EmDrive, a Supposed Fuel-less Engine, Is Knocked Down Again, Gizmodo “Five years ago, NASA researchers experimented with an object called the EmDrive (or electromagnetic drive), a Y-shaped metal chamber in which, they reported, thrust could be produced without propellant. Such a contraption would refute core principles of physics as we know them and eliminate a huge barrier to deep space travel by nullifying the need to carry fuel. … If […]

NASA GRC Educational and Outreach Support for NASA’s Orion Program “NASA/GRC intends to contract to Alphaport, Inc. This is a follow-on effort to activities originally performed by Alphaport under contract NNC13QB53P in which Alphaport developed a visually library of Orion illustrations, graphics facts sheets, and other media products. Currently, Alphaport is the only contractor who has develop the initial media material and has the needed understanding of the media activities […]

NASA GRC Internal Memo: Center Reorganization Update “In my June message, I indicated that I would be working to assign SES personnel to positions and would then be validating those selections at Headquarters.  I have had a number of discussions with individuals at Headquarters and continue to receive positive feedback and full support.  There were a few details that I needed to work out and believe those have been resolved. […]

NASA Plum Brook vacuum chamber in Sandusky is the largest in the world, despite what NASA folks in Texas claim, Cleveland.com “The vacuum chamber at Plum Brook, called the Space Power Facility, measures 863,000 cubic feet. To get an idea of its vastness, check out the opening minutes of “The Avengers” movie, filmed inside the chamber. The one at Johnson, called Chamber A, is 400,000 cubic feet.” NASA Invites Media […]

More than 150 NASA Glenn jobs in jeopardy, Rep. Marcy Kaptur’s office says, Cleveland Plain Dealer “NASA Glenn Research Center stands to lose more than 150 jobs when automatic spending cuts under the “sequester” go into effect, according to the office of Toledo Democratic Rep. Marcy Kaptur. National Aeronautics and Space Administration officials told Kaptur the cuts would end cryogenic propulsion research headquartered at Glenn, resulting in the loss of […]

NASA GRC Award: Continuing Non-NASA New Business Support Services “Contract Award Amount: $400,000 Contractor: Jefferson Consulting Group, LLC 1401 K St NW STE 900 Washington, DC 20005-3455 Description: Continuing Non-NASA New Business Support Services” “A previously competed MAS Federal Supply Schedule (FSS) award, NNCI 1DC82D, to Jefferson Solutions resulted in the development of a Center Strategic Plan for identifying and attracting non-NASA Business. The contract also led to the development […]

Keith’s note: Former NASA GRC Center Director Ray Lugo is now Director of the Florida Space Institute. No press release issued that I can find.

Cleveland’s Glenn Research Center seeking stability with uncertainties ahead for NASA, Cleveland Plain Dealer “During an eight-week stretch this summer, for instance, a prominent NASA blogger reported that Lugo was about to be replaced (he wasn’t), and a former NASA administrator advising Mitt Romney’s presidential campaign warned that the space agency was planning to scrap all human space flight work and eliminate its 244 jobs at Glenn. (Both NASA and […]

Keith’s 25 October note: NASA GRC put out this small business set aside solicitation “Alarm Philosophy Development Workshop” on 25 October 2012. Responses are due a mere 24 hours later on 26 October 2012. The solicitation states “This notice is being issued as a Request for Quotations (RFQ) for an Alarm Philosophy Development Workshop for twenty-five (25) people from November 5, 2012, through November 9, 2012.” GRC says “all responsible […]

– Larger GRC Org Chart image Keith’s update: This recent Glenn Research Center reorganization attempt by Ray Lugo was in direct defiance of orders given out by Charlie Bolden to all NASA center directors to not shake things up prior to the election. You see, Ohio is a crucial state in terms of this election – and Lugo’s actions have caused a bit of a stir. As a result Ray […]