3 min read<\/p>\n
Preparations for Next Moonwalk Simulations Underway (and Underwater)<\/h1>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<\/div>NASA\/Steve Parcel<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nThe most effective way to prove a new idea is to start small, test, learn, and test again. A team of researchers developing an atmospheric probe<\/a> at NASA\u2019s Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California, are taking that approach. The concept could offer future scientists a potentially better and more economical way to collect data on other planets.<\/p>\nThe latest iteration of the atmospheric probe flew after release from a quad-rotor remotely piloted aircraft on Oct. 22 above Rogers Dry Lake, a flight area adjacent to NASA Armstrong. The probe benefits from NASA 1960s research on lifting body aircraft<\/a>, which use the aircraft\u2019s shape for lift instead of wings. Testing demonstrated the shape of the probe works.<\/p>\n\u201cI\u2019m ecstatic,\u201d said John Bodylski, atmospheric probe principal investigator at NASA Armstrong. \u201cIt was completely stable in flight. We will be looking at releasing it from a higher altitude to keep it flying longer and demonstrate more maneuvers.\u201d<\/p>\n
\n\n\n![\"An](\"https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/AFRC2024-0166-032\/AFRC2024-0166-032~large.jpg?w=1919&h=1281&fit=clip&crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint\")
<\/a><\/figure>\nAn atmospheric probe model attached upside down to a quad rotor remotely piloted aircraft ascends with the Moon visible on Oct. 22, 2024. The quad rotor aircraft released the probe above Rogers Dry Lake, a flight area adjacent NASA\u2019s Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California. The probe was designed and built at the center.<\/div>\nNASA\/Steve Freeman<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nStarting with a Center Innovation Fund<\/a> award in 2023, Bodylski worked closely with the center\u2019s Dale Reed Subscale Flight Research Laboratory to design and build three atmospheric probe models, each vehicle 28 inches long from nose to tail. One model is a visual to show what the concept looks like, while two additional prototypes improved the technology\u2019s readiness.<\/p>\nThe road to the successful flight wasn\u2019t smooth, which is expected with any new flight idea. The first flight on Aug. 1 didn\u2019t go as planned. The release mechanism didn\u2019t work as expected and air movement from the quad rotor aircraft was greater than anticipated. It was that failure that inspired the research team to take another look at everything about the vehicle, leading to many improvements, said Justin Hall, NASA Armstrong chief pilot of small, unmanned aircraft systems.<\/p>\n
Fast forward to Oct. 22, where the redesign of the release mechanism, in addition to an upside-down release and modified flight control surfaces, led to a stable and level flight. \u201cEverything we learned from the first vehicle failing and integrating what we learned into this one seemed to work well,\u201d Hall said. \u201cThis is a win for us. We have a good place to go from here and there\u2019s some more changes we can make to improve it.\u201d<\/p>\n
\n\n\n![\"Three](\"https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/AFRC2024-0166-011\/AFRC2024-0166-011~large.jpg?w=1920&h=1280&fit=clip&crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint\")
<\/a><\/figure>\nJustin Link, left, small unmanned aircraft systems pilot; John Bodylski, atmospheric probe principal investigator; and Justin Hall, chief pilot of small unmanned aircraft systems, discuss details of the atmospheric probe flight plan on Oct. 22, 2024. A quad rotor remotely piloted aircraft released the probe above Rogers Dry Lake, a flight area adjacent NASA\u2019s Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California. The probe was designed and built at the center.<\/div>\nNASA\/Steve Freeman<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nBodylski added, \u201cWe are going to focus on getting the aircraft to pull up sooner to give us more flight time to learn more about the prototype. We will go to a higher altitude [this flight started at 560 feet altitude] on the next flight because we are not worried about the aircraft\u2019s stability.\u201d<\/p>\n
When the team reviewed flight photos and video from the Oct. 22 flight they identified additional areas for improvement. Another atmospheric probe will be built with enhancements and flown. Following another successful flight, the team plans to instrument a future atmospheric probe that will gather data and improve computer models. Data gathering is the main goal for the current flights to give scientists confidence in additional probe shapes for atmospheric missions on other planets. <\/p>\n
