X-51A

An X-51A WaveRider hypersonic flight test vehicle is uploaded to an Air Force Flight Test Center B-52 for fit testing at Edwards Air Force Base on July 17, 2009. Four scramjet-powered Waveriders were built for the Air Force. The Air Force Research Laboratory, DARPA, Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne, and Boeing are partners on the X-51A technology demonstrator program. (U.S. Air Force photo/Chad Bellay)

X-51A mated to B-52 for fit test

The X-51A WaveRider hypersonic flight test vehicle was uploaded to an Air Force Flight Test Center B-52 for fit testing at Edwards Air Force Base on July 17. Two B-52 flights, one captive carriage and one dress rehearsal, are planned this fall prior to the X-51's first hypersonic scramjet flight over the Pacific Ocean scheduled in December. The Air Force Research Laboratory, DARPA, Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne, and Boeing are partnering on the X-51A technology demonstrator program. (U.S. Air Force photo/Chad Bellay)

Geosemble, MapStrata, Maps

Basic research funding from the Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR) has led to the development of software for aligning maps with satellite imagery called MapStrata. Pictured above, Cyrus Shahabi (left), Jason Chen (center), and Craig Knoblock (right) from Geosemble Technologies review the latest version. (Image courtesy of Dr. Craig Knoblock, University of Southern California, Information Sciences Institute)

Student sets up chemical vapor deposition(CVD) reactor

Student Chia-Yi Chen sets up a custom-designed, custom-built chemical vapor deposition(CVD) reactor inside a “glove box”, which maintains the nearly pure environment necessary for successful CVD to occur. Image courtesy of A.J. Epstein, Ohio State University.

Plexitronics photo

Plexcore® technology, depicted here, allows solar cells to form-fit soldiers’ uniforms to power GPS components and communication devices, and could also be used to “print” solar panels onto thin films incorporated into military tents. Commercial applications include solar energy batteries for cell phones, radios, and other portable devices. (U.S. Air Force photo)

Top Human Systems Leaders Meet at WPAFB

Leaders attending the Human Systems Senior Leader Forum at Wright-Patterson AFB included, from left: (front row) Dr. Robert Foster, Director, BioSystems, Defense Research & Engineering; Mr. Thomas S. Wells, Director, 711 Human Performance Wing; Dr. Michelle Sams, Director, Army Research Institute for the Behavioral and Social Sciences; Dr. Laurel Allender, Director, Human Research and Engineering Directorate of the Army Research Laboratory; Dr. Terry Allard, Department Head (Code 34), Warfighter Performance Department, Office of Naval Research; (second row) Dr. R. Craig Postlewaite, Director, Force Readiness & Health Assurance Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Force Health Protection & Readiness Programs; Dr John Tangney, Director, Human & Bioengineered Systems Division, Office of Naval Research; Mr. Paul Chatelier, consultant, Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp.; (third row) Dr. Michael Drillings, Director for MANPRINT, U.S. Army; RDML Richard Vinci, Commander, Navy Medical Support Command NMSC (ASBREM); Mr. Jack Blackhurst , Director, Human Effectiveness Directorate, 711 HPW; (fourth row) Col James Carroll, Deputy, Assistant Surgeon General, Modernization; Dr Morley Stone, Chief Scientist, 711 HPW; Mr. Maris Vikmanis, Chief, Plans and Programs, 711th HPW; Dr. J. Frazier Glenn, Principal Assistant for Research and Technology, US Army Medical Research & Materiel Command; (top row) Dr Daniel Wallace, NAVSEA Human Factors Technical Warrant Holder; Col Lex Brown, Director, Human Performance Integration Directorate, 711 HPW; Mr. Ron Julian, Principal Systems Engineer, Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp.; Col Larry Kimm, Director, AF Human Systems Integration Office, Office of the USAF Vice Chief of Staff; and Dr Garrett Polhamus, Chief, Directed Energy, Bioeffects Division, 711HPW/RH. (Photo by Chris Gulliford, 711 HPW)

Mr. Kenneth M. Johnson

Mr. Kenneth M. Johnson, senior materials engineer from AFRL’s ManTech Division (AFRL image)

Prototype of the Next-Generation Sensor

Prototype of the Next-Generation Sensor, a nondestructive-evaluation-based materials characterization capability (AFRL image)

B-2 setup

B-2 setup enables AFRL researchers to test advanced imaging technology designed to aid stress detection in structures subjected to jet engine exhaust and its associated high temperatures, noise, and vibration (image courtesy of the 702nd Aeronautical Systems Group).

In-house optimized spectral analysis tool

AFRL researcher uses an in-house optimized spectral analysis tool that leverages simple optical emission measurements to yield information on energetic metastable atom concentrations in an ionized gas (AFRL image).

AFOSR MC Best Energy Harvesting Sources for Future AF UAVs

Flexxible DSSC designed (Nagata and Taya, University of Washington

ACCA initial flight test

The Advanced Composite Cargo Aircraft made its first test flight June 2 from Air Force Plant 42 in Palmdale, Calif. The ACCA is proof of concept technology demonstrator for advanced composite manufacturing processes in a full-scale, certified aircraft. It was developed by the Air Force Research Laboratory and Lockheed Martin. (NASA Dryden Flight Research Center photo/Carla Thomas).