This Echo is READ ONLY !   NO Un-Authorized Messages Please!
 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~   ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

NASA News
National Aeronautics and
Space Administration
Dryden Flight Research Center
P.O. Box 273
Edwards, California 93523
Phone   (661) 276-3449
FAX (661) 276-3566 
                        __
July 1, 2003

Alan Brown
NASA Dryden Flight Research Center
(661) 276-2665
Alan.Brown{at}dfrc.nasa.gov

RELEASE: 03-37

HELIOS RECOVERY OPERATIONS CONCLUDE; INVESTIGATION UNDER WAY

As much as 75 percent, by weight, of the Helios Prototype solar
electric airplane that crashed into the Pacific Ocean June 26 has
been recovered from the waters several miles west of the Hawaiian
island of Kauai. 

The Helios Prototype is part of a NASA Dryden Flight Research Center
project to develop unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) technologies to
enable UAVs to perform a variety of long-duration missions including
environmental monitoring and telecommunications relay services.
Helios was built and operated by AeroVironment, Inc. of Monrovia,
Calif. 

Researchers said the 247-ft. remotely piloted flying wing aircraft,
operating on solar cell power, was at about 3,000 feet in restricted
Navy test range airspace when it experienced control difficulties
that resulted in severe oscillations before Helios sustained some
structural damage and went down. AeroVironment's solar aircraft team
have previously conducted nine successful flights with the Helios
Prototype and more than 40 on predecessor solar aircraft. NASA has
convened a mishap investigation board on Kauai to determine the cause
of the crash. 

Among debris recovered with the help of the U.S. Navy's Pacific
Missile Range Facility and the Niihau Ranch were the two hydrogen
fuel tanks carried by Helios in a quest to validate fuel cell
electric power technology for airborne applications. Helios team
members say none of the recovered pieces will be reusable because of
damage and salt-water contamination. They say the crash does not pose 
environmental hazards.  Formal recovery efforts ended on June 28, but 
debris patrols of the beaches on the west side of Kauai continue.

- NASA -

 - END OF FILE -
==========

@Message posted automagically by IMTHINGS POST 1.30
---