Commercial Supersonic Technology The Way Ahead (2001) / Chapter Skim
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Executive Summary
Executive Summary
Pages 1-5
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While NASA should have its eye on the grand prize supersonic commercial transports it is still quite appropriate for NASA to conduct sonic boom research, even when related to SBJs. The report also identifies other critical areas where technology development is needed to support the development of commercial supersonic aircraft with cruise speeds beyond Mach 2.
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From page 2... ...
As cruise speed increases, the most efficient cruise altitude increases also, and the technical challenges to developing an economically viable and environmentally acceptable commercial supersonic aircraft increase significantly above approximately Mach 2. For aircraft with cruise speeds less than Mach 2, an NOX emission index of 15 appears satisfactory, and water vapor emissions are unlikely to pose difficulties at the associated altitudes.
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From page 3... ...
High-risk investments are still required to develop and validate the design of a small supersonic aircraft with low sonic booms. Success in this endeavor, however, could support the eventual development of an HSCT with a low sonic boom by performing critical 3 noise suppression experiments, testing public acceptance of sonic boom noise levels, and gathering critical data.
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From page 4... ...
An economically viable, environmentally acceptable commercial supersonic transport with a cruise speed of less than approximately Mach 2 requires continued advances in many areas, particularly the following: airframe materials and structures for lower empty weight fractions and long life, including accelerated methods for collecting long-term aging data and the effects of scaling on the validity of thermomechanical tests COMMERCIAL SUPERSONIC TECHNOLOGY: THE WAY AHEAD · engine materials for long life at high temperatures, including combustor liner materials and coatings, turbine airfoil alloys and coatings, high-temperature alloys for compressor and turbine disks, and turbine and compressor seals · aerodynamic and propulsion systems with low noise during takeoff and landing · cockpit displays that incorporate enhanced vision systems flight control systems and operational procedures for noise abatement during takeoff and landing certification standards that encompass all new technologies and operational procedures to be used with commercial supersonic aircraft approaches for mitigating safety hazards associated with cabin Repressurization at altitudes above about 40,000 ft approaches for mitigating safety hazards that may be associated with long-term exposure to radiation at altitudes above about 45,000 ft (updating the Federal Aviation Administration's advisory circular on radiation exposure, AC 120-52, to address supersonic aircraft would be a worthwhile first step)
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From page 5... ...
In summary, the committee identified no insurmountable obstacles to the development of commercial supersonic aircraft and believes that a properly focused research effort by NASA could develop technological solutions to the key problems identified in Finding 1, thereby enabling a successful commercial development program by industry in the relatively near term, especially for aircraft with a cruise speed of less than Mach 2.0. Without continued effort, however, an economically viable, environmentally acceptable commercial supersonic aircraft is likely to languish.
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