Helios

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Helios

• LTJG Brad Storey

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Overview

• Background
• Aircraft Description
• Milestones
• Projected Uses
• Sources

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Background

• Remotely piloted aircraft (UAV)
• 2 Missions
• High altitude/low payload (100K ft.)
• Extreme duration (gt50K ft. for gt4 days)
• NASAs Environmental Research Aircraft and Sensor
  Technology (ERAST) project
• Developed by Aero Vironment, Inc.

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Aircraft Description

• Solar-powered
• Propeller-driven
• Enlarged version of Centurion flying wing
• 247 ft. wingspan/8 ft. wing chord
• Composed of carbon fiber, graphite epoxy, Kevlar,
  styrofoam, thin plastic skin
• Gross weight up to 2,048 lbs.

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Aircraft Description

• Powered by 14 electric motors (2 hp. each)
• Initial projects powered by lithium batteries
• Follow-on missions solar powered in day
• Fuel-cell based energy storage system at night
  (Quantum)
• Breaks water into hydrogen/oxygen
• Produces electricity/water

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Aircraft Description

• Flight control computer in aircraft
• Control vehicle/center on ground
• 2-blade prop on each motor with laminar-flow
  design for high altitude flight
• Cruising speed 19-25 mph
• 72 trailing-edge elevators
• Yaw- differential speed on motors

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Milestones

• 18 AUG 99- Functional ground check
• 8 SEP 99- Low-alt maiden checkout flight
• 29 SEP 99- Second flight
• 13 AUG 01- Record flight
• 96,863 ft.
• Broke record for prop non-rocket aircraft
• 2003- gt50K ft. gt4 days

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Projected Uses

• Inexpensive satellites
• Telecommunications
• Scientific imaging
• Strategic imaging
• Mars exploration

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Sources

• www.nasa.gov
• www.dfrc.nasa.gov
• www.cnn.com

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