As a result, no radar record of the breakup exists-only of the metal rain that drifted down over East Texas, and eventually came into the view of air-traffic control.

But delays and inefficiencies in air travel are due in large part to an outdated traffic-control system that still relies on slow, ground-based radar stations and repetitive voice communication.

NextGen is the FAA's long-term plan to replace the current radar-based air-traffic-control system with one that operates using satellites and a global positioning system.