RL-10 Engine

The cut-away RL-10 rocket engine from Glenn Research Center also made its way to GLSC.

Unfortunately, the manner in which it is exhibited significantly limits the visitor's ability to inspect the engine: It's displayed behind a false wall, the bottom of which flares out, preventing the visitor from coming very close to it. Given the large number of small children attracted to the museum, this may be a good thing (the flared portion of the wall presumably designed to optimally repel attempts at climbing :-)

However, the engine has cut-away areas around most of the engine, and the exhibit only allows examination of the cut-away turbopump. It's not possible to see the cut-outs at the thrust chamber, combustion chamber, or injector -- heck, it's nearly impossible to even see the bottom third of the engine! I might direct visitors interested in these areas to the cut-away RL-10 engine at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center (although that does involve a 9 1/2 hour drive ...).