NASA has launched five new design studies aimed at pioneering sustainable aircraft for the future of aviation. As part of the Advanced Aircraft Concepts for Environmental Sustainability (AACES) 2050 initiative, NASA is collaborating with industry and academia to explore transformative aircraft concepts and key technologies that could drastically reduce emissions and increase efficiency by 2050.
The agency awarded $11.5 million to four companies—Aurora Flight Sciences, Electra, JetZero, and Pratt and Whitney—and one university, Georgia Institute of Technology. Each awardee will lead a network of corporate and academic partners to advance their research, with studies expected to conclude by mid-2026. These projects will help NASA identify innovative aircraft designs and technologies to shape a sustainable future for commercial aviation.
