NASA is advancing electrified flight with the Single-Aisle Turboelectric Aircraft with Aft Boundary Layer Propulsion (STARC-ABL), designed to cut fuel consumption and emissions for commercial aircraft carrying approximately 150 passengers. This innovative concept employs a conventional turbine and airframe while integrating a unique electric aft propulsor powered by two under-wing turbofan engines.
STARC-ABL aims to maintain the range, speed, and airport compatibility of existing regional jets, potentially achieving a 7%-12% reduction in fuel burn. The aircraft incorporates Boundary Layer Ingestion (BLI) technology, which optimizes airflow around the aircraft to minimize drag and enhance performance.
With a BLI fan at the tail, slower-moving air is ingested and re-accelerated, producing additional thrust. The design integrates propulsion and airframe systems to maximize efficiency, using turbofan engines equipped with generators to provide electricity for onboard systems.
Scheduled for commercial fleet entry around 2035, STARC-ABL will undergo rigorous testing at NASA's Electric Aircraft Testbed in Ohio, showcasing the potential of turboelectric systems for sustainable aviation.
In a separate development, astronomers using NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory and the Very Large Telescope have revealed that massive black holes can self-feed through outbursts that cool surrounding gas. Observations of seven galaxy clusters, including Perseus and Centaurus, demonstrate that jets from black holes trigger the cooling of hot gas, forming filaments that can flow back to the black holes.
This research, led by Valeria Olivares from the University of Santiago de Chile, supports a model predicting a relationship between the brightness of hot and warm gas filaments, enhancing understanding of black hole feeding mechanisms and star formation processes. The findings were published in Nature Astronomy and involved collaboration among international scientists.