aerospace america january 2017

2017·22.7 MB·English

TRANSITION 14 GENERAL AVIATION 28 MISSILE DEFENSE 40
Decisions for Trump Reviving a market Deterring North Korea
1
★
★
★
A
E
R
O
S
P
A
C
E

A
M
E
R
I
C
A
CO WWWWaaaattttcccchhhhddddooooggggssss
★
★
★
JA
N
U
A
R
Y 2
0
1
7
2
Monitoring carbon dioxide
emissions from orbit
could someday hold
polluters accountable.
Will the US participate?
PAGE 22
aerospaceam
erica.org
JANUARY 2017 | A publication of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics | www.aerospaceamerica.org
C1_January_Cover_v3.indd 3 12/19/16 2:37 PM
FC.indd 1 12/20/16 2:04 PM
25–27 APRIL 2017 LAUREL, MD
Strengthening National Defense and Security
through Innovative Collaboration
Join us for AIAA Defense and Security Forum
(AIAA DEFENSE Forum).
We are bringing together a diverse spectrum of experts to cover a
broad range of defense and security topics, including several who
are first-time speakers at AIAA DEFENSE Forum. AIAA DEFENSE will
provide you an opportunity to learn about developments in the field,
and discuss your findings to the community at-large in a SECRET/
U.S. ONLY forum.
Advanced Threats - hear briefings from:
• Marc Bernstein, Associate Director, MIT Lincoln Laboratory
• Keith Englander, Director of Engineering, Missile Defense
Agency
• Conrad Grant, Chief Engineer, Johns Hopkins University,
Applied Physics Laboratory
Contested Space and the DoD Space Policy - hear briefings
from:
• Todd Master, Program Manager, Tactical Technology Office,
Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency
• Jeremy Raley, Program Manager, Tactical Technology Office,
Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency
Counter UAS Technologies and Operations - a policy
panel discussion between
• Greg Coleman, United States Central Command
• Terence Haran, Senior Research Engineer, Georgia Tech
Research Institute
• David “John” Rathke, National Air and Space Intelligence
Center, United States Air Force
LEARN MORE:
• Mark Rosenberg, Program Analyst, Joint Improvised-Threat
Defeat Organization aiaa-defense.org
UAS Operations - a discussion lead by Steven Pennington,
Executive Director, Policy Board on Federal Aviation, Department of
Defense
Federal Government employees and AIAA members receive significant
4 discounts on early forum registration – $500 off standard pricing.
7
4
1
*
7
1
FEATURES | January 2017 MORE AT aerospaceamerica.org
25–27 APRIL 2017 LAUREL, MD
Strengthening National Defense and Security
through Innovative Collaboration
Join us for AIAA Defense and Security Forum
(AIAA DEFENSE Forum).
We are bringing together a diverse spectrum of experts to cover a
broad range of defense and security topics, including several who
are first-time speakers at AIAA DEFENSE Forum. AIAA DEFENSE will
provide you an opportunity to learn about developments in the field,
and discuss your findings to the community at-large in a SECRET/
U.S. ONLY forum.
Advanced Threats - hear briefings from:
• Marc Bernstein, Associate Director, MIT Lincoln Laboratory
• Keith Englander, Director of Engineering, Missile Defense
Agency
• Conrad Grant, Chief Engineer, Johns Hopkins University,
Applied Physics Laboratory
22 28 34 40
Contested Space and the DoD Space Policy - hear briefings
from:
Decision time
Revitalizing Deterring
• Todd Master, Program Manager, Tactical Technology Office,
for Trump
Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency general aviation North Korea
CO watchdogs
2
• Jeremy Raley, Program Manager, Tactical Technology Office, Two leading
Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency The FAA doesn’t like it’s aerospace journalists The U.S. Missile Defense
Counter UAS Technologies and Operations - a policy Climate scientists are mapping regulations for certifying analyze the most Agency wants 2017 to
panel discussion between the global distribution of carbon the airworthiness of important decisions be a turning-point year
aircraft and equipment, facing the incoming for an anti-missile
• Greg Coleman, United States Central Command dioxide from orbit. Should the so it has revamped them. administration. system the Pentagon
• Terence Haran, Senior Research Engineer, Georgia Tech Trump administration and the knowingly deployed
Research Institute By Joe Stumpe By Henry Canaday before it was fully
new Congress continue U.S.
developed.
and Warren Ferster
• David “John” Rathke, National Air and Space Intelligence
investment in this effort?
