Maintaining U.S. Leadership in Aeronautics Scenario-Based Strategic Planning for NASA's Aeronautics Enterprise (1997) / Chapter Skim
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3: NEEDS AND OPPORTUNITIES, TECHNOLOGY IMPLICATIONS, AND THE FUTURE ROLE OF NASA
3: NEEDS AND OPPORTUNITIES, TECHNOLOGY IMPLICATIONS, AND THE FUTURE ROLE OF NASA
Pages 41-50
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From page 41... ...
The systems, vehicles, and subcomponents required to meet those needs, however, may demand significant technological breakthroughs and therefore are in themselves revolutionary. Examples include high-speed civil transports using alternative fuels or very large subsonic aircraft using more ~iftefficient wing forms that are still small enough in span to allow for operations at existing airports with existing runway structures.
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From page 42... ...
Aircraft short, medi um, and long range, stealth, infrastructure independent, m i I itary special operations Ski I I ed Trai n i ng and Ed ucation distributed and tailored training Short-to-Med i urn Range Ai rcraft VSTOL, commuter, infrastructure i ndependent, m i I itary specie I operations Stealth Aircraft evade terrorist threats, quiet over populated areas General Aviation increased activity, part of a customer-tai lored ai r transportation system Tailored and Smart Materials reduced fuel consumption and enhanced safety Microelectro Mechanical Systems reduced fuel consumption and vehicle size Sonic Boom Mitigation enable supersonic flight over populated areas
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From page 43... ...
Stronger, more regionalized economies in places with no transportation infrastructures, such as in some developing nations, create an opportunity to develop and export "total air transportation" systems that include aircraft, ATM, maintenance, logistics, and all related infrastructure in one complete package. Military Needs Regional conflicts in most of the scenarios created military needs that included rapid force projection, surveillance, intelligence gathering, and information processing capability.
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From page 44... ...
into Earth orbit for a variety of applications including communications, navigation, survei~iance, and intelligence gathering; weather observation to support aviation and provide severe storm warnings and environmental monitoring; and emerging commercial applications in market areas such as agriculture, resource exploration, and land management. Low cost was the overriding requirement for commercial applications, whereas military applications required assured, rapid, and frequent launch-on-demand capabilities.
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From page 45... ...
, virtual reality,' and other methocis for visualizing and evaluating clesigns, including planning tools for agile and flexible manufacturing the combination and integration of avionics and other information systems within aircraft and within the air traffic control, aviation weather, and maintenance and repair facilities to ensure reliable communications and efficiency of operation Safely and Security of Passengers and Crews Increasing demand for operational safety, combined with public awareness of the threat of terrorism and increasing air traffic at major airports requires: . improved weather observation, forecasting models, and the capability for realtime information dissemination to end users such as pilots and air traffic control lers ' Virtual reality is a computer-based technology that allows the user to interact with data that give the appearance of a three-dimensional environment or world.
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From page 46... ...
This would include airframe materials that combine functions of load bearing, thermal insulation, and vapor impermeability, as well as engine materials to withstand higher temperatures. High-efficiency subsonic propulsion systems that provide improved fuel consumption.
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From page 47... ...
Therefore, the steering committee has identified a need for systems and associated infrastructure to enable low-cost, on-demand delivery of small payloads with sensors or communications packages to any useful Earth orbit. The needs of future manned space activities and space science missions were not discussed.
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From page 48... ...
The steering committee further believes that NASA would best serve as the lead agency, rather than the DOD, the FAA, the NSF, or NIST, for the following reasons: NASA is chartered by the National Aeronautics and Space Act of 1958 to "preserve the role of the Unitecl States as a ~eacler in aeronautical science and technology and the application thereof." No other federal agency has this legislative manclate. The NASA aeronautics enterprise has inherited its fundamental aeronautics R&D focus from its forerunner, the National Advisory Committee for 3 In 1994, according to the NSTC, the aeronautics industry produced the largest trade surplus of any U.S.
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From page 49... ...
Existing interagency coordinating mechanisms, such as the Aeronautics and Astronautics Coordinating Board and the NASA/FAA Coordinating Committee, 4 also will continue to play an important role in ensuring effective R&D 4 The Aeronautics and Astronautics Coordinating Board is co-chaired by the NASA Associate Deputy Administrator and the Undersecretary of Defense for Acquisition and Technology. The NASA/FAA Coordinating Committee is co-chaired by the NASA Associate Administrator for Aeronautics and the FAA Associate Administrator for Research and Acquisition.
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From page 50... ...
. An in-clepth assessment of the specific programs and ~ong-term R&D activities that NASA should engage in as the lead agency for aeronautics is the next logical step in this current strategic planning process.
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