But it's that quick runtime that makes Tunnel 9 unique in the world. Usually when a test requires high temperatures and pressures, a shock tunnel, like Tunnel 9, is selected. The largest shock tunnel to date is in Buffalo, and it runs for only milliseconds. From that data, the engineer knows how the test article will perform at a certain orientation and speed.
Technicians move the test article to another orientation and another test is performed.
This process continues until all of the data are gathered. The test information gathered in one run normally takes a shock tunnel 5 to 15 runs. The combination of high temperatures and pressures is another feature, which makes Tunnel 9 unique in the world. The type of pressure used at Tunnel 9 is hard to imagine, according to Marren. But what Tunnel 9 also does is it uses temperatures up to 3,000 degrees Fahrenheit.