INNOVATIVE SHEAR LAYER CONTROL METHODS FOR LARGE SCALE AIRBORNE TELESCOPES

THE DESIGN OF A NOVEL OPEN CAVITY ANTI-RESONANCE TECHNIQUE WILL BE CARRIED OUT UNDER THE INITIAL PORTIONS OF THE PHASE I EFFORT. DETAILED DESIGN AND FABRICATION OF THE AIRCRAFT MODIFICATIONS TO BE PERFORMED ON THE KUIPER AIRBORNE OBSERVATORY WILL BE CARRIED OUT BY THE GOVERNMENT. THE CONTRACTOR WILL PERFORM A FULL-SCALE FLIGHT EXPERIMENT USINGTHE INNOVATIVE SHEAR LAYER CONTROL FAIRING IN CONJUNCTION WITH AN ALREADY DESIGNED CONTOURED AFT RAMP SYSTEM. WHEN THE AIRCRAFT MODIFICATIONS ARE INSTALLED, THE CONTRACTOR WILL CONDUCT A FULL-SCALE FLIGHT EXPERIMENT TO DETERMINE THEEFFECTIVENESS OF THE CAVITY RESONANCE SUPPRESSION CHARACTERISTICS OF THE FORWARD FAIRING AND RAMP COMBINATION. IN ADDITION, MEASUREMENTS WILL BE MADE THAT WILL REVEAL THE IMPROVEMENT IN OPTICAL "SEEING" CHARACTERISTICS OF THE FLOW FIELD OVER THE OPEN CAVITY. THIS EFFORT IS TO BE CARRIED OUT ON THE KAO, HOWEVER, IT IS TO BE DONE IN A TIMELY MANNER SUCH THAT EXPERIENCE LEARNED IN THE PHASE I EFFORT WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR CARRY-OVER INTO A PHASE II EFFORT WHICH WILL IMPACT THE DESIGN OF THE CAVITYRESONANCE SUPPRESSION SYSTEM ON THE STRATOSPHERIC OBSERVATORY FOR INFRARED ASTRONOMY (SOFIA).