|
Collection:
|
|
NASA Image eXchange Collection
Collection
NASA Image eXchange Collection
Collection
|
|
Title:
|
|
Apex high-altitude research sailplane mock-up
Title
Apex high-altitude research sailplane mock-up
Title
|
|
Description:
|
|
This photo shows a mock-up of the Apex high-altitude research sailplane intended to be carried aloft by a balloon. The Apex High-Altitude Flight Experiment is expected to explore the aerodynamics of controlled flight at very high altitudes near 100,000 feet. The Apex will be hoisted aloft tail-first from Dryden by a large high-altitude balloon and released at about 110,000-feet altitude. As it gradually descends, its instrumentation will collect aerodynamic data. The remotely-piloted, semi-autonomous Apex will combine a modified ASC sailplane fuselage design with a new wing designed at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The wing will have a special airfoil designed for high subsonic speeds at extreme altitudes. A device extending behind the right wing is a "wake rake," which will measure aerodynamic drag behind a test section of the wing, while a rocket pack mounted beneath the fuselage will assist the Apex in transitioning to horizontal flight. Research flights were expected to begin in mid-1998, but a series of technical problems delayed them. In the spring of 1999, Apex entered mothball status. This continued for a year, and in the spring of 2000 NASA selected Apex as part of phase 1 of the Revolutionary Concepts effort.
Description
This photo shows a mock-up of the Apex high-altitude research sailplane intended to be carried aloft by a balloon. The Apex High-Altitude Flight Experiment is expected to explore the aerodynamics of controlled flight at very high altitudes near 100,000 feet. The Apex will be hoisted aloft tail-first from Dryden by a large high-altitude balloon and released at about 110,000-feet altitude. As it gradually descends, its instrumentation will collect aerodynamic data. The remotely-piloted, semi-autonomous Apex will combine a modified ASC sailplane fuselage design with a new wing designed at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The wing will have a special airfoil designed for high subsonic speeds at extreme altitudes. A device extending behind the right wing is a "wake rake," which will measure aerodynamic drag behind a test section of the wing, while a rocket pack mounted beneath the fuselage will assist the Apex in transitioning to horizontal flight. Research flights were expected to begin in mid-1998, but a series of technical problems delayed them. In the spring of 1999, Apex entered mothball status. This continued for a year, and in the spring of 2000 NASA selected Apex as part of phase 1 of the Revolutionary Concepts effort.
Description
|
|
Date:
|
|
09.26.1995
|
|
Credit:
|
|
|
|
facet_what:
|
|
Apex
facet_what
Apex
facet_what
|
|
facet_where:
|
|
Massachusetts
facet_where
Massachusetts
facet_where
|
|
facet_where:
|
|
Dryden Flight Research Center (DFRC)
facet_where
Dryden Flight Research Center (DFRC)
facet_where
|
|
facet_when:
|
|
1999
facet_when
1999
facet_when
|
|
facet_when:
|
|
2000
facet_when
2000
facet_when
|
|
facet_when:
|
|
09-26-1995
facet_when
09-26-1995
facet_when
|
|
facet_when_year:
|
|
1995
facet_when_year
1995
facet_when_year
|
|
facet_when_year:
|
|
1999
facet_when_year
1999
facet_when_year
|
|
facet_when_year:
|
|
2000
facet_when_year
2000
facet_when_year
|
|
Media:
|
|
IMAGE
|
|
ID:
|
|
EC95-43311-1
|
|
UID:
|
|
SPD-NIX-EC95-43311-1
UID
SPD-NIX-EC95-43311-1
UID
|
|
orignial url:
|
orignial_url
orignial url
|
