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What is a wind tunnel?

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And why are they so important

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to flight and NASA?

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In a wind tunnel, controlled air is blown over

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an aircraft or spacecraft model.

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At the Unitary Plan Wind Tunnel at NASA's Ames

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Research Center in Silicon Valley,

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researchers take readings of the airspeed, sound,

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pressure and other vital details about

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how air flows around the model.

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This research helps everything from redesigning

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of wings and tails, to developing control software,

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to building accurate computer models.

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Let's look at some of the key components that

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make up a wind tunnel:

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Turning vanes

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Three-stage compressor

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11-foot test section

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A three-stage compressor, essentially a series of blades,

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provides steady airflow over a fixed model

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in the wind tunnel's test section.

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Turning vanes smooth and direct

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the flow of air over the model.

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Within the test section, banks of cameras

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and sensors record data.

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The wind tunnels at NASA in Silicon Valley

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will continue to test next generation aircraft

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and spacecraft designs,