Altair

NASA’s Dryden Flight Research Center, now the 

Armstrong Flight Research Center, partnered with 

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc. (GA-ASI) 

in the early 2000s to demonstrate technologies planned 

to expand the capabilities of remotely operated aircraft 

to perform high-altitude Earth science missions. To 

accomplish the task, GA-ASI developed an enlarged 

version of its Predator A reconnaissance aircraft, the 

Predator B, including an extended-wingspan Altair 

version for NASA.

Begun as a company-funded effort in 1999, the Predator B development program became a jointly funded 

effort by GA-ASI and NASA in January 2000, after 

NASA selected the Altair variant from several competing proposals for development to meet the agency’s 

unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) requirements for 

Earth science missions. 

GA-ASI’s task under a Joint Sponsored Research 

Agreement under NASA's now-concluded Environmental Research Aircraft and Sensor Technology 

(ERAST) program called for the San Diego firm to 

develop and demonstrate technical performance and 

operational capabilities to meet the needs of the science 

community. As joint partners in the project, which 

covered flight validation as well as development of 

the aircraft, NASA's Office of Aerospace Technology 

invested about $10 million, while GA-ASI contributed 

additional funds, with about $8 million earmarked for 

the Altair project.

NASA's Office of Earth Science – now the Science 

Mission Directorate – established a stringent set of 

requirements for the conventionally powered, remotely 

or autonomously operated aircraft. Among these requirements was a mission endurance of 24 to 48 hours 

at a primary altitude range of 40,000 to 65,000 feet 

with a payload of at least 660 pounds (300 kilograms). 

Another key requirement was to develop the capability 

and operational procedures to allow operations from 

conventional airports without conflict with piloted 

aircraft. 

In addition, the Altair had to demonstrate "over-thehorizon" command and control beyond line-of-sight 

radio capability via a satellite link, "see-and-avoid" 

operation in unrestricted airspace and the ability to 

communicate with Federal Aviation Administration 

(FAA) controllers. The aircraft was required to meet all 

FAA airworthiness and maintenance standards. 

The Predator B prototype UAS logged its first flight 

Feb. 2, 2001, from GA-ASI's flight operations facility 

at El Mirage, California. The prototype reached a 

maximum sustainable altitude of 48,300 feet during a 

follow-on flight test over the nearby Edwards Air Force 

Base test range.

The Altair technology-demonstration variant for 

NASA was designed to fly as long as 32 hours at up 

to 52,000 feet altitude. Eleven-foot extensions were 

added to each wingtip, giving the Altair an overall 

wingspan of 86 feet with an aspect ratio of 23.5. The 

aircraft is powered by the same TPE-331-10 turboprop engine as the Predator B. 

The Altair was designed to perform a variety of Earth 

science missions specified by NASA’s Earth Science 

Enterprise, now the Science Mission Directorate's 

Airborne Science Program. GA-ASI was required to 

conduct a multi-flight demonstration by the Altair that 

was representative of a scientific data-gathering mission, including all the necessary integrated logistical 

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems' Altair unmanned aircraft system flew a coastal mapping, mammal observation and marine monitoring mission sponsored by NASA and NOAA off the California coast in 

late 2005. (NASA / Carla Thomas) 
FS-2014-07-073 AFRC

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Armstrong Flight Research Center

P.O. Box 273

Edwards, California 93523

NASA Facts

support that would be needed when operating from a remote location. 

The demonstration mission included three long-duration, highaltitude flights with a payload of imaging and atmospheric sampling 

instruments. 

NASA, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 

(NOAA), the U.S. Forest Service and GA-ASI cooperated in several 

environmental science demonstrations missions with the Altair in 

2005 and 2006. 

During a flight over the Channel Islands off the Southern California 

coast in late 2005, sensors on the aircraft gathered ocean color and atmospheric chemistry measurements and observed marine mammals 

and their environment. The flight also conducted low-tide coastal 

mapping and NOAA law enforcement surveillance of the Channel 

Islands National Marine Sanctuary. An earlier mission the same week 

saw the Altair collect similar data during an 18.5-hour flight off the 

coast of northern and central California.

Equipped with a pod-mounted infrared imaging sensor, the Altair 

UAS aided fire mapping efforts over wildfires in central and Southern California for the U.S. Forest Service in late 2006.

Changing mission requirements eventually led NASA to purchase a 

production version of the MQ-9 Predator B aircraft, named "Ikhana," 

and an associated ground control station in 2006 in place of the 

prototype Altair. The MQ-9 was modified and instrumented for use 

in multiple civil research roles, including Earth science missions and 

advanced aeronautical technology development. The aircraft also acts 

as a test bed to develop capabilities and technologies to improve the 

utility of unmanned aircraft systems. 

Unlike the Altair, the Ikhana / Predator B has triple-redundant avionics and control systems and has 33 percent greater fuel capacity 

than the Altair, as well as being able to carry a greater payload of 

sensors. 

GA-ASI retains ownership and control of the Altair prototype.

Altair Specification

•	 Profile: Low-wing monoplane with narrow fuselage and high 

aspect-ratio wing, large V-shaped tail with ventral fin, rearmounted turboprop engine. Enlarged fuselage nose to accommodate various payloads. Retractable tricycle landing gear. Dualredundant flight controls.

•	 Wingspan: 86 feet with wingtip extensions

•	 Length: 36 ft.

•	 Wing Aspect Ratio: – 23.5 

•	 Gross weight: 7,000 lbs. 

•	 Payload: Up to 750 lbs. of sensors, radar, communications and 

imaging equipment

•	 Airspeed: 210 knots indicated air speed (KIAS)

•	 Altitude (maximum): 52,000 ft.

•	 Propulsion: Allied-Signal TPE-331-10T turboprop, flat-rated at 

700 shp, driving a three-blade constant-speed propeller

•	 Fuel system/capacity: Six tanks in fuselage and wings, 3,000 lb. 

capacity, JP-8, Jet-A or similar fuels

•	 Endurance: – 32 hrs.

•	 Manufacturer: General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc., San 

Diego, California

•	 Primary materials: Molded lightweight uni- and bi-directional 

graphite composites with Nomex honeycomb stiffening panels

With a high-tech infrared imaging sensor in its underbelly pod, 

the Altair UAS flew repeated passes over the Esperanza wildfire to aid firefighting efforts in October 2006. (GA-ASI photo)

2.0

4.1

3.7

22.4

12.0

17.7

9.8

7.7

36.2

1.6

11.8

5.4

NOTE:

 Dimensions are in feet.

9.2

86

2.4

3.7