{"id":400261,"date":"2021-05-05T23:25:00","date_gmt":"2021-05-06T03:25:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/?p=400261"},"modified":"2023-09-20T11:52:05","modified_gmt":"2023-09-20T15:52:05","slug":"a-story-for-axel-big-ideas-for-better-air-mobility-with-drones-of-all-sizes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/aeronautics\/a-story-for-axel-big-ideas-for-better-air-mobility-with-drones-of-all-sizes\/","title":{"rendered":"A Story for Axel: Big Ideas for Better Air Mobility with Drones of all Sizes"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"\" class=\"padding-top-5 padding-bottom-3 width-full maxw-full hds-module hds-module-full wp-block-nasa-blocks-article-intro\"><div class=\"width-full maxw-full article-header\"><div class=\"margin-bottom-2 width-full maxw-full\"><p class=\"label carbon-60 margin-0 margin-bottom-3 padding-0\">22 min read<\/p><h1 class=\"display-48 margin-bottom-2\">A Story for Axel: Big Ideas for Better Air Mobility with Drones of all Sizes<\/h1><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">In this essay from 2021 — which was originally presented as a three-part web feature — NASA Aeronautics\u2019 senior writer Jim Banke tells his newborn grandson, Axel, the story about how two recently concluded major air traffic management research projects will help achieve a long-held vision for the future of aviation.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:100px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-media hds-module wp-block-image\"><div class=\"margin-left-auto margin-right-auto nasa-block-align-inline\"><div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\"><figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-cover \"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/envision-future-v4-blue-0.jpg\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1080\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/envision-future-v4-blue-0.jpg?w=1920\" class=\"attachment-2048x2048 size-2048x2048\" alt=\"\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/envision-future-v4-blue-0.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/envision-future-v4-blue-0.jpg?resize=300,169 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/envision-future-v4-blue-0.jpg?resize=768,432 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/envision-future-v4-blue-0.jpg?resize=1024,576 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/envision-future-v4-blue-0.jpg?resize=1536,864 1536w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/envision-future-v4-blue-0.jpg?resize=400,225 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/envision-future-v4-blue-0.jpg?resize=600,338 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/envision-future-v4-blue-0.jpg?resize=900,506 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/envision-future-v4-blue-0.jpg?resize=1200,675 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\" loading=\"eager\" \/><\/a><\/figure><figcaption class=\"hds-caption padding-y-2\"><div class=\"hds-caption-text p-sm margin-0\">NASA Aeronautics senior writer Jim Banke tells his grandson, Axel, about two recently concluded research projects involving drones large and small. Axel appears to be imagining what the major elements of that future might be, with serious help from NASA illustrator Lillian Gipson.<\/div><div class=\"hds-credits\">NASA\/ Jim Banke, Lillian Gipson<\/div><\/figcaption><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<p>Well, Axel, it\u2019s just you and me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Everyone else in the house is asleep, although that wasn\u2019t the case an hour ago. For a baby barely six months old, you sure can make a racket when you\u2019re hungry. Now you\u2019re fed, burped, and stubbornly refusing to go back to sleep.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As much I would love to quietly hold you all night, basking in the aura of that special flavor of love that only grandparents know, I know that we both need our sleep. I suppose I could sing you a lullaby, but I want you to grow up with fond memories of me.<\/p>\n\n\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-media hds-module wp-block-image\"><div class=\"margin-left-auto margin-right-auto nasa-block-align-inline\"><div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\"><figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-fit \"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/258069main_ED07-0243-36_full.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1522\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/258069main_ED07-0243-36_full.jpg?w=2048\" class=\"attachment-2048x2048 size-2048x2048\" alt=\"\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/258069main_ED07-0243-36_full.jpg 3000w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/258069main_ED07-0243-36_full.jpg?resize=300,223 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/258069main_ED07-0243-36_full.jpg?resize=768,571 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/258069main_ED07-0243-36_full.jpg?resize=1024,761 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/258069main_ED07-0243-36_full.jpg?resize=1536,1142 1536w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/258069main_ED07-0243-36_full.jpg?resize=2048,1522 2048w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/258069main_ED07-0243-36_full.jpg?resize=400,297 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/258069main_ED07-0243-36_full.jpg?resize=600,446 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/258069main_ED07-0243-36_full.jpg?resize=900,669 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/258069main_ED07-0243-36_full.jpg?resize=1200,892 1200w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/258069main_ED07-0243-36_full.jpg?resize=2000,1487 2000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><figcaption class=\"hds-caption padding-y-2\"><div class=\"hds-caption-text p-sm margin-0\">Here is an example of NASA\u2019s Ikhana unmanned aircraft being flown during a 2007 science mission that used imaging sensors to detect and track hot spots in a California wildfire.<\/div><div class=\"hds-credits\">NASA \/ Jim Ross<\/div><\/figcaption><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<p>So, a story about the future it is, which we will begin by looking to the past. Ready?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A long time ago, when your grandpa was just a kid growing up in Minnesota, one of my favorite TV shows was \u201cThe Jetsons.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This animated classic from the 1960s \u2013 which I will be sure to show you when you\u2019re a little older \u2013 imagined families who live in a world where the skies were filled with flying cars. A single push of a button automatically took them shopping, to work, or to visit friends or family.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>These same gravity-defying flying vehicles could take you to other cities at supersonic speeds. Larger vehicles could even be seen leaving the atmosphere for a journey to the Moon or a nearby planet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>All of it looked safe, clean, fun, and futuristic \u2013 and the flying cars made these cool tuneful puffs of air sound when they flew. We all expected it to happen in our lifetimes. And now it looks like it really will in your lifetime \u2013 and maybe soon enough for mine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When it does, when you\u2019re able to call for an air taxi to take you to work or order a pizza delivered by drone, I hope you\u2019ll remember this story I\u2019m going to tell you now about the two <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/topics\/aeronautics\/index.html\">NASA aeronautics<\/a> projects that helped make it all possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For the first act in the story, we need to go back about 10 years \u2013 just about the time your dad graduated from college. This is when a new breed of airplanes remotely flown by pilots on the ground began to make their mark in the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>The Beginning: UAS in the NAS Project<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Initially these drones \u2013 as they were generally known then and now \u2013 were associated with the military. An Air Force pilot or Naval aviator could safely sit in a control room in the United States while flying a drone on a critical mission overseas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As more and more of these missions were flown and made public, civilian and commercial organizations looked on with interest. They thought hard about how these Unmanned Aircraft Systems, or UAS, could be used by them back home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>By the way, at this point we\u2019re not talking about the smaller quadcopter drones that people were beginning to play with in their backyard. Or even the radio-controlled hobby airplanes your Great Uncle Bob is fond of building and flying at the park.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Instead, these UAS aircraft \u2013 which some people also call Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, or UAV\u2019s, so don\u2019t be confused by that \u2013 were large drones designed to fly at high altitudes for a long time. They had names such as <a href=\"\/aeronautics\/nasa-armstrong-fact-sheet-ikhana-predator-b-unmanned-science-and-research-aircraft-system\/\">Predator B<\/a>, <a href=\"\/aeronautics\/global-hawk-uas\/\">Global Hawk<\/a>, and<a href=\"\/aeronautics\/nasa-armstrong-fact-sheet-ikhana-predator-b-unmanned-science-and-research-aircraft-system\/\"> Ikhana<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-media hds-module wp-block-image\"><div class=\"margin-left-auto margin-right-auto nasa-block-align-inline\"><div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\"><figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-fit \"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/ed13-0399-12.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/ed13-0399-12.jpg?w=2048\" class=\"attachment-2048x2048 size-2048x2048\" alt=\"Global Hawk in flight\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/ed13-0399-12.jpg 4288w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/ed13-0399-12.jpg?resize=300,199 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/ed13-0399-12.jpg?resize=768,510 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/ed13-0399-12.jpg?resize=1024,680 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/ed13-0399-12.jpg?resize=1536,1020 1536w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/ed13-0399-12.jpg?resize=2048,1360 2048w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/ed13-0399-12.jpg?resize=400,266 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/ed13-0399-12.jpg?resize=600,399 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/ed13-0399-12.jpg?resize=900,598 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/ed13-0399-12.jpg?resize=1200,797 1200w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/ed13-0399-12.jpg?resize=2000,1328 2000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><figcaption class=\"hds-caption padding-y-2\"><div class=\"hds-caption-text p-sm margin-0\">NASA\u2019s jet-powered Global Hawk was used to support research associated with the Unmanned Aircraft Systems in the National Airspace System project. It also flies in support of NASA\u2019s Airborne Science Program.