NASA's Self-Aligned Focusing Schlieren Imaging System Adopted by Over 50 Institutions Globally
NASA's Self-Aligned Focusing Schlieren (SAFS) system, developed in 2020, simplifies schlieren imaging in wind tunnel testing, significantly reducing setup time and costs. Adopted by over 50 institutions worldwide, including the University of Notre Dame and the University of Liverpool, it eliminates the need for dual-grid configurations, allowing flow visualization from one side. The technology aids in high-speed flow visualization and has received the R&D 100 Award for 2025.
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The Self-Aligned Focusing Schlieren (SAFS) system, developed by NASA engineers in 2020, enhances schlieren imaging in wind tunnel tests by reducing setup time from weeks to minutes. Unlike traditional systems requiring dual grids, SAFS operates with a single grid from one side, minimizing alignment issues.
It is currently utilized in various NASA programs for flow visualization, including the High Lift Common Research Model and Space Launch System models. More than 50 institutions across eight countries have adopted the SAFS, which has also been recognized with an R&D World R&D 100 Award for 2025 and NASA's Government Invention of the Year.
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