Search Wallops

Go

Mission Support

Text Size

Wallops Missions, Programs, and Projects
 

Sounding Rockets

For over 40 years, the NASA Sounding Rocket Program (NSRP) has been one of the primary vehicles for space and earth science research. The program has provided important and often critical data to support the scientific community, NASA's orbital space programs, the Department of Defense, other Government agencies, and the international space community. NSRP's more than 2,500 missions have significantly added to our scientific knowledge in galactic astronomy, solar physics, planetary atmospheres, high-energy physics, and other disciplines. These low cost, quick response experiments remain vital to NASA's mission.

For more information contact Phil Eberspeaker, 757.824.2202

Scientific Balloons

Wallops launches an average of 25 scientific balloons each year. Balloons are launched routinely from the National Scientific Balloon Facility in Palestine, Texas and the Scientific Balloon Flight Facility in Ft. Sumner, New Mexico. Balloons also can be launched from temporary sites. In the past, balloon campaigns have been conducted from Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Antarctica, Alaska and Sweden. Balloons have been used for decades to conduct scientific studies. While the basics of ballooning have not changed, balloon size has increased and their dependability has improved greatly. The Wallops Flight Facility manages the NASA Balloon Program Office, which offers capabilities and benefits for scientific research that cannot be duplicated by other methods.

For more information contact: Dave Pierce, 757.824.1453

Aircraft

The Aircraft Office at Wallops provides for the operation, maintenance, configuration control, and mission support of assigned NASA aircraft and provides access to cooperative, collaborative, and commercial aircraft through maintaining access to a catalog of aircraft available to support the NASA Airborne Science Program. The Aircraft Office has responsibility for two NASA-owned and operated aircraft and the Wallops Airport. The NASA owned aircraft include the four-engine turboprop, heavy-lift, P-3 Orion aircraft which supports long range, moderate to low altitude scientific missions; and a two-engine turboprop, nine-passenger Beechcraft B-200 aircraft to support Agency projects. The B-200 aircraft also conducts Mission Management support operations on a not-to-interfere basis with its project support role. Additionally, the Aircraft Office conducts Safety Reviews as required when non-NASA aircraft support NASA scientific missions.

For more information contact: George Postell, 757.824.1529

Range and Mission Management

The Range and Mission Management Office (RMMO) serves as the principle source of project management support for WFF flight projects and operations. In addition, RMMO is responsible for overall management of the WFF Test Range and mobile campaigns, including scheduling of resources, and coordination with external organizations such as other government agencies, commercial entities, and international organizations. RMMO manages the Wallops Test Range facilities, including operational areas supporting the research airport and the launch range. RMMO project managers provide high quality project management for all classes of flight projects and missions conducted by Wallops Flight Facility. Typical activities include formulation, design, implementation, and operational leadership of all mission areas. RMMO project managers are supported by safety, engineering, procurement, facilities and administrative support from multiple WFF organizations. Together, RMMO project teams deliver on the WFF promise to "Take science to new heights."

For more information contact: Jay Pittman, 757.824.1955

Ground Network

The Ground Network (GN) Project is responsible for managing the development and operations of NASA's sub-orbital, low, and mid-earth orbiting spacecraft supporting ground systems. These systems provide spacecraft flight projects with tracking, telemetry and command services required to control and maintain spacecraft health and safety, as well as the science data collection interfaces required to achieve mission objectives. The GN Project manages the performance of systems planning, systems engineering, requirements analysis, design, implementation, integration, testing, and sustaining engineering of ground network services, including software, hardware, and security.

For more information contact: Steve Currier, 757.824.1646

Small Launch Vehicle Research

The Small Launch Vehicle Research (SLVR) Project is a Wallops effort to develop and provide a comprehensive, end-to-end payload preparation, integration and test, launch and on-orbit support capability for small payloads. Although progress has been made around the country in specific areas, the US currently as no low-cost, routine access-to-space capabilities for small payloads.To enable this complete end-to-end capability, Wallops is working to integrate six focus areas for these small payload customers that need to place 4-400 lbs. in LEO.

For more information contact: Bruce Underwood, 757.824.1479

Schedules

Schedules for Sounding Rockets, Balloons, Tracking Support, Test Range are available online, or contact NASA Wallops Office of Public Affairs at 757.824.1579