aerospace

Next Generation Experimental Aircraft Becomes NASA’s Newest X-Plane

Published

2 years ago

June 13, 2023

Daily News Staff

NASA and Boeing said Monday the aircraft produced through the agency’s Sustainable Flight Demonstrator project has been designated by the U.S. Air Force as the X-66A.

The new X-plane seeks to inform a potential new generation of more sustainable single-aisle aircraft – the workhorse of passenger airlines around the world. Working with NASA, Boeing will build, test, and fly a full-scale demonstrator aircraft with extra-long, thin wings stabilized by diagonal struts, known as a Transonic Truss-Braced Wing concept.

“At NASA, our eyes are not just focused on stars but also fixated on the sky. The Sustainable Flight Demonstrator builds on NASA’s world-leading efforts in aeronautics as well climate,” said NASA Administrator Bill Nelson. “The X-66A will help shape the future of aviation, a new era where aircraft are greener, cleaner, and quieter, and create new possibilities for the flying public and American industry alike.”

The X-66A is the first X-plane specifically focused on helping the United States achieve the goal of net-zero aviation greenhouse gas emissions, which was articulated in the White House’s U.S. Aviation Climate Action Plan.

“To reach our goal of net zero aviation emissions by 2050, we need transformative aircraft concepts like the ones we’re flying on the X-66A,” said Bob Pearce, associate administrator for NASA’s Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate, who announced the designation at the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics Aviation Forum in San Diego. “With this experimental aircraft, we’re aiming high to demonstrate the kinds of energy-saving, emissions-reducing technologies the aviation industry needs.”

NASA and Boeing sought the X-plane designation shortly after the agency announced the Sustainable Flight Demonstrator project award earlier this year. The Air Force confers X-plane status for development programs that set out to create revolutionary experimental aircraft configurations. The designation is for research aircraft. With few exceptions, X-planes are intended to test designs and technologies that can be adopted into other aircraft designs, not serve as prototypes for full production.

“We’re incredibly proud of this designation, because it means that the X-66A will be the next in a long line of experimental aircraft used to validate breakthrough designs that have transformed aviation,” said Todd Citron, Boeing chief technology officer. “With the learnings gained from design, construction, and flight-testing, we’ll have an opportunity to shape the future of flight and contribute to the decarbonization of aerospace.”

For the X-66A, the Air Force provided the designation for an aircraft that validates technologies for a Transonic Truss-Braced Wing configuration that, when combined with other advancements in propulsion systems, materials, and systems architecture, could result in up to 30% less fuel consumption and reduced emissions when compared with today’s best-in-class aircraft.

Due to their heavy usage, single-aisle aircraft today account for nearly half of worldwide aviation emissions. Creating designs and technologies for a more sustainable version of this type of aircraft has the potential for profound impact on emissions.

NASA’s history with the X-plane designation dates to the 1940s, when its predecessor agency, the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA) jointly created an experimental aircraft program with the Air Force and the U.S. Navy. The X-66A is the latest in a long line of NASA X-planes. Additionally, NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California, has provided technical expertise and support for several additional X-planes.

For the Sustainable Flight Demonstrator, NASA has a Funded Space Act Agreement with Boeing through which the agency will invest $425 million over seven years, while the company and its partners will contribute the remainder of the funding, estimated at about $725 million. NASA also will contribute technical expertise and facilities.

The Sustainable Flight Demonstrator project is an activity under NASA’s Integrated Aviation Systems Program and a key element of the agency’s Sustainable Flight National Partnership, which focuses on developing new sustainable aviation technologies.

Learn more about the Sustainable Flight Demonstrator at:

https://go.nasa.gov/3X4t9MD

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Daily News Staff

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NORAD’s value is on full display as flying objects shot down over North America

Published

1 week ago

December 12, 2024

The Conversation

NORAD — In this photo provided by the U.S. navy, sailors recover a high-altitude surveillance balloon off the coast of Myrtle Beach, S.C., on Feb. 5, 2023. A missile was fired by a U.S. F-22 off the Carolina coast to bring the balloon down. (U.S. Navy via AP)

Andrea Charron, University of Manitoba

Four (and counting) air objects have violated North American airspace in less than a week.

It began with a Chinese high-altitude surveillance balloon flying over Alaska and northwestern Canada.

The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) tracked the balloon and the three other air objects. None appeared to pose a military threat to North America, but they still caused concern because they could both gather intelligence and interfere with civilian air traffic.

NORAD is binational. Canadian and United States military personnel are assigned to NORAD to focus on the defence of the North American continent, not just Canada or the U.S. It’s a vital command that has been overlooked and undervalued. It is, however, the first line of defence for both states — as many Americans and Canadians are now learning.

