CLEVELAND, Ohio -- A cargo craft is supposed to blast off on Thursday, June 1, and head toward the International Space Station with two joint projects from NASA Glenn Research Center in Brook Park and ZIN Technologies in Middleburg Heights.
Glenn will celebrate by hosting a public party with a launch telecast from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at its visitor center inside the Great Lakes Science Center.
The crewless SpaceX Dragon cargo craft is scheduled for takeoff at 5:55 p.m. It will carry equipment built by ZIN for Glenn's Advanced Combustion Microgravity Experiment--or, really, five related experiments. The experiments, to be controlled remotely by Glenn, are meant to improve fire safety, especially in space, and to make earthbound combustion cleaner and more efficient.
Dragon will also carry a new laser, scanner and high-definition digital camera designed by Glenn and built by ZIN to provide three-dimensional views in the station's light microscopy module. Scientists are using data from the module to develop soap, cosmetics, cancer-fighting implants and more.
Researchers from Glenn's main campus in Brook Park will be at the launch party to talk about their role in the flight's projects. The party and the museum will be open for free at 601 Erieside Ave, Cleveland.
If the launch is delayed, Glenn will post an update on its Facebook page, www.facebook.com/NASAGlenn.