Aeronautics

Articles: Photonics/Optics

Mars 2020 – Looking for Life

Tech Briefs spoke with NASA’s Ken Williford, Mars 2020 Deputy Project Scientist, to learn more about the science capabilities of Perseverance.

Articles: Aerospace

Mars 2020 – Getting to Mars

Perseverance will have the ability to land in more challenging terrain than Curiosity, making more rugged sites eligible as safe landing candidates.

Articles: Aerospace

Mars 2020 – The Science of Mars 2020

Learn about the four goals of the Mars 2020 mission.

Articles: Test & Measurement

Mars 2020 – Perseverance to the Red Planet

Read our special series on the Mars 2020 mission, featuring interviews with NASA experts and designers of the Perseverance rover.

Briefs: Materials

Nano-Infused Ceramic Can Report its own Health

A ceramic sensor could be embedded into structures such as bridges and aircraft to monitor their health.

Briefs: Software

Characterizing Richness of Previously Unmapped Terrain and its Impact on Navigation Using 3D Range Sensors

Landers to small bodies such as comets and asteroids can use this program to estimate the terrain richness of the previously unmapped small body.

Briefs: Aerospace

Leaf-Inspired Surface Prevents Frost Formation

This new design could conserve energy used for defrosting airplanes, appliances, and more.

Facility Focus: Imaging

Facility Focus: NASA Ames Research Center

This NASA center hosts the world’s greatest collection of wind tunnels and flight simulation facilities

Articles: Photonics/Optics

3D Imaging the Biolocomotion of Fruit Flies

The last thing you probably do when a fly buzzes toward you is marvel at its graceful wing and body kinematics. But that’s exactly what researchers at Cornell University’s Itai Cohen Group...

Technology Leaders: Photonics/Optics

Tackling Aircraft Laser Strikes from the Ground

To reduce the increasing frequency of attacks, the ground-based Laser Aircraft Strike Suppression Optical System (LASSOS) has been developed by researchers from the MIT Lincoln Laboratory.

Briefs: Aerospace

Relaxor Piezoelectric Single-Crystal Multilayer Stacks for Energy Harvesting Transducers (RPSEHT)

Applications include powering portable electronic devices and sensors, and harvesting waste mechanical energy for aircraft, automobile, and other transportation equipment.

Blog: Aerospace

NASA Langley Launches $20,000 UAV 'Safeguard' Competition

NASA wants small businesses to help the safe operation of UAVs in airspace.

Blog: Photonics/Optics

NASA 2024 Moon Mission Calls for CubeSats

NASA’s big return to the Moon by 2024 will call for the support of small technologies – specifically, the miniature spacecraft known as CubeSats.

Application Briefs: Sensors/Data Acquisition

Multiple Sensors Aid in Development of an Electrical Vertical Takeoff and Landing Aircraft

Beta Technologies is putting their Electrical Vertical Takeoff and Landing aircraft (eVTOL) prototype through the wringer.

Articles: Aerospace

Celebrating Women in Engineering & Science: Dr. Lynda Kennedy, Vice President of Education & Evaluation, Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum

Dr. Kennedy was the first Director of Teaching & Learning, Literacy and Outreach for the New York...

Articles: Aerospace

Celebrating Women in Engineering & Science: Jasmin Moghbeli, NASA Astronaut

Moghbeli has accumulated more than 150 combat missions and 2,000 hours of flight time in more than 25 different aircraft.

Briefs: Mechanical & Fluid Systems

Flap Device for Airframe Noise Reduction

This trailing edge flap device reduces noise without compromising cruise efficiency or landing lift and stall characteristics.

Briefs: Robotics, Automation & Control

Insect-Inspired Arms Improve Drones

The new arm design enables unmanned aerial vehicles to fly in windy conditions.

Articles: Aerospace

Celebrating Women in Engineering & Science: Dr. France A. Córdova, Director, National Science Foundation

Dr. France A. Córdova is an internationally recognized astrophysicist and the 14th director of the National Science Foundation (NSF).

Briefs: Test & Measurement

Remote, Noninvasive Cardiac Activity Tracer (RENCAT)

This vibrometer has uses in analyzing spasms in humans, as a breath analyzer for diagnosis of cancer and other diseases, and as a preventative healthcare sensor.

Briefs: Mechanical & Fluid Systems

High-Performance, Piezoelectric, Hybrid Synthetic Jet Actuators

These actuators provide active flow control for airfoil surfaces and supersonic inlets of wing-borne vehicles.

Briefs: RF & Microwave Electronics

Sensor Uses Microwaves to Determine Real-Time Ice Accumulation

The sensor makes it easier to detect and manage ice accumulation on aircraft wings.

Articles: Aerospace

Celebrating Women in Engineering & Science

We spoke with five women who lead their fields in engineering and science

Briefs: Motion Control

Multi-Objective Flight Control Optimization Framework

This framework can be used by commercial and military aircraft and unmanned aerial vehicles.

Blog: Aerospace

Researcher Finds Promising Patterns in ‘Explosive’ Rotating Detonation Engine

University of Washington engineer James Koch observed patterns in a promising, but often-unpredictable rocket part: The rotating detonation engine.