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X-38 model tested in NASA Langley's 31-Inch Mach 10 Tunnel
3% Hyper-X/Pegasus Launch Vehicle in Mach 6 and Mach 10 Tunnels.

Langley Aerothermodynamics Laboratory (LAL) Facility

The Langley Aerothermodynamics Laboratory is a collection of three hypersonic wind tunnels utilized for basic flow physics research, aerodynamic performance aeroheating assessment, optimization, and benchmarking of advanced space transportation vehicles.

Learn More About LAL about Langley Aerothermodynamics Laboratory (LAL) Facility

Focus Areas and Capabilities

Learn more about the specifications and capabilities of this facility.

Heating image of the space shuttle with color ranging from red, orange, green, blue, purple and yellow.

Characteristics

The Langley Aerothermodynamics Laboratory (LAL) is a suite of three hypersonic blow-down to-vacuum tunnels designed for fast-paced aerodynamic and aeroheating studies.

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Quick Facts

The LAL has contributed to most major hypersonic vehicle programs including Apollo, Viking, Space Shuttle, Orbiter, Hyper-X and Mars Science Laboratory

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A man inspecting the X-33 model prior to testing.

Data Acquisition

The LAL has standardized instrumentation and data acquisition systems, including high-frequency measurement capability, enable shared-resource utilization and common model/hardware designs.

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Langley Aerothermodynamics Laboratory (LAL) Gallery

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Contact Information

Langley Aerothermodynamics Laboratory
Facility Manager: Karen Berger
(757) 864-2279

NASA Langley Research Center
Hampton, VA 23681
(757) 864-1000

Fact Sheet

The Langley Aerothermodynamics Laboratory (LAL) is a suite of three hypersonic blow-down to-vacuum tunnels designed for fast-paced aerodynamic and aeroheating studies.

These economical facilities are ideally suited for screening, assessing, optimizing and
benchmarking advanced aerospace vehicle concepts, as well as performing fundamental flow physics research.

Read the LAL Fact Sheet
A ceramic aerothermodynamic heat transfer model of the X-34 is being prepared for testing in the 31-Inch Mach 10 Wind Tunnel located at NASA Langley Research Center in Hampton, Va. The model is a 0.018-scale version of the X-34 advanced technology flight demonstration vehicle. The X-34 is an autonomous rocket-powered, air-launched winged concept that is smaller, lighter and much less expensive than other lifting body vehicles, for example, the X-33. The X-34 is intended for hypersonic flight up to speeds of Mach 8, and would be used to demonstrate technologies for future reusable space transportation vehicles. The first flight of the X-34 vehicle is currently scheduled for early 1999. NASA Identifier: L97-2753
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