Page 2 - Aerotech News and Review, December 4, 2020

NASA centers collaborate to advance

QueSST during pandemic Reader’s

Services
Two NASA centers on opposite sides of the
country are finding new ways to work together How to contact
to support the agency’s mission to develop quiet Aerotech News and Review
supersonic technology, in spite of thousands of • Mail: 220 E. Ave. K-4, #7
miles of distance and a global pandemic. Lancaster CA 93535
Using their available labs, Kennedy Space • E-Mail: editor@aerotechnews.com
Center in Florida is building tools in collabora- • Phone: (661) 945-5634
tion with Armstrong Flight Research Center in • Fax: (661) 723-7757
California, which NASA will use in support of
the X-59 Quiet SuperSonic Technology X-plane,
or QueSST. Advertising
Flying at faster-than-sound speeds over com- Corporate Headquarters:
munities around the U.S., the X-59 will demon- (877) 247-9288
strate technology to reduce the loud sonic booms,
typically heard below aircraft flying at supersonic Subscriber Services
speeds, to a quieter noise similar to a car door Subscriptions to Aerotech News
closing in the distance. The X-59 will demonstrate and Review are $59 for six
to regulators through collected data that quiet su- months or $89 for one year. For
more information, contact the
personic flight is possible. subscription department at:
However, before the X-59 begins community NASA photograph by Lauren Hughes 220 E. Ave. K-4, #7,
overflights, NASA researchers need to validate the A NASA F/A-18 is towed to the apron at NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, Lancaster CA 93535
X-plane’s acoustic signature through tests. Calif., during sunrise over Rogers Dry Lake. The F/A-18 was used to test a transmitter for an air
A project under NASA’s Aeronautics Research navigation system, called the Airborne Location Integrating Geospatial Navigation System, or
Mission Directorate called SCHAMROQ, which ALIGNS. This system, designed to allow pilots to position their aircraft at precise distances to each Story ideas, letters, editorials
stands for Schlieren, Airborne Measurements, and other, will be critical for acoustic validation efforts of NASA’s next supersonic X-plane, the X-59 Please address all letters and editorials
Range Operations for QueSST, is preparing the Quiet SuperSonic Technology. to Stuart A. Ibberson, editor, 220 E.
tools and test techniques to execute these tests at they said ‘yeah, we want to take this work on,’” Ave. K-4, # 7, Lancaster CA 93535 or
Armstrong. When a reduced capacity to develop Moholt said all of this technology will be Waldersen recalls. “‘We have the capacity, we’ve email editor@aerotechnews.com.
these tools materialized during the COVID-19 placed on a NASA F-15 research aircraft, which got the staff, we’ve got the ability to do it’, so this
pandemic, Armstrong turned to Kennedy to pro- will take on the role of a chase plane, following Web Site
vide a helping hand, and to help ensure the proj- the X-59 in the sky during flight tests to collect is fantastic.” Access the Aerotech News web
ect’s progress. data. Jeff Crisafulli, branch chief of testing and de- site at www.aerotechnews.com
“It’s neat working with a space center,” said “We have this big effort to instrument and put sign in Kennedy Space Center Engineering, said
Matthew Moholt, deputy project manager for all the research systems into the F-15 that allows Kennedy identified onsite subcontractors capable Submissions for upcoming events, air
shows and museums
SCHAMROQ. “Their willingness and eagerness it to fly all of these technologies,” Moholt said. of building these cables. should be addressed to
to help out a sister center is welcomed and ap- “As the pandemic hit, it was right in the peak of “These are highly skilled technicians, with 25- Web Updates, 220 E. Ave. K-4,
preciated. When you have another center willing getting instrumentation wiring put through it so 30 years of experience fabricating and designing, # 7, Lancaster CA 93535
to help out and do critical work that’s critical to that all of our instrumentation systems could get the NASA way,” Crisafulli said. “They’re consid- or email editor@aerotechnews.com.
your schedule, that’s really significant.” put in, and our electronic fabrication shop was ered part of the team.”
During supersonic flight, planes create shock- impacted by that.” Crisafulli said each center at NASA has their For questions concerning the web site,
waves that merge together as they travel through This SCHAMROQ technology needs to be own unique skillsets that they bring to the table, contact the webmaster at
the air to produce the sonic boom. Moholt says tested to ensure it can withstand the demands of and that it is good to share knowledge. This col- webmaster@aerotechnews.com.
SCHAMROQ aims to build and test multiple tools supersonic flight while onboard NASA’s F-15. laboration between an aeronautics center like
