Many transportation modes have been introduced to the world of hybrid or turboelectric. NASA is now looking to put commercial planes in the mix. If they manage to achieve this, they could ditch partners like Boeing and Airbus and make their own aircraft.
Glenn Research Center to Develop Low Carbon Propulsion Technology for Airplanes
Since their inceptions, airplanes have run on some kind of carbon-based fuel. Most commonly, it relies on gasoline or kerosene. NASA is looking to bring in electricity to propel jumbo jets. This would make planes greener than they’ve ever been. It would cut down worldwide emissions, noise pollution and energy consumption as a whole. NASA hopes to start by redesigning generators and motors. This would help them figure out which electrical system configurations would be good enough to handle the kind of voltage that keeps a plane in the air.
Is A Hybrid or Electric Airplane Even Possible?
The innards of a plane use electric motors and generators to spread power through the bus in order to reduce the drag for a certain amount of fuel consumed. NASA’s plan is making lightweight parts and new electrical systems that can keep the level of fuel burned low. Eventually, they want to make it so that they don’t consume coal fuel at all.
A Serious Upgrade to the Wright Brothers’ Invention
Engineers from the NASA Glenn Research center want to upgrade the mechanisms used for insulation and conducting. They are also looking into upgrading the magnetic materials and semiconductors that will make their new motors as efficient as possible.
Planes are hard machines to tackle, being so complex. Making them able to run on fuel alternatives will take quite a long time. If achieved, it can actually revolutionize the way transportation works. It could also greatly impact the environment in a positive way.
Will NASA Have Their Own Airline?
NASA has partners like Boeing and Airbus to help develop commercial travel. It’s possible that they also use this partnership to explore how to develop hybrid or all-electric aircraft. We may even reach a point where NASA has no need for Boeing or Airbus and monopolizes Western commercial flight. They might not only handle a flight to space but also between Earthly lands.
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