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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Figure 52<br />
Early remote sensing payload on<br />
<strong>NASA</strong> P-3 927.<br />
sensors, became operational early in 1967. The<br />
P-3A, affectionately known as “Baby”, was an<br />
early prototype from the Lockheed Electra<br />
program that had been modified for testing in<br />
the P-3 ASW programs. It had about 9 feet (or<br />
so) removed from amidships from its original<br />
fuselage for this P-3 development program<br />
and was aircraft #003, as I remember. There<br />
were only two built before her. It came with<br />
as-built red line drawings which presented<br />
challenges when it came to recertification<br />
after modifications, especially changes to<br />
the electrical system necessary to integrate<br />
program remote sensing systems. The<br />
maximum altitude was 30,000 feet, with mission<br />
duration of 7 hours and a range of about 2000<br />
miles. It was sent off to Wallops when the<br />
program phased out of JSC in July of 1982 and<br />
was primarily used for their range program and<br />
some small Wallops remote sensing projects.<br />
Sensors included large format cameras, active<br />
and passive microwave sensors, and an infrared<br />
scanner.<br />
Lockheed C-130B (<strong>NASA</strong> 929)<br />
The C-130 was acquired on loan from the<br />
Air Force in 1968 (I think) and underwent<br />
significant modifications to accommodate<br />
several new sensor systems, was recertified,<br />
and commenced data acquisition in<br />
September of 1969. It had an interesting<br />
history. It had been utilized by the <strong>NASA</strong><br />
Langley Research Center (LaRC) as a<br />
boundary layer test aircraft for some time<br />
and had a beefed up wing (leading edge). It<br />
was transferred to JSC after conclusion of<br />
that program. The cost to return the wing<br />
to the original configuration was prohibitive<br />
so a worldwide search (we didn’t have<br />
‘eBay’ then) found a set of C-130 wings in<br />
Zambia. One of their military aircraft had<br />
been attacked by rebels while on the apron;<br />
some of the crew killed, and the plane was<br />
pretty well shot up. The program purchased<br />
the wing sections and transported them<br />
by barge to the States and onto JSC. The<br />
wing replacement was performed at LTV<br />
in Greenville, Texas, where the extensive<br />
airframe modifications required for sensor<br />
integration were also performed. It came<br />
out of modification and flight certification<br />
test in August of 1969 and as mentioned<br />
above, flew her first mission the next<br />
month. The C-130 was sent off to <strong>NASA</strong><br />
Ames Research Center, along with its and<br />
other sensor systems listed for the P-3A,<br />
when the program phased out of JSC in<br />
summer of 1982 (I’m pretty sure). The C-<br />
130 sensor complements included several<br />
cameras, active microwave scatterometers,<br />
infrared and multi-spectral scanners, and<br />
other instruments such as PRT-5 radiation<br />
thermometers, inertial navigation system,<br />
and closed-circuit TV.<br />
126