crease efficiency of transport aircraft, gener- 

 i.)-aviation airplanes, and rotorcraft. 



Current and Future Research 

 Emphasis 



Current Programs 



Most of the examples of basic research listed in 

 the previous section are ongoing programs in space 

 and aeronautics. The continuing investigations in 

 the space program utilize data returned from prior 

 missions, with additional research flight missions 

 scheduled for the near future. Among these are: 

 Investigation of the terrestrial planets (Viking Ex- 

 tended Mission, Pioneer Venus); investigation of 

 the moon (continued lunar sample analysis); and 

 investigation of the outer planets (Voyager — the 

 new name given to Mariner Jupiter Saturn "77). 

 Also included are continuing investigations of the 

 sun and sun-earth interactions (International Sun- 

 Earth Explorer), high energy astrophysics (High 

 Energy Astronomical Observatories A, B, and C), 

 research on the interplanetary medium, and studies 

 of the origin of life and the search for extraterres- 

 trial life. 



New or newly augmented projects or programs 

 of special current interest are: 



• Space astronomy investigations in the in- 

 frared, visible, and ultraviolet portions of the 

 spectrum (i.e.. International Ultraviolet Ex- 

 plorer, Infrared Astronomical Satellite, Space 

 Telescope). 



• Investigation of the environment of Jupiter 

 (Jupiter Orbiter/Probe). 



• Measurement of tectonic plate motion, lead- 

 ing to an understanding of upper crustal mo- 

 tion and earthquake dynamics, and eventually 

 to the prediction of earthquakes. 



• Ocean research on surface wind stresses, sur- 

 face temperature, current velocity, global cir- 

 culation, and surface wave height, ultimately 

 of benefit to shipping, offshore exploration, 

 and long-term prediction of weather and cli- 

 mate. 



• The flight of a series of Applied Cloud Phys- 

 ics Laboratories (ACPL), permitting the study 

 of cloud drop formation, growth dynamics, 

 and kinematics in a near-zero-gravity environ- 

 ment. 



• Basic research into transmitter and receiver 

 componentry and characteristics in the "far- 

 IR" frequency range (between visible and 

 radio bands), to open up that range to com- 

 munications and observation of cosmic pro- 

 cesses. 



• Investigation of novel lasers and their possi- 

 ble applications to remote sensing, power 

 transmission, and measurement techniques. 



• Research on intelligent, autonomous ma- 

 chines to provide the ability for machines to 

 operate in an intelligent, learning mode of 

 operation in space at great distances from 

 earth without the need for realtime control 

 from earth. 



• Research on computational and experimental 

 fluid mechanics to lead eventually to im- 

 proved aircraft design. 



• Research on composite materials to under- 

 stand the factors determining fatigue and fail- 

 ures. 



Near-Term Future 



NASA's research program priorities for the 

 relatively near-term future (next few years) are: 



Physical sciences. To study planets, comets, as- 

 teroids, stars, nebulae, galaxies, quasars, and oth- 

 er sources of radiation in all wavelengths, with 

 emphasis upon X-ray sources, UV and IR spec- 

 troscopy, and cosmic and gamma-ray sources; 

 study the interaction of the solar wind and the 

 magnetosphere; study the interplanetary medium; 

 and determine the nature of solar variability. 



Environmental sciences (planetary). To determine 

 characteristics of the Venus atmosphere and deter- 

 mine the gravitational character of the planet; up- 

 grade knowledge of Jupiter. Saturn, and their envi- 

 ronments by acquisition of imaging, fields and par- 

 ticles, and composition data; and improve our 

 understanding of Mars via continued analysis of 

 data from Viking and other missions. 



Environmental sciences (Earth). To conduct re- 

 mote-sensing research for identifying and monitor- 

 ing pollutant species in the troposphere and water 

 bodies, especially for all-weather and day and 

 night conditions; conduct remote-sensing research 

 on monitoring the physical parameters of the 

 ocean surface, using active and passive microwave 

 radars; conduct research into those features of 

 severe storms most readily identified by remote 

 sensing technology; develop preliminary models of 

 crustal inhomogeneities based on tectonophysics, 

 magnetic field, and gravity field, etc.; and study 

 the composition and structure of the upper atmos- 

 phere. 



Life sciences. To study physiological changes in 

 man and other organisms that would result from a 

 gravity-free environment; and research for extra- 

 terrestrial life. 



Engineering sciences. To increase fundamental 

 knowledge of fluid mechanics and aerodynamics; 

 establish basic understanding of noise- and 

 pollution-generating processes resulting from air- 

 craft operations; apply solid-state chemistry and 



NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION 187 



