William Atkins
Friday, 05 September 2008 03:01
Science -
Space
Page 1 of 2
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) announced on Thursday, September 4, 2008, a challenge to all U.S. high school and college students to “research and describe a small, supersonic airliner that could enter commercial service in the next decade.”
The NASA media release states that,
“During the upcoming academic year, individuals and teams of high school students will prepare well-documented short papers describing what needs to be accomplished to make supersonic flight available to commercial passengers by 2020.”
It adds,
“Advanced curriculum high school students and college participants will prepare longer papers that depict a highly efficient, environmentally friendly commercial aircraft that would emit only low sonic booms and be ready for initial overland service in 2020."
Entitled “
NASA challenges students to imagine supersonic airliner,” the news release states that,
“For this academic year challenge, we ask students to put together their ideas (high school level) or design (college level) for a highly efficient and environmentally friendly, low boom, commercial aircraft with an Initial Operational Capability (IOC) of 2020.”
The basic goals for the acceptable design of the Small Supersonic Airliner are:
• Cruise speed of between Mach 1.6 to 1.8
• Design Range equaling 4,000 nautical miles
• Payload of between 35 and 70 passengers (mixed class)
• Fuel Efficiency equaling three passenger-miles per pound of fuel
• Takeoff field length of less than 10,000 feet
The NASA competition is directed to help students develop science and engineering skills and to experience real-world engineering projects.
NASA is also holding the competition for another reason. Please read page two. The NASA website for information on the contest also follows on page two.
