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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SlERRA<br />
The Sensor Integrated Environmental<br />
Remote Research Aircraft<br />
(SIERRA) is an unmanned,<br />
fixed-wing aircraft able to carry<br />
up to 100 lbs of science payload,<br />
with endurance from 8-12 hours, up to<br />
12,000 ft. The project is a partnership between<br />
<strong>NASA</strong> ASP and the Naval Research<br />
Laboratory to demonstrate a multi-mission,<br />
medium payload platform for sensor development<br />
and science missions suited to<br />
unmanned aerial applications.<br />
The team continued to progress towards<br />
the first flight of a science payload, logging<br />
nearly 25 hours of flight testing on the<br />
aircraft during FY<strong>2008</strong>. Ground testing and<br />
taxi testing were performed at Moffett Field,<br />
CA, with additional engine/taxi tests being<br />
performed at Truckee, CA for cold weather<br />
validation. Flight testing was conducted<br />
within the Fort Hunter Liggett restricted airspace<br />
and at Crow’s Landing under an FAA<br />
Certificate of Authorization.<br />
Designs were completed and configuration<br />
control board reviews were conducted for<br />
the first flight payload. The first payload will<br />
consist of three instrument packages:<br />
- Ice roughness profilometer and INU.<br />
PI: James Maslanik, University of Colorado<br />
at Boulder.<br />
- Pyrometers, pyronometers, and a microspectrometer<br />
for ocean color.<br />
PI: Geoff Bland, GSFC/WFF.<br />
- Hyperspectral imager and high resolution<br />
tracking camera.<br />
PI: Steve Dunagan, <strong>NASA</strong>/ARC.<br />
In FY2009, the SIERRA will be upgraded to<br />
include a differential GPS (DGPS) for providing<br />
precise and accurate position data to the<br />
payloads. An Iridium satellite communications<br />
modem will also be installed into the autopilot<br />
and ground station for over-the-horizon<br />
command and control. The project is partnering<br />
with an <strong>NASA</strong> Aeronautics project,<br />
led by Corey Ippolito of <strong>NASA</strong> Ames, to<br />
install a PC/104 terminal in the nose for flight<br />
experiments. The team will also be finalizing<br />
plans and beginning implementation on a fuel<br />
capacity upgrade that will likely entail adding<br />
85