Researchers have developed a reconfigurable radio to help ATC see in real time regarding the location of planes flying in air, even across oceans.
For designing and developing the new reconfigurable, higher bandwidth radio, NASA collaborated with Palm Bay based Harris Corporation.
Thanks to real time global tracking, planes can fly with less space and take more direct routes.
This will not only improve public safety, but save fuel cost too, because aircrafts no longer have to remain in particular airline traffic lanes.
The biggest point is the flexibility of the radio. Both its hardware and software are completely reconfigurable.
The company can rapidly and cheaply redesigning the radio to fit the needs of the aircraft.
It will be used to create first space-based global air traffic control system.
The air traffic control agencies will be able to see in real time the location and heading of every plane in the air.
For decades, airplanes have relied on radar surveillance via land-based radar stations. This has led to mishaps like the missing MH370.
A constellation of 66 satellites, owned by Iridium Communications Inc., goes into orbit equipped with AppSTAR radios.
The radios are programmed to receive signals from new airplane transceivers called ADS-B, which automatically send out a flight's number.
It also provides location, heading and other details.
Within seconds you can keep track of all the aircraft in the world.
System will go live in 2018.
About NASA- Formed: July 29, 1958
- Preceding agency: NACA (1915–1958)
- Jurisdiction: United States government
- Headquarters: Washington, D.C.
- Key official: Robert M. Lightfoot, Jr. (acting), Administrator
- Website: nasa.gov
