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Minimum-Fuel Supersonic Test Trajectories

Completed TRL 7 (started at 5, targeting 7)

Description

Design minimum fuel supersonic flight test trajectories using modern software tools & techniques. Validate fuel burn predictions with real-world F-18 flight test. Transition workflow to X-59.

Benefits

reduced fuel consumption for F-18, X-59, and production supersonic aircraft, additional test points per flight, more time at test conditions, automated emergency procedure development, handling of sonic boom constraints/cost

Details

Technology areaFlight Vehicle Systems > Flight Mechanics > Trajectory Design and Analysis
ProgramCenter Innovation Fund: AFRC CIF (AFRC CIF)
Lead organizationArmstrong Flight Research Center, Edwards, CA
Start date2021-10-01
End date2022-09-30

Project contacts

Listed on TechPort itself — the most direct way to ask about this specific project.

How to get involved

This is a mature technology (TRL 7) — the realistic path in is usually NASA's Technology Transfer Program: licensing an existing NASA patent, or a Space Act Agreement to use NASA facilities/expertise directly. NASA also runs a startup licensing program with no upfront fee for companies formed to commercialize a specific NASA technology.

None of these are guaranteed paths for this specific project — TechPort itself doesn't have an "apply" button. Reaching out to the contact(s) above with a specific question is usually the fastest way to find out what's actually open.