Washington, Sep 21, 2000 - Cleveland-area Members of Congress Dennis J. Kucinich (D-Cleveland), Stephanie Tubbs Jones (D-Cleveland) and Steven C. LaTourette (R-Madison) today announced that the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has selected seven Cleveland-area researchers to receive grants over four years to conduct microgravity combustion research on Earth and in space. According to NASA, the "research will seek knowledge leading to innovative applications in space-based life support systems, crew safety and Earth-based energy conversion."

The seven Cleveland-area NASA researchers selected are:

Dr. Fletcher J. Miller, Glenn Research Center, Cleveland, Ohio
"Gravitational Influences on Flame Propagation Through Non-Uniform Premixed Gas Systems"

Dr. Vedha Nayagam, National Center for Microgravity Research, Cleveland, Ohio
"Stretched Diffusion Flames in von Karman Swirling Flows"

Dr. Sandra Olson, Glenn Research Center, Cleveland, Ohio
"Development of an Earth-Based Apparatus to Assess Material Flammability in Low-Convection Environments for Microgravity and Extraterrestrial Fire-Safety Applications"

Dr. Howard Ross, Glenn Research Center, Cleveland, Ohio
"Secondary Fires: Initiation and Extinguishment"

Dr. Fumiaki Takahashi, National Center for Microgravity Research, Cleveland, Ohio
"Physical and Chemical Aspects of Fire Suppression in Extraterrestrial Environments"

Dr. Randy Vander Wal, National Center for Microgravity Research, Cleveland, Ohio
“Carbon Nanostructure: Its Evolution During and its Impact on Soot Growth and Oxidation”

Dr. Zeng-guang Yuan, National Center for Microgravity Research, Cleveland, Ohio
“Effects of Electric Fields on Soot Processes in Non-Buoyant Hydrocarbon-Fueled Flames”

NASA received 119 proposals, and 28 were selected nationally to receive grants totaling approximately $10 million over four years. The grant recipients were selected after intense peer-review by scientific and technical experts from academia, government, and industry.