<\/div><div class=\"hds-credits\">NASA<\/div><\/figcaption><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<p>Ideas for their non-military use included aerial photography to help with planning the layout of a city. First responders could get a bird\u2019s-eye view of a large fire. Utility companies could use them to more easily inspect isolated powerlines. Scientists could gather climate data from distant locations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But for both commercial and military users there was one major obstacle to overcome.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Someone had to prove to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) it was safe to allow remotely piloted UAS access to the National Airspace System, or NAS, where commercial airliners routinely fly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This idea was something new to aviation, a community known for moving cautiously before embracing change to protect its unrivaled record of safety.  There were a lot of questions about UAS operations that had to be answered first.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It was immediately clear that allowing UAS to fly in the NAS would require the FAA to adopt new rules that laid out exactly how all this should work. These rules would be based on new standards and operating procedures that had yet to be determined.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Enter NASA, where the first \u201cA\u201d stands for Aeronautics, the study of all things related to flight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Encouraged by a bunch of different people and organizations, NASA in 2011 began the UAS Integration in the NAS project to lead the aviation community, relevant government agencies, and others in conducting the research needed to draft those standards and procedures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Spoiler alert, Axel: The whole thing was a success.<\/p>\n\n\n<div id=\"\" class=\"nasa-gb-align-center padding-y-3 maxw-full width-full display-flex flex-align-center hds-module wp-block-nasa-blocks-blockquote\"><div class=\"grid-container grid-container-block display-flex flex-column flex-justify-center padding-0\">\n\t\t<div class=\"grid-col-12 desktop:display-flex mobile:display-block\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"blockquote-icon margin-bottom-3\">\n\t\t\t\t<svg class=\"tablet:square-4 square-4 margin-right-3\" version=\"1.1\" aria-hidden=\"true\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" xmlns:xlink=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/1999\/xlink\" x=\"0px\" y=\"0px\" viewBox=\"0 0 3000 3000\" style=\"enable-background:new 0 0 3000 3000;\" xml:space=\"preserve\"> <g> <path d=\"M586.7,1429.7c-10.7,1.5-21.4,2.8-33.9,4.5c6.9-26.6,12.7-50.7,19.5-74.6c32.4-114.1,78.5-222.2,146.8-319.5 c90.2-128.5,202.5-235.3,327.7-329.1c8.4-6.3,16.7-12.6,25.3-19.1c-66.3-105.1-131.5-208.6-197.3-313.1c-3.5,1.2-5.5,1.6-7.2,2.6 C714.4,469,576.1,575.7,456,705.3c-126,135.9-226.2,289.1-303,457.8c-98.8,217.1-151.3,444-147.2,683.3 c1.7,100.5,12.9,199.6,41.1,296.3C93.7,2303,182.2,2433,326.7,2520.1c176.9,106.7,366.8,126.8,563.4,70.5 c150.9-43.2,260.9-138.9,327.2-282.5c33.4-72.5,47.8-149.4,52-228.7c6.5-122.8-14.1-239.5-74.3-348.1 C1074.6,1514.5,832.7,1394.2,586.7,1429.7z\"><\/path><path d=\"M2912.5,1722c-129.9-210.9-320.2-309.4-567.9-296c-22.1,1.2-44,5.1-67.4,7.9c2.2-9.6,4-17.9,6.1-26.2 c37.9-153.6,99.3-296,198.8-420.5c77.8-97.4,167.1-182.9,265.8-258.8c15.6-12,31.3-23.9,47.9-36.5 c-66.2-105.1-131.9-209.2-197.2-312.8c-3.5,1.1-5.1,1.2-6.4,2c-167.2,95.6-316.1,213.7-443.2,358.8 c-105.1,119.9-191.1,252.3-259.5,396.3c-95.5,201-152.1,411.6-159.1,634.8c-3.9,125.5,4.8,249.7,40.1,371 c46.7,160.8,135.7,290.9,280.5,378.7c165.7,100.5,344.8,123,531.2,78.8c172.4-40.8,296.4-143.9,366.3-308.5 c28.5-67.2,40.6-138,44.6-210.5C3000.2,1953.3,2979.9,1831.4,2912.5,1722z\"><\/path><\/g><\/svg>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"blockquote-content\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"margin-bottom-4\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"font-weight-extralight line-height-sm margin-top-0 section-heading-sm\"><span class=\"section-heading-sm\">\u201cThis really was a big deal. We have now contributed to setting standards and requirements of what UAS must meet to safely operate in the national airspace. That didn\u2019t exist a decade ago.\u201d<\/span><\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"display-flex\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"blockquote-image hds-cover-wrapper margin-right-3\"><figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/nasa-logo-web-rgb.png?w=150&h=150&crop=1\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"Mauricio Rivas\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/nasa-logo-web-rgb.png?resize=150,150 150w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/nasa-logo-web-rgb.png?resize=50,50 50w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/nasa-logo-web-rgb.png?resize=100,100 100w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/nasa-logo-web-rgb.png?resize=200,200 200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-col-11\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"blockquote-credit-name line-height-sm margin-0\">Mauricio Rivas<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"blockquote-credit-title line-height-sm padding-0 margin-0\">Project Manager<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<p>My friend Mauricio Rivas managed this project, and this is what he told me about what they accomplished:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThis really was a big deal. We have now contributed to setting standards and requirements of what UAS must meet to safely operate in the national airspace. That didn\u2019t exist a decade ago.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here\u2019s how that happened.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Unlike most other research projects, NASA didn\u2019t need to invent or develop any new gadget. Industry would design and build the UAS aircraft and electronic systems. Then NASA would help demonstrate how that technology could safely fly in the NAS.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To do this, NASA worked with the FAA to create a flight test environment that used real and simulated situations. That way industry could, through a series of real flight tests, prove that any new technologies or procedures would work as predicted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The results of this series of flight tests provided information needed for writing new Minimum Operational Performance Standards, or MOPS, for the FAA to consider officially adopting \u2013 which was the reason for the UAS in the NAS project in the first place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So, Axel, you\u2019ve had a peek at the end of this particular project, but there\u2019s still more to tell about how we got there \u2013 including how the UAS in the NAS project made aviation history by flying a\u2026 well, stay tuned.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:100px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Part Two<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Wow, Axel, about a third of the way into the story about work recently done by NASA\u2019s aeronautical innovators and you\u2019re still wide awake and smiling at me. I take this as a good sign you\u2019re enjoying the story and love airplanes as much as I do.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To fully appreciate this part of the story, it would be helpful here to tell you about the two key technical areas that were an important part of the research in the Unmanned Aircraft Systems in the National Airspace System (UAS in the NAS) and the UAS Traffic Management (UTM) projects.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>First up is Detect and Avoid, or DAA. This has to do with an aircraft\u2019s ability to sense when it is about to find itself dangerously close to another object (detect), and then do something appropriate to make things safe (avoid).<\/p>\n\n\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-media hds-module wp-block-image\"><div class=\"margin-left-auto margin-right-auto nasa-block-align-inline\"><div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\"><figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-fit \"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/ybc-10_nasa_1500x1000.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1500\" height=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/ybc-10_nasa_1500x1000.jpg?w=1500\" class=\"attachment-2048x2048 size-2048x2048\" alt=\"General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. flew its SkyGuardian on April 3, 2020.\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/ybc-10_nasa_1500x1000.jpg 1500w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/ybc-10_nasa_1500x1000.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/ybc-10_nasa_1500x1000.jpg?resize=768,512 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/ybc-10_nasa_1500x1000.jpg?resize=1024,683 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/ybc-10_nasa_1500x1000.jpg?resize=400,267 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/ybc-10_nasa_1500x1000.jpg?resize=600,400 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/ybc-10_nasa_1500x1000.jpg?resize=900,600 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/ybc-10_nasa_1500x1000.jpg?resize=1200,800 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><figcaption class=\"hds-caption padding-y-2\"><div class=\"hds-caption-text p-sm margin-0\">General Atomics Aeronautical Systems flew its SkyGuardian UAS over southern California on an infrastructure inspection mission in April 2020 as part of a NASA Systems Integration and Operationalization demonstration activity.<\/div><div class=\"hds-credits\">General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc.<\/div><\/figcaption><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<p>As an example, this might mean an onboard radar sees another airplane, determines the two aircraft are about to fly too close to each other, or even collide, and then sounds an alert to signal the remote pilot to change course or respond in some way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The second technical area is Command and Control, or C2. This has to do with making sure the remote pilot always has a secure and solid radio link with the aircraft. It\u2019s that link that allows the pilot to send commands to maintain control of, and receive data back, from the drone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cSecure and solid\u201d in this case meant proving an aircraft\u2019s radios couldn\u2019t be jammed by bad guys or an accident \u2013 or that weather or topography wouldn\u2019t affect the quality of the radio signal, and enough of the best frequencies were available to use.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Again, it wasn\u2019t NASA\u2019s job to invent the hardware that could do all these things. But it was our job to help put this hardware through the wringer and use the resulting information to come up with a proposed set of Minimum Operational Performance Standards (MOPS) mentioned earlier in our story.