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Altus

General Atomics' Altus vehicle was used to verify technologies that will lead to a long-duration (12 to 72 hours), high altitude vehicle capable of carrying a 330 pound science payload. The efforts include work on engine integration, flight operations techniques and procedures, lightweight structures, science payload integration and science mission demonstration.
Altus Home Page

DFRC Photo # Photo Date Image Description
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Altus II Vehicle
EC02-0162-22 July 10, 2002 Looking ever so much like an alien spacecraft, the Altus II remotely piloted aircraft shows off some of the instruments and camera lenses mounted in its nose for a lightning study over Florida flown during the summer of 2002.
EC02-0162-54 July 12, 2002 The Altus II remotely piloted aircraft carried a variety of specialized instruments and cameras during a lightning study over Florida during the summer of 2002.
EC02-0162-58 July 12, 2002 The remotely piloted Altus II aircraft probed lightning development with a variety of specialized instruments and cameras during a month-long study over Florida during the summer of 2002.
EC99-45006-1 May 1999 Altus II high altitude science aircraft decending toward U.S. Navy's Pacific Missile Range Facility on Kauai, Hawaii
EC99-45006-2 May 1999 Altus II high altitude science aircraft decending toward U.S. Navy's Pacific Missile Range Facility on Kauai, Hawaii
EC96-43560-1 May 1, 1996 Altus II aircraft on runway
EC98-44684-1 June 29, 1998 The remotely-piloted Altus II aircraft flying over the California desert.
EC98-44684-2 June 29, 1998 The remotely-piloted Altus II aircraft flying over the California desert.
EC98-44684-3 June 29, 1998 The remotely-piloted Altus II aircraft flying over the California desert.
Altus I Vehicle
EC97-44175-13 August 1997 Altus I aircraft taking off from lakebed runway
EC97-44175-14 August 1997 Altus I aircraft in flight, retracting landing gear after takeoff
EC97-44175-20 August 1997 Altus I aircraft landing on Edwards lakebed runway 23
EC97-44175-21 August 1997 The remotely-piloted Altus I aircraft sits on Rogers Dry Lake adjacent to NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center, Edwards, Calif.

Additional Information

The remotely piloted Altus I aircraft flew several developmental test flights from Rogers Dry Lake adjacent to NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center, Edwards, California, in early August, 1997. The short series of test flights sponsored by the Naval Postgraduate School was designed to demonstrate the ability of the experimental craft to cruise at altitudes above 40,000 feet for sustained durations on atmospheric science missions. On its final flight Aug. 15, the Altus I reached an altitude of 43,500 feet.

The Altus II will seek to reach and sustain altitudes in the 60,000 to 65,000 foot range during a series of development test flights at Dryden in the late summer - early fall of 1998.

A pilot in a control station on the ground flies these craft by radio signals, using visual cues from a video camera in the nose of the aircraft and information from the craft's air data system.




Last Modified: September 19, 2002
Responsible NASA Official: Marty Curry
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