12/30/2023 0 Comments Helios solar flight history![]() ![]() Photo: NASAĪt about 10:36 a.m., the aircraft again experienced normal turbulence and transitioned into an unexpected, persistent high wing dihedral configuration. About 75 percent of the wreckage was recovered, but the prototype fuel cell system that was to have provided power at night during the planned long-endurance flight demonstration sank in mile-deep water and could not be recovered. Wreckage of the Helios Prototype solar-electric aircraft floats in the Pacific Ocean near the Hawaiian island of Kauai shortly after the aircraft became uncontrollable and broke up during a test flight on June 26, 2003. Unobserved mild pitch oscillations began, but quickly diminished, according to post-test data analysis. At 10:22 and 10:24 a.m., the aircraft encountered atmospheric turbulence, typical of conditions expected by the test crew, causing abnormally high wing dihedral (upward bowing of both wingtips). The lightweight, highly flexible flying wing took off at 10:06 a.m. No other property damage or any injuries occurred as a result of the mishap. The aircraft was destroyed when it sustained structural failure and fell into the Pacific Ocean. The propeller-driven aircraft had been flying under guidance of ground-based controllers from AeroVironment, Inc., of Monrovia, Calif., the plane's builder and operator, with assistance from NASA Dryden Flight Research Center personnel. Navy's Pacific Missile Range Facility (PMRF) on the Hawaiian island of Kauai on June 26, 2003. The failure occurred during a flight from the U.S. The Helios Prototype aircraft involved in the mishap was a proof-of-concept solar electric- powered flying wing designed to operate at high altitudes for long duration flight. The board determined that the mishap resulted from the inability to predict, using available analysis methods, the aircraft's increased sensitivity to atmospheric disturbances such as turbulence, following vehicle configuration changes required for the long-duration flight demonstration. The extreme dihedral caused aerodynamic instability that led to an uncontrollable series of pitch oscillations and overspeed conditions, resulting in structural failures and partial breakup of the aircraft. This view of the Helios Prototype from a chase helicopter shows abnormally high wing dihedral of more than 30 feet from wingtip to the center of the aircraft that resulted after the Helios entered moderate air turbulence on its last test flight. The board that investigated the loss of the remotely operated Helios Prototype aircraft during a test flight last summer released its final report today. Helios mishap report issued by NASA officials ![]() Privacy note: your e-mail address will not be used for any other purpose. Sign up for our NewsAlert service and have the latest news in astronomy and space e-mailed direct to your desktop. NASA's William Readdy, Space Operations associate administrator and Bill Parsons, space shuttle program manager, provide a status report on returning the shuttles to flight in this teleconference with reporters held on the one-year anniversary since the CAIB report was issued. Preview the launch of Lockheed Martin's Atlas 2AS rocket carrying a classified National Reconnaissance Office spacecraft with this narrated animation package. (4min 46sec file)Ī team of planet-hunters announce their discovery of a new class of planets beyond our solar system at this NASA news conference on Tuesday, August 31. (1min 56sec file)Īn external camera aboard the International Space Station captured this dramatic view of Hurricane Frances churning in the Atlantic Ocean. The classified NRO payload is deployed from the Centaur upper stage to successfully complete the launch. The Atlas 2AS rocket flight was the last to launch from the pad, which entered service in 1962. The Atlas launch team in the Complex 36 Blockhouse celebrate the history of pad 36A in a post-launch toast. Lockheed Martin's last Atlas 2AS rocket blasts off from Cape Canaveral carrying a classified National Reconnaissance Office spacecraft. Modules and equipment awaiting launch to the International Space Station are covered with bags inside the processing facility at Kennedy Space Center as added protection from Hurricane Frances. Workers close the payload bay doors, retract the landing gear and secure NASA's space shuttles in hangars at Kennedy Space Center to ride out Hurricane Frances. Premium video content for our Spaceflight Now Plus subscribers. Spaceflight Now | Breaking News | Helios mishap report issued by NASA officials ![]()
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