Page 1 - Aerotech News and Review, June 25, 2021

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Space Test Class descends on Tehachapi

by Tech. Sgt. Robert Cloys
Edwards AFB, Calif.

TEHACHAPI, Calif.—Although at first
glance, watching students fly gliders over the
mountains of California may not personify the
idea of space test, however, the key test funda-
mentals they learn are universal.
Students from the United States Air Force Test
Pilot School Space Test Fundamentals Course
Class 21-2 gathered at Mountain Valley Airport’s
glider school in Tehachapi, Calif., June 3, 2021,
to strengthen their understanding of time-com-
pressed data collection practices in unfamiliar
environments.
To begin the three-month STF program, stu-
dents from multiple branches and professions
complete Introduction Test Fundamentals, which
covers a completely domain and system agnostic
approach to testing. The course enables the United
States Space Force to enhance its Test and Evalu-
ation mission and multiply its ability to deliver
combat-ready space forces.
“The testing that we have done today has given
us a different platform to do testing that we don’t
normally see in Space,” said Capt. Anna Rowe,
a student attending the course from Space Delta
7’s 71st Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnais-
sance Squadron Detachment 9, at Schriever Air
Force Base, Colo. “There’s even more versatility
to it and allowed us to do applicable test data that
we can transfer into Space Test and Evaluation.”
In the day’s exercise in the air, the students
grouped into teams to determine the best course
of action to collect data points.
“We figured out what speeds we wanted to Air Force photograph by Tech. Sgt. Robert Cloys
collect data at. So, once we hit speed with the A glider used by students of Space Test Fundamentals Course Class 21-2 is towed over Mountain Valley Airport in Tehachapi, Calif., June 3, 2021.
correct spoiler configuration, we started a stop- STF students utilize gliders during the course at Edwards Air Force Base to strengthen their understanding of time-compressed data collection
watch,” said Rowe. “We would then descend 200 practices in unfamiliar environments.
feet, click the stopwatch again, record the data and
move on to the next point. We were able to figure comfortable, with a time compression, and still dards that are achievable, not overly aggressive both rapid and relevant, but also rigorous and
out lift over drag versus velocity.” get something good out of it.” and standardized so they can be applied univer- thorough,” he said.
Dr. Andrew Freeborn, the USAF TPS’s STF For Captain Christopher Duncan, the STFC’s sally across tests.” The experience is also one the TPS hopes will
course director explained that when testing, not first Army student and current Commander of Duncan hopes the course will allow him to stay with them throughout their career.
only in orbit, there can be a time element to col- Headquarters Company, 2nd Space Battalion at bring the Army some new approaches to testing “It’s also a little bit of the learning law of inten-
lecting data. Fort Carson, Colo., the key takeaway revolved space. sity,” said Freeborn. “It’s an intense experience,
“You have to have everything prepped so when around developing realistic methodologies done “As the Army looks to get in to low-earth orbit something they are going to remember, so when
that window hits, you’re ready to go right now,” to a standard. or bring other space capabilities to the warfighter, they are back at their home units trying to collect
said Freeborn. “The idea of the exercise is to put “If the test is figuring out glide ratios under I’m hoping to gain a level of expertise from this data, they go ‘Hey, I remember that experience.
a little bit of pressure on the students, regardless different conditions for the aircraft, none of that course that can be applied at the broadest levels I have to have all this prep done so that I can get
of their background, in an unfamiliar environ- information will be novel or new,” said Duncan. so, moving forward, we can integrate develop- my data on time.’”
ment, and be able to collect data when you’re un- “What is novel and new is using metrics and stan- mental test and operational test in a manner that’s See GLIDER, Page 2

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