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Phased Approach<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Ultimately the UAS in the NAS project completed its work in two phases.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Phase 1 began in 2011 and primarily looked at drones operating at altitudes of 18,000 feet and higher. Airplanes at this height are in constant contact with air traffic controllers, must file flight plans, and follow long-established rules when in this airspace.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Phase 2 began in 2016 and considered drone operations in the altitude range of 500 feet to 10,000 feet high. Airplanes in this airspace are more likely to be General Aviation aircraft, many of which don\u2019t need to file flight plans or interact with air traffic control.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Remember Mauricio Rivas, my friend who managed the UAS in the NAS project?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>He told me this made writing a MOPS for this airspace a bit more challenging. With more aircraft of so many different types flying in this airspace without someone always directing the traffic, the MOPS had more scenarios to account for to avoid potential trouble.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Just like every college course ends with a final exam \u2013 something, Axel, I expect you will experience in about 18 years or so \u2013 each of these UAS in the NAS phases ended with a big test.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For Phase 1 the final test happened in June of 2018 and resulted in making aviation history.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The whole point of the UAS in the NAS project was to enable these larger, remotely piloted drones to make a flight just like any other piloted airplane flying in commercial airspace. The final test for Phase 1 saw that very thing happen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>What was unique and history making was the fact that the drone \u2013 NASA\u2019s Ikhana UAS in this case \u2013 made the flight without a piloted aircraft flying nearby to keep an eye on it. All previous flight tests were required by FAA rules to have this \u201cchase\u201d plane.<\/p>\n\n\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-media hds-module wp-block-image\"><div class=\"margin-left-auto margin-right-auto nasa-block-align-inline\"><div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\"><figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-fit \"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/a001_l005_0921r9_05.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1152\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/a001_l005_0921r9_05.jpg?w=2048\" class=\"attachment-2048x2048 size-2048x2048\" alt=\"The Bell Textron Inc. APT 70 Unmanned Aircraft System in flight.\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/a001_l005_0921r9_05.jpg 6469w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/a001_l005_0921r9_05.jpg?resize=300,169 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/a001_l005_0921r9_05.jpg?resize=768,432 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/a001_l005_0921r9_05.jpg?resize=1024,576 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/a001_l005_0921r9_05.jpg?resize=1536,864 1536w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/a001_l005_0921r9_05.jpg?resize=2048,1152 2048w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/a001_l005_0921r9_05.jpg?resize=400,225 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/a001_l005_0921r9_05.jpg?resize=600,338 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/a001_l005_0921r9_05.jpg?resize=900,506 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/a001_l005_0921r9_05.jpg?resize=1200,675 1200w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/a001_l005_0921r9_05.jpg?resize=2000,1125 2000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><figcaption class=\"hds-caption padding-y-2\"><div class=\"hds-caption-text p-sm margin-0\">The Bell Textron Inc. APT 70 Unmanned Aircraft System flew a simulated urgent medical transport mission in September 2020 from Bell\u2019s facility near Fort Worth, Texas. The flight was part of a NASA Systems Integration and Operationalization demonstration activity.<\/div><div class=\"hds-credits\">Bell Textron Inc.<\/div><\/figcaption><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<p>Granted a waiver by the FAA under the condition the flight be made following all the standards developed during the Phase 1 flight tests, Ikhana took off without a chase plane from Edwards Air Force Base in California.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It flew in commercial airspace to other points within the state and then returned to Edwards. During the flight, air traffic controllers talked to the remote pilot as though the pilot was on the airplane.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The controllers later said the flight sounded and looked on their displays like any other flight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And since that was the whole point \u2013 success!<\/p>\n\n\n<div id=\"\" class=\"nasa-gb-align-center padding-y-3 maxw-full width-full display-flex flex-align-center hds-module wp-block-nasa-blocks-blockquote\"><div class=\"grid-container grid-container-block display-flex flex-column flex-justify-center padding-0\">\n\t\t<div class=\"grid-col-12 desktop:display-flex mobile:display-block\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"blockquote-icon margin-bottom-3\">\n\t\t\t\t<svg class=\"tablet:square-4 square-4 margin-right-3\" version=\"1.1\" aria-hidden=\"true\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" xmlns:xlink=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/1999\/xlink\" x=\"0px\" y=\"0px\" viewBox=\"0 0 3000 3000\" style=\"enable-background:new 0 0 3000 3000;\" xml:space=\"preserve\"> <g> <path d=\"M586.7,1429.7c-10.7,1.5-21.4,2.8-33.9,4.5c6.9-26.6,12.7-50.7,19.5-74.6c32.4-114.1,78.5-222.2,146.8-319.5 c90.2-128.5,202.5-235.3,327.7-329.1c8.4-6.3,16.7-12.6,25.3-19.1c-66.3-105.1-131.5-208.6-197.3-313.1c-3.5,1.2-5.5,1.6-7.2,2.6 C714.4,469,576.1,575.7,456,705.3c-126,135.9-226.2,289.1-303,457.8c-98.8,217.1-151.3,444-147.2,683.3 c1.7,100.5,12.9,199.6,41.1,296.3C93.7,2303,182.2,2433,326.7,2520.1c176.9,106.7,366.8,126.8,563.4,70.5 c150.9-43.2,260.9-138.9,327.2-282.5c33.4-72.5,47.8-149.4,52-228.7c6.5-122.8-14.1-239.5-74.3-348.1 C1074.6,1514.5,832.7,1394.2,586.7,1429.7z\"><\/path><path d=\"M2912.5,1722c-129.9-210.9-320.2-309.4-567.9-296c-22.1,1.2-44,5.1-67.4,7.9c2.2-9.6,4-17.9,6.1-26.2 c37.9-153.6,99.3-296,198.8-420.5c77.8-97.4,167.1-182.9,265.8-258.8c15.6-12,31.3-23.9,47.9-36.5 c-66.2-105.1-131.9-209.2-197.2-312.8c-3.5,1.1-5.1,1.2-6.4,2c-167.2,95.6-316.1,213.7-443.2,358.8 c-105.1,119.9-191.1,252.3-259.5,396.3c-95.5,201-152.1,411.6-159.1,634.8c-3.9,125.5,4.8,249.7,40.1,371 c46.7,160.8,135.7,290.9,280.5,378.7c165.7,100.5,344.8,123,531.2,78.8c172.4-40.8,296.4-143.9,366.3-308.5 c28.5-67.2,40.6-138,44.6-210.5C3000.2,1953.3,2979.9,1831.4,2912.5,1722z\"><\/path><\/g><\/svg>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"blockquote-content\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"margin-bottom-4\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"font-weight-extralight line-height-sm margin-top-0 section-heading-sm\"><span class=\"section-heading-sm\">This was a really significant achievement, not just because it was a cool thing to do, but it was historic.<\/span><\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"display-flex\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"blockquote-image hds-cover-wrapper margin-right-3\"><figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/lee-noble.jpg?w=150&h=150&crop=1\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"Lee Noble\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/lee-noble.jpg?resize=150,150 150w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/lee-noble.jpg?resize=50,50 50w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/lee-noble.jpg?resize=100,100 100w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/lee-noble.jpg?resize=200,200 200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-col-11\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"blockquote-credit-name line-height-sm margin-0\">Lee Noble<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"blockquote-credit-title line-height-sm padding-0 margin-0\">Program Director<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<p>\u201cThey didn\u2019t have any idea the pilot was on the ground. This was a really significant achievement, not just because it was a cool thing to do, but it was historic. The fact that the controllers didn\u2019t know it was unmanned, that was just icing on the cake.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That\u2019s what Lee Noble said to me about the flight. He\u2019s director of the Integrated Aviation Systems Program, which is the program that oversaw the UAS in the NAS project.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The finals for Phase 2 weren\u2019t historic to the same extent, but Lee said they were just as significant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For this final part of the project, which took place in 2020, two companies partnered with NASA to participate in what was called a Systems Integration and Operationalization Demonstration Activity, or SIO. A mouthful, Axel, I know, but easy to understand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The basic idea was for each company to take all they had learned so far about DAA and C2 and demonstrate the ability to fly its drone on a specific mission that would be an example of a possible future use for a commercial UAS flight within the NAS.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The first SIO flight was in April 2020. General Atomic Aeronautical Systems flew its SkyGuardian UAS over southern California on an infrastructure inspection mission from 10,000 feet high.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The second SIO flight was in September 2020, less than two weeks after you were born. Bell Textron flew its APT 70 UAS near Fort Worth, Texas on a simulated urgent medical transport mission.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In both cases the remote pilots had to interact with air traffic controllers as they navigated flying through busy airspace. And in both cases these final exams of Phase 2 were given passing marks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here\u2019s how Lee explained the importance of the SIO\u2019s:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cBeyond the SIO flights themselves, the idea was to coordinate with our partners and the FAA as they worked through the process that would lead to certifying these systems. The partners learned some things about what was important to the FAA, and the FAA learned some things about how the partners viewed the process and what they struggled with along the way.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Incidentally, a third company, American Aerospace Technologies, was planning to conduct a third SIO before the UAS in the NAS project officially ended last year, but various issues delayed it into 2021.