What is this NASA UAV, and what is its function?

Asked Mar 28 '18 at 04:40

Active Mar 28 '18 at 05:23

Viewed 628 times

4

For the question What's up with the “What's Up at Wallops” app? I was reviewing the What's up at Wallops website and drifted to the launch photos page where I saw this aircraft. I did not find a caption, and a quick reverse image search in google did not return any helpful results.

I am fairly confident that it is not a "spaceplane".

What is this NASA UAV, and what is its function?

asked Mar 28 '18 at 04:40

uhoh

5,808
3
32
71

1 Answers1

4

This is a Northrop Grumman RQ-4 Global Hawk. NASA has done some research on civilian applications for drones and this one appears to be for storm research. You can find more info on the project here.

edited Mar 28 '18 at 05:23

answered Mar 28 '18 at 04:57

Dave

101,073
5
220
364

Thanks! fyi I've just asked How did Northrop Grumman propose to make the Global Hawk nuclear powered? – uhoh Mar 28 '18 at 06:00