NASA Vehicle Systems Program Overview

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NASA Vehicle Systems Program Overview

• UAV Opportunities Conference
• Technology Review

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Aeronautics ResearchMission
To provide advanced aeronautical technologies to
meet the challenges of next generation systems in
aviation, for civilian and scientific purposes,
in our atmosphere and in those of other worlds.
Our success is measured by the extent to which
our results are used by others to improve the
quality of life and enable exploration and
scientific knowledge
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Aeronautics Research Priorities and Programs
Programmatic Priorities
Increase planetary aircraft research
Assess possibilities for supersonics
Enhance uninhabited aerial vehicles (UAV) research
Emphasize public good research
Ensure NASA contribution to Joint Program
Development Office (JPDO)
Determine if there is a requirement to continue
hypersonics research
Programs
Airspace Systems
Aviation Safety Security
Vehicle Systems
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Vehicle Systems Program

• GOAL
• Provide breakthrough technology for
  significantly advanced future air vehicles.
• APPROACH
• Develop technologies and demonstrate them in
  flight to provide evidence of barrier
  breakthroughs.
• BENEFITS
• Opens more communities to air transportation
• Enables new air transportation models by doubling
  vehicle speed capability
• Eliminates aviation pollution
• Enables new science platforms

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Demonstration Projects
SUBSONIC NOISE REDUCTION Start by demonstrating
a 50 noise reduction compared to 1997 state of
the art.
SONIC BOOM REDUCTION Start by demonstrating
technology that could enable an acceptable sonic
boom level.
HIGH ALTITUDE LONG ENDURANCE Start by
demonstrating a 14-day duration high-altitude,
aircraft.
ZERO EMISSIONS AIRCRAFT Start by demonstrating
an aircraft powered by hydrogen fuels cells.
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Vehicle Systems Program Schedule
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HALE - Barrier Breakthroughs

• Barrier On-station extreme duration for HALE
  vehicles
• 1st barrier up to 14 days
• 2nd barrier more than 30 days
• Description Demonstrated endurance of HALE
  systems to date limited to less that 3 days (SOA
  Boeing Condor, 1989).
• HALE systems require significant support
  personnel and ground station infrastructure to
  operate, while not yet achieving levels of safety
  and reliability equivalent to piloted systems.
• Objectives
• Project will develop specialized technologies
  that enable extreme duration flight
• ultra-lightweight structural concepts,
• highly-automated uncrewed flight systems capable
  of achieving required levels of safety and
  reliability,
• efficient fuel cell/solar based regenerative
  propulsion systems.
• Project will integrate technologies into a
  commercially viable flight system and verify the
  achievement of desired capability goals through
  flight demonstrations.
• HALE Demonstration Project will enable new
  capabilities for the NASA science and exploration
  missions.

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HALE Capabilities
Platform Capability Altitude Endurance Payload Ran
ge Navigation
Mission Capability Communications Sensors Integrat
ion Multi-aircraft
Airspace Capability Routine Access To NAS
Exploration Capabilities Robotic
applications Autonomous, multi-vehicle, robotic
operations Intelligent Mission Management
Planetary Flight Risk Reduction
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Why HALE? Missions Enabled by HALE Capabilities
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HALE Demonstrations
State of the Art Helios FY03
SubOrbital LE Observer, FY08
Global Observer FY10
Heavy Lifter FY16
Global Ranger FY12
Altitude
60k / 100k ft
60k ft
60k ft
75k ft
60k ft
Endurance
1 Day / 1 Hour
14 day
60 day
2 Day
30-90 Day
Payload
50 kg
200 kg
150kg
20 X
200 X
Global /- 45 deg Lat
Global All Latitudes
Global /- 35 deg Lat
Regional All Latitudes
Range
Local
Inflatable/deployable aerostructures High power
electrical propulsion
Continuous aero-trim optimization
Structures
Active shape control Hydrogen fueled, Lightweight
LH2 tank, Low SFC _at_ 10kW Turbulence
resistant, Over Horizon Comm.
Lightweight airframe Regenerative fuel
cell, Thin film solar cells, light weight energy
storage Autonomous Ops
Superconductor motors Multi-function LH2
tanks Low SFC _at_ 500 kW
Example Technology
Power
Flight Control / Autonomy
Intelligent vehicle systems management
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Suborbital Long Endurance Concept
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Exploration Concept
The Wright brothers took humankind to our sky,
Let us fully utilize and protect our sky and take
humankind to other skies.
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SUMMARY

• VEHICLE SYSTEMS PROGRAM
• A clear focus on barrier-breaking demonstrations
• Completely support public good benefits for
  environment and science
• Management practices are solid and have been
  favorably reviewed
• Strategic National VS Plan guides future
  investments
• HALE is key breakthrough for Science Mission