<\/p>\n\n\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-media hds-module wp-block-image\"><div class=\"margin-left-auto margin-right-auto nasa-block-align-inline\"><div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\"><figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-fit \"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/73a06225.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1041\" height=\"658\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/73a06225.jpg?w=1041\" class=\"attachment-2048x2048 size-2048x2048\" alt=\"American Aerospace Technologies Inc.\u2019s AiRanger unmanned aircraft system (UAS) flew with the Citabria plane\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/73a06225.jpg 1041w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/73a06225.jpg?resize=300,190 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/73a06225.jpg?resize=768,485 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/73a06225.jpg?resize=1024,647 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/73a06225.jpg?resize=400,253 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/73a06225.jpg?resize=600,379 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/73a06225.jpg?resize=900,569 900w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1041px) 100vw, 1041px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><figcaption class=\"hds-caption padding-y-2\"><div class=\"hds-caption-text p-sm margin-0\">American Aerospace Technologies Inc.\u2019s AiRanger UAS aircraft (top) flies a simulated petroleum pipeline survey mission in February 2021 as part of a NASA Systems Integration and Operationalization demonstration. The chase plane is a Citabria aircraft.<\/div><div class=\"hds-credits\">American Aerospace Technologies Inc.<\/div><\/figcaption><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<p>Like the first two SIO demonstrations, the third one was a success too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So that was the UAS in the NAS project: Making it possible for remotely piloted medium to big drones to safely fly among other airplanes in airspace from 500 feet up all the way to the top of the flyable atmosphere \u2013 and all while staying in touch with air traffic managers everywhere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Mauricio wrapped it all up this way:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cOf course, this will all change as technology improves, applications change, and we gain more experience. But getting that initial set of standards to the FAA so others can come along and use them to fly for these commercial purposes\u2026 This is going to open up new industries for the country.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But what about small drones flying closer to the ground, below the altitudes covered by the UAS in the NAS project? It took a \u201ccrazy\u201d idea revealed in a 2013 YouTube video to get at least one NASA engineer thinking about it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And his idea might change aviation forever.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:100px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Part 3<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Axel, it\u2019s time to start wrapping up my story about NASA\u2019s aeronautical innovators and their trailblazing research. Although you\u2019re still wide awake, it\u2019s getting late, and your parents are going to get mad at me if I don\u2019t get you back in your crib soon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So now we flash back to late 2013, two years after the Unmanned Aircraft Systems in the National Airspace System (UAS in the NAS) project, had started.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s just after Thanksgiving and Amazon releases a video on YouTube that reveals its plans to soon use small drones to deliver packages to people\u2019s doorstep.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThat took everybody like\u2026 whoa, that is crazy!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That\u2019s how Parimal Kopardekar, or \u201cPK,\u201d described how he heard the aviation community reacting to the idea of a company with no aviation experience planning to introduce a brand-new air transportation system to the world. And to do it fast.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Today PK is director of the NASA Aeronautical Research Institute, but back then he was a project manager within the Airspace Operations and Safety Program, which was and still is home to NASA\u2019s air traffic management systems research.<\/p>\n\n\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-media hds-module wp-block-image\"><div class=\"margin-left-auto margin-right-auto nasa-block-align-inline\"><div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\"><figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-fit \"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/34734418131_b30067e1a9_o.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1365\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/34734418131_b30067e1a9_o.jpg?w=2048\" class=\"attachment-2048x2048 size-2048x2048\" alt=\"Running tests on a drone in flight\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/34734418131_b30067e1a9_o.jpg 5066w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/34734418131_b30067e1a9_o.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/34734418131_b30067e1a9_o.jpg?resize=768,512 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/34734418131_b30067e1a9_o.jpg?resize=1024,683 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/34734418131_b30067e1a9_o.jpg?resize=1536,1024 1536w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/34734418131_b30067e1a9_o.jpg?resize=2048,1365 2048w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/34734418131_b30067e1a9_o.jpg?resize=400,267 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/34734418131_b30067e1a9_o.jpg?resize=600,400 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/34734418131_b30067e1a9_o.jpg?resize=900,600 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/34734418131_b30067e1a9_o.jpg?resize=1200,800 1200w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/34734418131_b30067e1a9_o.jpg?resize=2000,1333 2000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><figcaption class=\"hds-caption padding-y-2\"><div class=\"hds-caption-text p-sm margin-0\">The focus of our UTM project is a series of field demonstrations that test technologies to safely guide multiple drones through multiple scenarios.<\/div><div class=\"hds-credits\">NUAIR Alliance \/ Eric Miller<\/div><\/figcaption><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<p>PK found his thoughts nearly taken over by visions of solving how hundreds of these small drones could make thousands of flights every day over major city areas \u2013 like Amazon proposed \u2013 and do it safely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There were so many unknowns: How do you manage all those drones flying low over a city? How do you keep them from colliding with buildings or each other? How would you handle emergency situations, especially if the pilots can\u2019t see the drones they are flying?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>PK knew there was no way the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) \u2013 or any other air navigation service provider in the world \u2013 could deal with this volume the same way it\u2019s done today. You couldn\u2019t hire and equip enough controllers without making the system collapse beneath its own weight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Challenge Accepted<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>But PK was sure he had the answer. It would be called the UAS Traffic Management system, or UTM, and he had refined his thoughts enough to write and file a patent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Spoiler alert: The patent \u2013 officially called \u201cUnmanned Aerial System Traffic Management to Enable Civilian Low Altitude Goods and Service Delivery by UAS\u201d \u2013 was granted in 2019, and in 2020 was awarded the Government Invention of the Year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That should tell you how successful the project was during its five years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The basic idea behind UTM was to provide an automated network that would manage flights of drones below 400 feet. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Drone operators would tell the UTM system where they wanted to fly, and the system would check to make sure the plan was safe and there would be no conflicts with other scheduled traffic. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It involved a lot of automation and a lot of different systems electronically talking to each other with minimal human involvement. Drone operators could schedule deliveries using a website or even an app.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This would be very different from the way the current system works where pilots who are required to stay in contact with air traffic controllers must get permission every time they want to change their course or altitude. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In its place, information about where every aircraft is in the sky at any time would be digitally communicated across the UTM system, creating what PK called a \u201cshare and care environment.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Companies certified by the FAA would use this network to supply air traffic management services. Instead of a management by permission philosophy, UTM would feature a management by exception mindset. Pilots would only be told what not to do.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Understandably, the FAA was hesitant to embrace the concepts behind UTM at first. Aviation is the safest method of travel for a reason. Change must happen only after every effort is made to ensure safety won\u2019t be affected, and that can take time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To test the waters, PK conducted a small workshop in 2014 with representatives from industry \u2013 Google, Amazon, and others \u2013 to talk about his ideas. Industry\u2019s positive response gave NASA the confidence to take the next step.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In 2015 NASA officially began the UTM project with PK as its first manager. To help kick things off, the project hosted a three-day conference open to anyone interested in this new area of drone operations. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A few hundred were expected. More than 1,200 people showed up. The fact that attendance at that UTM convention was so huge sent a loud and clear signal to all concerned about the future. This was a big deal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That \u201cJetsons\u201d future I dreamed of seemed more possible than ever.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Industry was on board and anxious to get started. The FAA also realized something big was happening. NASA was in an ideal position to lead and serve as a facilitator of sorts as new standards and procedures were developed for UTM and did so.