Passenger planes are not the most efficientt car in the world. While it is true that bbetween 1978 and 2021 the airline industry has managed to increase its efficiency by more than 130 percent, more is always possible accomplished. That thing’that’s what brought NASA and Boeing together, like CNN reports that the two are working on technologies that could make air travel more efficient than it is today.
NASA Administrator Bill Nelson released a statement outlining the goals of the partnership:
Our goal is NASA’s partnership with Boeing to produce and test a large-scale demonstration model that will help make future commercial aircraft more fuel-efficient, benefiting environment, commercial aviation and passengers worldwide. If we’re successful, we could see these technologies on planes that the public takes to the skies in the 2030s.
Therefore, the fruit of these two people’s labor will not be a new plane each joinbut they will grow a more efficient design for future aircraft. Called the Sustainable Flight Demonstration, the key to all of this is creating less drag on the plane.
NASA has partnered with Boeing as it developed the Transonic Truss Wing, which has been officially announced back in 2019. The design increases the aspect ratio of the wings and is built with lightweight materials. As a result, the wings are also thinner. The aircraft has a wingspan of more than 170 feet and is supported by a truss along with a slightly modified swept wing. Boeing says this increases efficiency while providing the same performance as the aircraft from today.
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While Boeing has deep enough pockets to do something like this on its own, it’ll get access to deep government pockets — and aerospace research — because of the partnership. The whole thing will be funded by the Space Act Agreement, which allows NASA to work with any external entity that “fulfills the mandate of the Administration.” This means that NASA contributes $425 million as well as huge resources in facilities and engineers over seven years. Meanwhile, Boeing is providing $725 million and Access to the vehicle’s specifications.
Finally, the partnership It is hoped that 50% of the commercial aviation industry will use the efficient technologies developed from the plan.
