NASA Ames Research Center Facilities & Capabilities
Highlighted Ames Testing Facilities
Arc Jet Testing
The Arc Jet Complex has seven available test bays. At the present time, four bays contain Arc Jet units of differing configurations, serviced by common facility support equipment. These are the Aerodynamic Heating Facility (AHF), the Turbulent Flow Duct (TFD), the Panel Test Facility (PTF), and the Interaction Heating Facility (IHF). The support equipment includes two D.C. power supplies, a steam ejector-driven vacuum system, a water-cooling system, high-pressure gas systems, data acquisition system, and other auxiliary systems.
<strong>Aeronautics Facilities</strong>
NASA Ames Aeronautics has an extensive array of facilities for developing and evaluating numerous aspects of aeronautics technologies. The effectiveness of these facilities has been demonstrated over decades, and they are continuously upgraded to meet the demands of modern aviation.
Hover Test Facility
The Jet Calibration and Hover Test Facility at NASA Ames has been constructed to perform small scale experiments in hot gas ingestion and jet effects for aircrafts and UAVs. NASA Ames Research Center is collaborating with a commercial partner to develop a lunar lander for future low-cost missions to the moon.
Space Biosciences
We engineer specialized ground and flight research facilities to study life in space and altered gravity environments. We develop advanced technologies to sustain life in space. We explore how bioengineered organisms can enable human spaceflight by providing essential resources such as food, clean air and water, and biofuels.
Lunar Test Bed
The Lunar Lab and Regolith Testbed currently houses two large indoor “sandboxes” filled with tons of simulated lunar dust. With both testbeds, most areas on the Moon can be simulated with a high degree of accuracy.
Ballistic Ranges
The Ballistic Range Complex currently consists of three facilities: the Ames Vertical Gun Range (AVGR), the Hypervelocity Free Flight Aerodynamic Facility (HFFAF), and the Hypervelocity Free Flight Gun Development Facility (HFFGDF). Together, they enable a broad spectrum of research as outlined below.
Ames Capabilities & Facilities
Space Science & Astrobiology
| Earth Science
|
Space BiosciencesBioengineering:
| Supercomputing
|
Intelligent Systems
| Human Systems Integration
|
Entry Systems & TechnologyFacilities:
| Small Spacecraft
|
Aviation Systems
|