<\/p>\n\n\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-media hds-module wp-block-image\"><div class=\"margin-left-auto margin-right-auto nasa-block-align-inline\"><div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\"><figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-fit \"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/104674_acd19-0054-070.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1152\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/104674_acd19-0054-070.jpg?w=2048\" class=\"attachment-2048x2048 size-2048x2048\" alt=\"Drones in flight over Reno, Nevada, during shakedown tests for NASA's Unmanned Aircraft Systems Traffic Management project\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/104674_acd19-0054-070.jpg 3000w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/104674_acd19-0054-070.jpg?resize=300,169 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/104674_acd19-0054-070.jpg?resize=768,432 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/104674_acd19-0054-070.jpg?resize=1024,576 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/104674_acd19-0054-070.jpg?resize=1536,864 1536w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/104674_acd19-0054-070.jpg?resize=2048,1152 2048w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/104674_acd19-0054-070.jpg?resize=400,225 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/104674_acd19-0054-070.jpg?resize=600,337 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/104674_acd19-0054-070.jpg?resize=900,506 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/104674_acd19-0054-070.jpg?resize=1200,675 1200w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/104674_acd19-0054-070.jpg?resize=2000,1125 2000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><figcaption class=\"hds-caption padding-y-2\"><div class=\"hds-caption-text p-sm margin-0\">NASA\u2019s Unmanned Aircraft Systems Traffic Management project saw these drones fly over Reno, Nevada from May through August 2019 during a series of tests known as Technical Capability Level 4.<\/div><div class=\"hds-credits\">NASA \/ Dominic Hart<\/div><\/figcaption><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<p>PK explained the situation to me like this:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cOne of the things I liked to say was we were too fast for the FAA and too slow for industry. But after that 2015 workshop, things radically changed. Everybody started to accept it. UTM was the best way to safely accommodate small drones.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Axel, remember all those acronyms from earlier in the story? DAA, C2, and MOPS? Well in its own way, the UTM project had to work through the same concerns related to DAA and C2 the UAS in the NAS project studied.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And like before, these new MOPS written for the smaller drones at lower altitudes would be sent on to the FAA to consider for adoption.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The challenge: UTM participants couldn\u2019t use the same DAA and C2 equipment developed for the UAS in the NAS because they were too big and too heavy. UTM\u2019s smaller drones \u2013 with their size, weight, and power limitations \u2013 required a fresh look at how to safely deal with those concerns.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Capable Technology<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>To test technologies needed for UTM, NASA conducted a series of four increasingly complex field demonstrations between 2015 and 2019. They were known as Technical Capability Levels, or TCL.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>TCL-1 kept things very basic. Each drone had its own pilot, who kept the drone in sight as it flew within a controlled test site. How these small drones might be used in firefighting or surveying farmland was demonstrated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>TCL-2 saw drones flying over sparsely populated areas beyond where its pilots could see them. Technologies that enabled the drones to react to changing conditions or emergencies, such as the loss of a radio link between the pilot and drone, were tested.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>TCL-3 saw coordinated test flights of drones at six different locations across the country. Here the emphasis was on maintaining safe distances from other aircraft, whether they were part of the test or not.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>TCL-4 was the UTM project\u2019s big finish, its final exam.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For this activity, several drones were flown using UTM-related technologies and procedures over areas of larger cities, namely Reno, Nevada, and Corpus Christi, Texas. Package delivery and emergency response were among the tasks demonstrated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Altogether, NASA brought together and collaborated with more than 100 representatives of industry, academia, and public agency partners \u2013 with the FAA at the top of the list. Together, they showed that a highly automated air traffic management system for drones that doesn\u2019t rely on human air traffic controllers could safely work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>PK said the project owes its success to those partnerships.<\/p>\n\n\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-media hds-module wp-block-image\"><div class=\"margin-left-auto margin-right-auto nasa-block-align-inline\"><div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\"><figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-fit \"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/aam-design4-new-image-2-24-2021-3.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1041\" height=\"585\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/aam-design4-new-image-2-24-2021-3.jpg?w=1041\" class=\"attachment-2048x2048 size-2048x2048\" alt=\"Advanced Air Mobility, with its many vehicle concepts and potential uses in both local and intraregional applications, is shown\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/aam-design4-new-image-2-24-2021-3.jpg 1041w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/aam-design4-new-image-2-24-2021-3.jpg?resize=300,169 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/aam-design4-new-image-2-24-2021-3.jpg?resize=768,432 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/aam-design4-new-image-2-24-2021-3.jpg?resize=1024,575 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/aam-design4-new-image-2-24-2021-3.jpg?resize=400,225 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/aam-design4-new-image-2-24-2021-3.jpg?resize=600,337 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/aam-design4-new-image-2-24-2021-3.jpg?resize=900,506 900w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1041px) 100vw, 1041px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><figcaption class=\"hds-caption padding-y-2\"><div class=\"hds-caption-text p-sm margin-0\">Advanced Air Mobility, with its many vehicle concepts and potential uses in both local and intraregional applications, is shown in this illustration.<\/div><div class=\"hds-credits\">NASA \/ Lillian Gipson, Kyle Jenkins<\/div><\/figcaption><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Finishing the Story: Dreams to Reality<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Axel, I can\u2019t stress enough how important the work done by both projects will be to those who are continuing to conduct research to enable this future of aviation that reminds me of the Jetsons \u2013 what we call Advanced Air Mobility, or AAM.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In talking with PK, Lee, and others who worked on these projects, the common conclusion they share is that there\u2019d be an even bigger use for the idea that became UTM \u2013 and that\u2019s AAM.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>AAM is a solution NASA and its partners are working on to safely manage all aircraft sizes flying at every altitude, not just small drones flying below 400 feet. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Based on what was developed for UTM, a system of service suppliers will digitally connect everyone, so every flight knows where it is in relation to nearby flights and when it is safe to fly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Doing it that way might be the only solution as demand for air travel increases and air traffic control functions become more automated, all of which will expand the amount of digital data exchanged between the ground and the cockpit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Ron Johnson, the UTM project manager when it ended, told me the UTM system has shown it can be grown along with the growth in air traffic. It might not look the same in the future, but something very much like it is the answer to eventually replacing the current system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We still have a way to go to realize the full vision of flying cars taking you to work each day, or having a pizza delivered by drone. But the technology and the rules needed to enable those possibilities are beginning to take shape.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We\u2019ve already seen the FAA host its own UTM-related demonstration activities, as well as take some of the standards and procedures written for them to consider and officially turn them into new capabilities offered to the drone community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The prime example of this is LAANC, the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.faa.gov\/uas\/programs_partnerships\/data_exchange\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Low Altitude Authorization and Notification Capability<\/a> \u2013 something the FAA describes as a collaboration between the FAA and industry that directly supports UAS integration into the airspace.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>LAANC basically works just as the UTM project envisioned and demonstrated through its TCL\u2019s. An operator wishing to fly their small drone below 400 feet in controlled airspace around an airport can get authorization to fly by connecting to LAANC through an official UAS Service Supplier, or USS.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Ron told me LAANC is a very basic first step toward a more capable and comprehensive UTM system of the future. He also said the UTM concept is being embraced by nations around the world, from Austria to New Zealand, allowing US companies to compete on a global basis providing UTM services.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The FAA also has drafted, with NASA\u2019s help, a <a href=\"https:\/\/nari.arc.nasa.gov\/sites\/default\/files\/attachments\/ETM_ConOps_V1.0.pdf\" rel=\"noopener\">concept of operations<\/a> for using a UTM system for aircraft flying above 60,000 feet \u2013 higher than today\u2019s commercial airliners fly \u2013 but it is not operational yet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As cool as all that is, it\u2019s only the start.