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NASA Ames Research To Close Largest Windtunnels

Posted by michael on from the overtaken-by-events dept.

Makarand writes "The world's largest and second largest wind tunnels operated by the NASA Ames Research center will be shutdown after 60 years and may remain shut unless major defense contracts from the Pentagon or the private sectors are available. The largest windtunnel will be fired up for the last time in June for four hours. It will test the parachutes that will land the Mars exploration rovers onto the Red Planet next year. Fewer defense contracts and the increasing use of computer simulations are being cited as reasons for the windtunnels to face closure."

3 of 118 comments (clear)

  1. Simulation jobs by Harbinjer · · Score: 1, Offtopic

    So, maybe I can get one of the simulation jobs to replace the wind tunnels

    FP!

  2. Re:blows by aardwolf204 · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    My first ever first post, due to insomnia, great :)

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    Im dreaming ofa big bndwdth, That can resist the /.crowd.May ur days b merry & bright & may al
  3. It's Not the Largest! by croftj · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    The US Congress is the largest wind tunnel in the USA and the UN is the largest in the world!!!

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    -- Many men would appreciate a woman's mind more if they could fondle it