|
Formats: |
|
|
|
|
|
Photo |
The long, narrow
wings of NASA's Altair are designed to allow the unmanned aerial vehicle
(UAV) to maintain long-duration flight at high altitudes. Developed for NASA
by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems as a civil variant of the firm’s
military QM-9 Predator B UAV, Altair will serve as a UAV technology
demonstrator and an aerial platform for NASA earth science missions. |
|
|
|
|
Project |
General Atomics
Aeronautical Systems, Inc., is developing the Altair, a modified version of
its QM-9 Predator B unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) under NASA's Environmental Research
Aircraft and Sensor Technology (ERAST) project. NASA plans to use the Altair
as a technology demonstrator to validate a variety of command and control
technologies for UAVs, as well as an aerial platform for a variety of Earth
science missions. The Altair is
designed to carry an 700-lb. payload of scientific instruments and imaging
equipment for as long as 32 hours at up to 52,000 feet altitude. Eleven-foot
extensions on each wing give the Altair an overall wingspan of 86 feet with
an aspect ratio of 23. It is powered by a 700-hp. rear-mounted TPE-331-10
turboprop engine, driving a three-blade propeller. Following successful
completion of basic airworthiness flight tests in 2003, Altair is scheduled
to be acquired by NASA for evaluation of over-the-horizon control,
collision-avoidance and other technologies required to enable UAVs to operate
safely and routinely with other aircraft in the national airspace. |
|
|
|