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There\u2019s still plenty of work to do, plenty of learning to be done. It will <br>\ninvolve a lot of good people within NASA and among its many partners and collaborators who care about your future. And everyone else\u2019s too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It won\u2019t be long until you\u2019re old enough to have pizza, so here\u2019s a promise. The first one delivered to your house by drone is on me. Yes, we can make it half and half \u2013 half pepperoni for you (like your sister likes it), half sausage and sauerkraut for me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And that\u2019s the end of the story. For now.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Now it\u2019s time to close your eyes and go to sleep, Axel. Sweet dreams of the future of flight. I love you.<\/p>\n\n\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-about-the-author nasa-gb-align-full width-full maxw-full padding-x-3 padding-y-6 hds-module hds-module-full wp-block-nasa-blocks-about-the-author\"><div class=\"grid-row grid-container maxw-widescreen padding-x-0 border-top-1px border-color-carbon-black padding-top-3\"><div class=\"margin-bottom-4\"><h3 class=\"heading-14\">About the Author<\/h3><\/div><\/div><div class=\"grid-row grid-container padding-x-0 maxw-widescreen\"><div class=\"grid-col-12 desktop:grid-col-6 desktop:padding-right-9\"><div class=\"grid-row\"><div class=\"hds-author-thumbnail mobile:circle-6 mobile:maxw-6 circle-card maxw-card thumbnail margin-right-2 desktop:margin-right-5\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"10rem\" height=\"10rem\" loading=\"lazy\" fetchpriority=\"low\" class=\"avatar avatar-300 photo medium\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/cropped-banke-press-300x300.jpg\" alt=\"Jim Banke\"><\/div><div class=\"grid-col\"><div class=\"margin-bottom-2\"><h2 class=\"heading-29 line-height-sm\">Jim Banke<\/h2><\/div><div class=\"heading-12 p-md\">Managing Editor\/Senior Writer<\/div><div class=\"padding-y-2\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"desktop:grid-col-6 desktop:padding-right-9\"><p class=\"margin-top-0\">Jim Banke is a veteran aviation and aerospace communicator with more than 35 years of experience as a writer, producer, consultant, and project manager based at Cape Canaveral, Florida. He is part of NASA Aeronautics' Strategic Communications Team and is Managing Editor for the Aeronautics topic on the NASA website.<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-social-media grid-container grid-container-block nasa-gb-align- width-full maxw-full margin-y-0 padding-y-5 padding-x-3 desktop:padding-x-0 font-weight-bold hds-module wp-block-nasa-blocks-social-media-links\">\t\t<div class=\"display-flex flex-align-center padding-y-1\" id=\"social-facebook\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"circle-4 minw-4 display-flex flex-align-center flex-justify-center\" style=\"background-color: #4267B2;\">\n\t\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" aria-labelledby=\"facebookIconTitle\"><title id=\"facebookIconTitle\">Facebook logo<\/title><path d=\"M9 8h-3v4h3v12h5v-12h3.642l.358-4h-4v-1.667c0-.955.192-1.333 1.115-1.333h2.885v-5h-3.808c-3.596 0-5.192 1.583-5.192 4.615v3.385z\"\/><\/svg>\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<div 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c0-15.75,12.813-28.563,28.563-28.563s28.563,12.813,28.563,28.563C113.094,100.281,100.28,113.093,84.531,113.093z\"\/> <path d=\"M129.921,28.251c-2.89,0-5.729,1.17-7.77,3.22c-2.051,2.04-3.23,4.88-3.23,7.78c0,2.891,1.18,5.73,3.23,7.78 c2.04,2.04,4.88,3.22,7.77,3.22c2.9,0,5.73-1.18,7.78-3.22c2.05-2.05,3.22-4.89,3.22-7.78c0-2.9-1.17-5.74-3.22-7.78 C135.661,29.421,132.821,28.251,129.921,28.251z\"\/><\/g><\/svg>\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-social-media-items padding-left-2\">\n\t\t\t\t<a target=\"_blank\" class=\"margin-right-2\" href=\"https:\/\/instagram.com\/NASA\" aria-label=\"Go to @NASA on instagram\" rel=\"noopener\">@NASA<\/a><a target=\"_blank\" class=\"margin-right-2\" href=\"https:\/\/instagram.com\/NASAaero\" aria-label=\"Go to @NASAaero on instagram\" rel=\"noopener\">@NASAaero<\/a><a target=\"_blank\" class=\"margin-right-2\" href=\"https:\/\/instagram.com\/NASA_es\" aria-label=\"Go to @NASA_es on instagram\" 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rel=\"noopener\">@NASA<\/a>\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n<div id=\"\" class=\"nasa-gb-align-full width-full maxw-full padding-x-3 padding-y-0 hds-module hds-module-full wp-block-nasa-blocks-related-articles\">\t\t<section class=\"hds-related-articles padding-x-0 padding-y-3 desktop:padding-top-7 desktop:padding-bottom-9\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"w-100 grid-row grid-container maxw-widescreen padding-0 text-align-left\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"margin-bottom-4\"><h2 style=\"max-width: 100%;\" class=\"width-full w-full maxw-full\">Explore More<\/h2><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-row grid-container maxw-widescreen padding-0\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-col-12 desktop:grid-col-4 margin-bottom-4 desktop:margin-bottom-0 desktop:padding-right-3\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/aeronautics\/armd-solicitations\/\" class=\"color-carbon-black\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"margin-bottom-2\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-cover-wrapper cover-hover-zoom bg-carbon-black minh-mobile\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"161\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/explore-flight-HI-RES-no-meatball.jpg?w=300\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium\" alt=\"\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/explore-flight-HI-RES-no-meatball.jpg 1600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/explore-flight-HI-RES-no-meatball.jpg?resize=300,161 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/explore-flight-HI-RES-no-meatball.jpg?resize=768,411 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/explore-flight-HI-RES-no-meatball.jpg?resize=1024,548 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/explore-flight-HI-RES-no-meatball.jpg?resize=1536,823 1536w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/explore-flight-HI-RES-no-meatball.jpg?resize=400,214 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/explore-flight-HI-RES-no-meatball.jpg?resize=600,321 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/explore-flight-HI-RES-no-meatball.jpg?resize=900,482 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/explore-flight-HI-RES-no-meatball.jpg?resize=1200,643 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/figure>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"padding-right-0 desktop:padding-right-10\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"subheading margin-bottom-1\">7 min read<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"margin-bottom-1\"><h3 class=\"related-article-title\">ARMD Solicitations<\/h3><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"display-flex flex-align-center label related-article-label margin-bottom-1 color-carbon-60\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"display-flex flex-align-center margin-right-2\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg version=\"1.1\" class=\"square-2 margin-right-1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" xmlns:xlink=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/1999\/xlink\" x=\"0px\" y=\"0px\" width=\"16px\" height=\"16px\" viewBox=\"0 0 16 16\" style=\"enable-background:new 0 0 16 16;\" xml:space=\"preserve\"><g><g><path d=\"M8,0C3.5,0-0.1,3.7,0,8.2C0.1,12.5,3.6,16,8,16c4.4,0,8-3.6,8-8C16,3.5,12.4,0,8,0z M8,15.2 C4,15.2,0.8,12,0.8,8C0.8,4,4,0.8,8,0.8c3.9,0,7.2,3.2,7.2,7.1C15.2,11.9,12,15.2,8,15.2z\"\/><path d=\"M5.6,12c0.8-0.8,1.6-1.6,2.4-2.4c0.8,0.8,1.6,1.6,2.4,2.4c0-2.7,0-5.3,0-8C8.8,4,7.2,4,5.6,4 C5.6,6.7,5.6,9.3,5.6,12z\"\/><\/g><\/g><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Article<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t1 day ago\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-col-12 desktop:grid-col-4 margin-bottom-4 desktop:margin-bottom-0 desktop:padding-right-3\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/aeronautics\/nasa-uses-small-engine-for-sustainable-jet-research\/\" class=\"color-carbon-black\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"margin-bottom-2\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-cover-wrapper cover-hover-zoom bg-carbon-black minh-mobile\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/dart-1.jpg?w=300\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium\" alt=\"\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/dart-1.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/dart-1.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/dart-1.jpg?resize=768,512 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/dart-1.jpg?resize=1024,683 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/dart-1.jpg?resize=1536,1025 1536w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/dart-1.jpg?resize=400,267 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/dart-1.jpg?resize=600,400 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/dart-1.jpg?resize=900,600 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/dart-1.jpg?resize=1200,801 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/figure>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"padding-right-0 desktop:padding-right-10\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"subheading margin-bottom-1\">3 min read<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"margin-bottom-1\"><h3 class=\"related-article-title\">NASA Uses Small Engine to Enhance Sustainable Jet Research<\/h3><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"display-flex flex-align-center label related-article-label margin-bottom-1 color-carbon-60\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"display-flex flex-align-center margin-right-2\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg version=\"1.1\" class=\"square-2 margin-right-1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" xmlns:xlink=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/1999\/xlink\" x=\"0px\" y=\"0px\" width=\"16px\" height=\"16px\" viewBox=\"0 0 16 16\" style=\"enable-background:new 0 0 16 16;\" xml:space=\"preserve\"><g><g><path d=\"M8,0C3.5,0-0.1,3.7,0,8.2C0.1,12.5,3.6,16,8,16c4.4,0,8-3.6,8-8C16,3.5,12.4,0,8,0z M8,15.2 C4,15.2,0.8,12,0.8,8C0.8,4,4,0.8,8,0.8c3.9,0,7.2,3.2,7.2,7.1C15.2,11.9,12,15.2,8,15.2z\"\/><path d=\"M5.6,12c0.8-0.8,1.6-1.6,2.4-2.4c0.8,0.8,1.6,1.6,2.4,2.4c0-2.7,0-5.3,0-8C8.8,4,7.2,4,5.6,4 C5.6,6.7,5.6,9.3,5.6,12z\"\/><\/g><\/g><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Article<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t5 days ago\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-col-12 desktop:grid-col-4 margin-bottom-4 desktop:margin-bottom-0 desktop:padding-right-3\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/centers-and-facilities\/armstrong\/nasa-photographer-honored-for-thrilling-inverted-in-flight-image\/\" class=\"color-carbon-black\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"margin-bottom-2\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-cover-wrapper cover-hover-zoom bg-carbon-black minh-mobile\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1440\" src=\"https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/AFRC2023-0064-02\/AFRC2023-0064-02~large.jpg?w=1920&h=1440&fit=clip&crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium\" alt=\"\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/AFRC2023-0064-02\/AFRC2023-0064-02~large.jpg?w=1920&h=1440&fit=crop&crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 