Why NASA crashed three planes in a single year
In short: To make space travel safer, NASA sometimes has to destroy things on Earth. In 2015, researchers at the Langley Research Center intentionally crashed three Cessna aircraft to test critical emergency hardware, ensuring that future pilots have a fighting chance when things go wrong.
NASA's mission to explore the solar system and reach Mars requires more than just rocket science; it demands rigorous testing of terrestrial aviation and deep-space logistics. During 2015, the agency balanced these high-level goals—such as preparing for human missions to Mars by the 2030s—with the practical, often destructive work of safety engineering. At the Langley Research Center, this involved a series of deliberate crashes involving three Cessnas. The primary objective was to evaluate the performance of emergency locator transmitters, ensuring they can reliably signal for help in a crisis.
The year was also defined by a push toward hybrid technologies and sustainable flight. Researchers showcased the Greased Lightning GL-10, a battery-powered, 10-engine remotely piloted aircraft. This prototype features a 10-foot wingspan and was designed to combine the vertical takeoff capabilities of a helicopter with the flight efficiency of a traditional airplane. Additionally, the center hosted Boeing’s ecoDemonstrator to study green aviation technologies and pushed high-tech composite materials, like PRSEUS, to their breaking points to ensure structural integrity in extreme conditions.
These efforts sit within a long lineage of aeronautics research that began at Langley in 1917. While the public may focus on the glamour of the International Space Station or the cinematic allure of movies like 'The Martian,' the reality of space exploration involves a gritty cycle of destruction and reconstruction. By crashing planes, bending materials, and testing heat shields from previous missions like Orion, NASA builds the foundational reliability needed for the next generation of deep-space travel.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: NASA TV Video File 2015 Year in Review
- Also: NASA Langley's 2015 Year in Review - NASA
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