If this concept is eventually chosen for a mission, it would ride on a satellite to its destination. From there, the probe would separate as the parent satellite orbits around a planet, then enter and dive through the atmosphere as it gathers information for clues of how the solar system formed.<\/p>\n
\n\n\n![\"Two](\"https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/AFRC2024-0166-004\/AFRC2024-0166-004~large.jpg?w=1919&h=1280&fit=clip&crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint\")
<\/a><\/figure>\nJustin Hall, chief pilot of small unmanned aircraft systems, prepares the atmospheric probe for flight above Rogers Dry Lake, a flight area adjacent NASA\u2019s Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California. At right, Justin Link, small unmanned aircraft systems pilot, assists. The probe, designed and built at the center, flew after release from a quad rotor remotely piloted aircraft on Oct. 22, 2024.<\/div>\n
The most effective way to prove a new idea is to start small, test, learn, and test again. A team of researchers developing an atmospheric probe<\/a> at NASA\u2019s Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California, are taking that approach. The concept could offer future scientists a potentially better and more economical way to collect data on other planets.<\/p>\n The latest iteration of the atmospheric probe flew after release from a quad-rotor remotely piloted aircraft on Oct. 22 above Rogers Dry Lake, a flight area adjacent to NASA Armstrong. The probe benefits from NASA 1960s research on lifting body aircraft<\/a>, which use the aircraft\u2019s shape for lift instead of wings. Testing demonstrated the shape of the probe works.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m ecstatic,\u201d said John Bodylski, atmospheric probe principal investigator at NASA Armstrong. \u201cIt was completely stable in flight. We will be looking at releasing it from a higher altitude to keep it flying longer and demonstrate more maneuvers.\u201d<\/p>\n Starting with a Center Innovation Fund<\/a> award in 2023, Bodylski worked closely with the center\u2019s Dale Reed Subscale Flight Research Laboratory to design and build three atmospheric probe models, each vehicle 28 inches long from nose to tail. One model is a visual to show what the concept looks like, while two additional prototypes improved the technology\u2019s readiness.<\/p>\n The road to the successful flight wasn\u2019t smooth, which is expected with any new flight idea. The first flight on Aug. 1 didn\u2019t go as planned. The release mechanism didn\u2019t work as expected and air movement from the quad rotor aircraft was greater than anticipated. It was that failure that inspired the research team to take another look at everything about the vehicle, leading to many improvements, said Justin Hall, NASA Armstrong chief pilot of small, unmanned aircraft systems.<\/p>\n Fast forward to Oct. 22, where the redesign of the release mechanism, in addition to an upside-down release and modified flight control surfaces, led to a stable and level flight. \u201cEverything we learned from the first vehicle failing and integrating what we learned into this one seemed to work well,\u201d Hall said. \u201cThis is a win for us. We have a good place to go from here and there\u2019s some more changes we can make to improve it.\u201d<\/p>\n Bodylski added, \u201cWe are going to focus on getting the aircraft to pull up sooner to give us more flight time to learn more about the prototype. We will go to a higher altitude [this flight started at 560 feet altitude] on the next flight because we are not worried about the aircraft\u2019s stability.\u201d<\/p>\n When the team reviewed flight photos and video from the Oct. 22 flight they identified additional areas for improvement. Another atmospheric probe will be built with enhancements and flown. Following another successful flight, the team plans to instrument a future atmospheric probe that will gather data and improve computer models. Data gathering is the main goal for the current flights to give scientists confidence in additional probe shapes for atmospheric missions on other planets. <\/p>\n If this concept is eventually chosen for a mission, it would ride on a satellite to its destination. From there, the probe would separate as the parent satellite orbits around a planet, then enter and dive through the atmosphere as it gathers information for clues of how the solar system formed.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/figure><\/a><\/figure><\/a><\/figure>
![\"Two](\"https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/AFRC2024-0166-016\/AFRC2024-0166-016~large.jpg?w=1920&h=1280&fit=clip&crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint\")
<\/a><\/figure>![\"A](\"https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/AFRC2024-0166-034\/AFRC2024-0166-034~large.jpg?w=1920&h=1280&fit=clip&crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint\")
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