NASA Dome Sandusky, OH
Client:
Confidential
Features
- 122-foot-tall dome structure
- 100-foot diameter
- IIBEC Award Winner
- Public
waterproofing a giant
Imagine a building so massive it can recreate the emptiness of space. That’s the Space Power Facility at NASA’s Plum Brook Station. Constructed in 1969, this colossal 100-foot-tall dome is the world’s largest vacuum chamber and has been testing some of America’s most ambitious space projects, from the International Space Station radiator and solar arrays to Mars rovers landing systems and most of the nation’s major rockets.
Protecting this vital asset required a Herculean effort. This was no ordinary roofing job; it needed specialized access and safety protocols. And securing the workers to the dome was a challenge in itself. The team employed a combination of pipe frame scaffold stairs, swing stages, and industrial rope access to navigate the dome’s imposing structure.
We repurposed the building’s lightning rod as an anchor point and used ground-penetrating radar to find other secure spots. With our footing firmly planted (or, in this case, anchored), we got to work repairing the concrete and applying a high-performance waterproof coating. The work was meticulous, requiring specialized materials and expert application. The end result was not just a waterproof dome, but a protected asset ready to support future space exploration.
This project was a testament to human ingenuity, overcoming complex challenges to preserve a crucial piece of American aerospace history.
