A.4 High Speed (HS1) | Apply Online

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1) What is this funding opportunity?

This is a NASA Headquarters grant and cooperative agreement opportunity released as Amendment 3 to the NASA Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate (ARMD) Research Opportunities in Aeronautics (ROA) 2014 NASA Research Announcement (NRA). The specific call is Appendix A.4 titled "High Speed (HS1)," posted through NSPIRES.

2) What is the Funding Opportunity Number?

The Funding Opportunity Number is NNH14ZEA001N HS1.

3) Which NASA organization is sponsoring this call?

The opportunity is sponsored by NASA's Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate (ARMD), and the appendix supports foundational research aligned with NASA's High Speed Project.

4) What is the primary purpose or goal of Appendix A.4 "High Speed (HS1)"?

The call targets foundational research intended to enable practical, quieter, and environmentally responsible supersonic flight, with an emphasis on low-boom and low-noise technologies and the tools needed to validate and mature supersonic concepts.

5) What kinds of award instruments will NASA use?

NASA indicated awards may be made as grants and cooperative agreements. Cooperative agreements typically imply substantial NASA involvement during performance.

6) Is this a mandatory cost-share opportunity?

No. The opportunity states that cost sharing is not required.

7) Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is described as unrestricted, subject to any clarifications in the full solicitation text.

8) What is the CFDA number and program area?

The opportunity is listed under CFDA 43.002 (Aeronautics).

9) How many awards did NASA anticipate making under this appendix?

NASA anticipated making about 11 awards under Appendix A.4 (HS1).

10) What are the main technical themes covered by the research topics?

The seven research topics cluster around three major themes: (1) sonic boom understanding and mitigation, (2) low-noise propulsion for low-boom aircraft, and (3) flight research and validation tools needed to mature supersonic concepts.

11) How is sonic boom community response addressed in this call?

Two topics focus on sonic boom community response metrics and methodologies, including work related to how shaped sonic booms propagate through atmospheric turbulence and how community response methods can be improved or de-risked for future testing.

12) Why does atmospheric turbulence matter for shaped sonic booms?

The solicitation highlights that real-world atmospheric conditions can distort or amplify boom signatures as they propagate, which can influence what people experience on the ground and how booms are perceived.

13) What does the call mean by "risk reduction" for future community testing?

One of the sonic boom topics is aimed at lowering technical and programmatic uncertainty prior to broader public exposure tests using a low-boom flight demonstration vehicle, supporting future community testing that could inform regulations and acceptance.

14) What propulsion-noise research areas are included?

Two topics concentrate on propulsion noise for low-boom aircraft: (1) development of a low-cost aeroacoustic code to support supersonic propulsion exhaust system design, and (2) development of low-noise technologies aimed at meeting an ambitious certification-related target ("Chapter 14 minus 10 EPNdB").

15) What is meant by a "low-cost aeroacoustic code" in this context?

NASA signaled interest in an aeroacoustic analysis tool that is accurate enough to guide propulsion exhaust design decisions but efficient enough to be used routinely within engineering design cycles.

16) What noise target is referenced for low-noise propulsion technologies?

The solicitation references an ambitious certification-related target described as "Chapter 14 minus 10 EPNdB," indicating interest in achieving margin beyond current international aircraft noise standards (Chapter 14).

17) What environmental research topic is included?

One topic under high-altitude emissions research calls for work on the global impact of emissions from supersonic cruise aircraft, reflecting concerns about atmospheric chemistry and climate impacts at the higher altitudes associated with supersonic operations.

18) What flight research and validation capabilities are requested?

Two topics fall under flight research and validation: (1) development and flight validation of a sonic boom cockpit display, and (2) in-flight flow measurement and visualization to capture aerodynamic phenomena during flight and validate models or designs.

19) What is a "sonic boom cockpit display" intended to support?

The call implies a real-time or operationally useful cockpit tool that could help pilots manage conditions that influence sonic boom characteristics, and it specifically requests development and flight validation of such a display.

20) Why is in-flight flow measurement and visualization important for high-speed aircraft research?

The solicitation emphasizes that flight data can be especially important for high-speed configurations where wind-tunnel and computational predictions need in-flight confirmation to validate performance and noise-related behavior.

21) What type of funding is this categorized as?

The opportunity is categorized as discretionary funding.

22) What were the key submission dates listed?

The listed deadlines were April 24, 2014 for Notices of Intent (NOIs) and May 29, 2014 for full proposals.

23) When was the opportunity posted and when was it archived?

The posting date is listed as April 15, 2014, and the archive date is listed as May 30, 2014.

24) Where was the announcement posted and where are proposal details available?

The opportunity was posted through NSPIRES, and the proposal details and full announcement were available through the NSPIRES link associated with the NRA.

25) Who are the listed NASA points of contact for questions or access issues?

NASA listed the following contacts: Dr. Louis Povinelli (Project Scientist), Kestutis C. Civinskas (Deputy Project Manager), and David E. Hahne (NRA Manager).

26) What parts of the ROA 2014 NRA does this opportunity correspond to?

This opportunity corresponds to Amendment 3 of the ROA 2014 NRA, specifically Appendix A.4 titled "High Speed (HS1)."

27) Does the summary describe any limits on applicant types (academia, industry, nonprofits, etc.)?

No specific applicant-type limits are stated in the provided information; it describes eligibility as unrestricted, subject to any clarifications in the full solicitation text.

28) Does the provided information state required proposal components or evaluation criteria?

No. The provided information references that proposal details are in the full announcement on NSPIRES, but it does not list proposal components or evaluation criteria.