NASA's Innovative SAFS Camera Revolutionizes Airflow Visualization

The self-aligned focusing schlieren system offers a simpler, more affordable way to 'see' the invisible forces shaping flight and beyond.

Published on Feb. 28, 2026

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NASA's Self-Aligned Focusing Schlieren (SAFS) system is a groundbreaking camera technology that is transforming the way researchers visualize airflow. Originally conceived in 2020 at NASA's Langley Research Center, the SAFS has recently been recognized with the 2025 NASA Government of the Year award for its significant impact on aerospace research. By utilizing light polarization and a single grid, the SAFS system streamlines the setup process from weeks to mere minutes, making airflow visualization more accessible and affordable for a wide range of applications.

Why it matters

Visualizing airflow has long been a critical yet challenging aspect of aerospace engineering, as it is essential for improving aircraft design and ensuring safer flights. The SAFS system's ability to simplify this process opens up new possibilities for advancements in fields like automotive engineering, wind energy, environmental monitoring, and industrial processes where understanding airflow is crucial.

The details

The core innovation of the SAFS system lies in how it handles light. As light passes through a polarizer and grid, interacts with the airflow, and is then reflected back through the grid before being captured by a camera, the clever design eliminates the need for precise alignment of multiple components required in traditional focused schlieren imaging. This streamlined approach reduces setup time from weeks to just minutes, making the technology more accessible and affordable for researchers and engineers.

  • The SAFS system was originally conceived in 2020 at NASA's Langley Research Center.
  • The SAFS technology recently won the 2025 NASA Government of the Year award.

The players

NASA's Langley Research Center

The NASA research center where the SAFS system was originally conceived in 2020.

Brett Bathel

The co-inventor of the SAFS system alongside Joshua Weisberger.

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What they’re saying

“When researchers can see and understand air movement in ways that were previously difficult to achieve, it leads to better aircraft designs and safer flights for everyone.”

— Brett Bathel, Co-inventor of the SAFS system

What’s next

NASA is exploring further advancements in the SAFS system, including miniaturization for integration into drones and other mobile platforms, developing faster processing capabilities for real-time airflow analysis, and combining SAFS data with computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations to create more accurate and comprehensive models of airflow. The agency is also investigating the use of artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms to automatically identify and analyze airflow patterns, accelerating the design process.

The takeaway

The SAFS system represents a significant breakthrough in airflow visualization, making this critical technology more accessible and affordable for researchers and engineers across a wide range of industries. By simplifying the setup process and reducing costs, the SAFS is poised to drive innovation and advancements in fields where understanding air movement is essential for improving designs, enhancing efficiency, and ensuring safety.