A view high above the Integration and Test complex (center) places it in the broader context of the NASA Goddard campus. Building 29, the prominent rectangular structure, is home to the largest high-bay clean room in the world. The circular building left of center houses the High Capacity Centrifuge, which is used to simulate launch and landing loads on spacecraft hardware. Imaged Oct. 5, 2023, looking south-southwest.

ETD Capabilities and Facilities

Engineering expertise across all aspects of NASA missions, from design, development to operating and bringing data back to Earth

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Engineering Expertise Driving Mission Success

NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center Engineering Excellence supports many NASA and partners’ missions; and supports industry, academia, and commercial partners. Our facilities and engineering expertise allow us to support complex research missions from building large observatories, satellites, sounding rockets, scientific balloons, and instruments, to operating and controlling spacecraft and acquiring and distributing data to the worldwide science community.

Capability Highlights

In addition to serving the requirements of NASA programs, ETD capabilities have applications across a broad spectrum of activities, both aerospace and non-aerospace related and are available to support a variety of external customers.

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Sub-Kelvin Detector Fabrication and Characterization Capability

Using temperatures below 1 K in detector systems opens access of NASA mission concepts to exquisite performance metrics and instrument designs. A vanishingly narrow superconducting wire can enable photon counting of emanations from faint...

Environmental Test Engineering & Integration

The Environmental Test Engineering and Integration Branch provides comprehensive Integration and Test (I&T) services that enable mission success. We provide projects with cleanrooms and test facilities for building flight hardware and ensuring that it will withstand...

Flight Dynamics Facility (FDF)

Located at Goddard Space Flight Center as part of the Navigation and Mission Design Branch, the Flight Dynamics Facility (FDF) is a provider of comprehensive flight dynamics services to space communications networks, science and exploration programs, and expendable launch vehicle providers. The FDF’s professional staff...

Materials Engineering

Materials Engineering provides onsite access to over 20 staffed laboratories supporting materials testing and analysis and specific subject matter expertise in materials and processes (M&P) topics including, but not limited to, metallurgy, composites, failure analysis, tribology, non-destructive evaluation...

core Flight System (cFS)

The Core Flight Software (cFS) Bundle is a comprehensive, platform-independent software framework designed to support embedded real-time systems. Its architecture is optimized for reuse, rapid development, and portability across diverse mission environments. Built around a dynamic runtime...

Contamination and Coatings Engineering

Contamination and Coatings Engineering is interwoven into the fabric of support for every mission to provide the technology and support needed to meet the cleanliness, thermal coatings, and planetary protection requirements of spacecraft and instruments...

Facility and Lab Highlights

To build what has never been built before and discover the unknown, our engineering team supports a diverse range of activities working together across disciplines to ensure missions are successful technically, and we deliver on our commitments. Our facilities include some unique technical spaces that allow new science and technology development.

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Spacecraft Magnetic Test Facility

The Spacecraft Magnetic Test Facility is one of three unique facilities in the world and is the only operational facility in the Western Hemisphere. This facility is located at Area 300 which is located off GSFC main campus, where it provides magnetically quiet and stable facilities...

Space Laser Assembly Cleanroom (SLAC)

The Space Laser Assembly Cleanroom (SLAC) offers a world class cleanroom facility for developing, building, and environmentally testing lasers and electro-optics for space flight and other science applications. The just over 1500 sq ft clean room features...

Radiation Effects Facility

The Radiation Effects Facility (REF) maintains and operates radiation sources and particle accelerators to support flight project radiation assurance, diverse scientific users, and technology development and maturation programs within Goddard, across NASA, and in partnership with external stakeholders…

Detector Development Lab (DDL)

The DDL is a microelectronics fabrication facility dedicated to the development of advanced detectors, micro-electrical-mechanical-systems (MEMS), nano-scale devices, circuits, and components for NASA’s missions. The laboratory is built around a 4,800 square foot, ISO 5…

Detector Characterization Lab (DCL)

The DCL is a flight qualified facility for complete optical and electrical characterization from individual detectors to large format focal plane arrays operating from the UV and Visible to the far-IR spectrum and from sub-Kelvin to ambient…

Quantum Engineering and Sensing Technology Laboratory (QuEST)

Goddard's QuEST Lab provides unique testbeds and world-class experimental facilities to perform research and development and technology maturation of atomic sensors and laser subsystems for space science. Goddard has established a laboratory facility to enable…

ETD FEATURED CAPABILITY

Unlocking the Power of Micro-Electro Mechanical Systems (MEMS) Capabilities

Microelectromechanical systems (MEMS), also referred to as Microsystems in Europe, are miniature transducers in the micron or sub-micron scale. These systems are constructed on substrates such as silicon or glass using microfabrication techniques. MEMS technology is integral to numerous applications in everyday life, including wearable sensors in smartwatches, implantable drug delivery systems, automotive sensors for pressure and motion detection, and various space technologies, such as sensors, actuators, detectors, and...

Advanced Manufacturing Solutions: Enhancing Flight and Research Capabilities

ETD provides a comprehensive set of machining, composites, precision  assembly, electroplating, additive manufacturing, logistics, and  inspection services for aerospace applications. From machining and composites to electroplating and additive manufacturing, ETD equips its customers with the tools necessary to push the boundaries of flight and exploration. At the forefront of this effort is the Advanced Composite Materials Lab (ACML), a hub of collaboration where engineers and scientists come together to drive...

ETD Partnerships

The ETD works with Academia, Industry and Engineering Partners in establishing reciprocal access to facilities and personnel expertise to cultivate a dynamic environment for collaborative Space Engineering and technology development.

NASA Office of Small Business Programs (OSBP)

Goddard is committed to excellence in scientific investigation, in the development and operation of space systems, and in the advancement of essential technologies. Goddard is also the contracting office for NASA Headquarters (HQ) in Washington, DC.

Strategic Partnerships Office

The Strategic Partnerships Office (SPO) assists in bringing Goddard’s cutting-edge technology to the private sector. Their team of technology managers collaborates with a diverse group of professionals to forge relationships and agreements.

Contact ETD Capability & Facility Teams

For inquiries or more information about available ETD capabilities and facilities, please use the form below to contact the ETD for assistance with your testing and research needs.