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

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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

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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

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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

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Evolution of Technologies

Organizing GTP Test TechnologyP

RO

JEC

T L

EV

EL

TE

CH

NIC

AL

DIS

CIP

LIN

ES

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)

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Gisler Ponder Soto

Lynn

Arrington Everhart

Delgado Pastor - Barsi ?

XYZBencic (PSP)

D

?

Bader Woike

Amaya

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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.