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NASA Langley Magnetic Suspension / Balance System
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NASA Langley Magnetic Suspension / Balance System
A shuttle model is magnetically suspended in the transparent hexagonal test section of the MIT/NASA Langley 6 inch MSBS. Massive power supplies are required to drive electromagnets for model position control. A unique electromagnetic position sensor, similar to a linear variable differential transformer, provides five degrees of freedom for the test model. The low speed (Mach 0.5) wind tunnel was hand crafted from mahogany. Aerodynamic forces on the test model are measured by the proportional electrical current used to hold the model in place. The system was built by MIT in the late sixties, and was relocated to Langley in the mid eighties. In a joint effort with Old Dominion University in 1992 the MSBS was used to test the aerodynamics of store separation, simulating a bomb released from an aircraft. The system has been donated to Old Dominion University
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Media ID 635565
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Langley Magnetic Space Shuttle System
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This print showcases the NASA Langley Magnetic Suspension/Balance System (MSBS), a remarkable piece of engineering that revolutionized aerodynamic testing. In the image, a scale model of a space shuttle is magnetically suspended within the transparent hexagonal test section of the 6-inch MSBS, developed jointly by MIT and NASA Langley. The system's electromagnets, powered by massive supplies, enable precise control over the position of the model. A unique electromagnetic position sensor with five degrees of freedom allows for accurate measurements during testing. Crafted from mahogany, this low-speed wind tunnel was meticulously handcrafted to ensure optimal conditions for experimentation. A key feature of this pioneering system is its ability to measure aerodynamic forces on the test model through proportional electrical currents used to maintain its position. Originally built by MIT in the late sixties, it was later relocated to Langley in the mid-eighties before being donated to Old Dominion University in collaboration with them in 1992. Notably, this magnetic suspension/balance system played an instrumental role in simulating store separation dynamics—specifically bomb release—from aircrafts during joint research efforts between NASA Langley and Old Dominion University. This photograph immortalizes both the ingenuity behind this groundbreaking technology and its significant contributions to aerospace research and development.
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