The National Aeronautics and Space Administration awards are for advanced concepts for commercial aircraft that could enter service within 25 to 30 years.

The contracts went to teams led by the Boeing Co. (NYSE:BA), GE Aviation, the Lockheed Martin Corp. (NYSE:LMT), the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Northrop Grumman. Each received an 18-month study contract valued at approximately $2 million.

"The future of air transportation is all about protecting the environment and responding to increasing energy costs in a balanced way," said Juan Alonso, director of NASA's Fundamental Aeronautics Program. "We will need airplanes that are quieter and more fuel efficient, and cleaner-burning fuels to power them. We are challenging industry to introduce these new technologies without impairing the convenience, safety and security of commercial air transportation."

The studies constitute the first phase of a two-phase acquisition involving a competitive down-selection process, NASA said. Participants who successfully complete the first phase will be asked to submit proposals for Phase 2, which provides additional funds for initial research on the enabling technologies identified in Phase 1.