NASA Airborne Science Technology Roadmap Development Manned Aircraft Technology Working Group

1. NASA Airborne Science Technology Roadmap Development Manned Aircraft Technology Working Group November 2007

2. Outline Roadmapping Background Group Membership Core Aircraft Process Overview Capabilities Definitions Current Aircraft Capabilities Improving Aircraft Capabilities Aircraft Roadmaps New Aircraft Johnson Model Summary

3. Technology Roadmapping Activity Background The Airborne Science Program is sponsoring the activity. WFF has the lead for the manned aircraft component. A set of capabilities, required to support a given set of science missions, was provided as the basis from which to work for Manned Aircraft Technology Working Group (MATWG). MATWG was asked to assess current capabilities and identify technologies that advance the required capabilities.

4. MATWG Membership Brenda Mulac, WFF (DC-8) Anthony Guillary, WFF (P-3) Jacques Vachon, DFRC (ER-2, G-3, DC-8) Shelly Baccus, JSC (WB-57) Bruce Coffland, ARC Dick Friesen, NCAR Randy Tebeest, NOAA

5. Current Core Aircraft GIII WB-57 ER-2 P-3 DC-8

6. MATWG Process Capabilities based on earth science requirements for suborbital observations (derived from NASA study) were provided. Those relevant to the manned aircraft were identified and defined. For each core aircraft, identified current capabilities based on current configurations and maintenance Determined where the “holes” were in the capabilities, as well as which could be improved upon Identified technologies that would improve those capabilities Developed a “roadmap” for each aircraft based on findings

7. Capabilities Definitions Long Endurance – can the aircraft fly greater than 12 hours? Long Range – can the aircraft fly farther than 5000 nautical miles? Remote Base of Operations – can the aircraft base out of remote locations in order to access even remoter locations for science? High Altitude – can the aircraft fly between 50k and 75k feet in altitude? Medium Altitude – can the aircraft fly between 10k and 50k feet in altitude? Low Altitude – can the aircraft fly between 100 and 10k feet in altitude? Vertical Profiling – can the aircraft sample the same air mass at different altitudes? (i.e. porpoise or spiral up or down about a fixed point) Heavy Lift – can the aircraft carry more than 4000 pounds of payload?

8. Capabilities Definitions All Weather Conditions Take-Off and Landing: can the aircraft handle “extreme” weather during take off and landing? (i.e., heavy crosswinds, rain, fog, etc) In Flight: can the aircraft fly in and around severe weather? Monitoring/Control Multi-Ship – can the aircraft be used to control or monitor other aircraft like a UAV? Terrain Avoidance – does the aircraft have terrain avoidance systems for low level flights, and take off and landing? Formation Flight – can the aircraft fly in formation with other aircraft? Precision Trajectories – can the aircraft fly an exact path at different times to allow determination of temporal variations? Payload Directed Flight – is the aircraft capable of being directed by the output of its payload? Quick Deployment – can the aircraft deploy for an even driven mission within 24 hours?

9. Current Capabilities of Core Aircraft

10. Potential Improvements for Capabilities

11. Airborne Science Program Manned Aircraft Technology Working Group Technology Roadmap Newer, more efficient engines would help improve endurance and range as well as supportability. composite propellers would increase margin of safety, decrease noise and vibration (of electronics). Engine/Propeller Upgrade As technology improves with time, a better terrain avoidance system can be installed to assist with terrain avoidance capabilities. Terrain Avoidance Upgrade Installation of a more sophisticated avionics compatible with an ILS system would improve the all weather capabilities during take off and landing. Instrument Landing System (ILS)/Avionics Upgrade Improves the precision with which the P-3 can fly flight trajectories. Goal statement: To improve the current capabilities of the aircraft to fulfill the requirements provided by the customer. Autopilot Upgrade P-3 Capabilities Improvements Improved Radar and Storm Scope Increases the pilot awareness of severe weather and lightning for all-weather missions, thereby improving capability of satisfying requirements. Rack and antenna for UAV control Allows for control of a UAV from the P-3 during multi-aircraft missions. Business as usual: Upgrades and modifications are implemented slowly due to sporadic funding. 2007 2010 2014 2017 2020 2023 2027

12. Airborne Science Program Manned Aircraft Technology Working Group Technology Roadmap Upgrading the TF-33 engines will allow for increased range, endurance, and altitude. Engine Upgrade AutopilotUpgrade Upgrading the autopilot may allow the WB-57 to fly precision trajectories. Fuel Heaters Installing fuel heaters is necessary for increased range and endurance to ensure that the fuel doesn’t gel up. Superpods Retrofit The Superpods retrofit increases heavy lift capability. Goal statement: To improve the current capabilities of the aircraft to fulfill the requirements provided by the customer. Increasing the gross weight will allow the WB-57 to fly more payload and/or more fuel. This results in increased heavy lift capability and/or increased range and endurance. Gross Weight Increase WB-57 Capability Improvement ARTS provides an interface between the instrument on the aircraft and the aircraft flight control system, allowing for request from the instrument to change flight direction, altitude, and speed. ARTS The landing gear upgrade makes the gross weight increase possible and increases tire and brake availability. Business as usual: Upgrades and modifications implemented slowly due to sporadic funding levels. Landing Gear Upgrade Otto pilot 2007 2011 2015 2018 2022 2027

