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NASA Centurion

The NASA Centurion was the third aircraft developed as part of an evolutionary series of solar- and fuel-cell-system-powered unmanned aerial vehicles. AeroVironment, Inc. developed the vehicles under NASA's Environmental Research Aircraft and Sensor Technology (ERAST) program. They were built to develop the technologies that would allow long-term, high-altitude aircraft to serve as atmospheric satellites, to perform atmospheric research tasks as well as serve as communications platforms.[1] It was developed from the NASA Pathfinder Plus aircraft and was developed into the NASA Helios.

Centurion
Centurion takes off from Dryden in December, 1998
Role Remote controlled UAV
Manufacturer AeroVironment
First flight November 10, 1998
Primary user NASA ERAST Program
Number built 1
Developed from NASA Pathfinder
Developed into NASA Helios

Centurion edit

 
Quarter scale model of Centurion

Centurion, originally built for the 100,000 feet (30,000 m) altitude on solar power milestone specified by the ERAST project, was the third generation aircraft in the NASA Pathfinder series of electrical-powered flying wing unmanned aircraft. The ERAST program managers had determined that an aircraft based on the Pathfinder/Pathfinder Plus concept would be the lowest risk approach of achieving the altitude goal.[2]

Initially, a quarter-scale model of the Centurion was test flown at El Mirage Dry Lake on March 4, 1997. The full-size Centurion's maiden flight took place at Rogers Dry Lake on November 10, 1998, and lasted a total of 1 hr and 24 minutes. At the time, it weighed in at 1,385 pounds (628.2 kg) (including a 150 pounds (68.0 kg) steel anvil hanging on its centerline to simulate a payload) for its first flight. The flight was nearly flawless and was followed by a second similar performance on November 19, this time before a crowd of VIPs and Media. It lasted 1 hr and 29 minutes. The third and final flight of the low altitude test series took place on December 3. On this flight the vehicle was loaded down to its maximum gross weight of 1,806 pounds (819.2 kg) to test its weight carrying capability. Total flight time on this flight was 30 minutes, as it was shortened because high winds were anticipated by mid-morning. All of these flights took place on battery power and verified the design's handling qualities, performance, and structural integrity. Following these three flights, NASA decided to expand the aircraft into the Helios Prototype, with work starting in January, 1999.[1][2]

Aircraft description edit

The design of Centurion resulted in an aircraft that looked very much like the Pathfinder, but with a much longer wingspan of 206 feet (63 m). Although the Centurion shape resembled the Pathfinder, the structure was designed to be stronger and capable of carrying numerous payloads (up to 600 pounds (272.2 kg)) more efficiently. Its wing incorporated a redesigned high-altitude airfoil and the span was increased to 206 feet (63 m). The number of motors was increased to 14 and the number of underwing pods to carry batteries, flight control system components, ballast, and landing gear rose to four.[2]

Specifications edit

 
Solar Aircraft Evolution through the ERAST Program
Specifications[1][3][4][5]
  Pathfinder Pathfinder-Plus Centurion Helios HP01 Helios HP03
Length ft(m) 12 (3.6) 12 (3.6) 12 (3.6) 12 (3.6) 16.5 (5.0)
Chord ft(m) 8 (2.4)
Wingspan ft(m) 98.4 (29.5) 121 (36.3) 206 (61.8) 247 (75.3)
Aspect ratio 12 to 1 15 to 1 26 to 1 30.9 to 1
Glide ratio 18 to 1 21 to 1 ? ? ?
Airspeed kts(km/h) 15–18 (27–33) 16.5–23.5 (30.6–43.5) ?
Max altitude ft(m) 71,530 (21,802) 80,201 (24,445) n/a 96,863 (29,523) 65,000 (19,812)
Empty Wt lb(kg) ? ? ? 1,322 (600) ?
Max. weight lb(kg) 560 (252) 700 (315) ±1,900 (±862) 2,048 (929) 2,320 (1,052)
Payload lb(kg) 100 (45) 150 (67,5) 100–600 (45–270) 726 (329) ?
Engines electric, 2 hp (1.5 kW) each
No. of engines 6 8 14 14 10
Solar pwr output (kW) 7.5 12.5 31 ? 18.5
Supplemental power batteries batteries batteries Li batteries Li batteries, fuel cell

See also edit

References edit

This article contains material that originally came from the web article by Greg Goebel, which exists in the Public Domain.   This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

  1. ^ a b c "NASA Armstrong Fact Sheet: Helios Prototype". NASA. 13 August 2015. from the original on 2023-04-19.
  2. ^ a b c
  3. ^
  4. ^ Investigation of the Helios Prototype Aircraft Mishap – Volume 1, T.E. Noll et al., January 2004
  5. ^
  • ": Better Solar Cells—with Wires Where the Sun Don't Shine", an article by Daniel Cho on page thirty-three of the September, 2003 issue of Scientific American

