|
Items in cart [0] |
Questions? Call 888-624-8373 |
| Copyright © 2009. National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved. Terms of Use and Privacy Statement |
Below are the first 10 and last 10 pages of uncorrected machine-read text (when available) of this chapter, followed by the top 30 algorithmically extracted key phrases from the chapter as a whole.
Intended to provide our own search engines and external engines with highly rich, chapter-representative searchable text on the opening pages of each chapter.
Because it is UNCORRECTED material, please consider the following text as a useful but insufficient proxy for the authoritative book pages.
Do not use for reproduction, copying, pasting, or reading; exclusively for search engines.
OCR for page R1
Review of NASA's
An Assessment of NASA;s
Aeronautics Technology Programs
Committee for the Review of NASA's
Revolutionize Aviation Program
Aeronautics and Space Engineering Boarcl
Division on Engineering and Physical Sciences
NATIONAL RESEARCH COUNCIL
OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMIES
THE NATIONAL ACADEMIES PRESS
Washington, D.C.
www.nap.edu
OCR for page R2
THE NATIONAL ACADEMIES PRESS 500 Fifth Street, N.W. Washington, DC 20001
NOTICE: The project that is the subject of this report was approved by the Governing Board of the
National Research Council, whose members are drawn from the councils of the National Academy of
Sciences, the National Academy of Engineering, and the Institute of Medicine. The members of the com-
mittee responsible for the report were chosen for their special competences and with regard for appropriate
balance.
This study was supported by Contract No. NASW 99037 and 03009 between the National Academy of
Sciences and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or
recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the
views of the agency that provided support for the project.
International Standard Book Number: 0-309-091 19-5 (Book)
International Standard Book Number: 0-309-52929-8 (PDF)
Available in limited supply from the Aeronautics and Space Engineering Board, 500 Fifth St., N.W.,
Washington, DC 20001, (202) 334-2858.
Additional copies available for sale from the National Academies Press, 500 Fifth St., N.W., Washington,
DC 20001, (800) 624-6242 or (202) 334-3313 (in the Washington metropolitan area).
Copyright 2004 by the National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.
Printed in the United States of America
OCR for page R3
THE NATIONAL ACADEMIES
Advisers to the Nation on Science, Engineering, and Medicine
The National Academy of Sciences is a private, nonprofit, self-perpetuating society of distinguished schol-
ars engaged in scientific and engineering research, dedicated to the furtherance of science and technology
and to their use for the general welfare. Upon the authority of the charter granted to it by the Congress in
1863, the Academy has a mandate that requires it to advise the federal government on scientific and techni-
cal matters. Dr. Bruce M. Alberts is president of the National Academy of Sciences.
l
.~,
-
, .. .
. !, , .;
The National Academy of Engineering was established in 1964, under the charter of the National Acad-
emy of Sciences, as a parallel organization of outstanding engineers. It is autonomous in its administration
and in the selection of its members, sharing with the National Academy of Sciences the responsibility for
advising the federal government. The National Academy of Engineering also sponsors engineering pro-
grams aimed at meeting national needs, encourages education and research, and recognizes the superior
achievements of engineers. Dr. Wm. A. Wulf is president of the National Academy of Engineering.
The Institute of Medicine was established in 1970 by the National Academy of Sciences to secure the
services of eminent members of appropriate professions in the examination of policy matters pertaining to
the health of the public. The Institute acts under the responsibility given to the National Academy of
Sciences by its congressional charter to be an adviser to the federal government and, upon its own initiative,
to identify issues of medical care, research, and education. Dr. Harvey V. Fineberg is president of the
Institute of Medicine.
The National Research Council was organized by the National Academy of Sciences in 1916 to associate
the broad community of science and technology with the Academy's purposes of furthering knowledge and
advising the federal government. Functioning in accordance with general policies determined by the Acad-
emy, the Council has become the principal operating agency of both the National Academy of Sciences and
the National Academy of Engineering in providing services to the government, the public, and the scientific
and engineering communities. The Council is administered jointly by both Academies and the Institute of
Medicine. Dr. Bruce M. Alberts and Dr. Wm. A. Wulf are chair and vice chair, respectively, of the National
Research Council.
www. nationa l-academies.org
OCR for page R4
COMMITTEE FOR THE REVIEW OF NASA'S REVOLUTIONIZE AVIATION PROGRAM
JOHN M. KLINEBERG, Chair, Space Systems/Loral (retired), Redwoocl City, California
RICHARD ABBOTT, Lockheed Martin, Palmdale, California
WALTER S. COLEMAN, Regional Airline Association (retired), McLean, Virginia
ROBERT HILB, United Parcel Service, Louisville, Kentucky
S. MICHAEL HUDSON, Rolls-Royce North America (retired), Indianapolis
RAYMOND LaFREY, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Lincoln Laboratory, Lexington
LOURDES Q. MAURICE, Federal Aviation Administration, Washington, D.C.
