Aeronautics Innovation Challenges

Aeronautics Innovation Challenges is sponsored by NASA Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate (ARMD). This program supports innovative research and development efforts related to aeronautics, including advanced air mobility. Specific challenges and deadlines are announced on the NSPIRES website.

NASA's aeronautical research is organized into four major programs, including the Advanced Air Vehicles Program, which studies, evaluates, and develops technologies and capabilities for new aircraft systems and explores future concepts for revolutionary air travel improvements.

Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate (ARMD) International Space Station NASA Highlights 2025 International Space Station Science Results NASA Wins Four Telly Awards for Artemis Moon Coverage, More What’s Up: May 2026 Skywatching Tips from NASA Upcoming Launches and Landings Communicating with Missions James Webb Space Telescope International Space Station Earth Science Researchers Asteroids, Comets & Meteors The Search for Life in the Universe Astrophysics & Space Science Biological & Physical Sciences Human Space Travel Research Flight Research Innovation Technology Transfer & Spinoffs Technology Living in Space Manufacturing and Materials For Colleges and Universities Requests for Exhibits, Artifacts, Speakers & Flyovers Upcoming Launches & Landings NASA Brand & Usage Guidelines Hubble Captures Galaxy Cluster NASA’s AWE Completes Mission to Study Earth’s Effect on Space Weather NASA Highlights 2025 International Space Station Science Results Studying Pneumonia in Space for Heart Health on Earth NASA’s Simulated Mars Mission Marks 200 Days Inside Habitat NASA Astronaut to Answer Questions from Students in Florida Tornado Draws a Jagged Line in Mississippi New Eruption in the Bismarck Sea NASA-developed AI Could Help Track Harmful Algae NASA’s AWE Completes Mission to Study Earth’s Effect on Space Weather NASA’s Psyche Mission Aces Mars Flyby, Targets Metal-Rich Asteroid NASA’s MAVEN Makes 1st Discovery of Atmospheric Effect at Mars Hubble Captures Galaxy Cluster NASA’s Fermi Glimpses Power Source of Supercharged Supernovae Helio and You: Seasons on Earth, Mars, and Beyond Galaxy Zoo: Clump Scout II Frequently Asked Questions Keeping NASA Flying: Ground Crews Ensure Aircraft Readiness NASA Announces Winners in University Aeronautics Competition Meet the Fleet: NASA Armstrong Continues Legacy of Flight Research Integrated Rotating Detonation Engine System (InRoDES) NASA Releases Technology Priorities to Energize Space Industry Picturing Earth in a New Light Space Out This Summer with Variety of NASA STEM Activities NASA Seeks Interest for Artemis Mission CubeSats Lunar Robots: NASA Spotlights Moon Base at 2026 FIRST Robotics Competition NASA Releases Technology Priorities to Energize Space Industry La NASA anuncia la cobertura de la misión lunar Artemis II Agenda diaria de la misión a la Luna de Artemis II de la NASA La NASA refuerza Artemis: añade una misión y perfecciona su arquitectura general Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate NASA’s origins trace back to 1915 with the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics, which soon established its people and facilities as the world’s leading home for aeronautics research.

Today, every U.S. commercial aircraft and air traffic control facility incorporates NASA-developed technology. That heritage continues at NASA, where the first “A” stands for Aeronautics, and the efforts to explore the frontiers of flight and transform aviation for the 21st century are managed by the agency’s Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate (ARMD).

Learn More About Aeronautics Research at NASA about Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate NASA’s X-59 Undergoes Scheduled Maintenance New Material Could Help NASA Melt Moon Rocks, Harness Lunar Resources NASA Announces Winners in University Aeronautics Competition NASA’s X-59 Team Testing Aircraft Performance at All Speeds NASA’s X-59 Flight Tests Pick Up Speed with Two-Flight Days Cornell Students Aid NASA with Drone Safety in Sky NASA’s Dryden Aeronautical Test Range Supports Flight, Space Missions NASA’s X-59 Shows Off Early Flight Test Maneuvers Your next bingeworthy series is right here.

