Background: Aurora Flight Sciences' Theseus is a high altitude endurance UAV designed to conduct scientific research in the 60-82,000-foot altitude regime. The single A-model conducted six flights at NASA Dryden before coming apart in midair during its sixth flight in Nov 96. A B-model has been proposed. It features fault-tolerant controls, a satellite data relay, and a super-turbocharged engine. Theseus is sponsored by the NASA Environmental Research Aircraft and Sensor Technology (ERAST) program. Data is for Theseus A:
Characteristics:
| Length, ft | 39 | Wing Span, ft | 136 |
| Gross Weight, lbs | 11,000 | Payload Weight, lbs | 750 |
| Fuel Capacity, lbs | Fuel Type | ||
| Engine Make | 2xAllied Signal TPE331-10 | Power, hp | |
| Structure | Composite | ||
| Guidance | Navigation | ||
| Data Link(s) | S-band
dn L-band up |
Data Rate(s), kbps | 9.6 |
| Endurance, hrs | 44 | Radius, nm | 3000 |
| Max Speed, kts | Stall Speed, kts | ||
| Altitude, ft | 65,000 | ||
| Takeoff Means | Conventional (runway reqd) | ||
| Navigation | Preprogrammed
(points)/ autonomous/direct control |
||
| Landing Means | Conventional (runway reqd) | ||
Sensor(s):