NASA could use a crew return vehicle to evacuate crew members to Earth in cases of injury or illness. Also, the six-person vehicle could return the crew to Earth if an orbiter was unavailable or if the Space Station became disabled.
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The sensor captures the location of the shock wave and its dynamic characteristics as it passes over an aircraft surface. In the future, such sensors may allow pilots to control the shock, improving aircraft efficiency. The final flight occurred on Dec. 12, 1996. RT-FADS uses a grouping of pressure orifices arranged on the aircraft nose to determine the speed and direction of local wind in relation to the aircraft. The system eliminates the need for external probes, which not only are sensitive to vibration and alignment error, but also can be easily damaged.