The Story of Self-Repairing Flight Control Systems: NASA and Air Force Partnership to Test SRFCS Damage Adaptive Technology, Intelligent Flight Control System

Nonfiction, Science & Nature, Technology, Aeronautics & Astronautics, History, Military, Aviation
Cover of the book The Story of Self-Repairing Flight Control Systems: NASA and Air Force Partnership to Test SRFCS Damage Adaptive Technology, Intelligent Flight Control System by Progressive Management, Progressive Management
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: Progressive Management ISBN: 9781476191676
Publisher: Progressive Management Publication: July 19, 2012
Imprint: Smashwords Edition Language: English
Author: Progressive Management
ISBN: 9781476191676
Publisher: Progressive Management
Publication: July 19, 2012
Imprint: Smashwords Edition
Language: English

This is the fascinating story of a little-known futuristic research project which investigated a concept brought to the Dryden Flight Research Center by Kelly Space. Kelly hoped to demonstrate a new approach to satellite launching by towing a rocket to altitude behind a transport airplane.

The Eclipse Project by Tom Tucker provides a readable narrative and a number of documents that record an important flight research effort at NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center. Carried out by Kelly Space & Technology, Inc. in partnership with the Air Force and Dryden at Edwards Air Force Base in the Mojave Desert of California, this project tested and gathered data about a potential newer and less expensive way to launch satellites into space. Whether the new technology comes into actual use will depend on funding, market forces, and other factors at least partly beyond the control of the participants in the project. This is a familiar situation in the history of flight research.

Frequently, the results of discoveries through flight research are not implemented immediately after projects are completed. A perfect example of this phenomenon is the lifting-body research done in the 1960s and 1970s that finally lead to new aerodynamic shapes in the world of aviation and space only in the 1990s. Even then, the lifting-body shapes (for the X-33 technology demonstrator and the X-38 prototype crew return vehicle) were only experimental. Other technologies emerging from flight research, such as movable horizontal stabilizers, supercritical wings, winglets, and digital fly-by-wire moved more rapidly into actual use in operational flight vehicles, but it was never crystal clear at the start of a flight research project whether the results would simply inform future practice or would be adopted more or less completely by air- and spacecraft designers.

Regardless of the eventual outcome in the case of the Eclipse Project, it was a unique and interesting experiment that deserves to be recorded. Tom Tucker has told the story in an interesting way that should make the monograph a joy to read. I thank him for his hard work, writing skill, and his flexibility as the monograph went through the coordination process. He was busy with teaching and writing another book; yet he unfailingly responded to my requests for technical changes in the monograph as various participants refined the details of the events surrounding the tow testing of the QF-106 behind its C-141A tow vehicle.

Start Up * The Elements * Names * Subsystems and Worry * Space * The Proof * Eclipse Flight Log * The Eclipse Project * Background * Eclipse Astroliner Concept * Historical Precedents * Aircraft / Weight / Wingloading / Comments * Program Philosophy * Obvious Issues * Pilot Training * EXD Pilot * Eclipse Simulation * EXD Cockpit * Attachment Hardware * C-141 Modifications * Tow Rope * Untethered Tests - C-141 Takeoff * C-141 Takeoff Profile * Tethered Research Objectives * Initial Results * Weak Link Release Procedure * Lessons Learned

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

This is the fascinating story of a little-known futuristic research project which investigated a concept brought to the Dryden Flight Research Center by Kelly Space. Kelly hoped to demonstrate a new approach to satellite launching by towing a rocket to altitude behind a transport airplane.

The Eclipse Project by Tom Tucker provides a readable narrative and a number of documents that record an important flight research effort at NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center. Carried out by Kelly Space & Technology, Inc. in partnership with the Air Force and Dryden at Edwards Air Force Base in the Mojave Desert of California, this project tested and gathered data about a potential newer and less expensive way to launch satellites into space. Whether the new technology comes into actual use will depend on funding, market forces, and other factors at least partly beyond the control of the participants in the project. This is a familiar situation in the history of flight research.

Frequently, the results of discoveries through flight research are not implemented immediately after projects are completed. A perfect example of this phenomenon is the lifting-body research done in the 1960s and 1970s that finally lead to new aerodynamic shapes in the world of aviation and space only in the 1990s. Even then, the lifting-body shapes (for the X-33 technology demonstrator and the X-38 prototype crew return vehicle) were only experimental. Other technologies emerging from flight research, such as movable horizontal stabilizers, supercritical wings, winglets, and digital fly-by-wire moved more rapidly into actual use in operational flight vehicles, but it was never crystal clear at the start of a flight research project whether the results would simply inform future practice or would be adopted more or less completely by air- and spacecraft designers.

