Most of us probably watched at least part of the recent Artemis 2 mission from launch to 60’s style splashdown. Few may have known that a Tullahoma company played a part in making that mission possible.

That small Tullahoma company is doing big things in space, aviation, and telecommunications. They worked on the solid rocket motors used on the space craft. The company is Gloyer-Taylor Laboratories LLC (GTL). And rocket science is nothing new to them.

Founder Paul Gloyer, who did his graduate work at UTSI under Gary Flandro, was Principal Engineer with PacAstro when he bought the company in 2004. He located to Waveland, Mississippi. Then Katrina hit in August or 2005, wiping Gloyer out completely. Familiar with Tullahoma and UTSI, and his wife being from Hillsboro, he relocated here. With partners Zachary Taylor and Tim Lewis, they formed G-T Laboratories LLC (GTL). Gary Flandro came aboard as Chief Engineer and part owner.

Gloyer relates that they built the business the hard way. With the help of Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) grants, they landed contracts with NASA and various companies, building their reputation as problem solvers and innovators. They have 25 years’ experience in developing technical solutions to some of the aerospace industry’s most challenging

problems. Notably, GTL solved the combustion instability issue with systems to predict and correct the problem that had plagued the space industry for years.

GTL has been an industry leading company in developing the use of liquid hydrogen for fuel. Liquid hydrogen is clean, lightweight, inexpensive, and delivers better performance. GTL has developed tanks and delivery systems for space craft, aircraft, and telecommunications crafts.

Nautilus is a spacecraft now in development. It could be launched from New York, and land in Tokyo about 2 hours later, and cost less than a first class airline ticket for the same journey. It could go to the moon in two stages, deliver a payload, and come back to earth to be used again. Unlike conventional spacecraft, the Nautilus looks more like a cross between R2D2 and an octopus.

But the scie nce points to it being a more economical and practical design than conventional rockets.

GTL’s tanks and liquid hydrogen fuel systems could also be used on conventional airliners. The company has retro-fitted a 737 with their system, and it has reduced the weight of the plane by 13%. GTL is currently working with Unither Therapeutics, an organ transplant carrier, to fit their R44 helicopters with liquid hydrogen cryotanks. Those are expected to be in use later this year.

GTL has developed a long endurance drone with the capability of over 24 hours hovered flight. They are planning to break the world’s record with that drone this summer. If successful, the Depart ment of War has already expressed interest in them.

Then there is Zeus, a two week stratospheric endurance craft. It looks very similar to a glider. It would be used to deliver seamless mobile phone 5G connectivity with high speed, low latency coverage. They would work at a “sweet spot” of 60,000 feet, well above commercial air travel of 30,000 feet, and well below satellite altitudes. One craft could replace 400 cell towers. Again, at a very economical cost. The craft would be very effective in a disaster response situation. It could be used for telehealth as well. Another advantage for the craft is that it could take off and return to an airport the size of Tullahoma’s. GTL’s plan is to have Tennessee covered by 2030, then move on to cover the southeast.

GTL is well situated for not only the space industry, but for the aviation and telecommunications sectors as well. The commercial applications for their developments and prod ucts are prac tically limitless.

The success of their projects could translate into well-paying jobs for the Tullahoma area, as building, infrastructure, and manufacturing would be a natural next step. There are certainly some fascinating things going on right here. Tullahoma is still on the cutting edge of the future with companies like GTL.