National Aeronautics and Space Administration
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Ground Test ProjectAeronautics Test ProgramAeronautics Research Mission Directorate
www.nasa.govwww.aeronautics.nasa.gov/atp/index.html
AIAA CASE MeetingTuesday, August 13, 2013
Fundamental Aeronautics Program
Aviation Safety Program
Conduct cutting-edge research that will produce innovative concepts, tools, and technologies to enable revolutionary changes for vehicles that fly in all speed regimes.
Conduct cutting-edge research that will produce innovative concepts, tools, and technologies to improve the intrinsic safety
attributes of current and future aircraft.
Directly address the fundamental ATM research needs for NextGen by
developing revolutionary concepts, capabilities, and technologies that
will enable significant increases in the capacity, efficiency, and
flexibility of the NAS.
Airspace Systems Program
Integrated Systems
Research ProgramConduct research at an integrated,
systems level on promising concepts and technologies and explore/assess/demonstrate
the benefits in a relevant environment.
SVS HUD
Aeronautics Test ProgramEnsure the continuous availability of a portfolio of NASA-owned ground and flight test capabilities, which are strategically important to meeting national aerospace program goals and requirements.
Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate
2
3
ATP GT Facilities
Ames Research Center11’ Transonic Wind Tunnel9x7 Supersonic Wind Tunnel
Glenn Research Center8x6 Supersonic Wind Tunnel9x15 Low Speed Wind Tunnel10x10 Supersonic Wind TunnelIcing Research TunnelPropulsion Systems Lab 3 & 4
Langley Research Center8’ High Temperature Tunnel14x22 Subsonic Wind TunnelLangley Aerothermodynamics LabNational Transonic Wind TunnelTransonic Dynamics Tunnel
4
ATP Ground Test Project Elements
Test Technology Maintenance Capability Advancements
Funding and revenue to ensure capability
and work force availability and user
price stability
Targeted investments to ensure performance
and reliability
Investments to advance test
techniques and data measurement
and quality
Investments to enable test capabilities to
meet emerging test requirements
Operations
200 Civil Servants and 200 onsite contractors working to SAFELY operate, maintain, and advance ground test capabilities• Since 2006, ATP and Centers have experienced occasional test and
facility issues and incidents, but we have operated and maintained major ground test capabilities without a major mishap
5
Integrated System Research
TechnologyTransfer
Integrated Systems Level Research
Fundamental Research
Seedling Fund for New Ideas
TechnologyTransfer
• Foster revolutionary ideas with seedling fund• More robust technology transfer to industry and other government agencies through innovative
fundamental research and further maturation of technologies and concepts in system level research
• Conduct integrated systems research in relevant environments (e.g., flights, full simulations) to realize next set of technological breakthroughs and inspire next generation
6
Evolution of Technologies
Organizing GTP Test TechnologyP
RO
JEC
T L
EV
EL
TEC
HN
ICA
L D
ISC
IPLI
NE
S
ARC GRC
Pressure Measurement
Temperature Measurement
Angle Measurement
Force Measurement
Flow Measurement
Process Improvement
DFRC
Project Manager: Steve Helland(GRC)Deputy Project Manager: Vacant
ARC POC:Frank Kmak
Technical POC:Bader
LaRC POC:Allen Kilgore
Technical POC:Everhart
GRC POC:Jeff Swan
Technical POC:Ponder
• GTP center POCs providing coordination and support for all
work at center
• Organized By Technical Disciplines with Subject Matter Experts across
the centers
• Technical POCs at each center provide technical direction
XYZHalcomb (PSP)
Bader (ESP)
XYZWatkins (PSP)
? ?
Gisler Ponder Soto
Lynn
Arrington Everhart
Delgado Pastor - Barsi ?
XYZBencic (PSP)
D
?
Bader Woike
Amaya
7
8
Role and Challenges
The Aeronautics Test Program Ground Test Project is here to support the future aeronautics requirements of NASA and the Nation.
Challenges• How do we maintain and advance an aging infrastructure in a shrinking budget
environment?• How do we assure the right collaborations and partnerships are being made to gain
efficiencies and reduce the duplication of effort?• How do we balance investments across the Test Readiness Levels to assure
technology is being developed in time for when it’s needed?
Meeting aeronautics’ requirements now is important and so is what we’re developing to meet its future.