Tour Information
Safety/Security Messages
NO personal electronic devices in the Limited Area.
PEDs include the following types of commercial off-the-shelf (COTs) devices, NONE of
which can be connected to Sandia-owned devices or networks:
• Heart rate monitors
• MP3 players
• Tablets, laptops, and ultrabooks
• eReaders
• Cellphones and smartphones
• Flash memory cards and sticks
The following items are prohibited on Sandia / Kirtland Air Force Base premises: audio and
visual recording devices, 2‐way radios, intoxicants, illegal drugs, and firearms.
Dress Code: Please wear comfortable clothing, close toed shoes, suitable for walking in
varied terrain (NO high heels).
*Depending on the season you'll be touring (for outdoor facilities) please consider sunscreen, a hat, jacket,
water and a light snack if you feel you'll need one.
Due to the nature of our work and location, please be aware of wildlife in the area.
Please do not touch or disturb any animals you see and notify your tour director of any
animals in your vicinity. This can include snakes, spiders, bunnies, bird nests, deer, coyotes,
mountain lions, any injured animals, etc.
1. Wind Tunnel
a. Description: The experimental aerosciences facility houses both the hypersonic wind tunnel and hypersonic shock tunnel. These allows testing of hypersonic vehicles to study the aerodynamics, controllability, and chemistry of the vehicles in flight. The tour will highlight both facilities as well as the diagnostics that are used for wind tunnel testing. This are used for both ND programs, for NNSA Delivery Environments studies, as well as for SPP work for DoD customers.
2. Saturn Thermal Test Complex
a. Description: Thermal Test Complex - Provides experimental fire research, validated modeling tools, and phenomenological model development capabilities which form the basis of an integrated capability to solve high-consequence problems in fire prevention, fire consequence analysis, and fire mitigation (firefighting).
3. HERO (Hazards of Electromagnetic Radiation to Ordnance)
a. Description: The potential for inadvertent coupling of electromagnetic radiation (EMR) to electrically-initiated device (EID) or electro-explosive device (EED) circuits in ordnance that might result in premature detonation or degradation of reliability is a concern for DoD operations. The military has designated the potential for this coupling to occur as Hazards of Electromagnetic Radiation to Ordnance (HERO). In 2013, the Air Force issued Air Force Instruction 91 208 requiring that all ordnance at Air Force locations be certified HERO safe by 2018.
4. Future Design Development (Megasonics/BAT lab demonstration)
a. Description: Megasonics is a technology utilizing piezoelectric tiles to transmit power and data across a completely closed barrier with no penetrations. Electrical energy is provided to piezoelectric tiles on the outside of the barrier which is transduced into mechanical strain generating mechanical waves that cross the barrier material and impinge on the tile on the inside causing strain which is converted to back to electrical energy. Current, on-going efforts intend to utilize Megasonics technology as a key piece of a future nuclear safety architecture.