Enjoy this collection of videos that help tell the story of how NASA’s Aeronautics Research Directorate is transforming aviation for the 21st century. See the ARMD Video Playlist NASA Aeronautics – Shaping the Future of U.S. Aviation NASA’s Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate is transforming U.S. aviation across four key areas, delivering benefits for the industry and air travelers nationwide.

Pioneering High-Speed Flight Speed defines modern air transportation, and faster journeys bring economic opportunity. NASA is pushing the envelope to enable routine commercial supersonic flight over land and open opportunities for flight over five times the speed of sound. Transforming Airframes and Propulsion Modern airliners are foundational to worldwide travel.

Meeting future demand and improving fuel efficiency require new breakthroughs. NASA is exploring new designs, advanced propulsion, and novel integration techniques to enhance aircraft performance. Automating Airspace and Safety Management As demand grows and airspace becomes more complex, the U.S. needs a modern system that can safely accommodate more crowded skies.

NASA develops technologies and collects data needed to ensure aircraft of any size, purpose, or altitude can operate safely and efficiently. Revolutionizing Engineering Methods Designing next generation aerospace systems demands faster, smarter engineering. NASA operates unique test facilities and develops advanced tools to drive the future of aviation.

Many of these tools support space exploration missions and strengthen the broader industry. This Strategic Implementation Plan sets forth NASA's vision for aeronautical research aimed at the next 25 years and beyond. It encompasses a broad range of technologies to meet future needs of the aviation community, the nation, and the world for safe, efficient, flexible, and environmentally sustainable air transportation.

Read the Plan about Our Strategy NASA’s aeronautical research is organized into four major programs. Learn about them here. Advanced Air Vehicles Program Advanced Air Vehicles Program (AAVP) studies, evaluates, and develops technologies and capabilities for new aircraft systems, and also explores far-future concepts that hold promise for revolutionary air-travel improvements.

Airspace Operations and Safety Program Airspace Operations and Safety Program (AOSP) transforms the national airspace to accommodate the variety, density, and complexity of future operations — ensuring U.S. skies remain safe, innovative, and globally competitive.

Integrated Aviation Systems Program Integrated Aviation Systems Program (IASP) conducts flight-oriented, system-level research and technology development to effectively mature and transition advanced aeronautic technologies into future air vehicles and operational systems.

Transformative Aeronautics Concepts Program Transformative Aeronautics Concepts Program (TACP) cultivates concepts and capabilities that inspire new solution paths, enable innovative design, and lead to technologies that transform aviation.

Aerosciences Evaluation and Test Capabilities The Aerosciences Evaluation and Test Capabilities portfolio office executes strategic efforts to preserve and enhance research and test capabilities for NASA’s world-class portfolio of National Wind Tunnel facilities.

Learn More About the AETC Portfolio The Unitary Plan Wind Tunnel seen here at NASA’s Ames Research Center in California is one of many wind tunnels and test facilities managed by the Aerosciences Evaluation and Test Capabilities portfolio office within NASA’s Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate. Interested in flying to your next destination in half the time?

NASA's Quesst mission is to lead a government-industry team to collect data that could make commercial supersonic flight over land possible, dramatically reducing air travel time in the United States or anywhere in the world. The centerpiece of the mission is the X-59 aircraft.

Learn More About the Quesst Mission about Quesst Mission Stay up to date with the latest news and information as NASA's X-59 continues its series of test flights in support of the Quesst mission. Read the Latest Quesst Update about Quesst Blog NASA’s work with advanced air mobility seeks to transform our communities by bringing the movement of people and goods off the ground, on demand, and into the sky.

This air transportation system of the future will include low-altitude passenger transport, cargo delivery, and public service capabilities.

Learn More About AAM about Advanced Air Mobility Office of the Associate Administrator for Aeronautics Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate Leadership Team See the Full ARMD Leadership List Associate Administrator (AA) NASA Aeronautics Field Centers NASA conducts its research and operations at field centers across the United States. Four of those centers have traditionally been home to the agency's aeronautics work.

