Imagine trying to capture the movement of air. That’s what NASA engineers are tackling as they study airflow around aircraft and rockets. Understanding air movement is essential for creating safer, more effective vehicles.
For decades, scientists relied on a method called “focused schlieren imaging” to visualize airflow. This technique detects tiny changes in air density, similar to how you can see heat waves on a hot day. It’s a bit complicated but powerful.
Now, NASA has rolled out the Self-Aligned Focusing Schlieren (SAFS) system. This new tool is simpler, more affordable, and easier to use than older methods. Brett Bathel, one of the engineers behind SAFS, says it opens up exciting possibilities. “Being able to see airflow more clearly leads to better aircraft designs and increased safety,” he explains.
Switching to SAFS allows researchers to gather high-speed airflow data faster and with less downtime at their facilities. This means they can explore new discoveries that could change how we design everything from passenger planes to space vehicles.
SAFS is also playing a crucial role in NASA’s goal of improving aviation and space safety. Researchers use it to study performance models for takeoff and landing, as well as to analyze shock structures in rocket exhaust.
This innovation isn’t just for NASA. Over 50 institutions across eight countries, including Notre Dame and the University of Liverpool, are now using SAFS. Companies are licensing the technology, and commercial versions are on the market.
Due to its significance, SAFS has received several awards, including a spot in the 2025 R&D 100 Awards and being named NASA’s Government Invention of the Year.
To appreciate the impact of SAFS, it’s important to understand the older methods. Previous schlieren systems required setups that involved two grids of light sources aligned precisely. This arrangement often took weeks to set up and even minor changes could mean starting from scratch.
In 2020, NASA asked if they could simplify things by focusing on light properties themselves. They succeeded through light polarization, much like how your polarized sunglasses filter light. SAFS uses a single grid that works efficiently without needing complex adjustments. What once took weeks now takes just minutes.
This shift shows that sometimes, innovation comes from breaking down old barriers instead of piling on complexity. SAFS is a testament to creativity in problem-solving, making it a promising tool for the future of aerospace.
The development of SAFS is part of NASA’s broader efforts to enhance aircraft performance through advanced tools and technologies, underlining the agency’s commitment to innovation and research.
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Aeronautics, Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate, Aerosciences Evaluation Test Capabilities, General, Langley Research Center, Transformational Tools Technologies, Transformative Aeronautics Concepts Program
