Terrence Hertz, Deputy Associate Administrator for Technology, NASA Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate, at the NOAA/NASA Altair flight demonstration kickoff.
Project Description:
The remotely-piloted Altair unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) was developed by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc., (GA-ASI) for NASA under NASA's Environmental Research Aircraft and Sensor Technology (ERAST) project. NASA is using the Altair as a long-endurance, high-altitude platform for development of UAV technologies and environmental science missions. As a technology demonstrator, Altair will help validate a variety of command and control technologies for UAVs, including 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. It is also being used to demonstrate the capabilities of UAVs to conduct missions related to Earth Science, disaster management, homeland security and law enforcement. The Altair took to the air on its first checkout flight on June 9, 2003 at El Mirage, California. The Altair is a modified version of GA-ASI's MQ-9 Predator B unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) that was developed for the U.S. Air Force. Differences from the military aircraft include a longer wingspan to enable the Altair to sustain higher altitudes, a triplex redundant flight control system and modified avionics and electronics to support its civil missions. It is flown by a pilot from a ground control station, with flight commands and data relayed to and from the aircraft via either a satellite communications link or by direct radio link. The Altair also has full Global Positioning System (GPS) capability to assist in navigation. The Altair is designed to carry a 700-lb. payload of instruments and imaging equipment in its forward fuselage payload bay for as long as 32 hours at up to 52,000 feet altitude. It can also carry up to 3,000 pounds of payload externally at lower altitudes and for shorter durations. Eleven-foot extensions on each wing give the Altair an overall wingspan of 86 feet with an aspect ratio of 23. Built almost entirely of composite materials, Altair is powered by a 700-hp. rear-mounted Honeywell TPE-331-10 turboprop engine, driving a three-blade propeller. It has a maximum gross takeoff weight of 7,400 lbs, including 3,000 lbs of fuel. Following successful completion of basic airworthiness flight tests in 2003, Altair is currently being leased by NASA for a five-year period and is scheduled to eventually be acquired by NASA to serve as an aerial platform to support the aerospace agency's suborbital science program.