Learn more about them. Armstrong Flight Research Center Demand for air travel continues growing, keeping airports busy with arriving, departing, and taxiing airplanes. NASA technology has helped the FAA modernize and improve the flow of traffic across the National Airspace System, making it easier for passengers to get from gate to gate between airports more safely and sustainably than ever before.

You may not have flown today, but something you needed or used today did. The latest electronic gadget, flowers for a loved one, life-saving medicine, or even fresh seafood for supper — many of your most important needs and wants were delivered to you because of air travel. The importance of aviation to our lives, our economy, and to our society at large is undisputed.

Ensuring we have the safest, most sustainable, and most advanced aeronautics technology is the goal of our hard-working aeronautical innovators. Here are some facts about aviation’s contributions to the the U.S. economy: 9. 24 million flights by U.S. carriers worldwide in 2025 972 million passengers flown by U.S. airlines in 2025 22 million tons of freight transported by U.S. airlines in 2025 2.

23 million aerospace/defense jobs; 4682,000 in aeronautics/aircraft in 2025 With more than a century of aeronautical research heritage to back it up, we’re fond of reminding folks that NASA is with you when you fly. That’s because some piece or form of NASA technology is in use on every U.S. airplane flying today. The images presented here offer just a few examples of how you benefit from NASA when you fly.

This graphic highlights examples of NASA-developed technology deployed on commercial airliners today. This graphic highlights examples of NASA-developed technology deployed on general aviation aircraft today. This graphic highlights examples of NASA-developed technology deployed on civilian rotorcraft today.

This graphic highlights examples of NASA-developed technology deployed on military fighter jets today. Aeronautics Innovation Challenge NASA’s Aeronautics Innovation Challenges are your entry points to the exciting, fast-moving aviation world of today. And they’re valuable ways for us to get inputs and ideas that may never have occurred to us.

Thank you for joining our journey! Learn More about Aeronautics Innovation Challenges about Aeronautics Innovation Challenge Learn More and Get Involved Find opportunities to collaborate with NASA’s aeronautical innovators and/or contribute to their research to enable new and improved air transportation systems.

The Strategic Implementation Plan sets forth the NASA Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate vision for aeronautical research aimed at the next 25 years and beyond. Read this important document here. NASA Aeronautics Research Institute The NASA Aeronautics Research Institute promotes innovation in aeronautics across a broad spectrum of aeronautical challenges in the nation’s air transportation system.

Learn about them here. NASA Advisory Council Aeronautics Committee Aeronautics STEM & Learning Resources Explore hands-on activities, interactive lesson plans, educator guides, and other downloadable content about aeronautics. Aeronautics Innovation Challenges Learn more about NASA Aeronautics sponsored challenges and competitions.

Conozca los avances tecnológicos desarrollados por la NASA, la industria de la aviación está mejor equipada que nunca para transportar pasajeros y carga de manera segura y eficiente a destinos alrededor del mundo en español. Explore links to past ARMD projects. Online content relevant to these past projects is being kept online for historical purposes, but is no longer being updated.

Explore a collection of hand-picked stories that showcase the aviation technology NASA is working on — or has worked on and turned over to others for use in the National Airspace System. Research about flying faster than the speed of sound. Flight Research Innovation Stories about pioneering the frontiers of 21st century flight.

All about new ways to get from here to there in the air. Learn about research to make aviation more sustainable. Read about how NASA is opening up the sky for all.

Here are Some Other Cool NASA Aeronautics Stuff to Check Out Aeronautics Innovation Challenges Learn more about NASA Aeronautics sponsored challenges and competitions. A collection of activities and lessons to learn more about NASA Aeronautics and the science of flight that you can do at home. Explore hands-on activities, interactive lesson plans, educator guides, and other downloadable content related to aeronautics.

Aeronautics Virtual Backgrounds Take video calls from your home or office in the cockpit of the X-59 or from inside a wind tunnel! And other aviation themes. Add these books covering NASA Aeronautics and other aviation and space topics to your electronic library.

This binge worthy page collects aeronautics-themed topics from the popular NASA X video series. NASA Aeronautics on Mars & Earth Learn more about NASA's Ingenuity Helicopter. Discover More Topics From NASA