Ohio) and Neil A. Armstrong Test Facility (Sandusky, Ohio).
• Established: 1941 (as the Aircraft Engine Research Laboratory).
• Original Governing Body: National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA).
• Former Names: Aircraft Engine Research Laboratory (1941), Lewis Flight Propulsion Laboratory (1948, honoring George W. Lewis), Lewis Research Center (1958, under NASA).
• Current Name: John H. Glenn Research Center at Lewis Field (renamed in 1999, honoring astronaut John Glenn).
• Primary Focus: Power, Propulsion, and Communications for aeronautics and space exploration.
• Current Director: Dr. James A. Kenyon.

The 7 Most Critical Projects and Breakthroughs at GRC Today

NASA Glenn Research Center is currently spearheading several high-priority projects that are vital to the Artemis lunar missions and the future of sustainable aviation. These initiatives showcase the center’s unique expertise in extreme environment testing and advanced propulsion systems.

1. Leading the Fission Surface Power Development

GRC has been selected to lead the development of nuclear power systems for lunar missions, a project known as Fission Surface Power (FSP). This is perhaps the most crucial long-term project for sustained human presence beyond Earth. A reliable, high-power energy source is essential for operating habitats, charging rovers, and running in-situ resource utilization (ISRU) equipment during the two-week-long lunar night.

The center is actively seeking industry feedback for the system, with key industry days being held at GRC, highlighting its central role in bringing this technology to fruition.

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2. Powering the Gateway Lunar Outpost

A key component of the Artemis program is the Gateway, a planned lunar-orbiting space station. GRC is responsible for developing the Power and Propulsion Element (PPE) for Gateway. This element provides the station’s solar-electric power and propulsion, allowing it to move to various orbits around the Moon. GRC’s work on Solar Electric Propulsion (SEP) is what makes this highly efficient, long-duration maneuverability possible.

3. The NEXT-C Ion Thruster Testing

The Evolutionary Xenon Thruster—Commercial (NEXT-C) is a crucial technology being tested at GRC. This advanced ion propulsion system is a vital part of the PPE for the Gateway, offering significantly higher fuel efficiency than traditional chemical rockets. Testing the NEXT-C in GRC’s world-class vacuum chambers ensures its readiness for the deep-space environment.

4. 2025 R&D 100 Award-Winning Space Internet

In a major recent breakthrough, GRC teams earned 2025 R&D 100 Awards. One of the winning projects was a system designed to deliver high-speed internet for space. This technology is a game-changer for space communications, promising to revolutionize how data is transmitted between Earth, the Moon, and future Mars missions, enabling real-time scientific data transfer and high-definition video feeds.

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5. Transforming Aviation for Climate Goals

Beyond space, GRC is a leader in aeronautics research, specifically focusing on helping the nation meet its climate goals. This research involves developing quieter, more fuel-efficient aircraft engines and testing advanced materials that can withstand extreme temperatures and pressures, all aimed at reducing the environmental footprint of air travel.

6. Utilizing World-Class Testing Facilities

GRC’s research is enabled by its unparalleled ground test facilities, which are entities in themselves and crucial to NASA’s success. These include the Neil A. Armstrong Test Facility, which houses the Space Environments Complex and the In-Space Propulsion Facility. At Lewis Field, GRC operates a variety of specialized facilities:

• Wind Tunnels: For aerodynamic and propulsion testing.
• Drop Towers: For simulating microgravity environments.
• Vacuum Chambers: Essential for testing space-bound components.
• Chemical Propulsion Research Complex (CPRC): Dedicated to simulated altitude rocket testing.

7. Advancing High-Temperature Electronics

GRC is renowned for its work on silicon carbide (SiC) electronics, which can operate reliably at extremely high temperatures. This technology is vital for components placed near jet engines or within nuclear power systems, where traditional silicon-based electronics would fail. This research enables lighter, more robust systems for both aerospace and deep-space applications, reducing the need for heavy cooling systems.

The Future is Power: GRC’s Role in Deep Space

The strategic direction of the NASA Glenn Research Center is clear: to be the agency’s primary center for the high-power, high-propulsion technologies necessary for long-duration space missions. The center's recent realignment of its operating structure is designed to ensure it remains responsive and efficient in supporting future growth, particularly within the Artemis program.

From the early days of the Lewis Flight Propulsion Laboratory focusing on jet engines to today’s work on Fission Surface Power and Solar Electric Propulsion, GRC has consistently been the proving ground for the most challenging and transformative technologies. Its current projects—which include the Gateway’s lifeblood, advanced space internet, and the promise of nuclear power for a lunar base—cement its status as an indispensable asset in the quest for deep-space exploration and a sustainable future for flight. The innovations coming out of Cleveland and Sandusky are literally powering humanity’s next giant leap.