NASA Plum Brook Research & Technology Concept Project – A Vision for the Future
(Information courtesy of Pat Shenigo, Erie County Commissioner)
The Plum Brook Research and Technology Project is a vision for change in Ohio and the entire nation. This three-dimensional project will include a 9,000 foot runway and associated infrastructure improvements, a 1,200 acre job ready site and 500 acres for energy innovation partnerships.
The project location is at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (NASA) Plum Brook Station in Erie County, Ohio. This existing 6,400 acre site contains many assets, one of the most distinguished being its Space Power Facility (SPF), which is the world’s largest vacuum chamber testing facility-four times larger than the next largest chamber.
The Runway will act as an intermodal loading dock and "light the fuse" for job creation in both the manufacturing and space industries. The funding of the runway project will not only enhance the $2.2 billion dollars (est. replacement value) already invested at Plum Brook, but will also solidify the future of 6,400 employees at NASA Glenn Research Center in Cleveland.
When the current construction of over $120 million is completed, Plum Brook will also have the world’s largest vibration and acoustic testing facilities. Upon completion in 2011, Plum Brook will possess the only place in the world where upper stage rockets, fairings, satellites and related equipment can be tested whole and in one place.
Plum Brook’s main limitation now rests in transporting the items to be tested safely to Plum Brook via air, which is why the runway is so critical to Plum Brook’s stability and future growth potential.
Enormous numbers of jobs could be created, both indirect and direct, representing significant long-term sustainability opportunities for all neighboring communities.
Update
If you are interested in writing or emailing a letter of support, or how you can help support this project, contact Jeff Huber (contact information on the update) or Ellen Heinz at 419-668-9858 or eheinz@norwalknedc.com.
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