American Astronautical Society, 2015 Robert H. Goddard Memorial Symposium, http://astronautical.org/goddard/2015

1. NASA Aeronautics Research – Embarking on the Next
100 Years of Excellence in Aeronautical Innovation
Robert Pearce
Director – Strategy & Analysis
Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate

2. Traditional measures of global
demand for mobility -
economic development and
urbanization - are growing
rapidly and creating
transportation and competitive
opportunities and challenges
Revolutions in the integration
of automation, information,
communication, energy,
materials and other
technologies enable
opportunity for transformative
aviation systems
Large and growing energy and
environmental issues create
enormous affordability and
sustainability challenges
www.nasa.gov
Three Aviation Mega Drivers
NASA Aeronautics research strategy proactively addressing critical long-term needs
2

3. Safe, Efficient Growth in Global Operations
• Enable full NextGen and develop technologies to substantially
reduce aircraft safety risks
Innovation in Commercial Supersonic Aircraft
• Achieve a low-boom standard
Ultra-Efficient Commercial Vehicles
• Pioneer technologies for big leaps in efficiency and
environmental performance
Transition to Low-Carbon Propulsion
• Characterize drop-in alternative fuels and pioneer
low-carbon propulsion technology
Real-Time System-Wide Safety Assurance
• Develop an integrated prototype of a real-time safety
monitoring and assurance system
Assured Autonomy for Aviation Transformation
• Develop high impact aviation autonomy applications
NASA Aeronautics Six Strategic Thrusts
www.nasa.gov 3

4. Reducing Environmental Impacts
ERA Large Scale Structural Test of a HWB Stitched Composite Fuselage Section
www.nasa.gov 4
Center Keel Panel
Floor Panel
Center Ribs
Crown Panel
Fwd & Aft
Bulkhead Panels
Outer Rib
Panels
Intercostals
Note: Fwd Bulkhead Panels
Removed for Clarity
PRSEUS panels labeled in green
Load Introduction
Fittings
Adapter
Boxes
Side Keel
Panels 25
Structural Concept
Test Article Arriving
at LaRC in the
Super Guppy
Test Article
Installed in the
LaRC COLTS Facility
ITD 21A MBB Assembly Progress
12
Upper Bulkhead 2
Return: Slide 3Large Scale Test Article
under Development
Small Scale
Component Tests
Hybrid Wing Body Aircraft

5. Enabling NextGen – Trajectory Based Operations
Transitioning Technologies from NASA to FAA
www.nasa.gov 5
Utilizes NextGen Infrastructure & Capabilities:
– ADS-B Out/In
– RNAV arrivals
– Optimum profile descents (OPDs)
Tailored Arrival Concept
Controller-Managed
Spacing
Flight Deck Interval
Management
Traffic Management Advisor
with Terminal Metering
Terminal Sequencing and
Spacing Technology
Transfer

6. NASA studies and industry
roadmaps have identified hybrid
electric propulsion systems as
promising technologies that can
help meet national environmental
and energy efficiency goals
for aviation.
Potential Benefits
Energy usage
reduced by
more than
60%
Harmful
emissions
reduced by
more than
90%
Objectionable
noise reduced
by more than
65%
Low Carbon Propulsion

7. 7
Goals:
• Safely enable civilian low-altitude
operations within 5 years in near-term,
and
• Develop autonomous UAS Traffic
Management (UTM) to accommodate
massive scale
UAS Traffic Management
Partnerships
NASA will be UTM
technology developer and
conduct collaborative tests
Partnerships: FAA, NOAA,
Vehicle manufacturers, test
sites, DOI, insurance
companies, academia,
communication, surveillance,
system integrators, etc.
Examples: Google, Amazon,
Verizon, 3DRobotics,
Airware
Build 1
• Demo: 2015
• Geo-fencing and
airspace design
• Open/close
airspace for wx
• Basic procedural
separation
• Simple scheduling
• Initial constraint
database
Build 2
• Demo: 2016
• Dynamic airspace
adjustments
• Demand/Capacity
imbalance
• Initial contingency
management
Build 3
• Demo: 2017
• Trajectory
conformance
monitoring
• Web portal for UTM
access
• Heterogeneous
operations
Build 4
• Demo: 2018
• Large scale
contingency
management

8. Urgent Drivers
High Impact Results
• Economic Growth
• High Quality Jobs
• Revolutionary Mobility
• Long-Term Sustainability
Summary
www.nasa.gov 8
Innovative Solutions and
High Payoff Technologies
Compelling
Thrusts