Proven Performance

High Altitude and Acceleration Research, Development, Test and Evaluation

Proven Performance

High Altitude and Acceleration Research, Development, Test and Evaluation

KBR has operated and maintained these critical centrifuge and altitude chambers in San Antonio, Texas, where fast-jet pilots and astronauts have come to train since the 1960s. The facility simulates the gravitational forces and environment that individuals experience during high-speed flight.

  • Lead provider for aircraft and personal high-altitude oxygen and acceleration protection systems research, development, test, and evaluation (RDT&E) for the Department of Defense, NASA, and academic and commercial industries.
  • It is one of the few facilities in the U.S. with the capability and experience to conduct human rapid decompression testing at up to 60,000 feet (e.g., F-22, X-59).
  • Instrumental in training many renowned aerospace figures, including many astronauts from the Apollo and Space Shuttle missions like the legendary John Glenn, the esteemed Blue Angels, and commercial astronauts from Axiom Space.

AEPL Customers

U.S. Air Force: 711 Human Performance Wing, Air Force Research Lab, 59 Medical Wing, Air Education and Training Command, Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, F-22 Special Program Office

U.S. Navy: Navy Medical Research Unit – Dayton Naval Air Warfare Center Training Systems Division

U.S. Army: Army Institute of Surgical Research

Department of Defense – Joint Military: F-35 Joint Program Office

NASA: Johnson Space Center, Armstrong Flight Research Center, Ames Research Center

Commercial: Axiom Space, Virgin Galactic, SAIC, Geneva Foundation, Northrup Grumman, Boeing, Survitec, Gentex, KCI

Research Case Studies

High Altitude is Associated with pTau Deposition, Neuroinflammation, and Myelin Loss

KBR Authors | Bianca Cerqueira (KBR Technical Fellow), Holly Chapapas

The Effects of Space Flight and Microgravity Exposure on Female Astronaut Health and Performance

KBR Author | Nicole Strock

Lingering Altitude Effects During Piloting and Navigation in a Synthetic Cockpit

KBR Authors | Jeremy Beer, Bria Morse, Todd Dart

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