The Fundamental Aeronautics (FA) Program relies upon intellectual relationships with a variety of partners. These partnerships are formalized through Space Act Agreements and memoranda that allow NASA to partner with other federal agencies, industry, foundations, universities and non-government organizations. In Space Act Agreements, NASA provides data, facilities, services, coordination, and personnel to the partner, and in return, the partner shares research results and may provide funding to pay for part or all of NASA's participation.

Because NASA typically does not design and build air vehicles for operational use, the partnerships and collaborations with the aeronautics industry are valuable in gaining insights into challenges associated with design, manufacturing, and flight and in transitioning technology to industry. FA collaborates with industry to provide insight into issues associated with flight, manufacturing, and design.

In addition to SAA-based partnerships, the program uses Memoranda of Understanding (MoU), Memoranda of Agreement (MoA), Interagency Agreements (IA), NASA Research Announcements (NRAs), and the Small Business Innovative Research Program.

The FA Program adheres to the following guidance to establish external agreements:

• Collaborations are set up only when there is significant benefit to NASA and its constituencies (aerospace community, aerospace industry, academe, and ultimately the taxpayer).
• Once the collaboration is set up, the results can be appropriately disseminated and validated through a peer-review process.
• Collaborations are only initiated when there is full program commitment to see them through to completing objectives.

Federal Agencies
Fundamental Aeronautics conducts research that benefits both military and civil aviation, working with the Department of Defense, Federal Aviation Administration, Joint Planning & Development Office, and others through Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) and Memoranda of Agreement (MOAs).

The Private Sector
NASA seeks to develop long-term, intellectual, collaborative, consortia-type partnerships through non-reimbursible Space Act Agreements, or through NASA Research Announcements (NRAs).

Academia
NASA seeks to integrate America's universities into the critical path of aeronautics research through full and open competitions for funds via NASA Research Announcements (NRAs). Our goal is to directly link students and faculty with NASA researchers on work that becomes a vital part of the overall NASA aeronautics plan. In this way, NASA and industry will see a natural replenishment of the workforce through strong partnerships in research, along with revolutionary innovations in aeronautics for the nation.

Informally, NASA participates in various technical interchange or working groups with industry and academia and in support of other government agencies. The FA Program also encourages and supports researcher participation in professional technical society conferences and workshops, professional society technical committees, and standards development committees.