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NASA Press Release
Feb. 25, 2005

Press Contact:
Jonas Dino
NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, Calif.
Phone: 650/604-5612 or 650/207-3280
E-mail: [log in to unmask]

RELEASE: 05-10AR

NASA ADDS NEW DIMENSION TO FUTURE FLIGHT DESIGN CHALLENGE

NASA is challenging middle school students to design the future of 
air transportation, and NASA software will put them to the test.

NASA's Future Flight Design Challenge, developed at NASA Ames 
Research Center, located in California's Silicon Valley, is designed 
to engage students in developing solutions for tomorrow's overcrowded 
airports. To help students develop their designs, NASA experts will 
provide feedback via the Internet throughout the challenge. To 
strengthen the challenge's appeal, NASA's Airspace Systems Program 
will use Airspace Concept Evaluation System (ACES) software under 
development by NASA aeronautics experts to simulate the winning 
designs.

"Adding the use of the ACES software to this project will add a new 
and exciting dimension to the already successful NASA Quest 
challenge," said Mark Leon, education director at NASA Ames. "For the 
first time, students will be able to access the tools of a 
state-of-the-art software system, currently unavailable to the 
public," he added.

ACES is a modeling and simulation tool under development by the 
Virtual Airspace Simulation Technology element of the Virtual 
Airspace Modeling and Simulation Project at NASA Ames. The tool is 
being developed in order to evaluate the cost and benefits of new 
ideas in air traffic management across the entire National Airspace 
System.

"Inspiring students is part of NASA's mission; therefore, we are 
striving to involve young people in developing solutions for 
tomorrow's National Airspace System," said Lisa Bjarke, a manager in 
the Virtual Airspace Simulation Technologies element. "The ACES 
software will help us provide that inspiration by bringing their 
ideas to life.

Students can now register for the challenge, which begins on March 7 
and ends with a Webcast on May 4, 2005. Last year, 26 teams 
representing more than 800 students from 10 U.S. states, India, Sri 
Lanka, Australia, England and Oman, participated in the design 
challenge.

To further improve the impact of Future Flight Design, the Ames 
Educational Technology Team will collaborate with teachers to 
evaluate the site for content, ease of use and student impact. During 
this formal evaluation, teachers will incorporate Future Flight 
Design into their classrooms over a six-week period and will provide 
feedback to the Web site's design team.

"The Ames Educational Technology Team is always looking to improve 
the products we provide to the educational community," said Rebecca 
Sims, evaluation coordinator for the team. "Soliciting the help of 
teachers will provide the team with first-hand knowledge of how 
students interact with our products that we can incorporate into 
updates of Future Flight Design."

Future Flight Design was co-funded by NASA's Aeronautics Research 
Mission Directorate education council at NASA headquarters in 
Washington and NASA's Airspace Systems Program at NASA Ames, 
demonstrating NASA's commitment to K-12 education.

The Ames Educational Technology Team produces a wide range of 
multimedia educational materials for students, teachers, parents and 
other NASA enthusiasts through the NASA Quest Web site. Educational 
products include the aeronautics-themed 'Robin Whirlybird' and 
'Virtual Skies'. NASA Quest is an award-winning educational Web site 
that is a valuable resource for educators across the United States 
and abroad.

For more information about the Future Flight Design Challenge and 
participating in the formal evaluation of Future Flight Design, visit:

http://quest.nasa.gov/calendar

For more information about the Virtual Airspace Modeling and 
Simulation Project and the Airspace Concept Evaluation System 
software, visit:

http://vams.arc.nasa.gov/activities/aces.html

For more information about NASA Quest, visit:

http://quest.nasa.gov

The Airspace Systems Program Web site can be accessed at:

http://as.nasa.gov

-end-

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