Aerospace

NASA and Pratt & Whitney collaborate to develop low-emission aviation engine technology.

NASA has granted Pratt & Whitney a $13.1 million cost-share contract under HyTEC

To transform air travel and assist in the combat of climate change, NASA is starting a new phase of its aeronautics research. The agency’s Hybrid Thermally Efficient Core (HyTEC) project intends to enhance aircraft engine combustors to guarantee that commercial aviation is cleaner, more effective, and more environmentally friendly in the future.

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NASA has granted Pratt & Whitney a $13.1 million cost-share contract under HyTEC. During the contract duration, Pratt & Whitney, based in Hartford, CT, will match or surpass NASA’s contribution. This two-year collaboration aims to advance innovative combustor designs for small-core engines. The combustor, also known as the combustion chamber in an aviation engine, is where fuel is mixed with compressed air and ignited to produce the high-temperature gas that powers the engine.

NASA and Pratt & Whitney will evaluate how well these upcoming combustor concepts perform when powered by sustainable aviation fuels as part of their revolutionary engine combustor work. By using less energy, running on renewable fuels instead of fossil fuels, and enabling electrified propulsion for single-aisle commercial aircraft, the HyTEC project will ultimately provide extremely efficient jet engines to enable the future of sustainable aviation.

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By 2050, the U.S. fleet will have grown and will require 40% more jet fuel, according to the United States 2021 Aviation Climate Action Plan. Sustainable fuels are essential weapons in the industry’s toolbox to lower net carbon emissions from commercial aircraft, even though efficiency improvements like small core engines help to lower the fuel demand. The expected rise in the use of renewable fuels would drastically cut the emissions from aviation worldwide and slow the climate change rate brought by transportation.

Aerospace

Boeing Transfers Rocket Stage to NASA, Paving Way for Human Moon Mission

Image:Boeing

Boeing has achieved a significant milestone by providing NASA with the second core stage of the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket.

This crucial component, crafted at NASA’s Michoud Assembly Facility (MAF), is set to propel the Artemis II crew into lunar orbit, marking humanity’s return to deep space after a 50-year hiatus.

The monumental Boeing-built rocket stage, the largest element of the Artemis II mission, will embark on a journey aboard the Pegasus barge, traveling 900 miles to NASA’s Kennedy Space Center.

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Upon arrival, it will be meticulously integrated with other essential Artemis II components, including the upper stage, solid rocket boosters, and NASA’s Orion spacecraft within the iconic Vehicle Assembly Building. This intricate integration process is a vital step toward the eagerly anticipated Artemis II launch, slated for 2025.

“Boeing-built products helped land humankind on the moon in 1969, and we’re proud to continue that legacy through the Artemis generation,” remarked Dave Dutcher, vice president and program manager for Boeing’s SLS program. “Together, with NASA and our industry partners and suppliers, we are building the world’s most capable rocket and paving the way to deep space through America’s rocket factory in New Orleans.”

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The delivery of Core Stage 2 marks a significant achievement in the evolution of the SLS rocket. Towering over 200 feet and powered by four RS-25 engines, this core stage, coupled with two solid-fueled booster rockets, will generate a staggering 8.8 million pounds of thrust. This immense power is crucial to launching Artemis II and future missions into the vast expanse of space.

The SLS rocket stands unparalleled in its capability to transport both crew and substantial cargo to the moon and beyond in a single launch. Its extraordinary capacity will facilitate the delivery of human-rated spacecraft, habitats, and scientific missions to destinations including the moon and Mars, ushering in a new era of space exploration.