2008 Annual Report - NASA Airborne Science Program

INTRODUCTION
It’s hard to believe another year has
already gone by and we are issuing
another Annual Report. We have
had a very good year, starting with
the stabilization of our budget, which
was given an increase of 22% over the next
five years. This gives us a steady funding
level, instead of the large reductions we were
facing. At the same time, we are adjusting our
program to add some significant capability
in Unmanned Systems, aircraft science
payload telecommunication/sensor webs, the
UAVSAR project, and our development of
standards across our platforms to improve
sensor portability and effectiveness.
Much more of our funds were used this year
on our core aircraft, the P-3, DC-8, WB-57s
and ER-2s. We are improving the capability
of the WB-57 to carry more without the
loss of range and endurance. There have
been significant strides in improving and
standardizing the P-3 and DC-8 science
station functionality and user interfaces. We
are also adding the G-III to our core aircraft.
As a part of its modifications to successfully
operate the UAVSAR system, it now has the
world’s most precise autopilot for an aircraft
of its class.
Other new technology vehicles, such as
the Global Hawks, are now in the NASA
inventory and are being prepared for their
first science missions next year. This effort
is made possible by our partnering with
Northrop Grumman and NOAA. Our small
SIERRA UAS is also on track for its first
international mission next year supporting
an International Polar Year research activity.
These aircraft will really bring about a
paradigm shift in airborne utilization for the
science community, with their ability to fly
over 11,000 miles and more than 30 hours,
or fly down low, inexpensively, with small
payloads in dangerous regions. In addition,
we have assigned a liaison to the FAA
Unmanned Aircraft Program Office to help
work out UAS science flight issues. The
FAA has also given us a seat in the small
UAS aviation rulemaking committee so we
are able to have input on the direction and
process for getting these vehicles into the
National Airspace.
The major airborne mission of the year was
ARCTAS, which was a multi-aircraft, multiagency,
international program combining
the efforts of three NASA aircraft, a
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