NASA's Environmental Research Aircraft and Sensor Technology (ERAST) programme is refocusing on "selling" the capabilities of a group of innovative, remotely piloted aircraft entering, or concluding, critical new tests.
The ERAST effort is aimed at developing technologies for a new series of remotely operated, autonomous aircraft that will be able to fly at extremely high altitudes for long durations on atmospheric science and telecommunications relay missions.
NASA's ERAST project manager, John Sharkey, says: "By the end of this fiscal year, the Altus, Perseus and Proteus vehicles will have clearly demonstrated the capability to support operational UAV science missions. The Centurion/Helios prototype, using battery power, will have established the flight controls and handling qualities in support of subsequent solar-powered missions."
The Altus II achieved a critical NASA milestone in late July, flying at 55,000ft (16,775m) for 4h from El Mirage dry lakebed close to Edwards AFB and NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center, California.
The dual-turbocharged Altus II has completed high altitude tests in Hawaii in support of atmospheric radiation measurement studies by Sandia National Laboratories for the US Department of Energy.
The 75.3m (247ft) span Helios prototype arrived at Dryden at the end of July for flight tests by mid-September. AeroVironment, its Simi Valley, California-based maker, has fitted a differential global positioning system (GPS), with other modifications before a two-phase test series of five flights.
The first phase test flights will focus on meeting requirements to reach and sustain flight at 100,000ft. The second phase will test elements required for a four-day mission above 50,000ft.
Perseus B, built by Aurora Flight Sciences of Virginia, will fly up to six tests to attempt the ERAST level one milestone of 8h at 60,000ft with an 80kg (176lb) payload, says NASA. The modified, triple-turbocharged aircraft has external underwing fuel tanks to increase endurance.
Source: Flight International
