Cleveland, OH — August 27, 2025 — The Ohio Aerospace Institute (OAI), wholly affiliated with Parallax Advanced Research, continues to play a critical role in advancing NASA Glenn Research Center’s (NASA GRC) mission success through its participation on the Glenn Engineering and Research Support (GEARS) contract, led by prime contractor HX5, LLC.
As a subcontractor, OAI–Parallax provides senior scientists and engineers who deliver specialized research and technical expertise across NASA GRC’s core competencies in aeronautics and space science. These contributions ensure NASA has access to the talent and innovation required to drive new discoveries, enable exploration of the universe, and improve life on Earth.
Technical Impact
OAI–Parallax researchers currently support five active tasks addressing the following four technical topics under GEARS:
Aircraft and Engine Icing – Leading wind tunnel testing and developing ice crystal icing models to enhance aviation safety, with applications for next-generation air vehicles, UAVs, and advanced air mobility systems. Establishing scaling relationships for rotating/propeller systems, contributing to design of future aircraft concepts such as wing-truss systems.
Advanced Materials and Energy Systems – Addressing material shortfalls for nuclear thermal propulsion, developing safer battery technologies for UAVs, and conducting early research in carbon capture systems.
Extreme Environment Packaging – Designing and testing packaging technologies for silicon carbide (SiC)-based sensors and communication systems that can withstand extreme heat and radiation.
Electric Propulsion for Space Applications – Leading testing of thruster components for high-profile missions, including NASA’s Gateway lunar orbital station.
“The OAI–Parallax scientists are renowned experts in their respective fields and represent core competencies for NASA GRC” states Dr. Andrew Gyekenyesi, director of research and chief scientist at OAI and Parallax, who also manages the team. “As such, they are very well published, serve in leadership positions within professional societies, participate in a wide variety of international technical committees, while also collaborating with other government agencies and industry, as well as being recognized through numerous awards and honors.”
Longstanding Partnership with NASA
For more than 35 years, OAI has provided NASA GRC with senior-level researchers to fill critical technology gaps, strengthening NASA’s ability to achieve its mission. This collaboration not only enhances NASA GRC’s R&D capacity but also connects NASA with a broad network of universities and industry partners through OAI and Parallax.
Contract Outlook
The GEARS contract includes approximately 350 personnel across all partners, with OAI–Parallax providing five, on-site, researchers under the current funding. Through separate contract mechanisms, OAI-Parallax also works closely with GRC helping with technical partnerships with industry, community engagement, technology transfer, and workforce development via OAI-Parallax led STEM programs.
Public Release Authorization: NASA and HX5 have authorized OAI–Parallax to publicly announce this work, recognizing the team’s significant contributions to advancing U.S. aerospace innovation.
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About Parallax Advanced Research & the Ohio Aerospace Institute
Parallax Advanced Research is an advanced research institute that tackles global challenges through strategic partnerships with government, industry, and academia. It accelerates innovation, addresses critical global issues, and develops groundbreaking ideas with its partners. In 2023, Parallax and the Ohio Aerospace Institute, an aerospace research institute located in Cleveland, OH, formed a collaborative affiliation to drive innovation and technological advancements across Ohio and the nation. The Ohio Aerospace Institute plays a pivotal role in advancing aerospace through collaboration, education, and workforce development.