Ames Research Center

Ames Research Center conducts critical NASA missions in both aeronautics and space research. However, Ames also plays an even more fundamental role central to the conduct of all NASA missions. Specifically, all agency missions, in both aeronautics and space exploration, require order-of-magnitude forward leaps in many areas of scientific research and technology development. The most critical among the enabling technologies required is that group known collectively as Information Technologies (IT). To ensure that NASA fully exploits this vital and enabling set of tools, Ames, located in the heart of California's Silicon Valley, serves as NASA's Center of Excellence for Information Technology.

NASA has a long history of leadership in high-performance computing for both scientific and engineering applications. Today, the field of high-performance computing is changing rapidly. On the high end, new architectures are under development that combine the performance gains of massively parallel machines with the flexibility of shared-memory multiprocessor approaches. On the low end, powerful microprocessor-based systems are now performing computations that would have required a specialized supercomputer until very recently. Ames researchers are also playing an important role in developing tomorrow's networking capabilities, up to 1,000 times faster than today's.

The emerging concept of "human-centered computing" represents a significant shift in thinking about information technology in general and about intelligent machines in particular. It embodies a "systems view," in which the interplay between human thought and action and technological systems is understood to be inextricably linked and an equally important aspect of analysis, design, and evaluation. Within this framework, Ames researchers are inventing and deploying sophisticated computational aids designed to amplify human cognitive and perceptual abilities.

The next generation of robotic explorers must exhibit an unprecedented level of autonomy. They will need to be smart, adaptable, curious, and self-reliant in harsh and unpredictable environments. Ames research on automated reasoning for autonomous systems will enable a new generation of spacecraft to do more exploration at a much lower cost than traditional approaches. An impressive example developed by Ames, the Remote Agent Autonomy Architecture, has already demonstrated its utility during the Deep Space 1 mission.

The satellites in the Earth Observing Systems (EOS) will be laden with sensors to monitor global climate change.

The projected growth in air traffic over the coming decade will strain already congested management systems. In collaboration with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Ames is developing advanced information technology systems that will play a major role in expanding the capacity of the national (and world's) aviation system. These tools will enable NASA to realize the twin national goals of safer aircraft operation and higher throughput of the airport and ground control infrastructure.

NASA is responsible for launching and gathering data from progressively more sophisticated orbital and deep space instruments. For example, the Earth Observing System (EOS) is being deployed to monitor global climate change. When fully operational, the sensor-rich satellites will generate about one terabyte of data per day. Equally important is the development of tools aimed at facilitating human understanding of these immense data sets. Emerging results from Ames' IT research is the key to enabling scientists to better understand our world, as well as distant ones.

Future NASA space exploration missions, such as probe and human missions to Mars, pose extremely difficult design and engineering challenges. Early in the design cycle, complex trade-offs between spacecraft characteristics and mission concepts must be performed. Ames IT researchers are making it possible for geographically distributed teams of experts to perform these trade-offs working together--in a virtual environment or so-called "collaboratory."

In the area of space research, Ames is NASA's lead center for astrobiology, the study of the origin, evolution, distribution, and destiny of life in the universe. In this capacity, Ames develops science and technology requirements for current and future flight missions relevant to astrobiology research. Ames also leads NASA in information technology applications and astrobiology education and outreach programs that inform and inspire the American public.

Ames scientists conduct basic research, participate in flight missions, and facilitate the participation of the national science community in astrobiology. Ames led in the development of a NASA astrobiology "roadmap" and continues to bring together the science and technology communities to identify research priorities and translate them into appropriate NASA programs, technology challenges, and flight missions. Through its Center for Mars Exploration, Ames is continuing to support planning for future Mars missions.

In the area of aeronautics, Ames is NASA's lead center for Aviation Operations Systems (AOS). In this capacity, Ames champions NASA research efforts in air traffic control and human factors; leads agency research in rotorcraft technology; creates design and development process tools; and operates wind tunnel and simulation facilities. AOS encompasses those ground, satellite and aircraft systems, and human operators that control the operational safety, efficiency, and capacity of aircraft operation in the airspace and airports.

In December 1999, Ames opened FutureFlight Central, the world's first virtual airport control tower. Constructed at a cost of $10 million, the two-story facility was jointly funded by NASA and the FAA. FutureFlight Central will permit integration of tomorrow's technologies in a risk-free simulation of any airport, airfield, and tower-cab environment. The facility provides an opportunity for airlines and airports to mitigate passenger delays by fine-tuning airport hub operations, gate management, ramp-movement procedures, and various other airport improvements.

Astrobiology, the study of life in the universe, will hinge on future advancements in information technology.

The facility's tower cab provides a three-dimensional visual model of an airport which can be viewed out of the tower cab's 360-degree windows in stunningly realistic detail. It is anticipated that airport and airline management and researchers will want to look primarily at the feasibility, safety and reliability, and cost benefits of technologies prior to incorporating them into airports.

Through its leadership roles in AOS and astrobiology, and through its Center of Excellence responsibility for Information Technology, Ames is playing a fundamental and crucial role within NASA, central to agency programs and success throughout the foreseeable future.