Aerospace

NASA Partners With Airlines to Save Fuel, Reduce Flight Delays

In order to continue developing an air traffic decision-making tool that will save over 24,000 pounds of jet fuel in 2022 for aircraft leaving from Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport and Dallas Love Field Airport, NASA has reached agreements with five major U.S. airlines.

NASA’s Digital Information Platform (DIP) machine-learning tool gave flight controllers at the two Dallas airports the ability to cut down on delays and fuel consumption over the course of 2022. They were able to find chances for more effective, alternate takeoff routes using traffic estimates from the DIP-developed Collaborative Digital Departure Reroute (CDDR) technology, which decreased delays and saved fuel.

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Now, DIP tools will be put to work with five new partner airlines: American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, JetBlue Airways, Southwest Airlines, and United Airlines. Researchers from DIP and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) will evaluate a cloud computing-based version of the CDDR tool as part of five-year NASA Space Act Agreements with these airlines.

By combining air traffic and airspace limitation data from the FAA with flight-specific surface traffic data from the five airlines and two airports, CDDR seeks to enhance the present air traffic operations at commercial airports. In order to generate traffic predictions about future runway availability and expected departure and arrival times, the programme uses machine learning to this data.

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The five airlines will work with NASA to develop the CDDR tool further and find further possibilities to use data-driven approaches that can enhance flight planning and operations. DIP is a subproject of NASA’s Air Traffic Management (ATM-X) project and is led out of Ames. DIP’s work and partnerships contribute to the agency’s Sustainable Flight National Partnership efforts.

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.