Nearly all trucks on the road have been shaped by NASA — literally. Agency research in vehicle aerodynamic design led to the curves and contours that help modern big rigs cut through the air with less drag. NASA’s contributions to truck design have greatly reduced fuel consumption, perhaps by as much as 6,800 gallons per year for an average vehicle.
Riding his bike to work at a NASA facility one day, an aerodynamic researcher noticed the push and pull in the air created by passing trucks. Fascinated with the forces involved, he and a team of researchers at NASA soon revolutionized the field of truck design by systematically rethinking how trucks could be built. Today, nearly all trucks on the road have been shaped by this NASA research.
Learn more about how NASA helped develop technology that impacts truck design within your city's automotive environment!