11 UAV-Based Earth Science Studies Chosen for Refinement

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration has opened the door to use of uninhabited, high-altitude aircraft for Earth Science research studies by selecting a series of proposed demonstration missions for further development.

The selections, announced late last week by NASA's Office of Earth Science in Washington, D.C., are expected to lead to the selection next year of two or three of the proposals for actual implementation. Eight of the 11 missions selected propose use of three uninhabited aerial vehicles (UAVs) which have been developed or matured under NASA's Environmental Research Aircraft and Sensor Technology (ERAST) project, managed by the Dryden Flight Research Center at Edwards, Calif. Five of these propose use of the conventionally powered Altusî II developed by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc.; two the Pathfinder-Plus and one the Helios Prototype, the latter two being solar-powered aircraft developed by AeroVironment, Inc. John Hicks, ERAST project manager at NASA Dryden, noted the eventual winners of the selection process will pioneer use of UAVs for actual operational science missions.

"This is an historical first for NASA Earth Sciences in adding UAVs to its operational class of earth observation platforms that have included satellites, manned aircraft and balloons," Hicks said. "This is a real catalyst to the technologies and operational capabilities we are developing in ERAST, especially in developing more mission-flexible, long-duration platforms than were available in the past."

"Although the Earth Science competiton was open to any UAV platform with demonstrated flight capability, the fact that eight of the 11 selected proposals derive from the ERAST project is immensely rewarding to the entire ERAST Alliance," he added.

These remotely-operated aircraft, experimental in nature and capable of extremely long duration flights at high altitudes, will carry actual scientific payloads of NASA's Earth Science Enterprise-a program dedicated to understanding the global environment. Missions proposed include a wide range of earth science studies to monitor natural aspects of the planet and help unravel mysteries therein. "Whether it's monitoring the ripeness of the coffee crop in Hawaii, clouds and their effect on our global temperatures or seeking the mysteries of hurricanes and their deadly powers, these unique vehicles will explore our planet's horizons in unprecedented detail," said Dr. Ghassem Asrar, Associate Administrator for NASA's Office of Earth Science, Washington, D.C.

The 11 proposals selected for further development were chosen by NASA's Office of Earth Sciences from 45 submitted by principal investigators in response to a NASA Research Announcement issued last fall. The proposals come from three NASA centers, four universities, a federally funded lab and one other federal agency. The investigators for the selected proposals have been awarded small grants to further develop their mission implementation plans over the next three months to reduce risk. NASA will then review those plans and choose two or three of the proposals for full development in early 2001.

The proposals selected for further implementation plan development include:

- A hurricane monitoring study using the Altus, led by Robbie Hood of NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, Ala.
- A cirrus cloud research study using the Altus, led by Gerald Mace of University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah.
- An atmospheric water and climate change study using the Helios Prototype if available, or in the alternative the Pathfinder-Plus, led by Christopher Webster of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif.
- An atmospheric chemistry study using the Global Hawk led by Adrian Tuck, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the University of Alabama, Huntsville, Ala.
- An atmospheric chemistry study using the Altus led by Paul Newman of the Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md.
- A thunderstorm study using the Altus, led by Richard Blakeslee, Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, Ala.
- An atmospheric chemistry study using the Altus, led by Max Loewenstein of NASA's Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, Calif.
- A disaster management study using the Pathfinder-Plus, led by Albin Gasiewski of NOAA.
- A coffee harvest optimization study using the Pathfinder-Plus, led by Stanley Herwitz, professor of biogeography and earth science at Clark University, Worcester, Mass.
- An agricultural study of vineyards using the Vindicator aircraft, led by Susan Ustin of the University of California at Davis, Calif.
- A hurricane and storm study using the Aerosonde aircraft, led by Peter Webster of the University of Colorado, Denver, Colo.

Dollar values for the proposals range from several hundred thousand to several million dollars. NASA has budgeted approximately $12 million in FY 2001- 2003 for this effort. The aircraft identified in the proposals include planes developed under government programs as well as by private industry.

- NASA -

NOTE TO EDITORS:

Still photos and video footage of the Altus II, Helios Prototype and Pathfinder Plus are available from the Dryden Public Affairs Office to support this release. For photo prints or video dubs, please call (661) 276-2665. Photos are also available on the NASA Dryden Flight Research Center internet website, URL: http://www.dfrc.nasa.gov/gallery/photo/index.html NASA Dryden news releases are also available on the Internet at: http://www.dfrc.nasa.gov/PAO/PressReleases/index.html More information about the research announcement and selected proposals can be found on the Internet at: http://geo.arc.nasa.gov/uav-nra/selection.html

Monday, August 28, 2000
Source: Dryden Flight Research Center