NASA is stepping up its efforts to foster innovation in sustainable aviation by funding five new design studies aimed at developing environmentally friendly aircraft technologies. The studies, part of NASA’s Advanced Aircraft Concepts for Environmental Sustainability (AACES) 2050 initiative, will focus on cutting-edge concepts that could revolutionize commercial aviation by 2050.
As part of the initiative, NASA has awarded a total of $11.5 million to four companies and one university, with the goal of identifying and exploring promising technologies that could lead to transformative advancements in aircraft design and performance. These studies are expected to play a key role in advancing the aviation industry’s shift toward sustainability.
NASA’s commitment to sustainable aviation has been long-standing, marked by collaborations across government agencies, industry, and academic institutions. In 2021, the agency launched the Sustainable Flight National Partnership (SFNP), which aims to achieve significant environmental improvements in aviation by the 2030s. The SFNP has already produced major projects, including the X-66 Sustainable Flight Demonstrator and the Electrified Powertrain Flight Demonstration, as well as advancements in engine efficiency and lightweight materials.
The AACES 2050 initiative builds on this momentum, with a focus on breakthrough technologies that could reshape the aviation sector over the next several decades. “Through initiatives like AACES, NASA is positioned to harness a broad set of perspectives to further increase aircraft efficiency, reduce aviation’s environmental impact, and enhance U.S. technological competitiveness in the 2040s, 2050s, and beyond,” said Bob Pearce, NASA’s Associate Administrator for the Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate.
NASA’s investments in these studies underscore the agency’s leadership in sustainable aviation research and development, bringing together the best ideas and innovations from private industry, academia, and other stakeholders to shape the future of aviation.
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