Materials Research Center

The Materials Research Center (MRC) was constructed under the first facilities grant awarded by NASA on September 25, 1962.

According to James E. Webb, NASA administrator, the purpose of the grant program was “to house interdisciplinary activities in space related sciences and technology to universities which are making substantial contributions to the national space program.”

Twenty-five laboratories, designed in part by faculty, provided facilities for powder metallurgy, polymer, ceramics, ultrasonics, cryogenics, corrosion and other materials research.