The Mighty Eagle (also known as the Warm Gas Test Article) is a prototype robotic lander developed by NASA at the Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama.
The vehicle is an autonomous flying testbed that is used for testing hardware, sensors and algorithms. These sensors and algorithms include such things as onboard cameras that, with specialized guidance, navigation and control software, could aid in the capture of orbiting space debris, in-space docking with a fuel depot, docking of a robotic lander with an orbiting command module and the rendezvous of multiple unmanned stages for deep space human exploration of the Solar System.
History
Initial software and hardware development were done on precursor vehicle called the Cold Gas Test Article which used compressed air as a propellant and had about 10 seconds of flight time. The knowledge gained from this development and testing was used in the design of the Mighty Eagle.
The Mighty Eagle prototype lander was developed by the Marshall Center and Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory. Key partners in this project include the Von Braun Center for Science and Innovation, the Science Applications International Corporation, Dynetics Corporation and Teledyne Brown Engineering.
The design of the vehicle began in late 2009 and integration was completed in January 2011. The vehicle was transported to an indoor test facility and bolted to the ground for initial testing, followed by free flight testing. Outdoor testing at another facility ran from August to November 2011. In 2012, a test area at MSFC was developed and the Mighty Eagle tested "Autonomous Rendezvous and Capture" technology. In 2013, enhancements were made including legs that are lighter by about 6.8 kg (15 lbs), a 3D stereo camera that allows the detection and avoidance of 3D (three dimensional) objects and an onboard image processor in preparation for "hazard avoidance" testing.
In July 2013 a hazard field (test area for the lander) consisting of 200 tons of lunar simulant began construction at the Marshall Space Flight Center.
In August 2013 the hazard field was completed. The 3D camera was installed in an enclosure on the vehicle permitting the camera to be pointed at three different angles.
After many tests (described below) the Mighty Eagle lander was put into "organization and storage" in December 2013. Information from the NASA Robotic Lunar Lander Development Project (aka Mighty Eagle) was merged into the Lunar CATALYST initiative.
For further details see Robotic Lunar Lander Development Project.
The lander is named after the Mighty Eagle character, who originated from the Angry Birds video game.
Specifications
Three-legged "green" lander: Fuel - percent pure hydrogen peroxide Main thrust is provided by an EGC (Earth Gravity Cancelling) thruster giving to of thrust High purity nitrogen stored at ~3000 psi is regulated down to ~750 psi and is used to push the peroxide out of the thrusters. The vehicle can carry of pressurant. Twelve Attitude Control System (ACS) thrusters each giving of thrust provide attitude control 3D camera which was given its own battery as part of the 200th modification to the vehicle. Onboard computer responsible for execution of pre-programmed flight profiles Dimensions - tall and in diameter Mass - when fuelled is ~ Performs vertical take off and vertical landings (VTVL)
For additional information see the Robotic Lunar Lander information pages.
Engines
The NASA Mighty Eagle produces thrust by the violent decomposition of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) using silver as a catalyst.
Testing
Prior to the flight tests, each subsystem was testing individually including the propulsion system.