Programs
NASA Aeronautics conducts research and development in aeronautics technologies.
The Aeronautics Enterprise has a strategy where we implement research and development through clearly identified, mission oriented programs, called Focused Programs. The Enterprise has a Research and Technology Base which contributes and supports accross all of the focused programs. NASA Aeronautics plays a government role that conducts research and development where no commercial organization has the resources.
The Focused Programs
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High Speed Research
 Imagine flying from California to Japan in approximately 4 hours. The High Speed Research program is working to make this a reality. Maintaining U.S. industry's strength in Aeronautics through technologies that will enable an environmentally compatible and economically viable High Speed Civil Transport. High Speed Research seeks to reduce stratospheric ozone, airport noise, sonic boom, and operating / manufacturing costs while increasing the range and payload capability of high speed aircraft.
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Advanced Subsonics Technology
 The objectives of the program are to enable the production of a new generation of superior US subsonic aircraft and engines that are fuel efficient and environmentally compatible with superior cost, convenience, and safety.
The AST Program works with industry to recapture market share, maintain the balance of trade, and increase US jobs.
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High Performance Computing and Communications
 The NASA High Performance Computing and Communications Program is part of a larger Federal initiative. The NASA Program seeks to accelerate the development, application and transfer of high performance computing technologies to meet the engineering and science needs of the US aeronautics, Earth and space science communities, and to accelerate the implementation of the National Information Infrastructure.
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Numerical Aerodynamic Simulation
 This program is a pathfinder in large scale computer systems by systematically incorporating state- of- the- art improvements in computer hardware and software.
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The Research and Technology Base
The emphasis in the Research and Technology Base is generally on longer term - higher risk research, and focuses on pioneering new concepts and technologies for the future. Long-term for this program means looking beyond 10 years, and short to medium term means providing the research infrastructure for the focused programs, and cooperative activities with our customers.
Management of the Research and Technology Base is undergoing a significant structural change. In the past, research was catagorized and managed by vehicle class (for example: subsonic, high-speed, high-performance and hypersonics), and generic critical technologies with facilities broken out separately. Now singular managers for each Center of Excellence will be used.
 Airframe Systems
Propulsion Systems
Airspace Operations
Flight Research
Information Technology
Rotorcraft
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