THEODORE H. OKIISHI, Iowa State University, Ames
TOD PALM, Northrop Grumman, E1 Segundo, California
EDUARDO S. ALAS, University of Central Florida, Orlando
THOMAS SHERIDAN (NAE), Massachusetts Institute of Technology (emeritus), Cambridge
EDMOND L. SOLIDAY, United Airlines (retired), Valparaiso, Indiana
ALFRED G. STRIZ, University of Oklahoma, Norman (from 01/03/2003 to 09/09/2003)
FRANK F. TUNG, Volpe National Transportation Systems Center (retired), Boston
THOMAS L. WILLIAMS, Northrop Grumman, Bethpage, New York
DEBRA WINCHESTER, Raytheon, Marlborough, Massachusetts
PANEL ON THE VEHICLE SYSTEMS PROGRAM (VSP)
THOMAS L. WILLIAMS, Panel Chair, Northrop Grumman, Bethpage, New York
MARK BALAS, University of Colorado, Boulder
ROBERT GOETZ, Lockheed Martin (retired), Friendswood, Texas
S. MICHAEL HUDSON, Rolls-Royce North America (retired), Indianapolis
STEVEN IDEN, Lockheed Martin, Fort Worth, Texas
SHEILA KIA, General Motors, Warren, Michigan
GARY KOOPMANN, Pennsylvania State University, University Park
HARRY LIPSITT, Wright State University (emeritus), Yellow Springs, Ohio
LOURDES Q. MAURICE, Federal Aviation Administration, Washington, D.C.
DUANE McRUER (NAE), Systems Technology, Inc., Manhattan Beach, California
THEODORE H. OKIISHI, Iowa State University, Ames
TOD PALM, Northrop Grumman, E1 Segundo, California
ALFRED G. STRIZ, University of Oklahoma, Norman (from 01/01/2003 to 09/09/2003)
MAHLON WILSON, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico
J. MITCHELL WOLFF, Wright State University, Dayton
MICHAEL ZYDA, Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, California
NOTE: The committee name reflects the name of the program before it was changed to Aeronautics Technology
Programs.
IV
OCR for page R5
PANEL ON THE AIRSPACE SYSTEMS PROGRAM (ASP)
.\
.. . . ~
FRANK F. TUNG, Panel Chair, Volpe National Transportation Systems Center (retired), Boston
CHARLES AALFS, Federal Aviation Administration (retired), Menifee, California
YAAKOV BAR-SHALOM, University of Connecticut, Storrs
BARRY BERSON, Lockheed Martin, Palmdale, California
WALTER COLEMAN, Regional Airline Association (retired), McLean, Virginia
WILLIAM DUNLAY, Leigh Fisher Associates, Tiburon, California
ANGELA GITTENS, Miami-Dade International Airport, Miami, Florida
ROBERT HILB, United Parcel Service, Louisville, Kentucky
R. B OWEN LOFTIN, Old Dominion University, Suffolk, Virginia
J. DAVID POWELL, Stanford University (emeritus), Stanford, California
EDUARDO SALAS, University of Central Florida, Orlando
DEBRA WINCHESTER, Raytheon, Marlborough, Massachusetts
PANEL ON THE AVIATION SAFETY PROGRAM (AvSP)
THOMAS SHERIDAN (NAE), Panel Chair, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (emeritus),
Cambridge
RICHARD ABBOTT, Lockheed Martin, Palmdale, California
JAMES DANAHER, National Transportation Safety Board (retired), Alexandria, Virginia
VALERIE GAWRON, Veridian Engineering, Buffalo
RONALD HESS, University of California, Davis
ADIB KANAFANI (NAE), University of California, Berkeley
DAVID KOHLMAN, Engineering Systems, Inc., Colorado Springs
RAYMOND LaFREY, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Lincoln Laboratory, Lexington
JOHN McCARTHY, Naval Research Laboratory (retired), Palm Desert, California
EDMOND L. SOLIDAY, United Airlines (retired), Valparaiso, Indiana
Committee and Pane! Staff
MAUREEN MELLODY, Study Director
ALAN ANGLEMAN, Senior Program Officer
DOUGLAS BENNETT, Program Officer
JENNIFER PINKERMAN, Research Associate
GEORGE LEVIN, Director, Aeronautics and Space Engineering Board
KARA BATH, Senior Project Assistant
ANNA FARRAR, Financial Associate
v
OCR for page R6
AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ENGINEERING BOARD
WILLIAM W. HOOVER, Chair, U.S. Air Force (retired), Williamsburg, Virginia
RUZENA K. BAJCSY (NAE/IOM), University of California, Berkeley
JAMES (MICKY) BLACKWELL, Lockheed Martin (retired), Marietta, Georgia
EDWARD BOLEN, General Aviation Manufacturers Association, Washington, D.C.