to help researchers observe and validate these Deputy instrumentation lead Matthew Waldersen Armstrong and a space center like Kennedy rein- Where you can get
same shockwaves during quiet supersonic flight. said part of the testing process requires the usage forces one of NASA’s goals — working together Aerotech News and Review
These tools include the Shock Sensing Probe, of a network switch with cables — similar to an for the benefit of the future. For information on
a device that will evaluate the characteristics of ethernet network, but for airplanes. “This is a unique opportunity to help out our Aerotech distribution, call
the X-59’s shockwaves while in flight, a schlie- Waldersen explained that, to help ensure the buddies at Armstrong by providing this fabrica- (661) 945-5634 or visit
ren photography technique to visualize the X-59’s project remained on schedule, Kennedy Space tion service,” Crisafulli said. “It goes back to the www.aerotechnews.com/distribution.
shockwaves as they distort light through a camera, Center was contacted to build cables for the net- ‘One NASA’ idea — we are ‘One NASA’. This
and a navigation software that will allow pilots to work switch. is a good example of pathfinding and opening up
fly accurately during X-59 tests. “We reached out to their branch chief, and the door to some potential future work together.” Aerotech News and Review is published
every other Friday, serving the
BOMBER, from 1 aerospace and defense industry of
tional weapons in 1994. The physical conversion to conventional-only arma- get released it will safely separate.” Southern California, Nevada and
ments started in 2007 with the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START), Engineers within the Air Force Test Center enterprise, B-1 system pro- Arizona. News and ad copy deadline
and was finished in 2011. gram office and Boeing will verify both the weapon’s and pylon’s integration is noon on the Tuesday prior to
The current expanded carriage demonstrations will keep the aircraft com- with the B-1B. They are also interested in the physical effects, software, publication. The publisher assumes no
pliant with the New START agreement, which means the Lancer can once and flying qualities of the new shape on the outer mold line of the aircraft, responsibility for error in ads other
again utilize those features while delivering conventional weapons. Cunningham explained. than space used. Your comments are
“Since the long bay demo last year this has really been our key focus “The Air Force Test Center is enthusiastically teaming with Global Strike welcomed and encouraged. Write to
point in 2020; getting ready for this external weapons release demo as kind to enable greater flexibility in B-1B operational payloads,” said Maj. Gen. the address below.
of the next step in that progression towards external weapons carriage and Christopher Azzano, AFTC commander. “The external carriage and long-
hypersonic capabilities for the B-1,” Cunningham said. “We’re pretty close bay mods reflect our ability to keep weapon systems relevant with mid-life
to the culmination of this demo event and reaching that next milestone.” upgrades.” • Publisher ....................Paul Kinison
The demonstration could mean a potential boon for combatant command- • Business Manager ....... Lisa Kinison
ers as the increase in weapons stores remedies an immediate shortfall due to AFTC has a long history of certifying external carriage weapons, Azzano • Editor .................... Stuart Ibberson
• National Advertising
the limited number of strategic bombers. The proposed increase in capacity added. Manager .....................Paul Kinison
means that two bombers would equal to three bombers’ worth of weapons. That history of test success and uniqueness of the mission is not lost on
Following the captive carry mission, engineers will then review the data testers such as Cunningham and his B-1B flight crew.
gathered from the flight before moving on to the next of phase of the dem- “This is a great example of how we are accelerating change to meet
onstration; an external weapons release. our adversaries, and the engineers and operators should be commended for Aerotech News and Review
“For us, we’re looking to do this safely, since this is the first time we will their work in getting this demonstration completed,” Ray added. “We will 220 E. Ave. K-4, #7
release a weapon from the external hard point in over 30 years,” said Agustin continue to invest in and modernize the bomber fleet while increasing the Lancaster, CA 93535
Martinez, project test lead. “So we pretty much focused on doing a safe build lethality of our global precision fires to be anywhere and anytime.” e-mail: editor@aerotechnews.com
up approach…to make sure the JASSM and the B-1 are communicating cor- This demonstration does not affect the Air Force’s request to retire 17 Visit our web site at
rectly; the JASSM has correct surface deployment timelines so once it does B-1B bombers in 2021. www.aerotechnews.com

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