1920w, https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/AFRC2023-0064-02\/AFRC2023-0064-02~large.jpg?w=300&h=225&fit=crop&crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 300w, https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/AFRC2023-0064-02\/AFRC2023-0064-02~large.jpg?w=768&h=576&fit=crop&crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 768w, https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/AFRC2023-0064-02\/AFRC2023-0064-02~large.jpg?w=1024&h=768&fit=crop&crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 1024w, https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/AFRC2023-0064-02\/AFRC2023-0064-02~large.jpg?w=1536&h=1152&fit=crop&crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 1536w, https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/AFRC2023-0064-02\/AFRC2023-0064-02~large.jpg?w=400&h=300&fit=crop&crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 400w, https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/AFRC2023-0064-02\/AFRC2023-0064-02~large.jpg?w=600&h=450&fit=crop&crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 600w, https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/AFRC2023-0064-02\/AFRC2023-0064-02~large.jpg?w=900&h=675&fit=crop&crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 900w, https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/AFRC2023-0064-02\/AFRC2023-0064-02~large.jpg?w=1200&h=900&fit=crop&crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\" \/><\/figure>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"padding-right-0 desktop:padding-right-10\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"subheading margin-bottom-1\">2 min read<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"margin-bottom-1\"><h3 class=\"related-article-title\">NASA Photographer Honored for Thrilling Inverted In-Flight Image<\/h3><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"display-flex flex-align-center label related-article-label margin-bottom-1 color-carbon-60\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"display-flex flex-align-center margin-right-2\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg version=\"1.1\" class=\"square-2 margin-right-1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" xmlns:xlink=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/1999\/xlink\" x=\"0px\" y=\"0px\" width=\"16px\" height=\"16px\" viewBox=\"0 0 16 16\" style=\"enable-background:new 0 0 16 16;\" xml:space=\"preserve\"><g><g><path d=\"M8,0C3.5,0-0.1,3.7,0,8.2C0.1,12.5,3.6,16,8,16c4.4,0,8-3.6,8-8C16,3.5,12.4,0,8,0z M8,15.2 C4,15.2,0.8,12,0.8,8C0.8,4,4,0.8,8,0.8c3.9,0,7.2,3.2,7.2,7.1C15.2,11.9,12,15.2,8,15.2z\"\/><path d=\"M5.6,12c0.8-0.8,1.6-1.6,2.4-2.4c0.8,0.8,1.6,1.6,2.4,2.4c0-2.7,0-5.3,0-8C8.8,4,7.2,4,5.6,4 C5.6,6.7,5.6,9.3,5.6,12z\"\/><\/g><\/g><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Article<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t2 weeks ago\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-topic-cards nasa-gb-align-full maxw-full width-full padding-y-6 padding-x-3 color-mode-dark hds-module hds-module-full wp-block-nasa-blocks-topic-cards\">\t\t<div class=\"grid-container grid-container-block-lg padding-x-0\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-row flex-align-center margin-bottom-3\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"desktop:grid-col-8 margin-bottom-2 desktop:margin-bottom-0\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"label color-carbon-60 margin-bottom-2\">Keep Exploring<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"heading-36 line-height-sm\">Discover More Topics From NASA<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-row grid-gap-2 hds-topic-cards-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/nasa-missions\/\" class=\"mobile:grid-col-12 tablet:grid-col-6 desktop:grid-col-3 topic-card margin-bottom-4 desktop:margin-bottom-0\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-topic-card hds-cover-wrapper cover-hover-zoom bg-carbon-black\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"skrim-overlay skrim-overlay-dark skrim-left mobile-skrim-top padding-3 display-flex flex-align-end flex-justify-start z-200\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"hds-topic-card-heading heading-29 color-spacesuit-white line-height-sm margin-top-0 margin-bottom-1\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Missions<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg viewBox=\"0 0 32 32\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><circle class=\"color-nasa-red\" cx=\"16\" cy=\"16\" r=\"16\"><\/circle><path d=\"M8 16.956h12.604l-3.844 4.106 1.252 1.338L24 16l-5.988-6.4-1.252 1.338 3.844 4.106H8v1.912z\" class=\"color-spacesuit-white\"><\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1536\" height=\"864\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/jsc2022e046413_orig.jpg?w=1536\" class=\"attachment-1536x1536 size-1536x1536\" alt=\"\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/jsc2022e046413_orig.jpg 3840w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/jsc2022e046413_orig.jpg?resize=300,169 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/jsc2022e046413_orig.jpg?resize=768,432 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/jsc2022e046413_orig.jpg?resize=1024,576 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/jsc2022e046413_orig.jpg?resize=1536,864 1536w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/jsc2022e046413_orig.jpg?resize=2048,1152 2048w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/jsc2022e046413_orig.jpg?resize=400,225 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/jsc2022e046413_orig.jpg?resize=600,338 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/jsc2022e046413_orig.jpg?resize=900,506 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/jsc2022e046413_orig.jpg?resize=1200,675 1200w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/jsc2022e046413_orig.jpg?resize=2000,1125 2000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1536px) 100vw, 1536px\" \/><\/figure>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/humans-in-space\/\" class=\"mobile:grid-col-12 tablet:grid-col-6 desktop:grid-col-3 topic-card margin-bottom-4 desktop:margin-bottom-0\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-topic-card hds-cover-wrapper cover-hover-zoom bg-carbon-black\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"skrim-overlay skrim-overlay-dark skrim-left mobile-skrim-top padding-3 display-flex flex-align-end flex-justify-start z-200\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"hds-topic-card-heading heading-29 color-spacesuit-white line-height-sm margin-top-0 margin-bottom-1\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Humans In Space<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg viewBox=\"0 0 32 32\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><circle class=\"color-nasa-red\" cx=\"16\" cy=\"16\" r=\"16\"><\/circle><path d=\"M8 16.956h12.604l-3.844 4.106 1.252 1.338L24 16l-5.988-6.4-1.252 1.338 3.844 4.106H8v1.912z\" class=\"color-spacesuit-white\"><\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"368\" height=\"560\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/topic-humans-in-space.jpg?w=368\" class=\"attachment-1536x1536 size-1536x1536\" alt=\"\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/topic-humans-in-space.jpg 368w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/topic-humans-in-space.jpg?resize=197,300 197w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/topic-humans-in-space.jpg?resize=263,400 263w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 368px) 100vw, 368px\" \/><\/figure>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/solar-system\/\" class=\"mobile:grid-col-12 tablet:grid-col-6 desktop:grid-col-3 topic-card margin-bottom-4 desktop:margin-bottom-0\" rel=\"noopener\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-topic-card hds-cover-wrapper cover-hover-zoom bg-carbon-black\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"skrim-overlay skrim-overlay-dark skrim-left mobile-skrim-top padding-3 display-flex flex-align-end flex-justify-start z-200\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"hds-topic-card-heading heading-29 color-spacesuit-white line-height-sm margin-top-0 margin-bottom-1\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Solar System Exploration<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg viewBox=\"0 0 32 32\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><circle class=\"color-nasa-red\" cx=\"16\" cy=\"16\" r=\"16\"><\/circle><path d=\"M8 16.956h12.604l-3.844 4.106 1.252 1.338L24 16l-5.988-6.4-1.252 1.338 3.844 4.106H8v1.912z\" class=\"color-spacesuit-white\"><\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"margin-bottom-0 margin-top-2 color-carbon-20-important\">Solar System Overview The solar system has one star, eight planets, five dwarf planets, at least 290 moons, more than...<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" src=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/pia06890-our-solar-system-banner-1920x640-1.jpg\" ><\/figure>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/history\/explore-nasas-history\/\" class=\"mobile:grid-col-12 tablet:grid-col-6 desktop:grid-col-3 topic-card margin-bottom-4 desktop:margin-bottom-0\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-topic-card hds-cover-wrapper cover-hover-zoom bg-carbon-black\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"skrim-overlay skrim-overlay-dark skrim-left mobile-skrim-top padding-3 display-flex flex-align-end flex-justify-start z-200\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"hds-topic-card-heading heading-29 color-spacesuit-white line-height-sm margin-top-0 margin-bottom-1\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Explore NASA’s History<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg viewBox=\"0 0 32 32\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><circle class=\"color-nasa-red\" cx=\"16\" cy=\"16\" r=\"16\"><\/circle><path d=\"M8 16.956h12.604l-3.844 4.106 1.252 1.338L24 16l-5.988-6.4-1.252 1.338 3.844 4.106H8v1.912z\" class=\"color-spacesuit-white\"><\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1919\" height=\"1878\" src=\"https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/as17-134-20476\/as17-134-20476~large.jpg?w=1919&h=1878&fit=clip&crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint\" class=\"attachment-1536x1536 size-1536x1536\" alt=\"\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/as17-134-20476\/as17-134-20476~large.jpg?w=1919&h=1878&fit=crop&crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 1919w, https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/as17-134-20476\/as17-134-20476~large.jpg?w=300&h=294&fit=crop&crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 300w, https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/as17-134-20476\/as17-134-20476~large.jpg?w=768&h=752&fit=crop&crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 768w, https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/as17-134-20476\/as17-134-20476~large.jpg?w=1024&h=1002&fit=crop&crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 