Nov. 22, 2005

Dryden Flight Research Center
P.O. Box 273
Edwards, California 93523
Phone 661/276-3449
FAX 661/276-3566

Beth Hagenauer
NASA Dryden Flight Research Center
Phone: (661) 276-7960
beth.hagenauer@dfrc.nasa.gov

RELEASE: 05-73P

PHOTO RELEASE

Altair UAV Flies Lengthy Science Missions For NOAA - The National 
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and NASA concluded a joint 
series of environmental science demonstration flights with the Altair 
unmanned aerial vehicle in mid-November. During a flight Nov. 16 over 
the Channel Islands off the Southern California coast, sensors on the 
aircraft gathered ocean color and atmospheric chemistry measurements 
and observed marine mammals and their environment. The flight also 
conducted low-tide coastal mapping and NOAA law enforcement 
surveillance of the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary. An 
earlier mission the same week saw the Altair collect data on 
atmospheric chemistry at various altitudes, measure ocean color and 
search for atmospheric rivers during an 18.5-hour long-endurance 
flight off the California coast and several hundred miles out to sea. 
NASA coordinated use of Altair with General Atomics Aeronautical 
Systems and provided mission management expertise to NOAA. -- NASA 
Dryden photo by Carla Thomas 

-NASA-

PHOTO EDITORS: A high-resolution photo to support this release is 
available electronically on the NASA Dryden web site at: 
http://www.nasa.gov/centers/dryden/news/newsphotos/index.html .

	
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