Drucella Andersen

Headquarters, Washington, D.C.

April 20, 1993
(Phone: 202/358-4733)

Don Nolan
Ames-Dryden Flight Research Facility, Edwards, Calif.
(Phone: 805/258-3447)

RELEASE: 93-071

NASA SR-71 NOW A FLYING OBSERVATORY

NASA has modified a former Air Force reconnaissance aircraft

to conduct high- altitude astronomy studies at three times the
speed of sound.

The SR-71A "Blackbird," based at NASA's Ames-Dryden Flight

Research Facility, Edwards, Calif., made its first science flight
on March 9. In the plane's nose bay was an ultraviolet video
camera that studied stars and comets. Future flights will carry a
variety of instruments, including a fiber optics device and an
ultraviolet spectrometer.

"This really is a case of turning swords into plowshares,"

said Jacklyn Green, Project Scientist for the SR-71 science
research platform project at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory
(JPL), Pasadena, Calif., which developed the experiments. "We are
taking what was once a spy plane and transforming it into a
useful, cost-effective science platform. This opens up a new
ultraviolet window for research."

During its first mission, the SR-71 climbed to just above

83,000 feet (25.3 kilometers), where scientists can observe stars
and planets at ultraviolet wavelengths that are blocked to
ground-based astronomers.
 The SR-71 could perform several other experiments now in the
planning stage, such as infrared studies of the Aurora Borealis by
the University of California, Los Angeles Physics Department and
atmospheric science studies of specific pollutants in the
stratosphere.

"It's significant to the SR-71 program that the unique

capabilities of the aircraft are being viewed by the science
community as a platform for gathering data at high speeds and
altitudes. The SR-71 is the only aircraft that can meet their
needs," said Dave Lux, SR-71 Project Manager at Dryden.

- more -
-2-

NASA's three Blackbirds also may serve as platforms for

aeronautics studies in NASA's High-Speed Research Program.
"Boeing is investigating the possibility of using the SR-71 for
inlet testing with a subscale engine and supersonic riblet
testing, and McDonnell Douglas is interested in conducting sonic
boom studies," said Neil Matheny, Dryden point of contact for the
program.

The High Speed Research program is researching and developing

technology for a future environmentally friendly, economically
feasible high-speed civil transport. The program is a joint
NASA-industry effort led by NASA's Langley Research Center,
Hampton, Va.

- end -

NOTE TO EDITORS: Video and still photos of the SR-71's first

science flight are available to media representatives by calling
the NASA Headquarters Broadcast and Imaging Branch on
202/358-1900.

Color: 93-HC-94 93-HC-95

B&W: 93-H-106 93-H-107