13. Airborne Science Program Manned Aircraft Technology Working Group Technology Roadmap Newer, more efficient engines would help improve endurance and range as well as supportability. Engine Upgrade As technology improves with time, a better terrain avoidance system can be installed to assist with terrain avoidance capabilities. Terrain Avoidance Upgrade Installation of a more sophisticated avionics compatible with an ILS system would improve the all weather capabilities during take off and landing. Instrument Landing System (ILS)/Avionics Upgrade A new autopilot improves the precision with which the DC-8 can fly flight trajectories. ARTS provides an interface between the instrument on the aircraft and the aircraft flight control system, allowing for request from the instrument to change flight direction, altitude, and speed. Goal statement: To improve the current capabilities of the aircraft to fulfill the requirements provided by the customer. Autopilot Upgrade, ARTS DC-8 Capabilities Improvements Increases the pilot awareness of severe weather and lightening for all-weather missions, thereby improving capability of satisfying requirements. Improved Radar and Storm Scope Rack and antenna for UAV control Allows for control of a UAV from the DC-8 during multi-aircraft missions. Business as usual: Upgrades and modifications are implemented slowly due to sporadic funding. 2007 2010 2014 2017 2020 2023 2027

14. Airborne Science Program Manned Aircraft Technology Working Group Technology Roadmap Upgrades to the engine will improve engine supportability for the future and performance improvements. Engine Upgrade Migrate to Air Force glass cockpit suite. The Air Force’s glass cockpit will enhance aircraft supportability. Installation of a more sophisticated avionics compatible with an ILS system would improve the all weather capabilities during take off and landing. Instrument Landing System (ILS)/Avionics Upgrade Autopilot and Flight Management system Upgrade Goal statement: To improve the current capabilities of the aircraft to fulfill the requirements provided by the customer. Improves aircraft ability to fly at lower altitudes. Brings aircraft into compliance with RVSM requirements. ER-2 Capabilities Improvements ARTS provides an interface between the instrument on the aircraft and the aircraft flight control system, allowing for request from the instrument to change flight direction, altitude, and speed. ARTS Install fuel heaters and wing wheels Fuel heaters allow the use of Jet A or JP-8 fuel. Wing Wheels improve aircraft ability to deploy and land with minimal crew support Simplifies deployment requirements. Business as usual: Upgrades and modifications are implemented slowly due to sporadic funding. 2007 2010 2014 2017 2020 2023 2027

15. Airborne Science Program Manned Aircraft Technology Working Group Technology Roadmap Newer, more efficient engines would help improve endurance, range, and altitude ceiling. Engine Upgrade As technology improves with time, an improved flight management system will improve automated flight capabilities. Instrument Landing System (ILS)/Avionics Upgrade Install racks, window panes and panels. Increases aircraft ability to have instruments installed. Goal statement: To improve the current capabilities of the aircraft to fulfill the requirements provided by the customer. G-3 Capabilities Improvements ARTS provides an interface between the instrument on the aircraft and the aircraft flight control system, allowing for request from the instrument to change flight direction, altitude, and speed. ARTS Rack and antenna for UAV control Allows for control of a UAV from the G-3 during multi-aircraft missions. Business as usual: Upgrades and modifications are implemented slowly due to sporadic funding. 2007 2010 2014 2017 2020 2023 2027

16. Capability Improvements: Quick Deployment Deployment within 24hr is doable if: Mission is in CONUS Payload is readily available, easily installed, and previously flown All required aircraft resources are available To assist in ease, develop “Payload Kits” Define a set of missions that would require “quick” deployment (ie: hurricanes, fires, earthquakes, etc) Define the payload that would be associated with each mission Have that payload already uploaded in a rack or pod, standing by Kit concept would require: Dedicated payload (ie extra instruments not available for use on other concurrent missions) Extra pods and racks

17. Why No New Aircraft? No major gaps exist in capabilities matrix. Current aircraft overlap some and fill the capabilities requirements. DC-8, U-2, and P-3 aircraft will likely be phased out of commercial and military use over the next twenty years. Significant number of aircraft will be excessed Critical spares available as a result Each aircraft design life is typically predicated on higher usage than to what the NASA aircraft actually are used. DC-8 designed as an airliner, in excess of 2000hr/year Flies <300hr/year LMAC imposed time limit on ER-2 heavy maintenance

18. The “Johnson Model” Process by which WB-57 has been maintained by JSC Only 2 WB-57 left flying in the world Recommend following similar process with other aircraft: Maintain internal staffing/knowledge base/engineering support Keep track of critical spares Identify resources for obtaining spares Consider different types of upgrades Look for creative solutions for what seem like insurmountable problems

19. At what point does it make more economical sense to buy something “new”? The old used car syndrome The assessment required to determine the answer requires an extensive analysis that is well beyond the scope and time limit of this exercise. Recommendation: Form external group to perform cost benefit analysis of new aircraft and what aircraft that would need to be Biased opinion from within group because of passion for each aircraft very strong After the “Johnson Model”?

20. NASA Airborne Science Technology Roadmap Development Proposal for Technology Roadmap Follow-on Work Manned Aircraft Technology Working Group December 13, 2007

21. Follow-on Work Cost Benefit Analysis of a New Aircraft vs Continual Upgrade of Old Aircraft Task: Form an external group to perform a cost benefit analysis of a new aircraft compared to continuous upgrades to current aircraft. Schedule: 6 to 9 months starting February 1, 2008 Personnel/Collaborations: An external consultant with the current team members Funds Required: $50-75k

22. Follow-on Work Development of Payload Kits for Specific Quick Response Missions Task: Define a set of missions that would require “quick” deployment (ie: hurricanes, fires, earthquakes, etc) and then define the payload that would be associated with each mission. Determine sensor and rack/mounting requirements. Purchase dedicated sensors and equipment Schedule: 9 to 12 months starting February 1, 2008 Personnel/Collaborations: Core group of 3-4, with collaboration across centers with different aircraft Funds Required: $200k (??)