October 26, 2005

Katherine K. Martin
Media Relations Office
216-433-2406
katherine.martin@grc.nasa.gov
RELEASE: 05-044

NASA HONORS AERONAUTICS INNOVATORS

A sensor-based fire alarm system, critical propulsion technologies for

aircraft, futuristic communications capabilities and a mobile
education lab have received top recognition at a NASA ceremony held
last night at Cleveland's Great Lakes Science Center.

Teams led by NASA's Glenn Research Center, Cleveland, won four of the
eight awards recognized by the agency's Aeronautics Research Mission
Directorate at this year's Turning Goals Into Reality (TGIR) awards
ceremony.

The False Alarm Resistant Fire Detection for Remote Cargo Components
Team received the Associate Administrator's Choice Award. The team
developed a Micro Electric Mechanical Systems sensor-based system to
address the high rate of false fire alarms from remote under-floor
cargo compartments, a critical concern of air carriers. These false
alarms result in unnecessary emergency procedures that compromise
flight safety and air traffic management. The Federal Aviation
Administration controlled testing of the system yielded a zero false
alarm rate, resulting in a new commercial product, the
Multi-Parameter, MicroSensor-Based, Low False Alarm Fire Detection
System.

In helping to keep our skies cleaner, the Ultra-Efficient Engine

Technology Project Component Demonstrations Team won the award in the
Protect the Environment category. The team developed, matured and
demonstrated many critical propulsion technologies that will enable a
fleet of environmentally-friendly future generation aircraft. In
partnership with industry, key technologies were tested, including
low emissions combustors, high-performance turbomachinery, materials
and structures, intelligent propulsion controls, propulsion airframe
integration and system integration. This suite of technologies
successfully achieved the project goals of 70-percent nitrogen oxide
reduction and 10-percent carbon dioxide reduction for a subsonic
aircraft system.
Playing a part to help secure our nation's security, the Virtual
Mission Operations Center Demonstration Team garnered the top award
in the area of Partnerships for National Security. Partnering with
the Department of Defense (DoD), this team identified common
communication requirements. Mobile network technologies were
demonstrated in a low-earth orbit satellite environment with
state-of-the-art protocols and applications. Along with meeting DoD
security and survivability requirements of a complex, battlefield
environment, the system supports NASA's Next Generation Air
Transportation System for secure, real-time access to aviation
information.

The TGIR Goal of Inspiring Students and Engaging the Public merited
The Mobile Aerospace Education Laboratory (MAEL) Team the top award
for educational outreach efforts. This unique mobile laboratory
showcases NASA's aerospace programs to students and the general
public, with special emphasis on encouraging underserved students to
pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
During the past year, MAEL traveled to 24 sites and provided over
20,000 students, teachers, parents and the general public with a
unique look at NASA's efforts in aeronautics and space.

For a complete listing of this year's TGIR awardees, visit:

http://www.aeronautics.nasa.gov/tgir/2005/award_listing.htm

For more information on NASA Glenn on the Web, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/glenn

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