NASA A Team Recipient of Celebrated Collier Trophy

June 13, 2008

Beth Dickey
Headquarters, Washington
202-358-2087
beth.dickey-1@xxxxxxxx

Kathy Barnstorff
Langley Research Center, Hampton, Va.
757-864-9886
kathy.barnstorff@xxxxxxxx

Jonas Dino
Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, Calif.
650-604-5612
jonas.dino@xxxxxxxx

RELEASE: 08-148

NASA A TEAM RECIPIENT OF CELEBRATED COLLIER TROPHY

WASHINGTON -- NASA is part of a team that received one of the most
prestigious awards in aviation on June 12.

Judges for the Robert J. Collier Trophy, awarded by the National
Aeronautic Association, chose the Automatic Dependent
Surveillance-Broadcast, or ADS-B, team of public and private groups
to receive the 2007 honor.

Instead of relying on radar, ADS-B uses Global Positioning System
satellite information to give pilots and controllers highly accurate
traffic data, as well as displays that update in real time. The
system also will give pilots access to weather services, terrain maps
and flight information services. Government and industry leaders have
worked for more than a decade to develop and implement this
technology for the next generation of air traffic management.

According to the selection committee, "ADS-B is a ground-breaking
effort for next-generation airborne surveillance and cockpit
avionics. Its implementation will have a broad impact on the safety,
capacity and efficiency of the national airspace system."

Researchers at NASA's Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, Calif.,
and
NASA's Langley Research Center, Hampton, Va., were part of the
extensive team that developed and tested ADS-B.

"NASA is proud to have been a part of ADS-B research and
development,"
said Karlin Roth Toner, Airspace Systems Program director for the
Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate at NASA's Headquarters in
Washington. "This is the kind of research NASA specializes in and
that will help transform the air traffic control system to satisfy
future traffic demands."

Established in 1911, the Collier Trophy is awarded for "the greatest
achievements in aeronautics or astronautics in America, with respect
to improving the performance, efficiency and safety of air or space
vehicles, the value of which has been thoroughly demonstrated by
actual use during the preceding year."

The trophy has been given to many of America's greatest aerospace
pioneers, including Orville Wright and Neil Armstrong.

This is the 21st time research and development projects that included
NASA or its predecessor agency, the National Advisory Committee for
Aeronautics, have received a Collier Trophy.

For more information about NASA's Aeronautics research, visit:

http://aeronautics.nasa.gov


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