ANTHONY J. BRODERICK, Aviation Safety Consultant, Catlett, Virginia
SUSAN M. COUGHLIN, Aviation Safety Alliance, Washington, D.C.
ROBERT L. CRIPPEN, Thiokol Propulsion (retired), Palm Beach Gardens, Florida
DONALD L. CROMER, U.S. Air Force (retired) and Hughes Space and
Communications (retired), Fallbrook, California
JOSEPH FULLER, JR., Futron Corporation, Bethesda, Maryland
RICHARD GOLASZEWSKI, GRA Incorporated, Jenkintown, Pennsylvania
S. MICHAEL HUDSON, Rolls-Royce North America (retired), Indianapolis
JOHN L. JUNKINS (NAE), Texas A&M University, College Station
JOHN M. KLINEBERG, Space Systems/Loral (retired), Redwood City, California
ILAN M. KROO, Stanford University, Stanford, California
JOHN K. LAUBER, Airbus North America, Inc., Washington, D.C.
GEORGE K. MUELLNER, The Boeing Company, Seal Beach, California
DAVA J. NEWMAN, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge
MALCOLM O'NEILL, Lockheed Martin Corporation, Bethesda, Maryland
CYNTHIA SAMUELSON, Logistics Management Institute, McLean, Virginia
KATHRYN C. THORNTON, University of Virginia, Charlottesville
HANSEL E. TOOKES II, Raytheon International (retired), Falls Church, Virginia
ROBERT W. WALKER, Wexler and Walker Public Policy Associates, Washington, D.C.
DIANNE S. (WILEY) PALMER, The Boeing Company, Washington, D.C.
THOMAS L. WILLIAMS, Northrop Grumman, Bethpage, New York
GEORGE M. LEVIN, Director
vi
OCR for page R7
Preface
The National Research Council (NRC) of the Na-
tional Academies was asked by NASA and the Office
of Management and Budget to perform an assessment
of NASA's Aerospace Technology Enterprise. The first
such review, which began in early 2002, examined Pio-
neering Revolutionary Technology (now known as
Mission and Science Measurement Technology). The
assessment presented here, of the Aeronautics Tech-
nology Programs, began in early 2003 and is the sec-
ond in the review series.
NASA's Aeronautics Technology Programs has
five primary objectives:
1. Protect air travelers and the public.
Protect the environment.
Increase mobility.
4. Support national security.
5. Explore new aerospace missions.
The Aeronautics Technology Programs has three
components: the Vehicle Systems Program, the Air-
space Systems Program, and the Aviation Safety Pro-
gram. To conduct this review, the NRC established
three panels, one for each of the component programs.
The NRC also established a parent committee, consist-
ing of the chairman and a subset of members from each
Panel. The committee and panels comprised a cross-
searchers in the aeronautics field. Biographical infor-
mation on the committee and panel members is found
in Appendix A.
The committee and panels were tasked to conduct
a detailed, independent review of the technical quality
of the work conducted in the Aeronautics Technology
Programs. The detailed statement of task is given in
Appendix B. In addition, in a meeting with the chairs
of the study, the then Associate Administrator for
NASA's Aerospace Technology Enterprise, Jeremiah
Creedon, asked the committee to answer the following
four questions:
1. Is the array of activities about right?
2. Is there a good plan to carry out the program?
3. Is the program doing what it set out to do?
4. Is the entire effort connected to the users?
The committee and panels agreed to use these four
questions as the framework for conducting the review
and writing the final report. These questions are ad-
dressed in this report at the program, project, sub-
project, and task level for the constituent programs—
the Vehicle Systems Program, the Airspace Systems
Program, and the Aviation Safety Program.
