Aerosonde User’s Workshop Wallops Aerosonde UAV Facility Mission Proposing And Costing Factors Chuck Williams

November 4, Wallops Aerosonde UAV Facility Established via Cooperative Agreement between NASA and Aerosonde North America, Inc. Established via Cooperative Agreement between NASA and Aerosonde North America, Inc. Pilot Project to Determine Feasibility of Conducting Earth Science Research Utilizing Small, Long Endurance UAVs Pilot Project to Determine Feasibility of Conducting Earth Science Research Utilizing Small, Long Endurance UAVs WFF to Provide Mission Management WFF to Provide Mission Management Improve Instrument Integration Into Aerosonde Improve Instrument Integration Into Aerosonde Conduct Missions Worldwide Conduct Missions Worldwide

November 4, Wallops Aerosonde UAV Facility Location Location –Wallops Flight Facility Building N-159, Rooms W158, W160, W161 Contact Information Contact Information –Chuck Williams Code 850 University Class Projects Office –Maurice Gonella Aerosonde or

November 4, Aerosonde Test Flight Schedule November 12 – 28, 2003 November 12 – 28, 2003 –Test Flights at WFF –Four Missions Planned to Demonstrate »Autonomous Flight (All Missions) »Lost Communications/Return to Safe Area (Mission 1) »Flight Path Reprogramming During Flight (Missions 2,3,4) »UHF Long Range Communications (Mission 3) »Iridium Communications (Mission 4) February/March 2004 February/March 2004 –Long Endurance Flights (24 Hours) into National Airspace

November 4, Wallops Island UAV Runway

November 4, Test Flight Mission #4 Profile

November 4, Aerosonde Max Operating Range From WFF

November 4, UAV Flight Requests Supplemental Flight Call Letter for Aerosonde and Proteus Released October 24, 2003 Supplemental Flight Call Letter for Aerosonde and Proteus Released October 24, 2003 – –Flight Requests Due By COB December 1, 2003 Flight Request Form Available at Flight Request Form Available at –

November 4, Proposing Missions Be Specific Be Specific –Identify Where Your Funding Will Come From »Unfunded Proposals Receive Little Attention »NASA Funded – Identify Grant or Program Office »Non-NASA – Identify Funding Agency –Platform Desired »UAV –Mission Timeframe »Estimated Mission Duration »Desired Month(s) and Year –Mission Location »UAV Launch Area

November 4, Proposing Missions Be Specific Be Specific –Flight Path(s) or Operating Area »Area To Be Covered During Mission –Altitudes of Operation –Identify Science Objectives »How Does Your Science Tie Into ESE Science Questions –Flight Restrictions »Weather »Time Of Day »Time Of Year

November 4, Factors For Costing Missions Flight Hour Rate Flight Hour Rate –$ 785 per hour –Starts When The Propeller Is Turning Mission Logistics Mission Logistics –Number Of Flights Required to Support Mission –Number of Aerosondes in the Air »Up To Three Can Be Done Easily –Time Between Flights »Minimum and Maximum Allowable Times

November 4, Factors For Costing Missions Mission Location Mission Location –Wallops Missions »Most Cost Effective »Range Support Costs Not Included »Mission Safety Analysis –Other Locations »Team Travel Costs »Site Survey »Airspace Access »Mission Safety Analysis

November 4, Factors For Costing Missions Instrument Integration Options Instrument Integration Options –Number of Platforms Required –Payload Bay or Fuselage –On-Board Storage –Integrate into Aerosonde Avionics Ground and Flight Safety Analysis Ground and Flight Safety Analysis –Fly Under Umbrella of Already Approved Missions –National Airspace Access Mission Risk Mission Risk –High Risk Missions Will Require Pre-purchase of Platform

November 4, Summary Plan Out Mission Details Before Submitting Flight Request Plan Out Mission Details Before Submitting Flight Request Identify a Funding Source Identify a Funding Source Tie Science Into Fundamental Science Questions That ESE Is Trying to Answer Tie Science Into Fundamental Science Questions That ESE Is Trying to Answer Wallops Flight Facility Has a Lot of Experience Conducting Suborbital Science Missions, Feel Free to Contact Us for Help Wallops Flight Facility Has a Lot of Experience Conducting Suborbital Science Missions, Feel Free to Contact Us for Help