• High-Altitude Return Vehicle Completes Phase II Tests

    The AFRL-sponsored Phillips Technology Institute (PTI) successfully completed Phase II of a three-phase test plan for the High-Altitude Return Vehicle (HARV). Phase II employed a balloon-launched, tactical operations payload in a small, recoverable unmanned air vehicle (UAV). Objectives included

  • Twofold Improvement of System's Vibration Isolation Capacity

    AFRL's TacSat-2 tactical satellite successfully completed the unlock sequence for the Miniature Vibration Isolation System-II (MVIS-II), prompting immediate improvement of on-orbit passive vibration isolation between satellite bus and payload. Specifically, MVIS-II now demonstrates twice its

  • AFRL Advances SBIR-Developed Solar Cell Technology

    Engineers from AFRL and United Solar Ovonic, LLC, established a new program geared towards expanding technology developed under previous Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) projects. As part of implementing this venture, AFRL signed an 18-month contractual option outlining the development of

  • AFRL Develops Solar Sails for Space Missions

    AFRL engineers developed a micro solar sail concept with unique deployment features that promote its usefulness for many new Department of Defense space missions. The concept's robust deployment scheme enables simultaneous and deterministic deployment of both masts and main sail. Rather than relying

  • Biofuels Research Could Generate Alternative Energy Source

    AFRL-funded biofuels researchers are investigating ways to produce sizable amounts of hydrogen gas using photosynthetic microbes, known more commonly as algae and cyanobacteria. If available in sufficiently large quantities, hydrogen gas could function as a clean, renewable, less expensive energy

  • AFRL Develops Carbon-Carbon Rapid Densification Process for Rocket Exit Cone

    AFRL engineers developed an in situ carbon-carbon rapid densification method that has since been applied for the first time to an EM-76 solid rocket exit cone. ATK Launch Systems initially rigidized the exit cone with phenolic. Allcomp, Inc, was then able to use the AFRL-developed process to further

  • AFRL/Industry Team Conducts Successful Radar Seeker Tests

    Researchers from AFRL and radar technology company Mustang Technology Group completed a series of captive flight test activities for the FALCON EYE seeker program. The FALCON EYE program focuses on the integration of low-cost technologies that collectively provide autonomous engagement capabilities

  • AFRL Partners With Local Health Network for Human Performance Research

    AFRL recently embarked on a collaborative research effort with the Kettering [Ohio] Health Network (KHN) to explore the relationship between human stress and fatigue. The primary intent of this joint venture is to identify viable methods for improving human performance in stressful situations.