Center, United States Air Force
By Michael Peck
LEARN MORE:
• Mark Rosenberg, Program Analyst, Joint Improvised-Threat By Tom Risen
Defeat Organization aiaa-defense.org
UAS Operations - a discussion lead by Steven Pennington,
Executive Director, Policy Board on Federal Aviation, Department of
Defense
Federal Government employees and AIAA members receive significant
4 discounts on early forum registration – $500 off standard pricing.
47 aerospaceamerica.org | JANUARY 2017 | 1
1
*
7
1
01-03_January_TOC_v1.indd 1 12/20/16 3:34 PM
5–9 JUNE 2017 DENVER, CO
AIAA Aviation and Aeronautics Forum More than 2,000 expected participants
and Exposition—2017 AIAA AVIATION from around the world, the consolidated
Forum—is the only aviation event that 18 individual technical conferences, plus
covers the entire integrated spectrum three new events, make AIAA AVIATION
of aviation business and technology. Forum the must-attend aviation event
in 2017!
FEATURING
24th AIAA Aerodynamic Decelerator 9th AIAA Atmospheric and Space AIAA Balloon Systems Conference
Systems Technology Conference Environments Conference
23rd AIAA Lighter-Than-Air Systems
NEW! Electric Flight Workshop 17th AIAA Aviation Technology, Technology Conference
Integration, and Operations
NEW! Cybersecurity Symposium 23rd AIAA/CEAS Aeroacoustics
Conference
Conference
NEW! DEMAND for UNMANNED®
AIAA Flight Testing Conference
8th AIAA Theoretical Fluid Mechanics
33rd AIAA Aerodynamic Measurement
47th AIAA Fluid Dynamics Conference Conference
Technology and Ground Testing
Conference 18th AIAA/ISSMO Multidisciplinary AIAA Complex Aerospace Systems
Analysis and Optimization Exchange
35th AIAA Applied Aerodynamics
Conference
Conference 23rd AIAA Computational Fluid
AIAA Modeling and Simulation Dynamics Conference
AIAA Atmospheric Flight Mechanics
Technologies Conference
Conference 47th Thermophysics Conference
48th Plasmadynamics and Lasers
Conference
REGISTER TODAY!
Organized by
www.aiaa-aviation.org
#aiaaAviation
17-1464
AEROSPACE
★ ★ ★ A M E R I CA ★ ★ ★
IN THIS ISSUE
JANUARY 2017, VOL. 55, NO. 1
Tom Risen
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Ben Iannotta is a journalist and researcher whose reporting on policy, science, and tech
[email protected] business has appeared in US News & World Report, Slate, and The Atlantic.
PAGE 22
PRODUCTION EDITOR
Greg Wilson
[email protected]
Joe Stumpe
5–9 JUNE 2017 DENVER, CO EDITOR, AIAA BULLETIN
Christine Williams is a freelance writer based in Wichita, Kansas. He wrote about
[email protected] the AAIA’s Design/Build/Fly contest for college students
in the June issue of Aerospace America.
AIAA Aviation and Aeronautics Forum More than 2,000 expected participants EDITOR EMERITUS
Jerry Grey PAGE 28
and Exposition—2017 AIAA AVIATION from around the world, the consolidated
Forum—is the only aviation event that 18 individual technical conferences, plus
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
covers the entire integrated spectrum three new events, make AIAA AVIATION Henry Canaday
Keith Button, Henry Canaday, Warren Ferster,
of aviation business and technology. Forum the must-attend aviation event Tom Jones, Rick Krontz, Michael Peck, is a former energy economist who has written for Air Transport World, Aviation
in 2017! Robert Rashford, Tom Risen, Joe Stumpe, Week and other aviation publications for more than two decades.
