Image to right: This artist's rendering shows an advanced concept design of an environmentally friendly supersonic airframe and propulsion system. Credit: Lockheed Martin Corporation

NASA has awarded an 18-month, $1.96 million study contract to a team led by Lockheed Martin Corporation to generate environmentally friendly supersonic airframe and propulsion concepts and develop technology maturation plans to make those concepts a reality.

Goals of the team—which includes GE Global Research, Purdue University, and Wyle Laboratories—are to produce a future Next Generation Air Transportation System system-level solution, conduct extensive teaming, and leverage past experience and methodology to provide an integrated advanced vehicle concept operational in the 2030-2035 timeframe.

The team will use analytical and design tools to assess performance parameters to find synergistic combinations of technologies and concepts for aerodynamic, structural, aero-servo-propulso-elastics, boom, airport noise, emissions and fuels.

Results of the study will include an optimized supersonic vision vehicle, identification of the highest-value enabling technologies to make that vehicle a reality, and technology roadmaps that lay out an industry-wide path to maturing necessary technologies.

The intention is to devise a revolutionary concept that has the ability to showcase green technologies, which would be an exciting vision that promotes understanding of future supersonic travel.