External links edit

  • NASA's Helios Project
  • Helios for kids
  • Helios model by DesignsbyALX 2011-05-19 at the Wayback Machine.
  • "3G Tested at 65,000 feet (20,000 m) in the stratosphere" 3G news release July 23, 2002
  • Science Daily article on Pathfinder Plus altitude record
  • Pathfinder Plus at NASM
  • NASA-AeroVironment contract for followon projects[permanent dead link]
  • Helios record attempt article
  • NASA image collections:

nasa, centurion, third, aircraft, developed, part, evolutionary, series, solar, fuel, cell, system, powered, unmanned, aerial, vehicles, aerovironment, developed, vehicles, under, nasa, environmental, research, aircraft, sensor, technology, erast, program, the. The NASA Centurion was the third aircraft developed as part of an evolutionary series of solar and fuel cell system powered unmanned aerial vehicles AeroVironment Inc developed the vehicles under NASA s Environmental Research Aircraft and Sensor Technology ERAST program They were built to develop the technologies that would allow long term high altitude aircraft to serve as atmospheric satellites to perform atmospheric research tasks as well as serve as communications platforms 1 It was developed from the NASA Pathfinder Plus aircraft and was developed into the NASA Helios Centurion Centurion takes off from Dryden in December 1998 Role Remote controlled UAV Manufacturer AeroVironment First flight November 10 1998 Primary user NASA ERAST Program Number built 1 Developed from NASA Pathfinder Developed into NASA Helios Contents 1 Centurion 1 1 Aircraft description 2 Specifications 3 See also 4 References 5 External linksCenturion edit nbsp Quarter scale model of Centurion Centurion originally built for the 100 000 feet 30 000 m altitude on solar power milestone specified by the ERAST project was the third generation aircraft in the NASA Pathfinder series of electrical powered flying wing unmanned aircraft The ERAST program managers had determined that an aircraft based on the Pathfinder Pathfinder Plus concept would be the lowest risk approach of achieving the altitude goal 2 Initially a quarter scale model of the Centurion was test flown at El Mirage Dry Lake on March 4 1997 The full size Centurion s maiden flight took place at Rogers Dry Lake on November 10 1998 and lasted a total of 1 hr and 24 minutes At the time it weighed in at 1 385 pounds 628 2 kg including a 150 pounds 68 0 kg steel anvil hanging on its centerline to simulate a payload for its first flight The flight was nearly flawless and was followed by a second similar performance on November 19 this time before a crowd of VIPs and Media It lasted 1 hr and 29 minutes The third and final flight of the low altitude test series took place on December 3 On this flight the vehicle was loaded down to its maximum gross weight of 1 806 pounds 819 2 kg to test its weight carrying capability Total flight time on this flight was 30 minutes as it was shortened because high winds were anticipated by mid morning All of these flights took place on battery power and verified the design s handling qualities performance and structural integrity Following these three flights NASA decided to expand the aircraft into the Helios Prototype with work starting in January 1999 1 2 Aircraft description edit The design of Centurion resulted in an aircraft that looked very much like the Pathfinder but with a much longer wingspan of 206 feet 63 m Although the Centurion shape resembled the Pathfinder the structure was designed to be stronger and capable of carrying numerous payloads up to 600 pounds 272 2 kg more efficiently Its wing incorporated a redesigned high altitude airfoil and the span was increased to 206 feet 63 m The number of motors was increased to 14 and the number of underwing pods to carry batteries flight control system components ballast and landing gear rose to four 2 Specifications edit nbsp Solar Aircraft Evolution through the ERAST Program Specifications 1 3 4 5 Pathfinder Pathfinder Plus Centurion Helios HP01 Helios HP03 Length ft m 12 3 6 12 3 6 12 3 6 12 3 6 16 5 5 0 Chord ft m 8 2 4 Wingspan ft m 98 4 29 5 121 36 3 206 61 8 247 75 3 Aspect ratio 12 to 1 15 to 1 26 to 1 30 9 to 1 Glide ratio 18 to 1 21 to 1 Airspeed kts km h 15 18 27 33 16 5 23 5 30 6 43 5 Max altitude ft m 71 530 21 802 80 201 24 445 n a 96 863 29 523 65 000 19 812 Empty Wt lb kg 1 322 600 Max weight lb kg 560 252 700 315 1 900 862 2 048 929 2 320 1 052 Payload lb kg 100 45 150 67 5 100 600 45 270 726 329 Engines electric 2 hp 1 5 kW each No of engines 6 8 14 14 10 Solar pwr output kW 7 5 12 5 31 18 5 Supplemental power batteries batteries batteries Li batteries Li batteries fuel cellSee also editThe prehistory of endurance UAVs Electric aircraft Regenerative fuel cell NASA Pathfinder First flew in June 1983 NASA AeroVironment Helios Prototype First flight 8 September 1999 QinetiQ Airbus Zephyr First flight in 2008 Facebook Aquila First flight 28 June 2016 SoftBank AeroVironment HAPSMobile First flight 11 September 2019 BAE Systems PHASA 35 First flight 17 February 2020 References editThis article contains material that originally came from the web article Unmanned Aerial Vehicles by Greg Goebel which exists in the Public Domain nbsp This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration a b c NASA Armstrong Fact Sheet Helios Prototype NASA 13 August 2015 Archived from the original on 2023 04 19 a b c NASA Centurion fact sheet archived at archive org accessed September 8 2008 NASA Pathfinder fact sheet archived at archive org Investigation of the Helios Prototype Aircraft Mishap Volume 1 T E Noll et al January 2004 NASA Centurion Fact Sheet archived at archive org Photovoltaic Finesse Better Solar Cells with Wires Where the Sun Don t Shine an article by Daniel Cho on page thirty three of the September 2003 issue of Scientific AmericanExternal links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to NASA Pathfinder NASA s Helios Project Helios for kids Helios model by DesignsbyALX Archived 2011 05 19 at the Wayback Machine 3G Tested at 65 000 feet 20 000 m in the stratosphere 3G news release July 23 2002 Science Daily article on Pathfinder Plus altitude record Telecom relay achievements at Airport International Space com article History of solar powered UAVs at The Future of Things Pathfinder Plus at NASM Helios crash article NASA AeroVironment contract for followon projects permanent dead link Helios record attempt article NASA image collections NASA Pathfinder Archived 2013 04 15 at the Wayback Machine NASA Pathfinder Plus NASA Centurion NASA Helios Prototype Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title NASA Centurion amp oldid 1177121102, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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