Optional Tour of NASA Ames Research Center: Monday, August 3 (8:00 am – 11:00 am)
Registration for the tour is now closed.
NASA Ames has arranged visits to the Vertical Motion Simulator (VMS), the National Full-Scale
Aerodynamics Complex (NFAC), and Hyperwall. The in-house developed hyperwall visualization system - one of the largest and most powerful in the world - provides a super computer-scale environment to visualize and explore the very large, high-dimensional datasets produced by NASA supercomputers and and instruments. The hyperwall helps researchers display, analyze and study high-dimensional datasets in meaningful ways, allowing the use of different tools, viewpoints, and parameters to display the same data or datasets.
Because of the limited congregating space, the tour will have to be limited to 30 individuals and all will require NASA visitor badges to access the Ames secure area. Tour participants should arrive at the Main Gate Badging Office at 8:00 am to pick up their badge; you will start the tour from there at 8:30, finishing at 11:00. Ames will provide transportation and escorts.
The cutoff date to signup for the tour was July 3, 2015 to allow time for processing visitor badges, including non-US citizens, so no more participants can be accepted.
Vertical Motion Simulator (VMS)
This unique flight simulation complex provides scientists and engineers with exceptional tools to explore, define, and solve issues in both vertical flight and spacecraft design and mission operations. The VMS aids the aerospace community in generating fast and cost-effective solutions using high-fidelity, real-time piloted simulation in the largest motion-based flight simulator in the world. The VMS offers an unequaled range of motion, moving as much as 60 feet vertically and 40 feet horizontally. This is key to high-fidelity simulation, and along with other sensory cues, makes the VMS unsurpassed at simulating aerospace vehicles for the entire flight envelope— especially during the critical phases of approach and landing. The Space Shuttle Program continues to reduce program risk by leveraging the VMS’ capabilities for engineering studies, design validation, and astronaut training. While the VMS offers much that is unique, two capabilities stand out. First, engineers can customize the system to simulate any aerospace vehicle, whether existing or in the design stage. Second, simulations occur with high fidelity; that is, the simulator reproduces the flight characteristics of the vehicle with a high degree of accuracy. This entails delivering realistic cues to the pilot in real time, so the pilot perceives the behavior of the simulated aircraft in the same manner as the real aircraft.
http://www.nasa.gov/centers/ames/research/technology-onepagers/vms.html
National Full-Scale Aerodynamics Complex (NFAC)
NFAC is a unique facility primarily used for determining aerodynamic characteristics of large-scale and full-scale rotorcraft and powered-lift V/STOL aircraft, as well as testing of wind turbines, parachutes, trucks, and other non-traditional types of testing. The facility is composed of two large test sections and a common, six-fan drive system. The 40-by-80 foot wind tunnel circuit is capable of providing test velocities up to 300 knots. The 80-by-120 foot test section is the world's largest wind tunnel and is capable of testing a full size Boeing 737 at velocities up to 100 knots. A system of moveable vanes can be positioned so that air either drawn through the 80-by-120 foot test section and exhausted into the atmosphere, or driven around the closed circuit through the 40-by-80 foot test section. A passive air exchange systems is utilized in the 40-by-80 circuit to keep air temperatures below 125 degrees Fahrenheit. A wide range of available model support systems combine with this unique facility to allow successful completion of aerodynamic and acoustic experiments that cannot be achieved anywhere else. NFAC is a unique facility primarily used for determining aerodynamic characteristics of large-scale and full-scale rotorcraft and powered-lift V/STOL aircraft, as well as testing of wind turbines, parachutes, trucks, and other non-traditional types of testing. The facility is composed of two large test sections and a common, six-fan drive system. The 40-by-80 foot wind tunnel circuit is capable of providing test velocities up to 300 knots. The 80-by-120 foot test section is the world's largest wind tunnel and is capable of testing a full size Boeing 737 at velocities up to 100 knots. A system of moveable vanes can be positioned so that air either drawn through the 80-by-120 foot test section and exhausted into the atmosphere, or driven around the closed circuit through the 40-by-80 foot test section. A passive air exchange systems is utilized in the 40-by-80 circuit to keep air temperatures below 125 degrees Fahrenheit. A wide range of available model support systems combine with this unique facility to allow successful completion of aerodynamic and acoustic experiments that cannot be achieved anywhere else.
http://www.arnold.af.mil/library/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=13107
http://www.nasa.gov/centers/ames/multimedia/images/2005/nfac.html
Hyperwall
The in-house developed Hyperwall visualization system-one of the largest and most powerful in the world-provides a super computer-scale environment to visualize and explore the very large, high-dimensional datasets produced by NASA supercomputers and instruments. The hyperwall helps researchers display, analyze and study high-dimensional datasets in meaningful ways, allowing the use of different tools, viewpoints, and parameters to display the same data or datasets.
http://www.nas.nasa.gov/hecc/resources/viz_systems.html