Robert van der Linden, PAGE 34
Debra Werner, Frank H. Winter
James “Jim” Maser AIAA PRESIDENT Warren Ferster
Sandra H. Magnus PUBLISHER
Rodger S. Williams DEPUTY PUBLISHER is a senior analyst with the space consulting practice of The Tauri Group
Craig Byl MANUFACTURING in Alexandria, Virginia. He was editor-in-chief of Space News, where
he worked for 21 years, starting as the national affairs and policy reporter.
AND DISTRIBUTION
PAGE 34
ADVERTISING
Joan Daly, 703-938-5907
[email protected]
Michael Peck
Pat Walker, 415-387-7593
FEATURING [email protected] writes about defense and space technology. His work has appeared in Foreign
Policy Magazine, The National Interest and C4ISRNet magazine.
24th AIAA Aerodynamic Decelerator 9th AIAA Atmospheric and Space AIAA Balloon Systems Conference ADVERTISING MATERIALS PAGE 40
Craig Byl, [email protected]
Systems Technology Conference Environments Conference
23rd AIAA Lighter-Than-Air Systems
NEW! Electric Flight Workshop 17th AIAA Aviation Technology, Technology Conference
ART DIRECTION AND DESIGN
Integration, and Operations DEPARTMENTS
NEW! Cybersecurity Symposium 23rd AIAA/CEAS Aeroacoustics THOR Design Studio | thor.design
Conference
Conference
NEW! DEMAND for UNMANNED®
AIAA Flight Testing Conference 4 Editor’s Notebook 6 8
8th AIAA Theoretical Fluid Mechanics
33rd AIAA Aerodynamic Measurement
47th AIAA Fluid Dynamics Conference Conference
Technology and Ground Testing
Conference 18th AIAA/ISSMO Multidisciplinary AIAA Complex Aerospace Systems 5 From the Corner Office Trending Engineering
Aerospace America (ISSN 0740-722X) is published
Analysis and Optimization Exchange Space Resources Notebook
35th AIAA Applied Aerodynamics monthly by the American Institute of Aeronautics and
Conference Conference 23rd AIAA Computational Fluid Astronautics, Inc., at 12700 Sunrise Valley Drive, Suite 200 47 AIAA Bulletin and Legal Aspects Lockheed Martin’s
AIAA Atmospheric Flight Mechanics AIAA Modeling and Simulation Dynamics Conference Rise 5s0to%n o, Vf Ad u20e1s 9fo1-r5 A8I0A7A [ 7m0e3m/2b6e4r-s7 5(a0n0]d. Sisu nbosct rdipetdiuonct ribatlee Year-in-Review articles* supersonic X-plane
Technologies Conference 58 Career Opportunities
Conference 47th Thermophysics Conference therefrom). Nonmember subscription price: U.S., $200; 12
14
48th Plasmadynamics and Lasers foreign, $220. Single copies $20 each. Postmaster: Send
Conference address changes and subscription orders to address above, 62 Looking Back
attention AIAA Customer Service, 703/264-7500. Periodical Q&A
postage paid at Reston, Virginia, and at additional mailing Astronaut’s View
offices. Copyright 2017 by the American Institute of NASA’s Correcting NASA’s course
Aeronautics and Astronautics, Inc., all rights reserved. William H. Gerstenmaier
The name Aerospace America is registered by the AIAA
in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. 18
REGISTER TODAY! 64
Organized by This is Volume 55, No. 1.
Case Study
Trajectories
www.aiaa-aviation.org James Webb Space Nadia Zerelli from MTU
Telescope
Aero Engines
#aiaaAviation
*Editor’s Note: These articles were accidentaly omitted from the December Year-in-Review issue.
aerospaceamerica.org | JANUARY 2017 | 3
17-1464
01-03_January_TOC_v1.indd 3 12/20/16 9:59 AM
EDITOR’S NOTEBOOK | AERONAUTICS
L
o
ckh
eed
M
artin
The other 4 percent Lockheed Martin’s
Quiet Supersonic
Transport (QueSST)
concept
Here’s something worth remembering during any presidential transition: The first A in NASA
stands for aeronautics. Research in that area accounts for only 4 percent of NASA’s budget, but
those dollars have an outsized impact on the daily lives of taxpayers.
