Entering the 40×80 Test Section

One response to “Entering the 40×80 Test Section”

1. 

   jurvetson

   Jan 27, 2013 at 8:49 pm

   a cut-away model shows how the structure is suspended in the building
   (with top bay door open):
   

   Bruce La Fetra, who made this tour possible, caught a photo of me taking the stairs with our NASA guide:
   

   Located directly under the 40 x 80 foot test section, the Balance House originally used Toledo spring gauges to measure the dynamic pressure when the wind tunnel was in operation:
   

   and a peek inside…
   

   (short video of the echoes within).

   This is the inflatable heat shield, or HIAD (Hypersonic Inflatable Aerodynamic Decelerator) that was tested here before its successful 7600 MPH reentry test flight from Wallops. NASA:
   

   Reply