1024w, https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/as17-134-20476\/as17-134-20476~large.jpg?w=1536&h=1503&fit=crop&crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 1536w, https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/as17-134-20476\/as17-134-20476~large.jpg?w=50&h=49&fit=crop&crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 50w, https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/as17-134-20476\/as17-134-20476~large.jpg?w=400&h=391&fit=crop&crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 400w, https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/as17-134-20476\/as17-134-20476~large.jpg?w=600&h=587&fit=crop&crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 600w, https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/as17-134-20476\/as17-134-20476~large.jpg?w=900&h=881&fit=crop&crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 900w, https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/as17-134-20476\/as17-134-20476~large.jpg?w=1200&h=1174&fit=crop&crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1919px) 100vw, 1919px\" \/><\/figure>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n<div id=\"\" class=\"nasa-gb-align-full width-full maxw-full padding-x-3 padding-y-0 article_a hds-module hds-module-full wp-block-nasa-blocks-credits-and-details\">\n<section class=\"padding-x-0 padding-top-5 padding-bottom-2 desktop:padding-top-7 desktop:padding-bottom-9\">\n\t<div class=\"grid-row grid-container maxw-widescreen padding-0\">\n\t\t<div class=\"grid-col-12 desktop:grid-col-2 padding-right-4 margin-bottom-5 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519.284H714.163ZM569.165 687.828L521.697 619.934L144.011 79.6944H306.615L611.412 515.685L658.88 583.579L1055.08 1150.3H892.476L569.165 687.854V687.828Z\" fill=\"white\"\/><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"social-icon social-icon-facebook\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nasa.gov%2Faeronautics%2Fa-story-for-axel-big-ideas-for-better-air-mobility-with-drones-of-all-sizes%2F\" aria-label=\"Share on Facebook.\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><path d=\"M9 8h-3v4h3v12h5v-12h3.642l.358-4h-4v-1.667c0-.955.192-1.333 1.115-1.333h2.885v-5h-3.808c-3.596 0-5.192 1.583-5.192 4.615v3.385z\"\/><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"social-icon social-icon-linkedin\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nasa.gov%2Faeronautics%2Fa-story-for-axel-big-ideas-for-better-air-mobility-with-drones-of-all-sizes%2F\" aria-label=\"Share on LinkedIn.\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><path d=\"M4.98 3.5c0 1.381-1.11 2.5-2.48 2.5s-2.48-1.119-2.48-2.5c0-1.38 1.11-2.5 2.48-2.5s2.48 1.12 2.48 2.5zm.02 4.5h-5v16h5v-16zm7.982 0h-4.968v16h4.969v-8.399c0-4.67 6.029-5.052 6.029 0v8.399h4.988v-10.131c0-7.88-8.922-7.593-11.018-3.714v-2.155z\"\/><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"social-icon social-icon-rss\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"\/feed\/\" aria-label=\"Subscribe to RSS feed.\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 800 800\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><path d=\"M493 652H392c0-134-111-244-244-244V307c189 0 345 156 345 345zm71 0c0-228-188-416-416-416V132c285 0 520 235 520 520z\"\/><circle cx=\"219\" cy=\"581\" r=\"71\"\/><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"grid-col-12 desktop:grid-col-5 padding-right-4 margin-bottom-5 desktop:margin-bottom-0\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"padding-top-3 border-top-1px border-color-carbon-black\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"margin-bottom-2\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"heading-14\">Details<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-row margin-bottom-3\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-col-4\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"subheading\">Last Updated<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-col-8\">Sep 20, 2023<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-row margin-bottom-3\"><div class=\"grid-col-4\"><div class=\"subheading\">Editor<\/div><\/div><div class=\"grid-col-8\">Jim Banke<\/div><\/div><div class=\"grid-row margin-bottom-3\"><div class=\"grid-col-4\"><div class=\"subheading\">Contact<\/div><\/div><div class=\"grid-col-8\"><div class=\"margin-bottom-3\"><div>Jim Banke<\/div><div><a href=\"mailto:jim.banke@nasa.gov\">jim.banke@nasa.gov<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<div class=\"grid-col-12 desktop:grid-col-5 padding-right-4 margin-bottom-5 desktop:margin-bottom-0\"><div class=\"padding-top-3 border-top-1px border-color-carbon-black \"><div class=\"margin-bottom-2\"><h2 class=\"heading-14\">Related Terms<\/h2><\/div><ul class=\"article-tags\"><li class=\"article-tag\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/aeronautics\/\">Aeronautics<\/a><\/li><li class=\"article-tag\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/aeronautics-research-mission-directorate\/\">Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate<\/a><\/li><li class=\"article-tag\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/technology\/\">Aeronautics Technology<\/a><\/li><li class=\"article-tag\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/aeronautics\/air-traffic-solutions\/\">Air Traffic Solutions<\/a><\/li><li class=\"article-tag\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/nasa-directorates\/armd\/airspace-operations-and-safety-program\/\">Airspace Operations and Safety Program<\/a><\/li><li class=\"article-tag\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/directorates\/armd\/aosp\/atd\/\">Airspace Technology Demonstration<\/a><\/li><li class=\"article-tag\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/directorates\/armd\/integrated-aviation-systems-program\/uas-in-the-nas\/\">UAS in the NAS<\/a><\/li><li class=\"article-tag\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/directorates\/armd\/aosp\/armd-aosp-utm\/\">UAS Traffic Management<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/div><\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/section>\n\t<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In this essay from 2021 — which was originally presented as a three-part web feature — NASA Aeronautics\u2019 senior writer Jim Banke tells his newborn grandson, Axel, the story about how two recently concluded major air traffic management research projects will help achieve a long-held vision for the future of aviation. Well, Axel, it\u2019s just [...]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":47,"featured_media":400270,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nasa_hds_core_meta_l10n":"en-US","nasa_hds_core_meta_article_editor":"47","nasa_hds_core_meta_article_contacts":["47"],"nasa_hds_core_meta_article_topic":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_linked_locations":[],"nasa_hds_core_meta_article_related_articles":[],"hds_migrate_meta_pr_release_id":"","hds_migrate_meta_pr_release_type":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_location_x":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_location_y":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_gallery_images":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[2660,2874,10843,2824,3307,12736,12738,10532],"news-tags":[],"internal-terms":[10618,10924,10831],"coauthors":[8588],"parsely":{"version":"1.1.0","meta":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","headline":"A Story for Axel: Big Ideas for Better Air Mobility with Drones of all Sizes","url":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/aeronautics\/a-story-for-axel-big-ideas-for-better-air-mobility-with-drones-of-all-sizes\/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/aeronautics\/a-story-for-axel-big-ideas-for-better-air-mobility-with-drones-of-all-sizes\/"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/envision-future-v4-blue-0.jpg?w=150&h=150&crop=1","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/envision-future-v4-blue-0.jpg"},"articleSection":"Aeronautics","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Jim Banke"}],"creator":["Jim Banke"],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"NASA","logo":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/themes\/nasa\/assets\/images\/nasa-logo.svg"},"keywords":["NASA Directorates","Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate","Airspace Operations and Safety Program","UAS Traffic Management","Aeronautics","Aeronautics Technology","Air Traffic Solutions","Airspace Technology Demonstration","UAS in the NAS"],"dateCreated":"2021-05-06T03:25:00Z","datePublished":"2021-05-06T03:25:00Z","dateModified":"2023-09-20T15:52:05Z"},"rendered":"<meta name=\"parsely-title\" content=\"A Story for Axel: Big Ideas for Better Air Mobility with Drones of all Sizes\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-link\" content=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/aeronautics\/a-story-for-axel-big-ideas-for-better-air-mobility-with-drones-of-all-sizes\/\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-type\" content=\"post\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-image-url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/envision-future-v4-blue-0.jpg?w=150&h=150&crop=1\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-pub-date\" content=\"2021-05-06T03:25:00Z\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-section\" content=\"Aeronautics\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-tags\" content=\"NASA Directorates,Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate,Airspace Operations and Safety Program,UAS Traffic Management,Aeronautics,Aeronautics Technology,Air Traffic Solutions,Airspace Technology Demonstration,UAS in the NAS\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-author\" content=\"Jim Banke\" \/>","tracker_url":"https:\/\/cdn.parsely.com\/keys\/nasa.gov\/p.js"},"read_time":22,"time_ago":"3 years","featured_image":{"id":400270,"file":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/envision-future-v4-blue-0.jpg","title":"A Story for Axel: Big Ideas for Better Air Mobility with Drones of all Sizes","alt":"A man holds a baby who is imagining a future vision for aviation.","caption":"As NASA Aeronautics senior writer Jim Banke tells his grandson, Axel, about two recently concluded research projects involving drones large and small, Axel appears to be imagining what the major elements of that future as told to him by his grandpa might be."},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/400261"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/47"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=400261"}],"version-history":[{"count":22,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/400261\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":512961,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/400261\/revisions\/512961"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/400270"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=400261"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=400261"},{"taxonomy":"news-tags","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news-tags?post=400261"},{"taxonomy":"internal-terms","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/internal-terms?post=400261"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=400261"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}