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Remotely Piloted Stratospheric Aircraft Aurora Flight Sciences Manassas, VA. INNOVATION. Remotely piloted aircraft and propulsion system capable of low-speed stratos- pheric flight for the in-situ measurements of atmospheric chemistry. S mall B usiness I nnovation R esearch.
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Remotely Piloted Stratospheric Aircraft Aurora Flight SciencesManassas, VA INNOVATION Remotely piloted aircraft and propulsion system capable of low-speed stratos- pheric flight for the in-situ measurements of atmospheric chemistry Small Business Innovation Research • ACCOMPLISHMENTS • Development of a liquid oxygen/gasoline powered, closed-cycle engine • Design and fabrication of high-temperature heat exchanger for exhaust gas recycling • Extensive flight program for Perseus and Theseus aircraft • COMMERCIALIZATION • On the basis of Phase II results, Aurora was awarded two contracts by NASA-Ames (NAS2-13481 AND NAS2-13842) to develop and build two Perseus A aircraft with high altitude (up to 55 thousand feet) capabilities by dint of a closed cycle LOX/gasoline engine • Successful operation of Perseus A aircraft resulted in additional funding (ERAST Cooperative Agreements) for development and construction of a Perseus B aircraft - a turbocharged version of Perseus A • Additional NASA funds plus additional SBIR contracts from the National Science Foundation were given to Aurora for development and construction of Theseus, a more advanced version of Perseus aircraft with twin engines and with three times the payload of Perseus • Total post-Phase II NASA funding for development, construction, and operations of Perseus and Theseus aircraft amounts to $28.9 million, making it the largest NASA Phase III on record. In addition to the revenue, the project has also generated new jobs for 24 people Perseus Aircraft • GOVERNMENT/SCIENCE APPLICATIONS • As part of the Environmental Research Aircraft and Sensor Technology (ERAST) Program, the Perseus and Theseus aircraft are being used in the study of ozone depletion, the effects of jet exhaust from high-altitude supersonic aircraft on the atmosphere, and basic research into atmospheric chemistry • Hurricane tracking and analyis through in-situ measurements and through the dispensing of dropwindsondes from high altitude • Development of a high-altitude, long-range aircraft to act as a military • telecommunications platform or reconnaissance vehicle Ames Research Center SS # 2-008 - Contacts: Aurora - Bill Bryant (703) 331-1050 NASA - Jenny Baer-Reidhart (805) 258-3689 1989 Phase 2, Contract No. NAS2-13255