NASA operations, as of this writing, are struggling to deal with the inevitable new system problems that have arisen with the Space Launch System “wet test” – basically all aspects of launch pad operations (including fueling) save the launch itself.
A few weeks ago, though, much of the NASA community was embracing a
much broader perspective through a program cleverly titled imaginAviation,
under the auspices of NARI – the NASA Aeronautics Research Institute.
This three-day virtual event, which included the participation of many universities and other educational organizations, was based on imagination and how resulting visions can lead to the future transformation of aviation. Through more than 30 presentations, imaginAviation delved into topics and concepts ranging from environmental and emissions concerns to more esoteric topics such as Hyper-Spectral Communications for more robust and reliable air-to-ground communications.
NASA is continually involved in developing technical innovations in aircraft systems, a process that includes the utilization of this modified F/A-18. Photo: NASA
The tone for imaginAviation was set from the event’s keynote
address, given by Dr. Kathryn
Jablokow, a Program Director at National Science Foundation and Professor of Engineering Design and
Mechanical Engineering at Penn State University. Dr. Jablokow stressed the
idea of embracing multiple leading edges, noting, “Innovation makes people uncomfortable,
but that’s not always a bad thing. It just means that people have this sense,
this capacity to know when they’re getting close to an edge.”
You can learn much more about ideas for the future of aviation and
aeronautics as every presentation given across all three days of imaginAviation
is available to watch by simply accessing the following link:
