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NASA to Test Technology for X-59’s Unique Shock Wave Measurements
- NASA is preparing to test a cone-shaped air probe which has been designed to capture the unique sonic thumps that are made by its quiet supersonic X-59 research aircraft while in flight. The shock-sensing probe has been developed in two versions to capture precise pressure data during supersonic flight - one will be optimised for near-field measurements and the other will measure the mid-field, at altitudes between 5,000 and 20,000 feet below the aircraft.
- NASA’s F-15B Aeronautics Research Test Bed will perform calibration flights mounted with the shock-sensing probe, which will capture shock waves from the X-59 and provide data that may change limits for overland supersonic flight from being speed-based to sound-based. The probes will capture small pressure changes that can be compared to predictions from advanced computer models, thereby improving their accuracy.
- Data from the sensors will be vital for validating computer models that predict the strength of the sonic thumps that the X-59 produces. A "follow-the-leader" set-up will allow researchers to analyse shock waves in real-time as they collect thousands of pressure samples per second from the mid-field and near-field probes.
- NASA principal investigator for the probe, Mike Frederick, said that the probe reaffirms that "NASA can take existing technology and adapt it to solve new challenges."
- The X-59 is designed to minimise loud sonic booms generated by an aircraft's supersonic shock waves, reducing them to quieter sonic thumps. The aircraft is part of NASA’s Quesst mission and the data from the shock-sensing probe will be invaluable for examining its shock characteristics.
- The near-field probe will be mounted on one F-15B that will collect data by chasing another F-15 that is flying at supersonic speeds. Previously, a 12-foot design caused delays in recording times and distorted measurements because the probe's pressure transducers had to be placed 5 inches from the ports. A heating system has been developed to maintain the pressure transducers at a consistent temperature during flight.
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