Regardless of the eventual outcome in the case of the Eclipse Project, it was a unique and interesting experiment that deserves to be recorded. Tom Tucker has told the story in an interesting way that should make the monograph a joy to read. I thank him for his hard work, writing skill, and his flexibility as the monograph went through the coordination process. He was busy with teaching and writing another book; yet he unfailingly responded to my requests for technical changes in the monograph as various participants refined the details of the events surrounding the tow testing of the QF-106 behind its C-141A tow vehicle.

Start Up * The Elements * Names * Subsystems and Worry * Space * The Proof * Eclipse Flight Log * The Eclipse Project * Background * Eclipse Astroliner Concept * Historical Precedents * Aircraft / Weight / Wingloading / Comments * Program Philosophy * Obvious Issues * Pilot Training * EXD Pilot * Eclipse Simulation * EXD Cockpit * Attachment Hardware * C-141 Modifications * Tow Rope * Untethered Tests - C-141 Takeoff * C-141 Takeoff Profile * Tethered Research Objectives * Initial Results * Weak Link Release Procedure * Lessons Learned

More books from Progressive Management

Cover of the book Chinese Military: Federal Strategic Perspective Reports - Military Transparency, PLA's Role in Elite Politics, Out of Area Naval Operations, China's Quest for Advanced Military Aviation Technologies by Progressive Management
Cover of the book U.S. Marines in Humanitarian Operations: On Mamba Station - U.S. Marines in West Africa, 1990 - 2003, Civil War in Liberia, Samuel Doe, Evacuation Operations, Sharp Edge, Assured Response by Progressive Management
Cover of the book Taming the Wild West: United States Nuclear Policy (1945-1961) - Development of Single Integrated Operational Plan (SIOP) by Truman, Eisenhower, and Kennedy Administrations, Effect of Berlin Airlift by Progressive Management
Cover of the book Improving the U.S. Military's Adaptability Against the Salafist-Jihadi Threat: Counterterrorism and COIN, Death-Terror Management Theory, Leader Decapitation Effect on Terrorist Organizations by Progressive Management
Cover of the book Big Dam Era: A Legislative and Institutional History of the Pick-Sloan Missouri Basin Program - Flood Control, Missouri River Valley, Water Resources Development by Progressive Management
Cover of the book Apollo and America's Moon Landing Program - Chariots for Apollo: A History of Manned Lunar Spacecraft (NASA SP-4205) - Lunar and Command Module Development, First Lunar Landing by Progressive Management
Cover of the book Setup: What the Air Force Did in Vietnam and Why - Thoughts of Atomic Weapons, Bombing and Diplomacy, Linebacker, Laos and Cambodia, Mayaguez by Progressive Management
Cover of the book NASA Space Technology Report - Desert Research and Technology Studies (DRATS) 2009: A 14-Day Evaluation of the Space Exploration Vehicle Prototype in a Lunar Analog Environment by Progressive Management
Cover of the book 21st Century Military Documents: A Guide to Female Soldier Readiness - Hygiene, Nutrition, Health, Reproductive Hazards, Pregnancy, Parenting, STDs, Menstruation, Sexual Assault, Injury, Family Care by Progressive Management
Cover of the book Air Force Leadership Study: The Need for Deliberate Development - Leadership Concepts for Air Force Officers, Changes in Personnel and Education Policy by Progressive Management
Cover of the book Breaking the Mold: Tanks in the Cities - Five Case Studies: Sherman Tanks in World War II, Streets of Aachen, Pattons to the Rescue in Vietnam, Beirut in 1984, Grozny 1995, Fallujah in Iraq War 2004 by Progressive Management
Cover of the book 21st Century FEMA Study Course: Introduction to the National Response Framework (NRF) Support Annexes (IS-820) Managing Volunteers, Donations, and Finances, Building Partnerships by Progressive Management
Cover of the book Cyberspace Command and Control Model: The Nature of Cyberspace, Computer Networks, Information Environment, Internet, Data Manipulation, Legal Authorities, Cyber Attack, Cybernetics, Systems Theory by Progressive Management
Cover of the book Improving the Sustainment of SOF Distributed Operations in Access-Denied Environments: Unconventional Warfare Campaigns, Delivering Supplies, Personnel to Special Ops Forces, Logistics Technology by Progressive Management
Cover of the book Oman: Federal Research Study with Comprehensive Information, History, and Analysis - Politics, Economy, Military by Progressive Management
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy