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Labs and Testbeds

NASA’s laboratories and testbeds drive advanced research and development of electrified aircraft propulsion (EAP) technologies.

A large room with a testing rig surrounded by various wires, cables, and hardware for electrified aircraft propulsion system testing.

Versatile ground testing and technology validation.

NASA’s Glenn Research Center is home to world-class facilities designed for testing EAP systems and technologies. Explore the state-of-the-art machinery, equipment, and test cells enabling groundbreaking research in electrified aviation.

Did you know?

NASA Glenn has facilities located in Cleveland and Sandusky, Ohio, that support system- and component-level testing of electrified aircraft propulsion technologies.   

NASA Glenn has facilities located in Cleveland and Sandusky, Ohio, that support system- and component-level testing of electrified aircraft propulsion technologies.   

Researchers from industry, government, and academia use NASA’s EAP labs and testbeds to advance aeronautics research in electrified propulsion.    

Researchers from industry, government, and academia use NASA’s EAP labs and testbeds to advance aeronautics research in electrified propulsion.    

EAP test sites help support NASA’s research in hybrid electric flight, vertical lift vehicles, materials development, and more.    

EAP test sites help support NASA’s research in hybrid electric flight, vertical lift vehicles, materials development, and more.    

NASA’s EAP testing capabilities provide support for every level of technology development, ranging from conceptual design studies to current technology demonstrations. 

NASA's EAP testing capabilities provide support for every level of technology development, ranging from conceptual design studies to current technology demonstrations. 

A white building surrounded by external equipment in front of a blue sky with clouds.

NASA Electric Aircraft Testbed

Megawatt-scale electrified aircraft powertrain testing under simulated flight altitude conditions to enable next-generation hybrid and turboelectric commercial aircraft. 

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A room full of various test equipment, including gauges, cables, and machinery, with a rectangular motor drive stand in the center.

Advanced Reconfigurable Electrified Aircraft Lab

A high-power, direct current testbed designed to investigate electric powertrain architectures and support development of new power standards and verification guidelines for vertical lift vehicles and electrified air transportation. 

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A rectangular rig surrounded by various wires, cables, and machinery.

High-Power Advanced Cable Technology

Thermal performance testing of wiring and cable technology for safe operation in electrified aircraft systems. 

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An angled view of a large, long testbed setup featuring metal hardware, wires, cables, and testing machinery.

Scaled Power Electrified Drivetrain

A low-power, direct current, single-string testbed that helps familiarize engineers with electrified aircraft powertrains, verify operations, and characterize motor and inverter components.

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A man wearing a blue hard hat stands next to a large cylinder-shaped rig while operating it.

Dynamic Spin Rig

Vibration and structural mode properties testing of rotating aircraft engine systems and components. 

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Two men wearing hard hats help hoist a piece of hardware above a circular cryogenic testing rig.

Integrated Cryogenically-Cooled Experiment Box

Cryogenic testing that enables quick, low-cost methods for conducting low-temperature tests on aircraft components. 

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the future of flight

Electrified Aircraft Propulsion

NASA's research in electrified aircraft propulsion combines expertise from industry, government, and academia to explore new systems, components, and conceptual design configurations that could help improve efficiency and reduce fuel burn in future aircraft.  

Explore the Technology
A four-engine turboprop aircraft in a red and white livery, with logos and names of each company participating in the project, takes off on a runway in Moses Lake, Washington. Other airplanes can be seen in the distance on the runway.
NASA’s Electrified Powertrain Flight Demonstration (EPFD) project collaborates with industry to demonstrate and certify hybrid electric propulsion technologies for future commercial aircraft. As part of this effort, electric engine manufacturer magniX will retrofit this Dash 7 aircraft with a new electrified aircraft propulsion system for ground and flight test demonstrations.
NASA, magniX

Resources

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Publications

Explore and download a collection of publications to learn more about NASA's labs and testbeds advancing electrified aircraft technology development. 

Media

10 Images
A side view of a white building with a tall metal pole sticking out of the top, large metal cylinder equipment next to it, and a blue sky with clouds in the background.
Four researchers gather around a table as they collect data during thermal tests of a cruise motor controller designed for future electrified aircraft propulsion systems.
A man wearing a navy-blue shirt, a black baseball cap, and transparent safety glasses leans over a table while holding a strip of material that was cut from a water jet machine.
A man in a flannel shirt and jeans accesses a control panel in a room full of wires, cables, and other equipment. He sets up an electric engine for altitude tests that will eventually become part of a hybrid electric aircraft propulsion system.
Two men adjust a device on a dynamometer surrounded by testing machinery and cables.
A man stands next to a rectangular rig and monitors testing inside a room full of wires and control panels. Another man sits behind at a desk monitoring testing on a computer.
A cylinder-shaped vessel with the top open covered and various hardware and pipes along the sides sits in front of blue platform with yellow railings and steps.
Three men work inside a building surrounded by machinery, monitors, and various equipment.
A woman accesses the inside of a testing machine connected to wires inside the facility.
Three men face away from the camera viewing data on monitors inside a testing facility.
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