Show NASA Fights Air Pollution Its It's not generally known but the hard fact is that NASA is very much involved in aeronautics aeronautics aero aero- aeronautics research That first A Ain Ain Ain in NASA stands for aeronautics aeronautics aeronautics aero aero- as you can see when we spell out National Aeronautics Aeronautics Aeronautics Aero Aero- and Space Adminis Adminis- ITS IT'S NOT ALL astronauts satellites spacecraft and rockets way out yonder Much of NASA's work is gutsy to earth stuff like air pollution for Cor instance This hardly seems a proper role for an agency with its eyes on the stars but it is a proper role indeed for Cor the space agency to be involved in the fight against pollution So when Indiana Congressman Congress Congress- man Richard L L. L asked NASA officials recently what exactly is NASA doing on scientific research into control of oC pollution specifically specifically specifically cally not soot but the in in- in visible pollution from Crom aircraft that he understood is the dangerous dangerous dangerous dan dan- pollution for Cor man he wasn't at all surprised to learn that NASA had at least leasta a dozen anti-air anti pollution research research re re- re search projects underway FURTHERMORE these do donot donot donot not all relate to aircraft some relate to automobiles Much of oC the work is in inthe inthe inthe the study phase like that going on for NASA at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge Mass THERE THEY are studying studying study study- ing the motion of oC smoke and nitric oxide formation under under under un un- un- un unI I der conditions typically found in aircraft turbine combustion engines NASA has invested in this study alone In another study valued at the Department of Health Education and Welfare is using NASA's expertise expertise expertise ex ex- ex- ex pertise in high temperature materials THIS KNOWLEDGE is being being being be be- ing applied to the development development development develop develop- ment of a thermal reactor to be attached to an automobile automobile auto auto- automobile mobile in place of the exhaust exhaust exhaust ex ex- ex- ex haust man manifold old NASA has spread its research research research re re- re- re search in anti-air anti pollution widely across the country with universities industry and owned NASA-owned and operated operated operated oper oper- laboratories all having havinga a piece of oC the action AS WE GO to press there are some worth of studies going on in inthis this area Basic to the entire problem problem problem lem of pollution air-pollution from aircraft aircraft aircraft air air- craft is the general trend towards higher flight speeds which means higher temperatures temperatures temperatures temper temper- and higher pressure ratios in the engines SMOKING tendency is made worse by an increase in pres pres- sure What NASA seeks in its research is a marked improvement improvement improvement im im- im- im provement in aircraft engine performance that will yield a reduction in air pollution while increasing the operating operating operating ing life of the due to less heat and smoke If we get an engine that gives off less smoke why not an engine that makes less noise Yes NASA is working on such an engine and its working title you guessed it is t tie the e quiet engine |