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| | NASA - NASA Dryden Fact Sheet - Proteus |
 | | The Proteus is a unique aircraft designed as a high-altitude, long-duration telecommunications relay platform, with potential for use on atmospheric sampling and Earth monitoring science missions as well. |
 | | Proteus' small cabin is pressurized to allow the flight crew a shirt-sleeve environment equivalent to an altitude of 14,500 feet when the aircraft is at 55,000 feet, or 15,500 feet at a 60,000-foot altitude. |
 | | The Proteus was conceived as an "optionally piloted" aircraft flown by a two-person crew for takeoff, climb to mission altitude, descent and landing, and then operated either by a single pilot, remotely from the ground, or autonomously when on station at mission altitude. |
| www.nasa.gov /centers/dryden/news/FactSheets/FS-069-DFRC.html (1219 words) |
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