The NRC also asked the principal investigator of
each task within the Aeronautics Technology Programs
section of experts from industry, academia, and gov- to complete a questionnaire on the task goals, progress,
ernment and included senior-level managers and re- funding, and outcomes. The questionnaires were dis-
· .
Vl!
OCR for page R8
. . .
Vlll
tributed to the panel members before the first meet-
ings. Each panel met separately in Washington, D.C.,
during February and March 2003 to obtain overviews
of the NASA programs. The panel members spent
March, April, and May 2003 gathering additional in-
formation through site visits to the relevant NASA fa-
cilities, e-mail exchanges with personnel, and telecon-
ferences. The panels then convened in April or May to
share information obtained during the site visits, to
achieve consensus on findings and recommendations,
and to meet again with NASA personnel to obtain ad-
ditional program information. Each panel was com-
posed of many of the top experts in their fields. They
produced a working report and submitter! it to the par-
ent committee. The committee met in July 2003 to
PREFACE
evaluate the panel reports, develop a set of top-level,
programwide observations, and arrive at consensus on
final findings and recommendations. The panels and the
committee based their evaluations on information pro-
vided by NASA and on the committee and panel mem-
bers' expertise, experience, and knowledge of the tech-
nologies and comparable work performed around the
world in specific disciplines. A detailed schedule of com-
mittee and panel activities is given in Appendix C.
This report contains the committee's assessment
of the Aeronautics Technology Programs. Chapter 1
presents a top-level assessment, and Chapters 2 through
4 provide the assessments of the Vehicle Systems Pro-
gram, the Airspace Systems Program, and the Aviation
Safety Program, respectively.
OCR for page R9
Acknowledgment of Reviewers
..., .,.,j,
~ ..
This report has been reviewed in draft form by in-
dividuals chosen for their diverse perspectives and
technical expertise, in accordance with procedures ap-
proved by the National Research Council's (NRC's)
Report Review Committee. The purpose of this inde-
pendent review is to provide candid and critical com-
ments that will assist the institution in making its pub-
lished report as sound as possible and to ensure that the
report meets institutional standards for objectivity, evi-
dence, and responsiveness to the study charge. The
review comments and draft manuscript remain confi-
dential to protect the integrity of the deliberative pro-
cess. We wish to thank the following individuals for
their review of this report:
Norman Abramson (NAE), Southwest Research
Institute, retired,
Meyer Benzakein (NAE), GE Aircraft Engines,
Susan Coughlin, Aviation Safety Alliance,
Earl Dowell (NAE), Duke University,
Jeffery Erickson, The Boeing Company,
R. John Hansman, Massachusetts Institute of
Technology,
IX
Alfred MacRae (NAE), AT&T Laboratories,
retired,
Gordon McKinzie, United Airlines, retired,
Dennis Muilenburg, The Boeing Company,
Richard Petersen, NASA, retired,
Robert Ravera, RJR Aviation, LLC, and
John Sullivan, Purdue University.
Although the reviewers listed above have provided
many constructive comments and suggestions, they
were not asked to endorse the conclusions or recom-
menclations, nor did they see the final draft of the re-
port before its release. The review of this report was
overseen by Louis Lanzerotti, Lucent Technologies.
Appointed by the NRC's Report Review Committee,
he was responsible for making certain that an indepen-
dent examination of this report was carried out in
accordance with institutional procedures and that all
review comments were carefully considered. Respon-
sibility for the final content of this report rests entirely
with the authoring committee and the institution.
