Just popped in, been gone a while, so long that when I visited the forum, it was closed down! Found this, just popped in to say hello to all, and mention that I was at the recent open house at NASA's plumbrook station. First open house in 10 years, and 3rd time ever. I had a great time, was able to see both vacuum chambers, including being able to walk inside the biggest one in the world 
One word... WOW! unbelievably huge. 100 feet (31.48 meters) by 121 feet (36.88 meters) tall. My entire house including basement and garage could easily fit in there a couple of times. When the chamber is open there's 3 tons of air inside it. Once evacuated, there's about 1/2 oz left. I couldn't begin to imagine the immense pressures that building must deal with when under that level of vacuum. I noticed the walls were pretty thick (probably around 20 feet thick).
http://facilities.grc.nasa.gov/spf/quick.html
that url has some quick facts about the SPF, and this link has a good images of the interior.
http://www.grc.nasa.gov/WWW/Facilities/ext/spf/gallery.html
Also saw the B2 (smaller vacuum chamber), and the B2 control room as well. B2 is used for test firing engines that need to fire in outer space. It's a much smaller chamber, but it's pretty neat in it's own right.
Alot of upgrading going on there to get ready for orion testing, so I think that's why they slipped in an open house. I'm kind of lucky because I'm about 1/2 way between NASA Glenn at Lewis field, (about 20 minute drive) and NASA Glenn at Plumbrook Station (about 30 minute drive in the opposite direction). I've actually been to NASA Glenn at Lewis field a couple of times before, but never had been to Plumbrook. Since Plumbrook is part of Glenn, I always assumed it was a smaller facility, but it's actually much larger. Lewis field is about 350 acres big, but Plumbrook is much larger, 5000 with a 1400 acre 'buffer' around the facility, due to the nature of the testing that goes on there.
All this neat stuff was free too
I took a few photos, but they didnt come out so great, eventually, I'll get them posted on my flickr photostream, and when I do I'll post a url here for anyone who wants to check them out, but for now, google plumbrook station, space power facility, etc, and you'll see alot better photos.
I made a post about how I got swallowed up by Second Life, which is still the case, I'm running a clock business there, and still exploring the ever expanding universe. Just a short while ago I was at a 'star trek museum', and oddly enough, there was a display with some external links, including some of orbiter Also, there's a guy in Second Life who builds models of rockets, and has some amazing renderings of the shuttle, mir, and loads and loads of others. He's also very involved in the spaceflight museum there as well, and owns a few sims there where alot of his work is on display.
If anyone here ever goes into SL, feel free to look me up, my name in world is Johan Laurasia
I also maintain a blog at http://www.secondscripter.com/
One word... WOW! unbelievably huge. 100 feet (31.48 meters) by 121 feet (36.88 meters) tall. My entire house including basement and garage could easily fit in there a couple of times. When the chamber is open there's 3 tons of air inside it. Once evacuated, there's about 1/2 oz left. I couldn't begin to imagine the immense pressures that building must deal with when under that level of vacuum. I noticed the walls were pretty thick (probably around 20 feet thick).http://facilities.grc.nasa.gov/spf/quick.html
that url has some quick facts about the SPF, and this link has a good images of the interior.
http://www.grc.nasa.gov/WWW/Facilities/ext/spf/gallery.html
Also saw the B2 (smaller vacuum chamber), and the B2 control room as well. B2 is used for test firing engines that need to fire in outer space. It's a much smaller chamber, but it's pretty neat in it's own right.
Alot of upgrading going on there to get ready for orion testing, so I think that's why they slipped in an open house. I'm kind of lucky because I'm about 1/2 way between NASA Glenn at Lewis field, (about 20 minute drive) and NASA Glenn at Plumbrook Station (about 30 minute drive in the opposite direction). I've actually been to NASA Glenn at Lewis field a couple of times before, but never had been to Plumbrook. Since Plumbrook is part of Glenn, I always assumed it was a smaller facility, but it's actually much larger. Lewis field is about 350 acres big, but Plumbrook is much larger, 5000 with a 1400 acre 'buffer' around the facility, due to the nature of the testing that goes on there.
All this neat stuff was free too
I took a few photos, but they didnt come out so great, eventually, I'll get them posted on my flickr photostream, and when I do I'll post a url here for anyone who wants to check them out, but for now, google plumbrook station, space power facility, etc, and you'll see alot better photos.
I made a post about how I got swallowed up by Second Life, which is still the case, I'm running a clock business there, and still exploring the ever expanding universe. Just a short while ago I was at a 'star trek museum', and oddly enough, there was a display with some external links, including some of orbiter
Also, there's a guy in Second Life who builds models of rockets, and has some amazing renderings of the shuttle, mir, and loads and loads of others. He's also very involved in the spaceflight museum there as well, and owns a few sims there where alot of his work is on display. If anyone here ever goes into SL, feel free to look me up, my name in world is Johan Laurasia
I also maintain a blog at http://www.secondscripter.com/
