NASA restructures aero.NASA's Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate (ARMD Age-related macular degeneration (ARMD) Degeneration of the macula (the central part of the retina where the rods and cones are most dense) that leads to loss of central vision in people over 60. ) officially announced a "comprehensive restructuring" of its programs, confirming a tilt toward basic research. NASA NASA: see National Aeronautics and Space Administration. NASA in full National Aeronautics and Space Administration Independent U.S. Associate Administrator Lisa Porter, who heads up ARMD, says four "key objectives" will guide NASA in "returning to long-term investment in cutting-edge fundamental research in traditional aeronautics disciplines": * "Re-establish [NASA's] commitment to mastering the science of subsonic sub·son·ic adj. 1. Of less than audible frequency. 2. Having a speed less than that of sound in a designated medium. subsonic Adjective (rotary and fixed wing), supersonic, and hypersonic flight Hypersonic flight Flight at speeds well above the local velocity of sound. By convention, hypersonic flight starts at about Mach 5 (five times the speed of sound) and extends upward in speed indefinitely. ; * "Protect and maintain NASA's key aeronautics research & test facilities as national assets; * "Focus research in areas that are appropriate to NASA's unique capabilities; [and] * "Directly address the needs of the Next Generation Air Transportation System NextGen or Next Generation Air Transportation System is the name given to the project which is set to completely overhaul the United States national airspace system (NAS). in partnership with the Joint Planning and Development Office," an entity co-managed by NASA and the Federal Aviation Administration Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), component of the U.S. Department of Transportation that sets standards for the air-worthiness of all civilian aircraft, inspects and licenses them, and regulates civilian and military air traffic through its air traffic control that coordinates all federal research related to air transportation. ARMD will create an Aeronautics Test Program designed to "ensure NASA wind tunnels and air-breathing propulsion test facilities are available to meet [federal] research requirements and those of other national partners," says the agency. The test program will support three research areas: Fundamental Aeronautics, Airspace Systems, and Aviation Safety. The Aeronautics Test program "will make decisions regarding the strategic use, operations, maintenance and investment" for facilities at three NASA Research Centers: Ames at Moffett Field, Calif; Glenn in Cleveland, Ohio; and Langley in Hampton, Va. These centers were named in report language accompanying the NASA Authorization Act of 2005, signed into law last December 30 (PL 109-155), forbidding NASA to "close or mothball moth·ball n. 1. A marble-sized ball, originally of camphor but now of naphthalene, stored with clothes to repel moths. 2. mothballs a. " numerous aeronautics test facilities pending a review and subsequent certification to Congress that any "proposed closure will not have an adverse impact on NASA's ability to execute" a national policy covering aeronautics R&D through 2020 whose formulation the act also requires. |
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