OCR for page R10
Contents
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
TOP-LEVEL ASSESSMENT
ASSESSMENT OF THE VEHICLE SYSTEMS PROGRAM
Background, 11
Key Findings and Recommendations, 15
Portfolio, 19
Program Plan, 20
Technical Performance, 21
User Connections, 23
Assessment by Project, 24
Breakthrough Vehicle Technology Project, 24
Quiet Aircraft Technology Project, 31
Twenty-First Century Aircraft Technology Project, 37
Advanced Vehicle Concepts Project, 43
Flight Research Project, 46
Ultra-Efficient Engine Technology Project, 49
Propulsion and Power Project, 56
ASSESSMENT OF THE AIRSPACE SYSTEMS PROGRAM
Background, 61
Portfolio, 64
Program Plan, 65
Technical Performance, 67
User Connections, 67
Assessment by Project, 68
Advanced Air Transportation Technology Project, 68
Small Aircraft Transportation System Project, 79
Virtual Airspace Modeling and Simulation Project, 86
Airspace Operations Systems Project, 94
1
6
11
ASSESSMENT OF THE AVIATION SAFETY PROGRAM 101
Background, 101
Portfolio, 104
Program Plan, 105
Technical Performance, 107
User Connections, ~ 07
Assessment by Project, 108
Technical Integration Project, 108
Vehicle Safety Technology Project, 109
Weather Safety Technology Project, 122
System Safety Technology Project, 133
x
OCR for page R11
Contents
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
1 TOP-LEVEL ASSESSMENT
2 ASSESSMENT OF THE VEHICLE SYSTEMS PROGRAM
Background, 9
Program Information, 9
Review Process, 11
Key Findings and Recommendations, 13
Key Issue 1 : Core Competencies, 13
Key Issue 2: Full-Cost Accounting, 13
Key Issue 3: External Advisory Groups, 14
Other General Observations, 14
Portfolio, 15
Program Plan, 16
Technical Performance, 16
User Connections, 18
Assessment by Project, 18
Breakthrough Vehicle Technologies Project (1.0), 18
Quiet Aircraft Technology Project (2.0), 22
Twenty-first Century Aircraft Technology Project (3.0), 27
Advanced Vehicle Concepts Project (4.0), 31
Flight Research Project (5.0), 33
Ultra-Efficient Engine Technology Project (6.0), 35
Propulsion and Power Project (7.0), 40
3 ASSESSMENT OF THE AIRSPACE SYSTEMS PROGRAM
Background, 43
xl
5
9
43
OCR for page R12
. .
X11
,, .
CONTENTS
Program Information, 43
Review Process, 45
Portfolio, 46
Program Plan, 46
Advanced Air Transportation Technologies Project, 46
Small Aircraft Transportation System Project, 47
Virtual Airspace Modeling and Simulation Project, 47
Airspace Operations Systems Project, 48
Technical Performance, 48
User Connections, 48
Assessment by Project, 49
Advanced Air Transportation Technologies Project, 49
Small Aircraft Transportation System Project, 56
Virtual Airspace Modeling and Simulation Project, 61
Airspace Operations Systems Project, 66
4 ASSESSMENT OF THE AVIATION SAFETY PROGRAM
Background, 71
Program Information, 71
Review Process, 72
Portfolio, 73
Program Plan, 74
Technical Performance, 75
User Connections, 76
Assessment by Project, 76
Technical Integration Project, 76
Vehicle Safety Technology Project, 77
Weather Safety Technology Project, 85
System Safety Technology Project, 93
APPENDIXES
A Committee and Panel Member Biographies
B Statement of Task
C Committee and Pane! Activities
D National Research Council Questionnaire
E List of Tasks in NASA's Aeronautics Technology Research Portfolio
F Abbreviations and Acronyms
71
105
116
119
121
123
129
OCR for page R13
Tables and Figures
TABLES
2-1
2-2
2-3
2-4
2-5
3-1
FIGURES
2-1
2-2
2-3
3-1
4-1
Net Budget for the Vehicle Systems Program, 9
Fifty-one VSP Tasks That Are World Class, 17
VSP Marginal Tasks That Need Improvement, 17
VSP Tasks That Should Be Reevaluated for Restructuring or Cancellation, 17
VSP Tasks Recommended for Cancellation, 18
Net Funding and Direct NASA Staffing Levels for the Airspace Systems
Program, 45
NASA Summary of the Goals and General Approach for SATS Operating
Capabilities, 57
Net Budget for the Aviation Safety Program, 73
Vehicle Systems Program organization chart showing VSP projects and
subprojects as of March 2003, 10
VSP panel review process, 12
NASA technology readiness levels, 23
Airspace Systems Program organization chart, 44
Aviation Safety Program organization chart, 72
. . .
x'~`
OCR for page R14
