Delaware-based Stratodynamics Inc. finished a successful series of test flights that launched from Spaceport America earlier this month. The company uses unmanned vehicles to provide earth observation services.
The tests were conducted using Stratodynamics' HiDRON, a balloon-launched glider vehicle, which is designed to descend back to earth once released. The test flights aimed to help researchers assess the performance of a wind probe and infrasonic microphone sensor, which the company licensed from NASA's Langley Research Center in 2020. Together, the two pieces of equipment are meant to help detect air turbulence for aerial vehicles, including commercial aircraft and delivery drones, according to a NASA news release.
Stratodynamics had conducted pre-flight testing with the licensed sensor, but the recent grouping of test flights were a "culminating flight campaign," according to NASA, allowing for validation of the sensor alongside the wind probe. With the HiDRON glider, the instruments were able to capture wind velocity, direction, magnitude, and low-frequency sound waves, according to the release.
“Currently, commercial aviation relies on meteorology and pilot reporting to predict and communicate areas of turbulence that other piloted aircraft might encounter,” said Sean Bailey, principal investigator for a University of Kentucky wind probe, in a statement. “So, we hope to fill gaps in currently available methods of turbulence detection, which should benefit unpiloted drones, low-Earth orbit spacecraft, and aviation overall.”
The University of Kentucky selected Stratodynamics as part of a proposal for funding for NASA’s Tech Flights solicitation, according to the space agency. The solicitation program provides awardees a grant or collaborative agreement so they can purchase flights directly from a U.S. commercial flight provider that meets their needs.
“Stratodynamics is proud to be collaborating with NASA and participating in the pioneering framework that the Flight Opportunities program provides,” said Nick Craine, the company’s business development lead, in a statement. “The program enables us to offer our energy-efficient aerial platforms and high-altitude expertise to more collaborators such as the University of Kentucky, advance new technologies and research, and provide cost-effective access to the stratosphere at a fraction of the cost of piloted scientific aircraft.”
The NASA announcement comes nearly seven months after the Spaceport announced that Stratodynamics and the University of Kentucky would be conducting a test flight at the southern New Mexico aerospace facility. It also comes weeks after Virgin Galactic's first human spaceflight from the Spaceport last month.
Stratodynamics is one of six customers and four tenants working with the Spaceport, which has been criticized in the past for lack of activity. The facility costed more than $218 million to construct, and Virgin Galactic is its anchor tenant.
