NASA ERAST Program
Videos
The Environmental Research Aircraft and Sensor Technology, or ERAST program was a NASA program to develop cost-effective, slow-flying unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) that can perform long-duration science missions at altitudes above 60,000 ft (18,000 m). The project included a number of technology development programs conducted by the joint NASA-industry ERAST Alliance. The project was formally terminated in 2003.
NASA's Altus II UAV developed under ERAST
Perseus A being Towed in Flight
Helios UAV in flight
Image: Altus II high altitude science aircraft descending toward U.S. Navy's Pacific Missile Range Facility on Kauai, Hawaii (EC99 45006 1)
Scaled Composites Proteus
Videos
The Scaled Composites Model 281 Proteus is a tandem-wing high-altitude long-endurance aircraft designed by Burt Rutan to investigate the use of aircraft as high-altitude telecommunications relays. The Proteus is a multi-mission vehicle able to carry various payloads on a ventral pylon. The Proteus has an extremely efficient design and can orbit a point at over 19,800 m for more than 18 hours. It is currently owned by Northrop Grumman.
Proteus in flight in 2002 in the Department of Energy's Atmospheric Radiation Measurement – Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (ARM-UAV) Program
Proteus flies over the Tehachapi Mountains with the MP-RTIP radar pod
Orthographically projected diagram of the Scaled Composites Proteus