.....FRegards
Posted on 06/28/2003 10:08:11 AM PDT by BenLurkin
Despite the loss of its $15 million, one-of-a-kind aircraft, the Helios program will continue in its drive to achieve high-altitude, long-endurance flight using innovative fuel cell systems.
The remotely-controlled, solar-powered Helios Prototype aircraft was destroyed June 26 when it crashed into the Pacific Ocean near Hawaii during a check flight.
Built by AeroVironment Inc. as part of NASA's Environmental Research Aircraft and Sensor Technology program at Dryden Flight Research Center at Edwards Air Force Base, Helios was preparing for a nearly two-day endurance flight next month. The craft was tested at Edwards and is still managed at Dryden.
With a wingspan of 247 feet, the flying wing used more than 60,000 solar cells to power the electric motors of the aircraft's propellers.
The aircraft was lost 29 minutes into a planned 20-hour check flight over the U.S. Navy's Pacific Missile Range Facility on Kauai. The flight was planned to verify the in-flight operation of the solar-electric aircraft's new regenerative fuel cell system.
Contrary to initial reports, the aircraft reached 3,000 feet in altitude before crashing, not 8,000 feet.
The aircraft was carrying two tanks with hydrogen gas under extreme pressure to power the regenerative fuel cell system. These tanks were designed to vent the hydrogen in case of an emergency, which they did before Helios hit the water, said Alan Brown, Dryden spokesman.
The fuel cell system was not turned on before the crash.
The cause of the crash is under investigation.
Information gleaned from the investigation will likely be used to further the solar power research program.
"We're going to continue the solar research and development program," said Brown.
The program has limited funding to continue to mature the fuel cell systems.
Officials anticipate building another Helios-type aircraft, incorporating improvements gained from the crash investigation, although no funding for such project is in place.
"We're hopeful we can do that for further solar power research, but we don't know," Brown said.
The predecessor to Helios, the Pathfinder-Plus, will likely be used for other planned tests this summer, according to a statement by AeroVironment. This solar-powered aircraft performed telecommunications and crop monitoring missions last summer.
"AeroVironment is committed to the development and deployment of long-endurance aircraft in the stratosphere for multiple applications," the company said in its statement.
The Helios went down in deep water, with choppy seas following the crash hindering recovery efforts.
"It's unlikely we will recover major portions (of the aircraft)," Brown said. "We don't think that will add to the investigation."
NASA announced Friday the mishap investigation board for the crash will be led by Dr. Thomas E. Noll of NASA's Langley Research Center, Va.
Other members from NASA centers include Stephen D. Ishmael of Dryden Flight Research Center, Dr. Marla E. Perez-Davis of Glenn Research Center and Geary C. Tiffany of Ames Research Center.
In addition, Dr. John M. Brown of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration will serve on the board.
Additional, non-voting members from NASA headquarters, Kennedy Space Center and AeroVironment will also support the investigation.
The investigation board follows NASA's established practices for a loss of this magnitude.
The board is expected to begin its work in Hawaii Sunday. Officials anticipate a relatively short investigation period, as there is little data to review or personnel to interview.
"We're looking at a week" for the on-site investigation, Brown said.
While data-gathering may only take a week, the analysis is expected to take much longer.
No date has been set for a final report.
Brown emphasized that Helios was a high-risk, experimental program, which necessitated the use of a remote range for test flights.
.....FRegards
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