The NASA Ames Research Center, located at Moffett Field in California’s Silicon Valley, is one of NASA’s 10 field centers in the United States. Ames plays several key roles for NASA by conducting research and developing technologies to advance NASA’s missions in space exploration, aeronautics, science, and space technology.
History of NASA Ames
NASA Ames was founded in 1939 by the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA), NASA’s predecessor, as an aircraft research laboratory. NACA built the lab because of its location – it was isolated from other buildings and near strong winds, making it a good location for wind tunnels. In 1958, when NACA transitioned into NASA, the center became known as NASA Ames Research Center.
Over the decades, NASA Ames has been home to wind tunnels, flight simulators, supercomputers, astrobiology research, lunar and planetary research, and more. NASA Ames led the development of the blunt body theory that made possible the heat shields for the Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo spacecraft. The Pioneer, Viking, Voyager, and Galileo spacecraft all had components developed at Ames. The center manages missions including SOFIA, Kepler, and Lunar CRater Observation and Sensing Satellite (LCROSS).
Key Research Areas
Here are some of the key research and technology development areas at NASA Ames today:
Aeronautics Research
NASA Ames has specialized expertise in computational fluid dynamics, wind tunnel testing, flight sciences, airspace systems, descents and landings, icing, thermal protection systems, crew systems and aviation safety.
Facilities at Ames supporting aeronautics work include wind tunnels and flight simulators. Scientists study fields like computational fluid dynamics, aerodynamics, aviation systems, rotorcraft, turbulence physics, and icing. Their work helps advance NASA’s goals for aviation.
Entry Systems and Technology
NASA Ames provides expertise, research, and facilities to enable safe and accurate entry, descent and landing for robotic and human exploration missions. This includes the design and testing of thermal protection systems and modeling of entry environments.
For example, Ames researchers supported the design of the heat shield and entry trajectory for the Mars Science Laboratory mission, which successfully landed the Curiosity rover on Mars in 2012. Ames also helped build and test the heat shield for the Orion space capsule.
Supercomputing
NASA Ames is home to one of the world’s most powerful supercomputers, called the Pleiades. The supercomputer enables modeling, simulations and artificial intelligence work to advance NASA’s missions. Scientists can use Pleiades to model events like the moon’s formation, supernova explosions, climate change effects on ecosystems, and more.
The supercomputer has a modular design, which allows regular upgrading to boost its processing power. As of 2022, the Pleiades supercomputer provides over 10 petaflops of processing capability.
Astrobiology and Life Sciences
NASA Ames is home to multidisciplinary astrobiology programs, where researchers study the origin and evolution of life. Areas of research include astrochemistry, planetary habitability studies, biotechnology, and studying how life adapts to spaceflight.
Key astrobiology facilities at NASA Ames include laboratories for ecology, microbiology, vibration isolation, optics development, and more. The center manages NASA’s Astrobiology Institute, which brings together researchers from diverse fields to study astrobiology.
Air Traffic Management Research
NASA Ames contributes to the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) efforts to upgrade the National Airspace System. Researchers at Ames focus on areas like traffic flow management, modeling and simulation, and navigation systems.
One example is an Ames-designed system called Spot and Runway Departure Advisor (SARDA), which optimizes traffic movements on the ground at busy airports based on current conditions. NASA transferred SARDA’s algorithms to the FAA to improve airport efficiency.
Small Spacecraft Development
NASA Ames has capabilities for developing small spacecraft in the range of 50-180 kg. This includes in-house design, fabrication and testing of small satellites. Engineers refine small spacecraft technologies like propulsion systems, thermal control, power systems and autonomy.
For example, Ames managed the development, launch and operations for the Orion spacecraft, a small deep space exploration vehicle that launched on the Space Launch System rocket in 2022.
Major Facilities at NASA Ames
In addition to its research laboratories and offices, NASA Ames is home to several unique facilities that enable key aerospace research:
Wind Tunnels
Wind Tunnel Name | Description |
---|---|
Unitary Plan Wind Tunnel | Used to study aerodynamics of airplanes, missiles and spacecraft. It was the world’s largest wind tunnel when it opened in the 1950s. |
National Full-Scale Aerodynamics Complex (NFAC) | Huge facility with two wind tunnels capable of testing full aircraft models with dynamic ground effects. |
Fluid Mechanics Laboratory | Suite of 20 specialized wind tunnels for studying helicopter aerodynamics, V/STOL vehicles, aircraft icing and more. |
Arc Jets
Arc jets simulate the intense heating conditions of atmospheric reentry by generating supersonic, ionized gas flows. At NASA Ames, they test heat shield materials and designs for future spacecraft entering atmospheres like Earth or Mars.
Ballistic Ranges
Ballistic range facilities use special guns to accelerate models to high speeds, mimicking the conditions of atmospheric entry. High speed cameras capture data as the models enter an airstream or impact a target. This allows testing spacecraft designs and materials.
Range Complex
Outdoor research space containing a drone runway, helicopter pad, analog mission environments and a lunar yard used to test robots and technologies for exploring the Moon and Mars.
Arc Jet Complex
Set of arc jet facilities that simulate the heating conditions experienced by spacecraft during atmospheric entry. Used to test thermal protection system (heat shield) designs and materials.
Flight Simulators
NASA Ames contains over a dozen flight and aeronautics simulators. These full-motion simulators with advanced visuals allow testing of aircraft and spacecraft designs, pilot training, and studies of aviation safety and human performance.
Partnerships with Academia and Industry
In addition to its civil servant workforce, NASA Ames partners with industry, academia and other agencies to advance its missions. Partnerships provide expanded research expertise and allow technology transfers between NASA and external organizations.
NASA Ames has over 200 active Space Act Agreements for collaborative partnerships with industry. Some examples include work with Google on quantum computing, United Technologies on hybrid electric aircraft, and Airbus on aircraft noise reduction.
The center also partners with local universities including Stanford, U.C. Santa Cruz, and San Jose State to share research and facilities. NASA Ames hosts summer internship programs and has cooperative education programs for students.
Summary of Key Facts
- Founded in 1939 as an aircraft research lab for NASA’s predecessor NACA
- Located at Moffett Field in Mountain View, California, in the heart of Silicon Valley
- Home to unique wind tunnels, flight simulators, supercomputing, and arc jets to enable aerospace research
- Conducts research on aeronautics, entry systems, supercomputing, astrobiology and air traffic management
- Manages SOFIA, Kepler, LCROSS and other missions
- Partners extensively with academia and industry
Conclusion
For over 80 years, NASA’s Ames Research Center has conducted pioneering aerospace research to benefit NASA’s space and aeronautics missions. Ames’ multidisciplinary expertise and specialized facilities support NASA’s goals for space exploration, the study of life in the universe, and advancing aviation. The center’s location in Silicon Valley provides access to leading industry and academic partners, enhancing innovation.
From historic contributions enabling the Apollo moon landings, to ongoing leadership in fields like supercomputing and entry system design, Ames Research Center continues to be a vital hub of space and aviation progress.