A drone flies over Cole Park in Corpus Christi. The park will be closed 8:30AM-3:30PM Monday, July 29, for drone testing by NASA and the Lone Star UAS Center for Excellence and Innovation. Watergarden Fountain will be closed 10AM-2PM Friday, July 26, for drone testing as well. Courtesy photo
Drone testing by NASA in two Corpus Christi parks Friday, July 26, and Monday, July 29, will close those parks to the public for a short period of time each of those days. Watergarden Park closes 10AM-2PM Friday, while Cole Park closes 8:30AM-3:30PM Monday for drone testing in an urban setting by NASA and the Lone Star UAS Center for Excellence and Innovation at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi. NASA selected Corpus Christi as one of two sites in the nation for these tests.
Tests will be used to obtain information on improving air traffic management and low-altitude airspace safety.
“Nearly 50 years after Neil Armstrong said the memorable line, ‘That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind,’ NASA has once again taken steps for a huge development in drone technology,” said Michael Sanders, acting executive director of Lone Star UAS. “Drone technology is relatively new but has been proven to be a game changer for future operations regarding assistance to emergency responders, delivering packages, monitoring traffic, and inspections of infrastructures.”
More testing will occur in mid-August with a designated area for public viewing.
“These tests matter because we are building layer upon layer to improve the technology so that, one day, UAS air traffic will be as common as traffic on the roads,” said Jason Casey, Lone Star UAS project controller. “We want to ensure that the public feels safe when UAS are in use. The results from tests like these will help the FAA identify requirements for nationwide application. NASA’s UTM will support a new economy of diverse services in our cities that will be made possible by unmanned aircraft.”
