On
the Job - Impact Research
Here are a few pictures of the
impact facilities at work
This picture is of a large amplitude
vibration aparatus. It has not been used for at least 10 years. It can be seen
in operation during the "Right Stuff" movie.
The pictures above are of the
Horizontal Sled area. Right now it has an ejection seat haul back device near
the beginning of the track. One view is of the flag that subjects get to look
at just before they are pulled back into the seat (or are blasted down the
track. The other view is from above.
These pictures are of the Drop
Tower. Here, a subject is hoisted 8 to 10 feet up the track and the seat is
released. It falls until a torpedo shaped plunger begins forcing water out of a
four foot water filled pipe. G forces are up to 10 Gs.