Nasa and Northrop Grumman unveil first Global Hawk unmanned aircraft system

Nasa and Northrop Grumman have unveiled the first Global Hawk unmanned aircraft system (UAS) to be used for environmental science research, heralding a new application for the world’s first fully autonomous high-altitude, long-endurance aircraft.

Nasa’s Dryden Flight Research Center and Northrop Grumman are returning Nasa’s two Global Hawk aircraft to flight this year under a Space Act Agreement, signed in May 2008.

Northrop Grumman will share in use of the aircraft to conduct its own flight demonstrations for expanded markets, missions and airborne capabilities, including UAS integration into national airspace.

Nasa announced plans to use them for missions supporting its Science Mission Directorate and the Earth science community that require high-altitude, long-endurance, long-distance airborne capability.