Aeronautical Applications of High-Temperature Superconductors

by National Aeronautics and Space Administration

The successful development of high-temperature superconductors (HTS) could have a major impact on future aeronautical propulsion and aeronautical flight vehicle systems. A preliminary examination of the potential application of HTS for aeronautics indicates that significant benefits may be realized through the development and implementation of these newly discovered materials. Applications of high-temperature superconductors (currently substantiated at 95 K) were envisioned for several classes of aeronautical systems, including subsonic and supersonic transports, hypersonic aircraft, V/STOL aircraft, rotorcraft, and solar, microwave and laser powered aircraft. Introduced and described are the particular applications and potential benefits of high-temperature superconductors as related to aeronautics and/or aeronautical systems. Turney, George E. and Luidens, Roger W. and Uherka, Kenneth and Hull, John Glenn Research Center NASA-TM-102311, E-4951, NAS 1.15:102311 RTOP 505-69-61...

32 pages, Paperback

Published August 10, 2018

About the author

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is an independent agency of the U.S. federal government responsible for the civil space program, aeronautics research, and space research.