US Air Force, ARNOLD AIR FORCE BASE: The Arnold Engineering Development Center's Tunnel 9 facility in White Oak, Md. is playing a crucial role in the ongoing Falcon program, with the completion of mission-critical testing of the Hypersonic Technology Vehicle 1.
The Falcon initiative is a joint Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency and Air Force program. The objective is to develop and demonstrate hypersonic technologies that will enable the capability to execute prompt global reach missions.
The ultimate capability is envisioned to entail a reusable Hypersonic Cruise Vehicle capable of delivering 12,000 pounds of payload a distance of 9,000 nautical miles in less than two hours.
The technologies required by an HCV include high lift-to-drag technologies, high temperature materials, thermal protection systems, and guidance, navigation and control. A series of hypersonic technology vehicles are planned to incrementally demonstrate these required technologies in flight.
Tunnel 9 alone provided the match of test conditions and data accuracy needed to make the program successful, according to Dan Marren, Tunnel 9 site director.
The Air Force Research Laboratory Air Vehicles Directorate at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, provides technical guidance for the Falcon program to DARPA.
During program technical reviews, AFRL suggested that the program could be enhanced by the inclusion of data from AEDC Hypervelocity Wind Tunnel 9.
“The Tunnel 9 facility exactly duplicates the HTV-1 flight Reynolds number at Mach 10, and the large model size permits accurate flow field resolution…Tunnel 9 will provide the best quality data and the best return on the investment of test dollars and effort,” said Dr. Peter Erbland, the AFRL Air Vehicles scientific advisor.
More than 30 runs were successfully completed during this HTV-1 entry in AEDC Tunnel 9 at Mach 10 and 14. This data will help validate the aerodynamic data base at two important flight points prior to the upcoming critical design review.
“DARPA program management placed wind tunnel verification of HTV-1's aerodynamic properties on the top of their priority list,” said 1st Lt. Ben Berlin, Air Force Falcon program office. “Not only did Tunnel 9 provide a unique and cost-effective means to perform this extremely valuable testing, Tunnel 9 finished testing ahead of schedule in order to provide this crucial data to Lockheed Martin prior to their critical design review.
“Working with AEDC Tunnel 9 personnel has been a true pleasure because they exemplify dedication and professionalism.”
According to DARPA officials, the joint program's goal is to develop and validate in-flight technologies that enable both a near-term (2010) and far-term (2025) capability to execute time-critical, prompt global-reach missions, while at the same time demonstrating affordable and responsive space lift.
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