NORAD’s reason for being

NORAD has three missions:

It warns and tracks air objects of concern (aerospace warning)
It can defeat (in other words, shoot down) these objects or escort them out of national airspace (aerospace control)
It tracks maritime vessels approaching North America that may be of concern (maritime warning)

What’s unique about NORAD is that Canadian and American interceptors, personnel and assets work together seamlessly in joint commands. For example, Canadian personnel can be in charge of American NORAD personnel in Alaska while U.S. jets assigned to NORAD may operate in Canadian airspace.

NORAD personnel communicate and co-ordinate with each other across national boundaries. This is all part of the NORAD agreement.

It’s no accident that a statement by U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin specifically noted Canada and NORAD’s role in the dramatic shooting down of the Chinese surveillance balloon over the Atlantic Ocean on Feb. 4.

A Black man in a suit stands next to a dark-haired woman in a red coat, a Canadian flag in the foreground and a military band next to them. — U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin welcomes Canada’s Defence Minister Anita Anand to the Pentagon during a welcoming ceremony in 2023 in Washington, D.C. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

NORAD Commander General Glen VanHerck — a four-star U.S. general — is based at Peterson Space Force Base in Colorado Springs, and can reach out to both the American president and the Canadian prime minister.

He’s equally responsible to American and Canadian citizens. If a flying object needs to be shot down, the American president approves any action in U.S. airspace while the prime minister approves it in Canadian airspace. Sovereignty is respected.

However, both Canadian and American personnel and assets are involved.

This was evident in the case of the air objects flying over the Yukon and Lake Huron.

While they were shot down in Canadian airspace with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s permission, American fighter jets were in position to assist and execute the commands.

Under NORAD provisions, it doesn’t matter if it’s Canadian or American jets used to shoot down unidentified flying objects over North America. NORAD’s mission was achieved with the appropriate national command authority.

NORAD now on our radar

While NORAD certainly needs modernizing — it requires not only new radars, satellites and interceptors, but also ways to integrate information and intelligence from more partners and allies — the events of the past few days show it’s agile.

Those same events have also reminded both Canadians and Americans that North America is vulnerable.

A grey-haired man in a military uniform speaks while a dark-haired man is seen behind him wearing a face mask. — Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Gen. Glen VanHerck, NORAD commander, take part in a NORAD briefing in Colorado Springs, Colo., in June 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

We don’t know the origins of all of the flying objects — that will be up to the FBI, RCMP and intelligence agencies to discern. If the air objects originated in foreign nations, next steps will involve the U.S. State Department and Global Affairs Canada. If they’re domestic in origin, it will be a matter for police and regulatory authorities.

Either way, the recent events have provided North Americans with a clear wake-up call. Canada is not the “fire-proof house” it once hoped it could be.

Neither is the U.S. immune from potential threats just because of its military might.

NORAD celebrates its 65th anniversary in May. The organization is clearly needed now more than ever. But its biggest challenge remains the lack of understanding of its value and importance.

If there’s any silver lining to the events of the past few weeks, perhaps it’s that North Americans will now recognize and appreciate the role NORAD plays in keeping them safe.

Andrea Charron, Associate Professor and Director of the Centre for Defence and Security Studies, University of Manitoba

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

The science section of our news blog STM Daily News provides readers with captivating and up-to-date information on the latest scientific discoveries, breakthroughs, and innovations across various fields. We offer engaging and accessible content, ensuring that readers with different levels of scientific knowledge can stay informed. Whether it’s exploring advancements in medicine, astronomy, technology, or environmental sciences, our science section strives to shed light on the intriguing world of scientific exploration and its profound impact on our daily lives. From thought-provoking articles to informative interviews with experts in the field, STM Daily News Science offers a harmonious blend of factual reporting, analysis, and exploration, making it a go-to source for science enthusiasts and curious minds alike. https://stmdailynews.com/category/science/

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Science

What is most likely going on in Area 51? A national security historian explains why you won’t find aliens there

Published

2 weeks ago

December 7, 2024

The Conversation

Area 51 — For decades, what lay at the end of this road was a mysterious secret. David James Henry/Wikimedia, CC BY-SA

Christopher Nichols, The Ohio State University

Curious Kids is a series for children of all ages. If you have a question you’d like an expert to answer, send it to [email protected].

What is most likely going on in Area 51? – Griffin, age 10, South Lyon, Michigan

One of the reasons people can never be entirely sure about what is going on at Area 51 is that it is a highly classified secret military facility. It was not until 2013 that the U.S. government even acknowledged the existence and name “Area 51.”

