For years, engineers at NASA have relied on a tool called LAVA (Launch, Ascent, and Vehicle Aerodynamics) to solve complex airflow problems that can make or break a mission.
Whether it’s predicting how a spacecraft handles re-entry or testing if a new wing design produces enough lift, LAVA plays a key role.
This simulation of the Artemis I launch, generated by NASA’s Launch, Ascent, and Vehicle Aerodynamics (LAVA) framework, shows how the Space Launch System rocket’s exhaust plumes interact with the air, water, and the launchpad. NASA/Chris DeGrendele, Nguyen Ly, François Cadieux, Michael Barad, Emre Sozer, Jared Duensing, Timothy Sandstrom
Now, NASA has made this powerful software available to the wider aerospace community.
LAVA is an advanced computational fluid dynamics tool that predicts the flow of air around rockets, aircraft, and spacecraft with high accuracy. It combines years of NASA expertise to support critical aerospace missions.
This video shows a simulation of the SLS (Space Launch System) rocket using NASA’s Launch Ascent and Vehicle Aerodynamics solver. NASA/Gerrit-Daniel Stich, François Cadieux, Michael Barad, Jared Duensing, Timothy Sandstrom, Derek Dalle
The same technology used to simulate Mars landings, analyze rocket launches, and improve aircraft efficiency is now accessible to U.S. researchers, companies, and innovators.
NASA has long used simulation tools to study airflow and the intense conditions during launches. LAVA takes this to another level, turning processes that once took days or weeks into tasks that can be completed in just hours.
The software also works with powerful graphics processing units (GPUs), which can handle many calculations at once while using less energy than traditional CPUs. This makes LAVA especially efficient for complex simulations, as demonstrated on NASA’s advanced supercomputer, Cabeus.
This video shows a simulation of the flow over a scaled Common Research Model wing using NASA’s Launch Ascent and Vehicle Aerodynamics solver. NASA/David Craig Penner, Jeffrey Housman, Timothy A. Sandstrom
“This isn’t only about releasing software; it’s about accelerating innovation,” said Jared Duensing, LAVA team lead at NASA’s Ames Research Center in California’s Silicon Valley. “When university researchers can run more complex simulations and when small companies can optimize designs with NASA-grade precision, we’re not only sharing tools, we’re unleashing potential.”
The Launch, Ascent, and Vehicle Aerodynamics (LAVA) team at NASA Ames is developing the capability to simulate supersonic parachute inflation by coupling several physics modules together. NASA/Francois Cadieux, Michael Barad, Timothy Sandstrom
Why it matters:
LAVA, being released by NASA, could significantly speed up innovation in the aerospace industry. Companies and researchers can now run advanced simulations faster and at lower cost, reducing the need for expensive physical testing.
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