NASA’s Stennis Space Center near Bay St Louis, Mississippi, has entered into an agreement with Skydweller Aero Inc for the company to operate its solar-powered autonomous aircraft in the site’s restricted airspace. NASA Stennis director John Bailey said: “There are few locations like NASA Stennis that offer a secure location, restricted airspace and the infrastructure to support testing and operation of various uncrewed systems. Range operations are a critical area of focus as we adapt to the changing aerospace and technology landscape to grow into the future.”
NASA Stennis and Skydweller Aero finalised the agreement in late August, paving the way for the company to begin area test flights of its autonomous, uncrewed solar-powered aircraft, which features a wingspan greater than a Boeing 747 and is designed for long-duration flights. Last month, the company announced that it had completed an initial test flight campaign of the aircraft, including two test excursions totalling 16 and 22.5hr.
Barry Matsumori, Skydweller Aero’s president and chief operating officer, said: “Access to the restricted airspace above NASA Stennis has been tremendously helpful to our uncrewed, autonomous flight operations. The opportunity to use the controlled environment above Stennis helps accelerate our efforts, allowing us to transition the aircraft in and out of civil airspace, while demonstrating its reliability and unblemished safety record to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).”
The agreement provides the FAA authorisation for future test flights in designated areas of the NASA Stennis buffer zone. It also represents a key step in the center’s effort to grow its range operations presence. Jason Peterson, NASA Stennis’s range officer, said: “This really opens the door for others to come here. There are requirements that must be met, but for those who meet them, NASA Stennis is an ideal location for test and flight operations.”
He added that he hopes the agreement with Skydweller Aero will clear the way for future collaborations as NASA Stennis continues to expand its customer-based operations; and although Skydweller Aero is not located onsite, NASA Stennis can support ground operations for a variety of unmanned aircraft system take-offs and landings.