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Restructured Aeronautics Program
In January 2006, the ARMD announced a re-shaping of its programs to
focus on the core competencies of aeronautics in all flight regimes from
subsonic to hypersonic. The new programs—Fundamental Aeronautics,
Aviation Safety, Airspace Systems, and the Aeronautics Test
Program—focus on research topics appropriate to NASA's unique
capabilities.
Timeline for Restructuring
During 2006, a four-step process was used to define the content and
research focus areas for each program.
Step 1: Roadmaps. Each ARMD research program assessed its long-term
research goals and created a ten-year technical roadmap. Milestones to
be reached along the roadmap were determined based on NASA’s unique
strengths and capabilities.
Step 2: RFIs. To supplement and further inform areas of research that
the programs had already identified, NASA solicited information from the
external community by issuing Requests for Information (RFIs) in January
2006. Responses to the RFIs helped identify areas of research considered
by external stakeholders to be of key interest.
Step 3: NASA Center Proposals. Using the roadmaps from Step 1 as a
starting point, NASA researchers created teams to develop refined
technical proposals for each of the programs. They incorporated feedback
from the RFI responses as well as from colleagues at other government
agencies. Proposals were then subjected to a rigorous review process to
ensure technically credible and relevant research objectives.
Step 4: NRAs. In May 2006, NASA issued the first NASA Research
Announcement (NRA) to solicit proposals from the external community in
foundational research areas where NASA needs to enhance its core
capabilities. In the first round, NASA received more than 700 proposals
submitted by more than 110 universities, and more than 120 companies and
non-profits. The NRA remains open to enable future rounds of proposals.
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