Category: Transformative Aeronautics Concepts Program

NASA Celebrates Decade of University Innovation in Aeronautics 

For 10 years, a NASA initiative has helped the agency produce breakthrough aeronautical innovations while fostering the aviation workforce of tomorrow – and the University Leadership Initiative (ULI) is still flying high, making awards with the potential to change 21st century air travel.  Through ULI, NASA has supported more than 1,100 students at 100 schools, allowing them […]

NASA Releases Powerful LAVA Software to US Aerospace Industry

For years, NASA engineers have turned to a tool called the Launch, Ascent, and Vehicle Aerodynamics (LAVA) framework to solve airflow challenges that could mean the difference between mission success or failure. When engineers need to know how a spacecraft will navigate re-entry or whether a new aircraft wing design will create enough lift, they […]

NASA Simulations Improve Artemis II Launch Environment

Airflow around rockets as they travel from Earth into space can have a dramatic impact on a mission, which is why NASA used advanced simulations to provide the best possible launch conditions for the Artemis II test flight around the Moon.  To better understand the Artemis Space Launch System (SLS) rocket’s flight environment, engineers turned to a NASA-developed tool called the Launch, Ascent, and Vehicle Aerodynamics […]

NASA Selects Finalists in Student Aircraft Maintenance Competition

Editor’s note: This advisory was updated on March 24, 2026, to update the finalists list. NASA has selected seven student teams as finalists in the 2026 Gateways to Blue Skies Competition, giving them the resources to help address a critical challenge for U.S. aviation: aircraft maintenance.  Challenges facing the commercial aviation industry include a shortage of qualified maintenance workers and increasing demands to keep complicated aircraft running […]

About Transformative Aeronautics Concepts Program (TACP)

TACP Benefits Foundation for disruptive technologies: Placing emphasis on transformative concepts lays the groundwork for revolutionary advancements in aviation. Accelerated innovation in aerospace: Developing next-generation engineering methodologies and digital tools enables faster, more efficient design, testing, and certification processes. Strong collaborative ecosystem: TACP fosters partnerships among NASA, academia, industry, and government, creating a powerful network […]

Award-Winning NASA Camera Revolutionizes How We See the Invisible

Imagine trying to photograph wind. That’s similar to what NASA engineers dealt with during a recent effort to study how air moves around planes, rockets, and other kinds of aerospace vehicles. Air is invisible, but our understanding of how it flows is crucial for building better, safer aircraft. For 80 years, researchers used a technique […]

NASA Launches 2026 Gateways to Blue Skies Competition

NASA’s 2026 Gateways to Blue Skies competition invites collegiate teams to conceptualize innovative systems and practices that would advance current commercial aircraft maintenance, repair, and operations with the goal to enhance resilience, safety, and efficiency.   The commercial aviation industry is a crucial component of the U.S. economy, employing millions and supporting global commerce and […]

NASA Tests Research Aircraft to Improve Air Taxi Flight Controls

Flying the friendly skies may one day include time-saving trips in air taxis to get from point A to point B – and NASA researchers are currently working to make that future a reality. They are using wind tunnel and flight tests to gather data on an electric Vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) scaled-down small […]

Winners Announced in NASA’s 2025 Gateways to Blue Skies Competition

A team from South Dakota State University, with their project titled “Soil Testing and Plant Leaf Extraction Drone” took first place at the 2025 NASA Gateways to Blue Skies Competition, which challenged student teams to research aviation solutions to support U.S. agriculture. The winning project proposed a drone-based soil and tissue sampling process that would […]

NASA Selects Student Teams for Drone Hurricane Response and Cybersecurity Research

NASA has selected two more university student teams to help address real-world aviation challenges, through projects aimed at using drones for hurricane relief and improved protection of air traffic systems from cyber threats.  The research awards were made through NASA’s University Student Research Challenge (USRC), which provides student-led teams with opportunities to contribute their novel […]