Many of us would love to fly from point A to B faster (See “Flying fast, flying quiet” on page 8), on
the most efficient route possible, with fewer delays, propelled by engines that won’t choke on ice and
that fly with the least possible environmental impact. NASA is working with the aviation industry and
in some cases the FAA to achieve all those objectives.
Some of what’s been accomplished so far is visible when looking out the terminal window.
Many airliners now have drag-reducing winglets. Damage-tolerant fan casings protect fuselages in
the unlikely event an engine’s blades fly apart. NASA’s Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate has
assembled a diagram depicting “decades of contributions to commercial aviation.”
Depending on how one measures fuel efficiency, a Boeing 787 or Airbus A350 today is 50 to 70
percent more efficient than a Boeing 707, according to the forward to the forthcoming book, “Green
Aviation: Reduction of Environmental Impact Through Aircraft Technology and Alternative Fuels.”
My purpose in pointing this out is not to cry poor on behalf of aeronautics. My fear is that there is
a risk of forgetting about this kind of work amid all the exhilaration that will come from peering back
toward the origins of the universe with the James Webb Space Telescope; or making a space station
near the moon; or mining asteroids for commerce; or walking on Mars or maybe even looking out
a spacecraft’s window someday and seeing Jupiter’s Great Red Spot or the icy surface of Europa.
We are becoming extraterrestrials, and it is exciting. But it is also resource intensive. Forty-four percent
of NASA’s budget goes to Human Exploration Operations, including the International Space Station,
Orion and the Space Launch System rocket; 29 percent goes to a long list of science projects, from
assembly of Webb to developing the Mars 2020 rover to planning a robotic mission to Europa.
What is the right balance between aeronautics and space? Opinions will no doubt vary, but here’s an
argument for why today’s balance might be about right. NASA maintains a separate Space Technology
research category, and it makes up 4.3 percent of the budget. That’s not much more than the 4 percent that
goes to aeronautics research. In that sense, there is parity and perhaps one that should be maintained. ★
Ben Iannotta, editor-in-chief, [email protected]
4 | JANUARY 2017 | aerospaceamerica.org
04-January_Editor's Notebook_v1.indd 4 12/20/16 3:34 PM
FROM THE CORNER OFFICE | Annalisa Weigel, AIAA Vice President, Member Services
The Section of the Future
The role of associations has changed information is disseminated; provide a Sections are financially stable
enormously in the 21st century, clear understanding of the awards. A financially stable Section has the
and AIAA is one of many societies majority of resources, financial and
that need to make sure that we continue Sections have a reliable set of IT non-financial, needed to accomplish its
to support our members in the most tools for all Section activities activities and programs. (Sample Actions:
effective ways possible. Over the past 18 Tools should enable the Section complete Define criteria and guidelines for
months, the Region and Section Activities management anytime, anywhere to help acceptable financially stable conditions;
Committee (RSAC), which governs the Section function more efficiently. create and disseminate guidelines on
Section activities, has worked with the (Sample Actions: Survey Sections’ needs financial best practices and positive
AIAA’s Sections to define the Section for IT tools, and create a functional financial controls.
of the Future. In this way, Sections will requirements list; demonstrate the
continue to support you, our members, benefits of the IT tools for Sections.) Section leadership rotates
right in your neighborhood. frequently, giving new volunteers
The work, which I presented to the Members see clear value in AIAA new leadership opportunities
Board of Directors in September, resulted membership and can state the Members should be aware of new
in nine important attributes that all value proposition leadership and volunteer opportunities;
Sections should strive for, with actions to Different members perceive different volunteers should reflect various
help in fulfilling each attribute. types of value from their membership experiences, skill sets, interests, ages,
based on varying ways of engagement, genders, and employers. (Sample
Sections enjoy support from local and all are important. (Sample Actions: Actions: Announce open volunteer
corporate members and industry Mentor members active in the local and leadership positions to all Section
Support may involve providing financial Sections and Regions on the value of members and provide a list of current
support, use of facilities, publicity, and membership at the Institute level AND filled and vacant positions monthly to
overhead hours for employees to support vice versa; continue to evolve the Institute- the membership; make personal contact
the Section’s operation. (Sample Actions: level activities to include events in which to identify and encourage candidates.)
