NASA Signs Up Six Companies for Composite Research Program

Six companies will participate in a government-and-industry partnership run by NASA as the agency aims to move forward composite materials research and certification.

A panel of officials from NASA, the Federal Aviation Administration and the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory reviewed proposals from 20 companies and assessed them according to technical expertise and willingness to share costs, among other criteria, NASA said Monday.

Certification experience with government agencies, focused technology areas and partnership histories were the other criteria.

Selected companies include Bell Helicopter Textron, Boeing, GE Aviation, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman and United Technologies Corp. subsidiary Pratt & Whitney.

Participants will first develop articles of collaboration and work to establish both how the alliance will work and how additional companies could sign up.