This Echo is READ ONLY !   NO Un-Authorized Messages Please!
 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~   ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

03-035
For Release: June 5, 2003

Katherine K. Martin
Media Relations Office
216/433-2406
katherine.martin{at}nasa.gov

NASA Technologies Benefitting Public Good Recognized

Six new technologies leading to cleaner, quieter, safer, more
affordable and more efficient air travel have been selected to
receive NASA's Turning Goals into Reality (TGIR) Awards for
innovativeness. The research on these technologies was managed by the
Agency's Glenn Research Center, Cleveland, with participation from
other NASA centers, industry and academia. 

The awards, sponsored by NASA's Office of Aerospace Technology, will
be presented during the 2003 TGIR Conference June 10-12 in
Williamsburg, Va., near NASA's Langley Research Center. Conference
events will focus on the technological challenges as well as the
opportunities that lie ahead for the aerospace community as we begin
the second century of powered flight. 

Glenn's award-winning technologies include:

Pioneering Technology Award: The Secure, Mobile, Wireless Network
Technology Team

For the first time, seamless dissemination of data securely over a
high-integrity, wireless broadband network has been achieved through
the development of an advanced, miniaturized Mobile Router. This
technology benefits ground-based transportation, military
communications as well as Internet connectivity in space. Potential
applications include advanced, automated, data-intensive air traffic
management concepts, increased National Air Space capacity, and
potentially reduced overall costs of air travel operations. Team
members include U.S. Coast Guard, Verizon Federal Network Systems,
Lockheed Martin, Cisco Systems and Western DataCom. 


Mission Safety Award: Miniaturized Smart Leak Detection Sensor Team

A new hydrogen leak detection system developed to reduce the risk of
explosions, improve safety and reduce operating costs incorporates
miniaturization, reliability of operation in space and adequate
sensitivity for early hazard warning. This microsystem-based hydrogen
sensor and supporting electronics system meets Advanced Space
Transportation future needs for improved leak detection capabilities.
Team members include Case Western Reserve University, NASA's Kennedy
Space Center and Makel Engineering.


Emissions Reduction Award: Turbine Airfoil System Development Team

Recognized as the state-of-the-art for turbine airfoil applications,
an advanced turbine airfoil material system made up of a new blade
alloy and thermal barrier coating (TBC) has been developed. With up
to an 85 F increase in metal temperature capability over currently
used blade alloys, the alloy was selected for use in the high
pressure turbine blade of the F135 Joint Strike Fighter engine, and
it can also be used in commercial applications requiring longer life
and low maintenance. With the incorporation of a new TBC, the
increase in blade surface temperature capability will result in
higher engine efficiency and reduced CO2 emissions. Team members
included the U.S. Army Research Laboratory, GE Aircraft Engines,
Pratt & Whitney, Howmet Research Center and Prazair Surface
Technologies. 


Noise Reduction Award: Fan Noise Reduction Team

Noise reduction through fan wake management was achieved by injecting
air through the blade trailing edge slots to remove or reduce
non-uniformities in the fan stream, which led to reductions of more
than 10 dB in the levels of fan interaction tones. Such reductions in
fan noise level, when coupled with similar reductions in noise levels
from the airframe and other engine components, can achieve NASA's
goal of reducing aircraft system noise by a factor of 10 relative to
1997 technology. The team includes of GE Aircraft Systems,
Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and NASA's Langley Research
Center.


Mobility Award: SATS (Small Aircraft Transportation System) Airborne
Internet Team

A new Communications, Navigation and Surveillance system was
developed that delivers aviation information services to aircraft and
ground facilities as interconnected nodes on a high-speed digital
communications network (like the Internet). Included is a client
server with confirmed delivery notification, a robust high-capacity
aviation information system for air traffic control and safety
advisories, worldwide compatibility, seamless peer-to-peer
connectivity, and high bandwidth and data rates. Team members include
the Federal Aviation Administration, NASA Langley, the FAA Technical
Center, Computer Networks & Software, Inc., Mulkerin Associates, AvCS
Research Ltd., Microflight, Inc., Project Management Enterprises,
ADSI Inc., AvCom Inc., Comptel, Inc., Architecture Technologies
Corporation and Tectura Corporation.


Mission Affordability Award: GRCop-84 Alloy Development Team

Use of a new alloy in combustion chamber liners will achieve an
estimated 50% reduction in manufacturing cost, 50% reduction in
delivery time, plus additional operational cost savings through an
increased number of missions. The new, rugged, high temperature
alloy, GRCop-84, far exceeds the capabilities of today's alloys for
use in future space vehicles, meets NASA's goal of mission
affordability, is two times stronger and has 350 F higher temperature
capability over alloys used in today's combustion chambers. Team
members include Aerojet, Boeing, Case Western Reserve University,
Cleveland State University, Crucible Research, University of
California-Davis, Rocketdyne and NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center.


More information on NASA's TGIR Conference is available at:

http://www.aerospace.nasa.gov/curevent/tgir/index.htm

# # #

 - END OF FILE -
==========

@Message posted automagically by IMTHINGS POST 1.30
---