Map the Corporate Member locations to Section members will find value.)
Regions and Sections; create a tip sheet Many Sections already are successful
of how companies can help Sections.) Diverse, well-rounded, well- in these areas—among others—and
organized programs their members and volunteer leaders
Sections are closely linked to Programs should allow for the entire have been crucial in suggesting actions.
Student Branches in the same membership to participate in Section Incoming RSAC Chair Laura Richard
geographic area, with active events, including a variety of topics such and committee members will continue
involvement of university as arts in aeronautics/aerospace, history, this important work with headquarters
students in Section council and financial planning, and related technical staff, Institute leadership, and within
Section activities areas in other industries. (Sample Actions: the new governance structure, to modify
The Section of the Future should offer Survey Section members for their interests these attributes and actions as member
channels of communication and means to make them part of the decision process; and Section needs evolve. But most
of collaboration to the students in their find energized leadership to organize of all Sections need your support and
Section. (Sample Actions: Establish activities and have a solid succession plan.) participation! We encourage you to
means of collaboration at Section attend an event, network with colleagues,
activities as well as Student Branch Diverse, inclusive, growing exchange ideas, hear a great lecture, or
events; visit students at their schools for membership join a Student Branch. The Section of the
a presentation/demonstration.) Aim for a diverse representation of Future depends on all of us! Participation
technical fields, interests, businesses iiss ppoowweerr!! ★
Recognize and honor members for and affiliations, gender, generations
service and technical innovations, and ethnicity. (Sample Actions: Enlist
and put them forward for regional local aerospace companies to encourage
or national recognition employees to join AIAA; empower young
Sample Actions: Provide an easily members and students by including them
accessible list of awards and see that the in Section activities and leadership.)
aerospaceamerica.org | JANUARY 2017 | 5
05_January_CornerOffice_v1.indd 5 12/19/16 10:07 AM
ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY MANAGEMENT
N approximately two years, during which time NASA
A
S
A/E will collect data from internal sensors monitoring
S
A radiation, temperature and micrometeorite impacts.
In September, the House Committee on Science,
Space, and Technology held hearings with experts to
discuss the issues with NOAA’s licensing of proposed
remote-sensing satellites. Reports of licensing deni-
als, unprocessed license applications and licensing
changes due to national security concerns in contra-
vention to current law and policy have frustrated the
commercial remote-sensing industry. Witnesses noted
the need for reduced regulatory burden, adherence to
current law and reform of the interagency process that
governs NOAA licensing decisions. NOAA is expected
to release its mandated study on its licensing process-
es soon, and some type of policy or statutory reform is
anticipated in the near future.
A year of milestones It was also an interesting year for law and policy
at the international level. The United Nations Com-
mittee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, or
and changes in aerospace
UNCOPUOS, took two significant steps. In June, the
committee reached consensus on 12 guidelines for
the long-term sustainability of space. These broad
BY P.J. BLOUNT AND CHRISTOPHER M. HEARSEY
guidelines are intended to give states a framework for
engaging in space activities while ensuring the space
The Legal Aspects Technical Committee fosters an understanding of legal
areas unique to aerospace. environment is protected. These initial guidelines are
the first of many and are slated to be presented to the
The crew of the Calendar year 2016 proved to be another eventful U.N. General Assembly in 2018. Then, complement-
International Space one for the aerospace industry. The Commercial ing the U.S. Commercial Space Launch Competitive-
Station poses in the
Space Launch Competitiveness Act, signed by ness Act, the Legal Subcommittee of UNCOPUOS
Bigelow Expandable
President Barack Obama in late 2015, energized and adopted an agenda item on space resources. This
Activity Module, or
BEAM, after it was provided much-needed legal clarity for the commer- means that in 2017, discussions will begin to heat up
filled with air in May. cial space industry. The act provides for statutory rights on what the U.S. act means at the international level.
