2008 Annual Report - NASA Airborne Science Program
2008 Annual Report - NASA Airborne Science Program
2008 Annual Report - NASA Airborne Science Program
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Dryden<br />
Aircraft<br />
Operations<br />
Facility<br />
<strong>NASA</strong> DC-8 overflies Dryden Aircraft Operations Facility, Palmdale, California.<br />
Fiscal year <strong>2008</strong> marked a key event<br />
for <strong>NASA</strong> <strong>Airborne</strong> <strong>Science</strong> flight<br />
operations with the stand-up of the<br />
Dryden Aircraft Operations Facility<br />
(DAOF). The DAOF is located in<br />
Palmdale, California, about 70 miles northeast<br />
of downtown Los Angeles. <strong>NASA</strong> has leased<br />
the facility, which consists of over 210,000<br />
square feet of hangar space and an equivalent<br />
amount of working space for offices, labs,<br />
conference accommodations, and storage<br />
from Los Angeles World Airports for 20<br />
years. <strong>NASA</strong>’s DC-8, ER-2s and G-III aircraft<br />
will be based at this new facility, along with<br />
the Stratospheric Observatory For Infrared<br />
Astronomy (SOFIA) aircraft.<br />
The DAOF is located on public land adjacent<br />
to the U.S. Air Force Production Flight<br />
Test Installation (Plant 42), and has access<br />
to two 12,000-foot runways and other<br />
support facilities maintained at this extensive<br />
aerospace complex. The Palmdale location<br />
offers easy access to hotels, restaurants,<br />
stores, shipping, and airline facilities.<br />
The DAOF provides a safe and secure<br />
environment for visiting scientists and<br />
technicians to check out and prepare sensor<br />
and instrumentation systems for flight.<br />
Approximately 7,000 sq. ft. of laboratory<br />
space has been configured to support<br />
multiple science teams during the upload<br />
process. Simulated aircraft power (28VDC,<br />
400 Hz and 60 Hz) with appropriate<br />
connectors, allows functional testing of<br />
experimenter equipment in the lab prior to<br />
integration onto the aircraft. High power<br />
laser operations, hazardous chemical handling,<br />
compressed gasses and cryogens can all be<br />
accommodated. <strong>NASA</strong> security procedures<br />
at the DAOF provide rapid processing and<br />
access for science visitors from around the<br />
world. The facility can be made available<br />
around the clock during mission uploads and<br />
operations.<br />
105