This information came out as part of a broader set of documents released through a Freedom of Information Act request, which is something regular citizens and groups can do to ask the U.S. government to provide details about government activities. In this case, the request made public formerly classified CIA information regarding the historical development and testing of the U-2 spy plane. The information also revealed where it was tested: Area 51!

As a national security historian, I know there’s a long history of secrets at Area 51. I also know that none of those secrets have anything to do with space aliens.

The place

The base commonly referred to as Area 51 is located in a remote area of southern Nevada, roughly 100 miles (161 kilometers) from Las Vegas. It is in the middle of a federally protected area of the U.S. Air Force’s Nevada Test and Training Range, now known as the Nevada National Security Site, which is inside the larger Nellis Air Force Range.

a map showing the city of Las Vegas in the bottom right corner and an inset of the United States in the bottom left corner with Southern Nevada highlighted — Area 51, the yellow rectangle in the center of the map, is tucked in the middle of the much larger Nellis Air Force Range. DEMIS BV via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA

Area 51 is the name on maps for the area within the Nevada National Security Site where the government carried out secret operations. The airfield at Area 51 is called Homey Airport, and the overall facility is often referred to as Groom Lake. Groom Lake is a salt flat, or dried-out lake, adjacent to the airport.

The history

In the early years of the Cold War between the United States and the Soviet Union, both nations sought new technological developments that might give one country more power than the other. A great amount of information about scientific achievements, such as on rockets or weapons – but also even on ways to grow more food or make fuel more efficient – was kept secret as an issue of national security.

A key part of not fighting another world war was, and still is, developing technologies to see what the other side is doing – that is, surveillance technologies that can spy on the enemy. The information gathered by new and improved surveillance technologies about new innovations with planes and weapons was very important to governments.

This meant that both the surveillance information and the technology to get it were closely held national security secrets. Very few people in the governments of the U.S. and Soviet Union knew about the secrets from the 1940s all the way up until the end of the Cold War in 1991.

A single-seat jet aircraft with no markings flies high above the clouds — The U-2 spy plane was the first of many secrets kept at Area 51. U.S. Air Force

Central to all this was the U.S.’s U-2 spy plane. It could fly higher than other airplanes and was made to travel over targets all around the world to take high-resolution photographs and measurements. Area 51 was selected in 1955 to test the U-2 in part because its remote location could help keep the plane secret.

Area 51 became the test site for other secret new aircraft. This included the A-12, which, like the U-2, was a fast-flying reconnaissance plane. The A-12 was first test flown at Homey Airport in 1962. It had a bulging disc-like center to carry additional fuel. Its shape and shiny titanium body could well have been responsible for some people’s reports about seeing spherical ships, also known as flying saucers.

Another important – and odd-shaped – aircraft first tested at Area 51 was the stealth fighter known as the F-117. It first flew at Homey Airport in 1981.

a single-seat odd-shaped jet aircraft flies high above the desert — The F-117 stealth fighter looks like it could have come from another world but was made right here on Earth. U.S. Air Force

Secrets and speculation

“More Flying Objects Seen in Clark Sky,” read the June 17, 1959, headline in the Reno Evening Gazette newspaper. Reports like this of unidentified flying objects in the 1950s and 1960s fueled controversy and attention for Area 51. This was for three main reasons:

Area 51 was highly secret and not publicly accessible.
The area was home to test flights of secret new airplanes that moved fast and in different ways than expected.
The Cold War was an era of political tension, and there were many movies and TV shows about space aliens at the time.

When the government does not tell the public the full truth, no matter the reasons, secrets can lead to wild speculation. Secrecy can leave room for conspiracy theories to develop.

Area 51 remains off-limits to civilian and regular military air traffic, a decade after the government acknowledged its existence. The 68 years of government secrecy has helped to amplify suspicions, speculation and conspiracy theories. These conspiracy theories include crashed alien spaceships, space aliens being experimented on, and even space aliens working at Area 51.

a small crane holds a disk-shaped object in front of a sign for a restaurant that includes an image of a space alien — Speculation about space aliens at Area 51 has been part of popular culture for more than half a century. Airwolfhound/Flickr, CC BY-SA

There are much simpler explanations for what witnesses have seen near Area 51. After all, the public now knows about what was being tested at Area 51, and when. For example, as U-2 and A-12 flights increased in the 1950s and 1960s, so did local sightings of UFOs. As balloons and planes crashed, and secret testing of new technologies as well as captured Soviet equipment continued, so did reports of UFO crashes and landings.

In fact, many UFO sightings match almost exactly with dates and times of flights of then-classified experimental aircraft. We also know that prototype drones and more recent versions have been tested at the site.

In the end, there is no reason to think that anything other than earthly technologies have been behind the strange sights and sounds at Area 51.

This article has been updated to correct the descriptions of the name Area 51 and the U2 spy plane’s capabilities.

