Developing a Strategic Approach to Knowledge Management
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Knowledge Management strategic plan knowledge arch↗
Engineering topics
Holcomb, L.
Publications and source records attributed to Holcomb, L..
Autonomous intelligent systems
NASA's Office of Aeronautics and Space Technology (OAST) has instituted a 'Systems Autonomy' technology development program aimed at the creation of increasingly sophisticated AI systems. Expert system production will in due course be followed by fully autonomous AI systems capable of the complex mission objectives of the Space Station, as well as of lunar and Martian exploration. AI systems must demonstrate the degree of their autonomy in a real-time operational environment, and then undergo mating to robotics technologies. OAST's Systems Autonomy Program and Robotics Program are discussed with a view to anticipated difficulties in their integration.
Lum, H.↗
Future thrusts of the NASA space power program
General objectives and plan directions are given for current program support in the following areas: (1) solar cells and arrays; (2) batteries and fuel cells; (3) thermoelectric, thermionic, and Brayton cycle conversion systems; (4) circuits and subsystems for the management and distribution of power; and (5) the interactions of the environment with the power system and the spacecraft. Particular emphasis is given to the electrochemical energy conversion storage portion of the program where efforts are directed to improving the energy density and life of nickel cadmium batteries, to validating flight-weight silver hydrogen cells, to promoting the safe use of lithium primary batteries, to completing the silver zinc batteries and the orbital transfer fuel cell technology, to increasing the capacity of space batteries, to and to evaluating new electrochemical concepts for very high energy density. The use of the fuel cell electrolyzer concept for energy storage in both the dedicated and the truly regenerative mode is also being investigated.
Holcomb, L.↗
Status of the NASA Space Power Program
The NASA Space Power Research and Technology Program has the objective to provide the technological basis for satisfying the nation's future needs regarding electrical power in space. The development of power sources of low mass and increased environmental resistance is considered. Attention is given to advances in the area of photovoltaic energy conversion, improved Ni-Cd battery components, a nickel-hydrogen battery, remotely activated silver-zinc and lithium-water batteries, the technology of an advanced water electrolysis/regenerative fuel cell system, aspects of thermal-to-electric conversion, environmental interactions, multi-kW low cost systems, and high-performance systems.
Mullin, J. P.↗
NASA's OAST program: An overview
The program was split into four areas which include: high energy density, long life batteries; low cost high capacity battery application; very high energy density batteries; and electrochemical research and technology program. Outlines are presented which show the approaches used and the accomplishments of each program area.
Holcomb, L.↗
The effects of aniline impurities on monopropellant hydrazine thruster performance
Both a 0.45-N and a 0.9-N thruster representative of the designs being flown on 3-axis stabilized spacecraft were used in testing various grades of hydrazine for the phenomenon of monopropellant hydrazine thruster catalyst bed poisoning. Both designs employed Shell 405 ABSG spontaneous catalyst. It is found that pulse shape distortion can be minimized, if not eliminated, by using aniline-free hydrazine. The mechanisms for both steady-state and pulse-mode performance loss are associated with the formation of a catalyst coke similar to the polycyclic aromatic poisons encountered in the petroleum industry. These poisoning mechanisms are reversible, with high-temperature operation being required to drive off the aniline coke deposits. It is recommended that a purified-grade hydrazine be considered for any mission that imposes operational conditions on a thruster which can result in aniline-induced poisoning of the catalyst bed.
Holcomb, L.↗