Key Takeaways
- NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center is developing a new subscale aircraft to enhance flight research.
- The new aircraft replaces an aging model, offering improved capabilities and cost-effective testing options.
- Innovative projects like Robust Autonomous Aerial Recapture could revolutionize future science missions.
Advancing Flight Research with New Subscale Aircraft
NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center in California is in the process of constructing a new subscale aircraft aimed at boosting efficiency and flexibility in flight research. This initiative represents a shift toward more affordable and adaptable alternatives to traditional crewed missions.
Led by Justin Hall and Justin Link, with backgrounds in piloting and small uncrewed aircraft, the new aircraft will replace the outdated MicroCub model. Measuring approximately 14 feet in wingspan and 9.5 feet in length, the aircraft is designed to weigh around 60 pounds, providing an ideal platform for experimental pursuits.
The subscale laboratory, named after aerospace pioneer Dale Reed, focuses on using small, remotely piloted aircraft to explore new aerodynamic concepts, technologies, and flight control systems. This facility promotes rapid innovation by allowing for prototyping and risk reduction, which can be scaled up for future crewed flight testing. The work conducted at this lab plays a significant role in enhancing technology readiness to support NASA’s ongoing missions both on Earth and in space.
The new aircraft will feature modifications such as a more powerful engine, an advanced autopilot system, and improved structural integrity. These enhancements aim to facilitate more frequent and affordable flight experiments compared to traditional crewed aircraft, ultimately leading to extensive testing opportunities.
A particularly exciting application of this aircraft is its involvement in the Robust Autonomous Aerial Recapture project. This initiative incorporates advanced sensors and programming to facilitate mid-air capture operations between the new subscale aircraft and a drone. A magnetic connection mechanism will allow for seamless capture and release, enhancing operational efficacy.
These advancements could significantly benefit future science missions. For instance, a mothership deploying drones might use the aerial recapture capability to gather samples, recharge, and redeploy, thus optimizing mission costs and efficiency while conserving fuel. Funding for this innovative project comes from the NASA Armstrong Center Innovation Fund and the Space Technology Mission Directorate.
Through this new aircraft and its supporting projects, NASA is poised to enhance its capabilities in flight research, propelling technological advancements that will serve current and future space exploration efforts.
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