ArcticShark UAS Undergoing Flight Testing at Pendleton UAS Test Range in Oregon
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Starting on Feb. 27, the ArcticShark UAS began undergoing flight testing at the Pendleton UAS Test Range in Pendleton, Oregon.
As evident by its name, the unmanned system is designed to collect the world’s most sophisticated atmospheric data in the arctic.
Boasting a wingspan of 22 feet and a gross takeoff weight of 625 pounds, the UAS will collect atmospheric data in the artic once it is equipped with more than a dozen instruments that will allow it to record sophisticated measurements of the earth’s atmosphere, giving scientist a valuable hand in understanding a sensitive region of the planet.
The test flights come after a year of coordinated efforts between the ArgenTech Solutions (AgTS), the Pendleton UAS Range, the University of Alaska, Fairbanks, and the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), to acquire flight approvals from the Federal Aviation Administration, and build the concept of operations for the UAS.
“PNNL was the first organization to approach us about using the range, so it’s nice to see everyone’s hard work come to fruition,” says Steve Chrisman, economic development director and airport manager for the city of Pendleton, through press release.
“This is really just the beginning of a new age in aviation.”
The ArcticShark UAS will be owned by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), and managed by the Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) Climate Research Facility, which is a national scientific user facility of the DOE.
Flights will be conducted through March 17. Next year, the UAS is expected to launch and begin field research in Alaska.
