NASA Langley Story Opportunities - AugustFor Release: Immediately
Release No. 96-145
NASA Langley Story Opportunities - August
Is There Any Clean Air Left On Earth? In a search for
unpolluted air, NASA researchers will spend two months flying over
the Central Pacific ocean. Researchers need to know how the
atmosphere behaves without human influences in order to better
understand the effects of human activities on the Earth's
atmosphere. The Central Pacific is the focus of the Pacific
Exploratory Mission
(PEM)-Tropics experiment because it is, perhaps, the
last remaining region of the world's lower atmosphere that is
relatively free of human-induced atmospheric pollution. NASA, in
collaboration with NOAA and several universities and government
agencies, will spearhead PEM-Tropics. Interviews and video are
available.
PUBLIC AFFAIRS CONTACT: Catherine E. Watson (757) 864-6122
Understanding The Effects Of Crew Motions In Space. The
Enhanced Dynamic Load Sensors
EDLS-Mir experiment is measuring how the movements of
crew members aboard the Russian space station Mir
affect the microgravity environment of the station. Everyday
activities, such as opening and closing a locker door or moving
from one work station to another, cause vibrations on the space
station that can affect some of the more sensitive microgravity
experiments. Interviews, illustration and video are available.
PUBLIC AFFAIRS CONTACT: Catherine E. Watson (757) 864-6122
Adaptive Aircraft Unveiled At Oshkosh. NASA and the Air
Force unveiled a jet-powered remote-control aircraft in Oshkosh,
Wis., on Aug. 2. The 8-foot 4-inch "LoFlyte" aircraft was
built to demonstrate a computerized neural network flight control
system that learns as it flies. Developed by Accurate Automation
Corporation of Chattanooga, Tenn., under the Small Business
Research program, the aircraft is of a hypersonic waverider
configuration developed at Langley. The construction of the model
has been completed at SWB Turbines in Appleton, Wis., and the
aircraft will be flown subsonically in tests this month at NASA's
Dryden Flight Research Center. Interviews, photos and video are
available.
PUBLIC AFFAIRS CONTACT: Keith Henry (757) 864-6120
NASA Makes News At Oshkosh Fly-In. NASA announced two new
aeronautics research programs, and updated two more, at the annual
Experimental Aircraft Association convention in Oshkosh, Wis., Aug.
2 and Aug. 3:
-> Hypersonic - NASA unveiled a jet-powered test aircraft built
to demonstrate flight control technologies that learn by mimicking
the pilot. The 8-foot-4-inch remotely-controlled aircraft is a
hypersonic configuration that will be flown subsonically in tests
this month at NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center. The program is
managed by NASA Langley and the U.S. Air Force's Wright Labs. (See
Adaptive Aircraft Story Opp. above)
-> General Aviation - NASA announced the creation of the
General Aviation Propulsion program, managed by NASA Lewis Research
Center. Set to begin Oct. 1, GAP will develop both reciprocal and
turbine engine technology for light aircraft applications. NASA and
the FAA reported on progress to revitalize the U.S. general
aviation industry, including a demonstration of the latest flight
systems technologies at the Atlanta Olympics.
PUBLIC AFFAIRS CONTACT: Keith Henry (757) 864-6120
NASA and FAA Announce General Aviation Design Competition
Winners. Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University captured
first-place in the NASA/FAA 1996 National General Aviation Design
Competition. Cash prizes were awarded at a ceremony held Aug. 3 at
the annual Experimental Aircraft Association convention in Oshkosh,
Wis. The second-place award was presented to three Kansas
universities that worked together on a joint design project: the
University of Kansas, Wichita State University and Kansas State
University. Pennsylvania State University received third-place and
a special award for Greatest Retrofit Potential was given to the
design team from Ohio State University. The competition, which is
in its second year, allows university students to participate in
the national effort to revitalize the U.S. general aviation
sector.
PUBLIC AFFAIRS CONTACT: Keith Henry (757) 864-6120
- end -
NASA Langley Story Opportunities - August
For Release: Immediately Release No. 96-145 NASA Langley Story Opportunities - August Is There Any Clean Air Left On Earth? In a search for
unpolluted air, NASA researchers will spend two months flying over
the Central Pacific ocean.+ Read MoreAug_SO---NOTITLENASA And FAA Sponsor New
General Aviation Competition
