August 22, 2007

Jonas Dino
NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, Calif.
650-604-5612/
jdino@mail.arc.nasa.gov

Beth Hagenauer
NASA Dryden Flight Research Center, Edwards, Calif.
661-276-7960
beth.hagenauer@nasa.gov
RELEASE: 07_57AR

NASA, U.S. FOREST SERVICE PARTNER ON WILDFIRE IMAGING MISSION

MOFFETT FIELD, Calif. - The West Coast of the United States has
suffered extreme heat and drought this summer, leading to greater
danger of wildfires. NASA and the U.S. Forest Service are testing
aerospace agency-developed technologies to improve wildfire imaging
and mapping capabilities.

From mid-August through September, NASA Dryden Flight Research Center,

Edwards, Calif., is conducting flights of a remotely-piloted,
unmanned aircraft system to demonstrate the capabilities of its
sophisticated new imaging and real-time communications equipment. The
first flight of the series Aug. 16 captured images of California
wildfires, including the Zaca Fire in Santa Barbara County. The
aircraft carried instruments that collected data while flying more
than 1,200 miles during a 10-hour period.

"These tests are a ground-breaking effort to expand the use of

unmanned aircraft systems in providing real-time images in an actual
fire event," said Vincent Ambrosia, principal investigator of the
Western States Fire Mission at NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett
Field, Calif. "This is a prime example of NASA science and technology
being used to solve real-world problems."

"The images from the flight demonstrated that this technology has a
future in helping us fight wild land fires," stated Zaca Incident
Commander Mike Dietrich. "We could see little on the ground since the
fire was generating a lot of smoke and burning in a very remote and
inaccessible area. This technology captured images through the smoke
and provided real time information on what the fire was doing," said
Dietrich.
NASA's Ikhana, a Predator B remotely piloted aircraft adapted for
civil missions, is flying its first operational effort during a
series of four or five missions over the western states. Its sensor
payload is collecting detailed thermal-infrared imagery of wildfires
and is demonstrating the ability of unmanned aircraft systems to
collect data continuously for 12 to 24 hours. The second flight in
the series, a mission that will take Ikhana over Idaho and last an
estimated 20 hours, is scheduled for Thursday, Aug. 23.

A satellite data link allows real-time transfer of fire imagery to

virtually anywhere on Earth. Information from the sensor is
transmitted to NASA Ames where it is simultaneously available to the
National Interagency Fire Center in Boise, Idaho, as a Google Earth
overlay and through NASA/Open Geospatial Consortium Web services.

"The success of these tests will help to refine the future direction
of fire mapping for the wildfire management agencies," said Everett
Hinkley, liaison and special projects group leader for the U.S.
Forest Service, Salt Lake City.

The Autonomous Modular Scanner sensor, designed and built at NASA

Ames, is currently configured to observe fires and other
high-temperature sources. The scanner can detect temperature
differences from less than one-half degree to approximately 1,000
degrees Fahrenheit. These temperature discrimination capabilities are
important to improving fire mapping.

Scientists also are testing the Collaborative Decision Environment

software, a new technology application originally developed by NASA
for the Mars Exploration Rovers. This software is an interactive tool
that allows sharing of vast amounts of information with members of
the mission team for effective planning and acquisition of imagery
over critical fire events.

Dryden completed a six-month process to obtain a Certificate of

Authorization from the FAA, allowing an unmanned aircraft to fly
wildfire-sensing missions in the national air space of the western
states.

"In the not-too-distant future, we'll look back at unmanned aircraft

demonstrations like the Western States Fire Mission and realize that
these flights paved the way for civilian uses of unmanned aircraft
that benefit all of us," said Brent Cobleigh, Ikhana project manager
at NASA Dryden.
The aircraft's name, Ikhana, is derived from a Native American Choctaw
word that means intelligent, conscious or aware. NASA acquired the
aircraft in November 2006 and intends to use it for Earth science and
atmospheric science data collection missions.

Pilots from NASA and Ikhana manufacturer General Atomics Aeronautical

Systems, Inc. operate the aircraft from a ground control station at
Dryden, located at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif. NASA sponsorship is
provided by the agency's Science Mission Directorate, Washington,
D.C.

For photos and illustrations supporting the wildfire imaging mission,

visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/centers/dryden/news/newsphotos/index.html

For more information about NASA and agency programs, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov

MOFFETT FIELD, Calif. –

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