October 28, 2024-Nat Blaesser, LARC

October 28,  2024
4:00 p.m.
Room:  Torgersen Hall 2150
Speaker: Nat Blaesser, LARC
Faculty Host: Dr. Darshan Sarojini

"NASA Aeronautics: Concept Developments and Systems Analysis"

Abstract: The Systems Analysis and Concepts Directorate within NASA’s Langley Research Center focuses on developing advanced concepts and mission paradigms across NASA’s portfolio. Within Aeronautics, SACD develops and matures many of the architectures for vision vehicles and X-planes, including the X-57, X-59, and X-66A. This presentation provides an overview of NASA’s Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate and the role Systems Analysis plays on furthering existing markets and developing new ones. One particular potential market is in Advanced Air Mobility, in particular Regional Air Mobility. Regional Air Mobility centers on trips between 200 and 500 miles, operating out of small, public-owned airports. Similar research efforts have been conducted in the past, in particular the Very Light Jet (VLJ) and Small Aircraft Transportation System (SATS) in the early 2000s. Since those efforts, new supporting technologies and ecosystems enable a new look at the RAM market. One such technology is electrified aircraft propulsion. Providing the power and energy demanded by electric aircraft will challenge the electrical grid, especially at public airports. To understand how to enable AAM, NASA is partnering with the Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Lab (NREL) through an activity called ÆNodes. ÆNodes plans to study AAM vehicles, their cadence of operations, potential energy demand, and what is required to meet that demand. Further, ÆNodes hopes to show that local airports can support their local communities by increasing access and providing renewable energy.

Bio:  Nat Blaesser is the Deputy Lead for the Aero Concepts Incubator, the aeronautics advanced concept group within NASA Langley’s Systems Analysis and Concepts Directorate. Within his role, Nat studies which aircraft concepts and technologies have the most potential impact on the aviation system as a whole. His current focus is on Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) and specifically Regional Air Mobility (RAM). One obstacle for AAM is the power/energy infrastructure required for these electric aircraft to be successful. As a part of this talk, Nat will discuss NASA’s ongoing activity called Airports as Energy Nodes (ÆNodes) to address energy supply at airports. Nat has a Bachelor’s Degree from Cal Poly, a Master’s Degree from UC Davis, and a PhD from Virginia Tech, all in aerospace engineering. Prior to working at NASA’s Langley Research Center, Nat was a Systems Engineer for in-space propulsion at Aerojet Rocketdyne.