to obtain space resources for exploration and utiliza- Drones remained a hot topic in aerospace law in
tion, adds a new category, “government astronauts,” 2016, specifically the FAA’s adoption of small drone
for future commercial launches of NASA crew; estab- rules for non-hobbyists. This rule requires drone oper-
lishes exclusive federal jurisdiction for third-party and ators to obtain a remote pilot certificate before operat-
spaceflight-participant lawsuits for injuries; and man- ing a small drone. In addition to showing aeronautical
dates a dozen reports and studies on a variety of top- knowledge, potential drone operators must also pass
ics in advance of future policy discussions, includ- a background check administered by the Transporta-
ing space traffic management, voluntary consensus tion Security Administration. While these rules will
standards and the status of remote-sensing licenses. lead to safer drone operations, privacy questions still
After a difficult period in the launch sector, a swirl around drones, which were highlighted by nu-
SpaceX Falcon 9 launched a Dragon cargo capsule to merous incidents where individuals shot down drones
the International Space Station in April. The mission, over their property or in public places. In April, the FAA
Commercial Resupply Services-8, was an important issued a statement that it was a federal crime to shoot
milestone for SpaceX, which for the first time landed any aircraft, including drones.
a Falcon 9 first stage on a drone ship, the Of Course In both space and aviation, the Brexit vote has
I Love You stationed off Florida, and also for Bigelow caused lots of consternation. As the United Kingdom
Aerospace, whose unique cargo was secured in the removes itself from the European Union, governments
trunk of the Dragon. The capsule delivered the Bige- and private industry will need to untangle how Brexit
low Expandable Activity Module, or BEAM, the first will affect international coordination of aerospace ac-
privately owned, commercial expandable habitat tivities. Specifically, the effects of the U.K. leaving the
Editor’s Note: designed for human use. On May 28, NASA astronaut single EU market is likely to have ripple effects across
These articles were accidentally Jeff Williams managed the expansion of BEAM from regulatory issues and bilateral cooperation. Going into
omitted from the December its original packed configuration. BEAM will stay 2017, the implications of Brexit will become clearer for
Year-in-Review issue. berthed to the aft port of the Tranquility module for the aerospace industry. ★
6 | JANUARY 2017 | aerospaceamerica.org
06-07_January_Trending_v2.indd 6 12/20/16 12:13 PM
SPACE AND MISSILES
Testing resource utilization
NASA’s exploration plans are increasingly in-
cluding ISRU. NASA’s Human Architecture Team
conducted system level studies to examine the
BY JULIE KLEINHENZ
impact of incorporating full-scale ISRU systems
The Space Resources Technical Committee advocates affordable, into human missions (namely the Evolvable Mars
sustainable human space exploration using non-terrestrial natural and Campaign) using atmospheric and ground water
discarded resources to supply propulsion, power, life-support consumables resources. Likewise, the Mars Water In-Situ Re-
and manufacturing materials. source Utilization Planning study led by NASA’s
Science Mission Directorate leveraged university,
Growing interest in in-situ resource utilization, NASA, and commercial partners to identify po-
spurred activity in the space resources com- tential Mars resources and the instruments and
munity in 2016. Lunar and Martian resourc- data still needed to fully characterize them for
es are of continued interest for human missions ISRU use. The NASA Capability Leadership Team
and outposts, and there is a growing focus on as- continues to assess and plan for facilities and re-
teroid resources. sources needed for future ISRU efforts, and a po-
On the moon, the target resource is the water-ice tential ISRU technology development program is
that has been detected in permanently shadowed in formulation under NASA’s Advanced Explora-
craters at the polar regions. Characterizing these tion Systems.
resources is the focus of NASA’s Resource Pros- NASA’s Mars 2020 mission will include the
pector, RP, rover mission and the European Space Mars Oxygen ISRU Experiment, or MOXIE, pay-
Prospect drilling and sampling package Tech- load that will demonstrate ISRU technologies to
nology development continues for these potential convert Mars atmospheric carbon dioxide into ox-
missions. In May, RP was put through its fourth ygen. Led by MIT, MOXIE completed instrument
thermal vacuum test at the NASA Glenn Research preliminary design review in January and is now
Center’s Planetary Surface Simulation Facility. The working toward delivery in May 2018. Mars 2020
drill (from Honeybee Robotics), the spectrometer is the first mission that will fly an ISRU payload.
