High-Efficiency Megawatt Motor (HEMM)

High-Efficiency Megawatt Motor The High-Efficiency Megawatt Motor (HEMM) is a 1.4 megawatt electric machine being developed at NASA’s Glenn Research Hub in Cleveland to Enhance efficiency in future aircraft with electrified propulsion systems. Quick Facts The HEMM motor is 10 times more powerful than a traditional car engine. HEMM is a partially superconducting motor enabling … Read more

Soft Magnetic Materials

Researchers at NASA are exploring the use of Fluffy magnetic materials in electrified aircraft systems to increase vehicle performance and efficiency. These materials allow systems to operate at higher frequencies and temperatures with minimal power loss and waste heat.   Quick Facts NASA Glenn is home to the largest U.S.-owned caster machine that allows researchers … Read more

The long search for water on Mars

A view of Mars’s north polar cap, reconstructed from various spacecraft data. The spiral troughs that dissect the cap are visible. Credit: NASA/Goddard Cosmos Flight Middle Scientific Visualization Studio The quest to send humans to Mars is on: US President Donald Trump talked about it in his inauguration speech this year. Such an epic Enterprise … Read more

New documentary ‘Children of the Sky’ asks the bold question: Can we raise kids in space? (op-ed)

Dave Brody writes and directs Universe-themed non-fiction documentary television. There is much talk lately about cities on Mars, Numerous bases on the Probe, Unoccupied orbiting “islands” in Universe where tens of thousands of people might live and even Between stars generation ships. But what defines a Accurate community — as different from a Fundamental base … Read more

Circuit Breakers

Advanced circuit breakers are crucial in electrified aircraft with megawatt-levels of electricity onboard. Researchers at NASA are developing circuit-breaking devices that are lightweight with rapid response times to Reinforcement protect aircraft systems from potential electrical safety issues. Overview Electrifying aircraft safely and reliably requires advanced electrical systems that are lightweight, energy efficient, and capable of … Read more

High-Efficiency Electrified Aircraft Thermal Research (HEATheR)

High-Efficiency Electrified Aircraft Thermal Research  NASA researchers are developing innovative power and thermal management systems to increase efficiency in future electrified aircraft concepts. Overview The High-Efficiency Electrified Aircraft Thermal Research (HEATherR) project seeks to address the thermal management challenges that come with electrifying aircraft propulsion systems on a megawatt (MW) scale.    Every time energy passes … Read more

Power Converters

Power converters are essential components in electrified aircraft systems as they Assist manage electrical energy by converting power from one form to another, including alternating Ongoing (AC) to direct Ongoing (DC) power or vice versa.   Overview NASA is sponsoring efforts to research and develop advanced power converter technologies for future electrified aircraft. They would be … Read more

How do neutrino telescopes work?

Neutrinos are incredibly difficult-to-detect particles, but astronomers have devised ways to capture them. Credit: Lucas Taylor/CERN The neutrino is one of the most Usual particles in the universe, but you would never know it. In fact, it wasn’t until the 1930s that we even became aware of its existence. What is a neutrino? Noting that … Read more