Two City Parks to Temporarily Close During Drone Testing

CORPUS CHRISTI, TX - 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 been taking steps for a huge development in drone technology. Drone technology is fairly new but has been proven to be a game changer for the way we will operate in the future regarding assistance to emergency responders, delivering packages, monitoring traffic and inspections of infrastructures.

In order for NASA to develop and improve this technology, they have collaborated with the Lone Star UAS Center of Excellence and Innovation to conduct testing for the Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS), in different situations and conditions in an urban setting. The tests conducted will be used for information on improving air traffic management. NASA, the Federal Aviation Administration, and other federal partner agencies, are collaborating to develop a Unmanned Aircraft System Traffic Management (UTM) system for a future in safe low-altitude airspace and UAS operations. The UTM system operates on principles to avoid vehicle on vehicle collision, locate the aircraft and avoid collisions with the environment.

Testing on the UAS will be conducted in downtown Corpus Christi and will create diversions throughout the area. On Friday, July 26th the Watergarden Park will be closed due to testing which will run from 10am to 2pm. On Monday, July 29th Cole Park will be closed due to testing from 8:30am to 3:30pm.

For more information contact the Lone Star UAS Center of Excellence and Innovation at 361-825-2577.