(NASA’s Ames Research Center), and sample cru- Asteroid resources are the focus of three uni-
cibles (NASA’s Kennedy Space Center) were tested versity-led projects under NASA Early Stage Initia-
with water-doped, frozen, lunar regolith simulant. tive awards, now in their second year. The Robotic
These tests continue to refine hardware develop- In-situ Surface Exploration System (RISES) proj-
ment, concepts of operations, and volatiles-de- ect at the University of West Virginia is looking at
The Canadian Space tection methods. Meanwhile, the Canadian Space robotic systems and non-destructive tests for the
Agency’s Lunar Rover
Agency accepted delivery of two lunar rover proto- strength of asteroid materials. At Missouri Univer-
Drivetrain Prototype,
types from contractor Ontario Drive and Gear. The sity of Science and Technology and the Colorado
foreground, and Small
Planetary Rover Platform larger one measures 1.6 meters X 1.6 m, has a mass School of Mines, work is focused on volatiles ex-
were driven across the of 112 kilograms, and a 1G payload of 160 kg, while traction and capture, while Stanford University is
agency’s Mars yard near the smaller 90 kg rover has a footprint of 1.2 m X 1.2 examining characterization of asteroids using im-
Montreal in 2016 to
m and a 50 kg payload. Both platforms have a drive- pact plasma detection.
simulate conditions on
train that was subjected to dusty thermal vacuum On the commercial side, several companies
the moon. Ontario Drive
and Gear delivered the testing at NASA’s Glenn Research Center to achieve are pursuing asteroid resources. Planetary Re-
vehicles in April. Technology Readiness Level-6. sources, Inc., PRI, has shipped their A6 satellite,
a 6-unit cubesat that will demonstrate technolo-
gies to measure resources on water-rich asteroids,
to Vandenberg Air Force Base with a scheduled
launch date of late 2016. PRI also announced a
partnership with the government of Luxembourg
to advance technologies and businesses related to
exploration and utilization of asteroid resources.
Honeybee Robotics and the University of Central
Florida developed a concept for a 6-unit cubesat
that could extract water from hydrated asteroid
regolith and use it to “hop” between asteroids via
steam propulsion. In 2016, the extraction hard-
ware for this cubesat recovered water from as-
teroid simulants during laboratory tests under a
Small Business Technology Transfer project with
Kennedy Space Center. ★
aerospaceamerica.org | JANUARY 2017 | 7
06-07_January_Trending_v2.indd 7 12/20/16 12:13 PM
ENGINEERING NOTEBOOK | SUPERSONIC FLIGHT
Flying fast, The path to the potential return of super-
sonic passenger flights travels through
an artificial living room, specifically the
Interior Effects Room at NASA’s Langley
Research Center in Virginia, better known as the
flying quiet
boom room. It’s furnished like a typical suburban
American living room, with bookshelves, a flat
screen TV and stereo, curtains, paintings on the
wall, a coffee table, and a chair and couch. Here,
starting in 2011, NASA engineers sat down test
The curves and features of Lockheed Martin’s subjects to listen to and rate their annoyance
from recorded and simulated airplane noise.
supersonic X-plane model have specific
Speakers pointed at the walls from the outside
purposes in the quest to show the feasibility emitted a range of sounds based on recordings
of supersonic F/A-18s, from muted thumps to
of Mach 1-plus passenger jets. Keith Button
sonic booms that rattled the fake windows.
spoke to the engineers who hope to fly this, This testing and other experiments dating to
the 1980s helped engineers from NASA’s Com-
or a similar X-plane, by 2020.
mercial Supersonic Technology Program decide
just how quiet a future supersonic jet would
probably need to fly to be accepted by the public
By Keith Button
and the FAA.
[email protected]
The FAA banned supersonic flights over land
even before the supersonic Concordes began
8 | JANUARY 2017 | aerospaceamerica.org
8-11_January_EngineeringNotebook_v1.indd 8 12/19/16 2:49 PM