Helios Prototype Commercialization Near by Jay Levine That’S Some of the Promise of the Helios Prototype
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Special Helios Prototype Edition News May 8, 2002 Volume 44 Issue 2 Dryden Flight Research Center, Edwards, California May 8, 2002 ED01 0230-3 NASA Photo by Carla Thomas The Helios Prototype Aircraft begins a northerly climb over Ni’ihau Island, Hawaii. Conquer the Night ■ Fresh off a record flight last summer, the project seeks to post another record in 2003 Helios Prototype commercialization near By Jay Levine That’s some of the promise of the Helios Prototype. The By Jay Levine X-Press Editor aircraft is intended to be a long-duration, high-altitude bird X-Press Editor As NASA looks at ways to develop technology for transfer that can loiter in the upper atmosphere above 50,000 feet The Helios Prototype set an altitude to the commercial sector, the Helios Prototype could prove to – well above normal air traffic and most importantly above record at 96,863 feet and made a run as be a model. NASA has sought to eliminate some of the risks to most of the weather, Del Frate said. a candidate for one of aviation’s greatest assist in the development of technology that could have nearly It’s clear a mature and validated Helios could have a prizes, the Collier Trophy. unlimited potential, said John Del Frate, solar powered aircraft number of benefits for “any mission requiring an eye in the So what does a project team do for an project manager. sky,” he said. encore? That’s what the Helios Prototype In addition to its uses for science, the Helios Prototype Helios could be an asset for crop management; keep tabs Team began to answer even before the also is seen as a potential way to watch enemies and assist in on environmental changes; monitor fisheries, coral reefs, and record flight – to again demonstrate new fire fighting, emergency services and disaster analysis. And forests; collect air samples; and conduct meteorology research abilities by initiating activities toward the aircraft could lead to a communications revolution (See and assist with mapping missions and disaster analysis. a duration flight that will exceed a day related story). The solar wing could also fly over a hurricane with sensor and night cycle above 50,000 feet during “To a certain degree, it’s like the Wright brothers. Like arrays to determine its direction and save money and re- Summer 2003. them, I don’t think we really understand how this technology sources in limiting evacuations, monitoring intensity and “Technically it’s a very challenging can be applied when it’s fully matured. I can easily imagine giving real-time information. Helios could be key to learning mission. We will probably set up well thousands of these aircraft circling the skies. I think a lot of to accurately predict the location of a hurricane landfall. before the summer. We fully expect to that will depend on the mission’s value versus the aircraft’s “You can imagine Helios could be heavily used at the lower see some problems that require us to go cost,” he said. latitudes, especially around the equator,” Del Frate said. back to the shop and test facilities and fix them and come back and fly. For that reason, it would be good to be close to The Helios Prototype spent about seven hours above 50,000 feet with different multiple shifts and therefore a much larger test stands and suppliers to maximize our hours above 50,000 feet on its record systems and procedures. team. This mission also has more hazards opportunities to meet our mission goals,” breaking high-altitude flight Aug. 13, “This is a whole new ballgame for associated with it. We will be looking said John Del Frate, solar-powered air- 2001. However, the mission in 2003 is us because we are trying to conquer the at issues we have not had to deal with craft project manager. expected to see the aircraft for at least 14 night. The longer mission will require See Night, page 9 Inside Conquer the Night ................... page 2 SkyTower says Helios will revolutionize Cover communications ........................ page 5 Helios Commercialization ....... page 2 Nick Galante took this stun- AeroVironment offers creativity, talent ERAST marks milestones ....... page 3 ning image during a functional and know how ............................ page checkout flight of the Helios Pro- 5 Proteus validates technology during totype as the team prepared for New Mexico mission ................ page 3 a record altitude flight of 96,863 Photographic tribute looks at Helios Prototype record flight ............pages feet. See pages 6-7 for a tribute 6-7 Development of human-and-solar- pow- to the record-breaking mission ered flight required thinking outside the box ............................... page 4 and the men and women who Research flights do not take off with- helped make it possible. out the weathermen ............ page 8 Ray Morgan recalls beginning of solar planes ........................................ page 4 NASA mission inspires students, EC01 245-2 teachers ................................... page 12 2 NASA Dryden X-Press May 8, 2002 FocusHistory May 8, 2002 Projects validate uninhabited aircraft can fly high, for long durations, and ERAST: can detect and avoid other aircraft By Jay Levine X-Press Editor From science missions to revol- utionizing telecommunications, the Dryden-sponsored Environmental Research Aircraft and Sensor Technology (ERAST) Program has The solar-powered had a hand in researching some of Gossamer Penguin the most innovative science aircraft flies on Rogers Dry to rule the skies without an onboard Lake Bed during pilot. this flight on July Since its inception in 1994, the 25, 1979. Ray Mor- program has seen the maturation of gan, a Dryden con- a family of solar-electric powered sultant and former aircraft, an assortment of uncon- Altus II vice president of ventional uninhabited aircraft and AeroVironment is a number of firsts in altitude and Proteus chasing the Pen- duration. Before the program guin by bicycle in wraps up in 2003, it is expected the center of the to see a first flight of the Predator image. B derivative Altair and a fuel-cell powered aircraft flight by the Helios Prototype Team. A proposed follow-on program would seek to prove systems and procedures for a series of recom- mendations that will assist the ECN 13413 Federal Aviation Administration NASA Photo by Bob Rhine in setting policies to ensure this new breed of aircraft flies safely, said ERAST Program Manager Compiled by the Public Affairs Office Center and Langley Research Center, Jeff Bauer. The recommend- Solar-powered aircraft might one day Hampton, Va. Some flights included use ations also will cover estab- Predator B, Altair Helios Prototype revolutionize the way people think about of a small electric motor for power. lishing criteria for uninhabited aviation, solar energy and industries that rely aircraft certification to fly in the on them. NASA’s Environmental Research Gossamer Penguin national airspace. Altair vehicle. Evolved from the Predator The success of the ERAST Program A second element is looking at missions Aircraft and Sensor Technology (ERAST) The scaled-down aircraft was Three elements define ERAST – solar- and Predator B, the development of the also extends to the Altus aircraft. The like the Las Cruces, New Mexico, mission Program, which is managed by Dryden, is designated the Gossamer Penguin. It had powered aircraft, consumable fuels vehicles aircraft is seen as a way to meet Earth Department of Energy has purchased the in March, where the Proteus Aircraft helping to lead that revolution. a 71-foot wingspan compared with the and subsystems development, Bauer said. Science requirements. A first flight for the aircraft and the Navy is using Altus air- served as a surrogate uninhabited aerial Dryden’s role started in support of the 96-foot span of the Gossamer Albatross. The solar-electric powered aircraft Altair is expected this summer. craft, Bauer said. vehicle (UAV) and used onboard systems human-and solar-powered aircraft being Weighing only 68 pounds without a effort has delivered a record altitude “It marks a significant improvement In addition, the Pathfinder-Plus and to identify potential collisions with other pioneered in the late 1970s by industry pilot, it had a low power requirement flight of 96,863 feet Aug, 13, 2001, for over the Predator B and the Predator. aircraft and allowed the remote operator partner AeroVironment Inc. of Monrovia, and thus was an excellent test bed for the Helios Prototype, in a flight that It will have redundancy (in avionics) the Altus have completed science experi- ments in the national airspace. to avoid the potential collision (see Calif. AeroVironment, founded in 1971 solar power. originated from the U.S. Navy’s Pacific where past systems did not,” Bauer accompanying story). by the ultra-light airplane innovator Paul AstroFlight Inc. of Venice, Calif., Missile Range Facility (PMRF) on the explained. “Predator B is developed ERAST’s final element is subsystems. One of the challenges that Bauer sees for MacCready, has achieved several altitude provided the power plant for the Hawaiian island of Kauai. and has increased its capability. It has “We are developing the types of sub- UAVs is the complications of access to the records with its Solar Challenger, Pathfinder, Gossamer Penguin, an Astro-40 electric A series of research flights in 2003 are proven its worth. Customers have stepped systems we believe will be required to national airspace and the lack of policies Pathfinder-Plus and the Helios Prototype. motor. Robert Boucher, designer of the expected to validate a fuel-cell system forward for that vehicle.” allow these aircraft to operate in the and procedures to regulate this growing Dryden played a key role in the maturing of Sunrise II, served as a key consultant for designed to permit the Helios Prototype The Altair will have an extended wing national airspace system.