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The Fundamental Aeronautics Program is dedicated to the mastery of the
principles of flight in any atmosphere at any speed. Physics-based,
multidisciplinary design, analysis, and optimization (MDAO) tools will
be developed that will make it possible to evaluate radically new
vehicle designs and to assess, with known uncertainties, the potential
impact of innovative technologies and concepts on a vehicle's overall
performance. Advanced component technologies will be developed to
realize revolutionary improvements in noise, emissions, and performance.
The Program also supports the Agency's human and robotic exploration
missions by advancing knowledge in aeronautical areas critical to Entry,
Descent, and Landing (EDL).
The Program supports the goals of the NGATS and the JPDO by providing
foundational research, prediction tools, and advanced technologies that
can be used to both assess and reduce the noise and emission levels of
current and future aircraft. Together with significant advances in
aircraft performance (to reduce overall fuel consumption), these
contributions can enable significant growth in the national air
transportation system while meeting stringent environmental constraints.
The Program has four projects. The Subsonic Fixed Wing Project will
address the challenge that future aircraft need to be quieter and
cleaner to meet stringent noise and emissions regulations. These
aircraft must also meet challenging performance requirements to make
them economically viable alternatives to the existing fleet. The
Subsonic Rotary Wing Project will address the technical barriers that
constrain rotorcraft from reaching widespread use in civil aviation.
These barriers include range, speed, payload capacity, fuel efficiency,
and environmental acceptance. The Supersonics Project will conduct
research to address the efficiency, environmental, and performance
barriers to practical supersonic cruise, as well as the critical issue
of supersonic deceleration to enable safe, precision planetary EDL of
human and large science missions in any atmosphere. Because all access
to space and all entry from space through any planetary atmosphere
require hypersonic flight, the Hypersonics Project will tackle all of
the key fundamental research issues required to make hypersonic flight
and re-entry feasible.
+ Subsonic Fixed Wing Project
+ Subsonic Rotary Wing Project
+ Supersonics Project
+ Hypersonics Project
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