NASA’s focus with AACES 2050 builds upon its past Sustainable Flight National Partnership (SFNP) initiatives, including the X-66 Sustainable Flight Demonstrator, by expanding the scope and timeline for sustainable aircraft concepts. Unlike SFNP, which centers on aircraft deployable by the 2030s, AACES looks to tackle challenges that might be encountered in the 2040s and beyond. NASA has leveraged partnerships with private and academic entities to diversify its approach, enabling each team to take advantage of varied expertise in technology and sustainability. For instance, Electra’s focus on hybrid-electric distributed propulsion will draw on collaborations with American Airlines and MIT’s Laboratory for Aviation and the Environment, among others, while Boeing and Aurora will jointly explore new technologies across wide-ranging aircraft design elements with support from MIT, Penn State, and the University of Michigan. Over the next 18 months, the contracted teams will conduct extensive studies examining both the technical and economic feasibility of their proposed solutions. By considering factors like energy availability, market trends, and environmental impact, they will help NASA establish a road map for sustainable aviation aligned with the U.S. goal of achieving net-zero aviation emissions by 2050. NASA’s Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate anticipates that AACES will be instrumental in expanding U.S. competitiveness in sustainable aviation technology, setting a foundation for new, environmentally conscious aircraft that could define the future of air travel.