Sky Based Background Oriented Schlieren for Flight Test, Year 2

Completed TRL 4 (started at 3, targeting 4)

Description

Background Oriented Schlieren (BOS) has so far been the champion of in-flight schlieren imagery, due to its simple camera capture methodology and post-processing techniques. Backgrounds, though, have so far been limited to desert brush, sun hydrogen-alpha or ca-k speckle patterns, or ocean glint, some of which are not very helpful when imaging at X59 flight conditions. This effort is to expand the number of backgrounds to allow for a larger possible selection when imaging at X59 flight conditions, and possibly discover a background that will allow for full-field imaging (including far field). This effort will also explore various atmospheric phenomena that occurs as shockwaves are formed and determine if these phenomena can be captured on camera in a practical way.

Benefits

Need to validate predictions of shock generation and propagation on X-59. Background Oriented Schlieren (BOS) is an imaging technique used to visualize shock waves and other flow phenomena. It has been used often in recent times, and is probably the best candidate for obtaining X-59 shock images. But using BOS at the flight conditions of X-59 is tricky, and the time available for capturing full-field shockwave data including far-field is limited. This leads to a need for exploring all aspects of high resolution imaging of shock waves to grab as much data, especially far-field data, as efficiently as possible.

Details

Technology area	Sensors and Instruments
Program	Center Innovation Fund: AFRC CIF (AFRC CIF)
Lead organization	Armstrong Flight Research Center, Edwards, CA
Start date	2020-10-01
End date	2021-09-30

Project contacts

Listed on TechPort itself — the most direct way to ask about this specific project.

Daniel W Banks — daniel.w.banks@nasa.gov

How to get involved

This is early/mid-stage (TRL 4) — the most realistic path in is NASA SBIR/STTR, which funds small businesses and research institutions to develop technology aligned with NASA's needs (equity-free, phased funding). Check whether a current SBIR/STTR solicitation topic overlaps with this project's technology area, or contact the project directly (above) to ask.

None of these are guaranteed paths for this specific project — TechPort itself doesn't have an "apply" button. Reaching out to the contact(s) above with a specific question is usually the fastest way to find out what's actually open.