NASA 171299main FS-091-DFRC

NASA Dryden’s Contributions to Spaceflight
The Dryden Flight Research Center in • Life support systems, such as practical full-
California’s Mojave Desert is NASA’s lead pressure suits for pilot protection.
installation for atmospheric flight research. • Inertial navigation systems for operation in
Dryden performs research, development and low and high dynamic flight conditions.
verification of advanced aerospace technolo- • Flight control mechanisms that could control
gies for production, prototype or experimental a vehicle in high and low dynamic flight con-
vehicles. ditions as well as gravity-free environments.
NASA Dryden has played a significant role in

The Lunar Landing Research Vehicle (LLRV)
NASA’s human space flight programs. Dryden’s
investigated vehicle control and landing ca-
major past and present contributions to
pabilities in zero dynamic pressure and near
America’s access to space date from the late
weightlessness, analog fly-by-wire control,
1950s and continue today as NASA embarks
and trained astronauts to safely land an un-
on the Constellation program to resume human
conventional vehicle in those conditions.
exploration of the moon and the solar system.
Research with the X-15 rocket plane in the The family of wingless lifting bodies flown in
1960s contributed to space exploration in the late 1960s and early 1970s enabled us to
several areas, including: investigate energy management techniques
• Reaction control systems for attitude for atmospheric re-entry and controlled de-
control and maneuvering outside the scent to a landing in a vehicle without wings
Earth’s atmosphere. or power.
The F-8 Digital Fly-By-Wire program demonstrated the development of NASA’s exploration systems.
digital computer control of aircraft flight controls, which
led to lighter weight, greater redundancy and more pre- NASA Dryden will lead the flight test integration and op-
cision. The project also flight-validated the computers erations of a system that safely aborts a launch of the
used in the Shuttle’s flight control system, and resolved Orion Crew Exploration Vehicle if problems develop that
pilot-induced oscillation tendencies in digital controls are hazardous to the crew.
through the development of suppression filters.
In addition, Dryden’s responsibilities for the Orion ve-
Research with the triple-sonic YF-12 led to a central hicle will include:
airborne performance analyzer that became the basis • Abort test booster procurement
for vehicle health monitoring system used on the space • Flight test article and abort test booster integration
shuttles. • Flight test article design, assembly, integration and
testing
The space shuttle Approach and Landing Tests validat- • Independent analysis and oversight of prime contrac-
ed both the ability of the modified Boeing 747 Shuttle tors' flight test articles
Carrier Aircraft to carry the shuttle and the approach
and precision landing of the unpowered shuttle on the Dryden will also be responsible for preliminary definition
main and lakebed runways at Edwards Air Force Base. and planning for the Orion launch abort systems tests,
drop tests, landing and recovery tests, flight re-entry
Dryden flight-validated the shuttle’s solid rocket booster and landing profiles, and range safety requirements and
parachute recovery system in the 1980s, and the effec- integration.
tiveness of the shuttle’s drag parachute a decade later.
Dryden Loads Laboratory also validated the integrity of

the shuttle’s structure under intense thermal conditions. Nose Cone
Attitude Control Motor
Dryden conducted flight tests of the shuttle's Thermal (Eight Nozzles)
Protection System, using F-104 and F-15 aircraft to test Canard Section
shuttle TPS tiles under various aerodynamic and atmo- (Stowed Configuration)
spheric conditions.
Jettison Motor
(Four Scarfed Nozzles)
Tests on a modified CV-990 led to improved shuttle tires
and brakes, higher crosswind landing limits and resur-
facing of the Kennedy runway for better tire wear.
Abort Motor
Tests flown on Dryden's F-15B research testbed aircraft (Four Reverse
in 2005 investigated the trajectory of insulating foam Flow Nozzles)
that separates from the shuttle’s external tank on as-
cent.
Adapter Cone
Dryden has supported numerous space shuttle landings
at Edwards, including deservicing and ferry flight opera-
tions to return the shuttle to the Kennedy Space Center
launch site. Since orbital missions began in 1981,
Boost
Dryden has been the site of 50 shuttle landings.
Protective
Cover
Looking to the future, the same skills that have enabled (BPC)
NASA researchers and pilots to unlock aeronautical
Crew Module
secrets for decades are being called upon to accelerate
(CM)
National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Dryden Flight Research Center
P.O. Box 273
Edwards, CA 93523-0273
Voice 661-276-3449 FAX 661-276-3566
pao@dfrc.nasa.gov
FS-2006-11-091-DFRC

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NASA Dryden’s Contributions to Spaceflight

NASA Dryden has played a significant role in

Dryden Loads Laboratory also validated the integrity of

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

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