Based on a fresh look at the future of aviation – as well as global trends in technology, the environment and economics – NASA's aeronautical innovators have chartered a new strategic vision for its aviation research programs. The vision ensures the agency's aeronautical research projects will enable the United States to maintain its leadership in the sky and sustain aviation so that it remains a key economic driver and cultural touchstone for the nation.

What this means for the flying public is that NASA's contributions to aviation will be even more relevant as ongoing research leads to new aircraft, improved mobility and safety, less strain on the environment, and an all-around better experience in the sky. From developing new air traffic management tools and designing quieter aircraft that fly at supersonic speeds, to writing innovative problem solving software that improves aviation safety, NASA's legacy of nearly a century of aviation research continues.