COMMERCIALIZATION
- On the basis of Phase II results,
Aurora was awarded two contracts by NASA- Ames (NAS2-13481
AND NAS2-13842) to develop and build two Perseus A aircraft with
high altitude (up to 55 thousand feet) capabilities by dint of a
closed cycle LOX/gasoline engine
- Successful operation of Perseus
A aircraft resulted in additional funding (ERAST Cooperative Agreements)
for development and construction of a Perseus B aircraft - a turbocharged
version of Perseus A
- Additional NASA funds plus additional
SBIR contracts from the National Science Foundation were given to
Aurora for development and construction of Theseus, a more advanced
version of Perseus aircraft with twin engines and with three times
the payload of Perseus
- Total post-Phase II NASA funding
for development, construction, and operations of Perseus and Theseus
aircraft amounts to $28.9 million, making it the largest NASA Phase
III on record. In addition to the revenue, the project has
also generated new jobs for 24 people
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GOVERNMENT/SCIENCE
APPLICATIONS
- As part of the Environmental
Research Aircraft and Sensor Technology (ERAST) Program, the Perseus
and Theseus aircraft are being used in the study of ozone depletion,
the effects of jet exhaust from high-altitude supersonic aircraft
on the atmosphere, and basic research into atmospheric chemistry
- Hurricane tracking and analyis
through in-situ measurements and through the dispensing of
dropwindsondes from high altitude
- Development of a high-altitude,
long-range aircraft to act as a military telecommuni- cations
platform or reconnaissance vehicle
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