Aerospace Research Central

2018

By Ketan AjaniDecember 3, 2018

December 3, 2018

2018 Year In Review

Aerospace Sciences

Predicting, reducing noise from supersonic jets and unmanned aircraft

Aerodynamic Measurement Technology

Researchers measure xenon at low concentrations, demo novel approach to measuring particle velocities

Applied Aerodynamics

Real-world geometries, wind tunnel tests bring improved results

Plasmadynamics and Lasers

Plasma diagnostics in forefront of research

New technologies advancing thermophysics

Modeling and Simulation

Simulating air traffic control for training pilots

Meshing, Visualization and Computational Environments

Meshing, visualization community works on CFD Vision 2030

Guidance, Navigation and Control

Falcon Heavy makes history, Parker probe skims by sun

Facility reactivation and upgrades highlight busy year for ground testing

Accelerating accurate engineering answers with simulations

Atmospheric Flight Mechanics

Progress seen on self-learning aircraft, Mars landing tech and Dream Chaser

Atmospheric and Space Environments

Forecasting space weather to protect travelers

Landmark launches are signals of future planetary exploration

Information Systems

Sensor Systems and Information Fusion

U.S. military funds major sensor system projects

Intelligent Systems

UH-1 Huey flies autonomous resupply mission in test

Computer Systems

Ensuring security while building faster supercomputers

Communications Systems

Industry disruption, transformation continue into fourth year

Propulsion and Energy

Nuclear and Future Flight Propulsion

Progress made toward nuclear propulsion, in-situ resource utilization

High-Speed Air-Breathing Propulsion

Exploring high-speed propulsion for weapons, passenger aircraft

Terrestrial Energy Systems

Lightweight fission reactor passes test; work on innovative engine combustor

Global competition for affordable heavy lifters

Propellants and Combustion

Safely improving jet, rocket fuels

Pressure Gain Combustion

Funding increase for pressure gain begins to pay off

Liquid Propulsion

Hope for again sending humans to space from U.S. soil

Inlets, Nozzles and Propulsion Systems Integration

Improving simulations of engine performance for training, aircraft design

Toward bigger and better hybrid rockets

Gas Turbine Engines

Geared turbofan and additive manufacturing among new engine technologies

Energetic Components and Systems

Embracing innovation from Orion to additive manufacturing

Electric Propulsion

New thrusters tested; lunar gateway power portion announced

Aerospace Power Systems

Powering InSight, Parker Solar Probe on their missions

Space and Missiles

“Lost” satellite reappears, water ice mapped at lunar poles

Space Logistics

Falcon Heavy, New Shepard achieve important test flights

Weapon System Effectiveness

Hypersonic work escalates on multiple fronts

Space Transportation

Small and large launch companies report successes

Space elevator experiment sent to space station

Space Resources

Space resources community sets sights on the moon

Space Operations and Support

U.S. Space Force proposal, commercial crew programs grab interest

Space Automation and Robotics

Busy year of testing, robotic operations

Space Architecture

Intense focus on NASA’s Lunar Orbital Platform-Gateway

Small Satellite

Small satellites capable of big science

Missile Systems

Longer-range and advanced seekers dominate missile development

Microgravity and Space Processes

A year of space station experiments, commercial launches and education initiatives

Life Sciences and Systems

Report links astronauts’ increased body temperatures to time in space

Integration

Unmanned Systems

Unmanned aircraft systems make research and business advances

Transformational Flight

Dozens of urban air mobility projects underway

Space Exploration

Spitzer telescope endures, while Opportunity’s fate is pending

Energy Optimized Aircraft

Government and industry pour resources into electric power

CFD Vision 2030

Marching toward the 2030 vision of CFD

Aerospace Traffic Management

FAA budget increase comes amid unmanned aircraft boom

Aerospace Outreach

Society and Aerospace Technology

Year of records includes Falcon Heavy launch, unmanned aircraft registrations

Recognizing NASA’s 60th anniversary, World War I centennial

Demo