The second floor of the SEL houses laboratories and equipment to support Earth environment (normal gravity) experimentation, diagnostics development, and analysis. These ground research laboratories contain specialized equipment, such as fume and snorkel hoods, vibration isolation platforms, light-tight shades, gas storage and distribution systems, and laser interlock systems. The data gathered in these laboratories provide a basis for deciding whether to further investigate a specific process or phenomemon in the microgravity environment.

The hardware needed to perform experiments in the space environment is developed in laboratories primarily located on the first floor of the SEL. The hardware is packaged for use in the zero-gravity facility, the International Space Station, on a sounding rocket, or on the Space Transportation System (space shuttle). Contamination by dust, oils, pollution, humidity, and static electricity can degrade the performance of the experiment package. Therefore, static-dissipative flooring, special high-efficiency air filters, and high-speed, controllable air circulation are used throughout the flight development laboratories.

Space Experiments Laboratory

Enables NASA Glenn to fulfill its rapidly expanding mission in microgravity research and technology development by providing

• Laboratories for performing microgravity science research and diagnostic development
  
• Space for developing ground-based microgravity experiments
  
• Facilities for engineering development of future flight experiments
  
• Controlled environments for assembling, testing, and refurbishing space experiments
  
• Facilities for developing advanced technology
  
• A user operations center for monitoring and controlling space-based experiments
  

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