Hello, curious kids! Do you have a question you’d like an expert to answer? Ask an adult to send your question to [email protected]. Please tell us your name, age and the city where you live.

And since curiosity has no age limit – adults, let us know what you’re wondering, too. We won’t be able to answer every question, but we will do our best.

Christopher Nichols, Professor of History, The Ohio State University

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

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podcasts

Discover the Latest in Space and Sustainability on STM Daily News

Published

4 months ago

August 12, 2024

Rod Washington

If you’re curious about the latest developments in space exploration and sustainable technology, the latest episode of STM Daily News is a must-listen. Hosted by Rod Washington, this episode takes you on a journey from the depths of outer space to innovative advancements right here on Earth, all in under 30 minutes.

Highlights from the Episode

The episode opens with a fascinating story about two NASA astronauts who find themselves on an unexpectedly extended mission aboard the Boeing Starliner spacecraft. Initially slated for a brief stay in space, these astronauts now face a much longer journey, with their return to Earth still uncertain. Rod explores the challenges and decisions NASA is facing as they work to bring these astronauts back home safely.

Next, the podcast dives into Blue Origin’s upcoming NS-26 mission. This mission is set to make headlines, not only because of the diverse crew of pioneers aboard but also due to the groundbreaking research being conducted. One crew member, in particular, is on track to set a new record, while others are carrying out important experiments that could shape the future of space exploration.

Space and Back to Earth

Finally, the episode brings listeners back to Earth with a look at California’s latest transportation innovation. Rod discusses the introduction of new hydrogen-powered trains in San Bernardino County, a significant step forward in the state’s push for zero-emission public transport. These trains are breaking records and could be a game-changer in the fight against climate change.

Why You Should Tune In

Rod Washington presents these stories in a way that’s easy to understand, even if you’re not a space expert or a tech enthusiast. The episode offers just enough detail to spark your interest without giving away too much, making it a perfect listen for anyone wanting to stay informed about the latest in science, technology, and sustainability.

Whether you’re a regular listener of STM Daily News or new to the podcast, this episode is packed with insights that will keep you hooked from start to finish. So, grab your headphones and get ready to explore the cutting edge of innovation and exploration with Rod Washington.

Visit STM Daily News Podcast to listen to the episode: https://stories-this-moment.castos.com/episodes/stm-daily-news-starliner-stuck-in-space-new-blue-origin-mission-so-cal-metrolink-innovations-and-more

Catch this episode and more on STM Daily News, where we bring you the stories that matter. Don’t miss out—tune in today!

Stories featured in this episode:

After 60 Days in Space, Boeing Starliner Astronauts Face Extended Mission with Uncertain Return: https://stmdailynews.com/after-60-days-in-space-boeing-starliner-astronauts-face-extended-mission-with-uncertain-return/
Blue Origin Announces Diverse Crew for Milestone 26th New Shepard Mission https://stmdailynews.com/blue-origin-announces-diverse-crew-for-milestone-26th-new-shepard-mission/
California’s Zero-Emission Hydrogen Trains: A Step Toward Sustainable Transportation https://stmdailynews.com/all-aboard-the-future-californias-pioneering-hydrogen-powered-trains/
July 19, 2024 CloudStrike Event: https://stmdailynews.com/services-resume-after-global-computer-outage-disrupts-valley-airports-and-phoenix-police/
Boom Supersonic at the Farnborough International Airshow: https://stmdailynews.com/boom-supersonic-announces-major-advances-in-overture-aircraft-and-symphony-engine-development/
Perseid Meteor Shower https://stmdailynews.com/stargazers-delight-the-perseid-meteor-shower-lights-up-the-summer-sky/
Mike Sleeves Sliwa briefly talks PickleCon 2024 https://stmdailynews.com/mark-your-calendars-picklecon-2024-set-to-transform-kansas-city-into-a-pickleball-paradise/

Sleeve’s Senior Pickleball Channel Update: https://stmdailynews.com/sleeves-senior-pickleball-report/

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STM Daily News is a vibrant news blog dedicated to sharing the brighter side of human experiences. Emphasizing positive, uplifting stories, the site focuses on delivering inspiring, informative, and well-researched content. With a commitment to accurate, fair, and responsible journalism, STM Daily News aims to foster a community of readers passionate about positive change and engaged in meaningful conversations. Join the movement and explore stories that celebrate the positive impacts shaping our world.

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Author

Rod Washington

Rod: A creative force, blending words, images, and flavors. Blogger, writer, filmmaker, and photographer. Cooking enthusiast with a sci-fi vision. Passionate about his upcoming series and dedicated to TNC Network. Partnered with Rebecca Washington for a shared journey of love and art. View all posts