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Feasibility study for a microwave-powered ozone sniffer aircraftThe preliminary design of a high-altitude, remotely-piloted, atmospheric-sampling aircraft powered by microwave energy beamed from ground-based antenna was completed. The vehicle has a gross weight of 6720 pounds and is sized to carry a 1000 pound payload at an altitude of 100,000 feet. The underside of the wing serves as the surface of a rectenna designed to receive microwave energy at a power density of 700 watts per square meter and the wing has a planform area of 3634 square feet to absorb the required power at an optimum Mach number M = 0.44. The aircraft utilizes a horizontal tail and a canard for longitudinal control and to enhance the structural rigidity of the twin fuselage configuration. The wing structure is designed to withstand a gust-induced load factor n = 3 at cruise altitude but the low-wing loading of the aircraft makes it very sensitive to gusts at low altitudes, which may induce load factors in excess of 20. A structural load alleviation system is therefore proposed to limit actual loads to the designed structural limit. Losses will require transmitted power on the order of megawatts to be radiated to the aircraft from the ground station, presenting environmental problems. Since the transmitting antenna would have a diameter of several hundred feet, it would not be readily transportable, so we propose that a single antenna be constructed at a site from which the aircraft is flown. The aircraft would be towed aloft to an initial altitude at which the microwave power would be utilized. The aircraft would climb to cruise altitude in a spiral flight path and orbit the transmitter in a gentle turn.
Document ID
19900014081
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Thesis/Dissertation
Authors
Botros, David F. (Worcester Polytechnic Inst. MA, United States)
Cody, Charlotte K. (Worcester Polytechnic Inst. MA, United States)
Forden, Noah P. (Worcester Polytechnic Inst. MA, United States)
Helsing, Martin A. (Worcester Polytechnic Inst. MA, United States)
Jutras, Thomas H. (Worcester Polytechnic Inst. MA, United States)
Kim, Dohoon (Worcester Polytechnic Inst. MA, United States)
Labarre, Christopher (Worcester Polytechnic Inst. MA, United States)
Odin, Ethan M. (Worcester Polytechnic Inst. MA, United States)
Sandler, Scott B. (Worcester Polytechnic Inst. MA, United States)
Date Acquired
September 6, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 1990
Subject Category
Aircraft Design, Testing And Performance
Report/Patent Number
NASA-CR-186660
NAS 1.26:186660
Accession Number
90N23397
Funding Number(s)
PROJECT: PROJ. MSG-89A1
CONTRACT_GRANT: NASW-4435
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.

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