• 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.

  • AFRL Researchers Test Boundary Layer Data System

    AFRL researchers, in conjunction with Northrop Grumman and Washington State University (WSU), completed a series of flights to test the recently developed Boundary Layer Data System (BLDS-A). The BLDS-A is an instrument designed to characterize aircraft boundary layer--the thin layer of air at the

  • AFRL Field-Tests Miniature Navigator Demonstrator

    AFRL munitions researchers completed initial field testing of next-generation Global Positioning System (GPS)/inertial navigation system antijam technology at the Static Antenna Test Range (Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico). This navigation satellite timing and ranging technology has proven to be

  • Response Surface Mapping Technique Aids Warfighters

    AFRL scientists, collaborating with other Department of Defense agencies, applied innovative response surface mapping (RSM) data mining and visualization methods to aid the efficiency and effectiveness of warfighter weaponeering decisions. A team of scientists from AFRL and the US Army Engineer