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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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NASA NTRS2014

The Komplast Experiment: Space Environmental Effects after 12 Years in LEO (and Counting)

The Komplast materials experiment was designed by the Khrunichev Space Center, together with other Russian scientific institutes, and has been carried out by Mission Control Moscow since 1998. The purpose is to study the effect of the low earth orbit (LEO) environment on exposed samples of various spacecraft materials. The Komplast experiment began with the launch of the first International Space Station (ISS) module on November 20, 1998. Two of eight experiment panels were retrieved during Russian extravehicular activity in February 2011 after 12 years of LEO exposure, and were subsequently returned to Earth by Space Shuttle "Discovery" on the STS-133/ULF-5 mission. The retrieved panels contained an experiment to detect micrometeoroid and orbital debris (MMOD) impacts, radiation sensors, a temperature sensor, several pieces of electrical cable, both carbon composite and adhesive-bonded samples, and many samples made from elastomeric and fluoroplastic materials. Our investigation is complete and a summary of the results obtained from this uniquely long-duration exposure experiment will be presented.

Golden, J. L.↗

NASA NTRS1989

Evolution of EVA Capabilities for Space Station Construction and Maintenance: Soviet and American Experience

The evolution of both Soviet and American Extravehicular Activity (EVA) is discussed. A qualitative review evaluates each EVA with respect to risk, criticality, complexity, and duration. Graphics summarizing increase and rate of increase in productivity emphasize related advancements in the space suits, EVA tools, and equipment technology. Specifics that demonstrated ingenuity in accomplishing unplanned activities which required man's direct manipulation of large payloads and structures are presented. Accumulated EVA successes allow an effective, flexible, recommended approach for construction and maintenance of Space Station to be given in conclusion.

Cathy D Kramer↗

NASA NTRS1983

Dynamics and control of a Shuttle attached antenna experiment

Study results obtained to date identify the requirements for a large space system flight experiment. This paper considers the dynamics and control of an offset feed wrap-rib antenna attached to the Shuttle for such an experiment. Results reported in this paper are primarily based on the analysis and simulation of the combined Shuttle and antenna flexible dynamics model, and the Shuttle Vernier Reaction Control Subsystem. These results establish the technical feasibility of the Shuttle attached antenna flight experiment. Static and dynamic disturbances examined do not cause significant dynamic interactions to the experiment. Shuttle Vernier jets can be used for control purpose or as controlled excitation sources for experiment. Interface between the Shuttle and the antenna can be rigid or actively decoupled depending on the experiment objective. Key large space systems control technologies such as distributed sensing and actuation, system identification, figure estimation and control, and control for slew or reconfiguration can be validated with the experiment configuration described in this paper.

Wang, S. J.↗

NASA NTRS1987

Thermally Activated Driver

Space-qualified, precise, large-force, thermally activated driver (TAD) developed for use in space on astro-physics experiment to measure abundance of rare actinide-group elements in cosmic rays. Actinide cosmic rays detected using thermally activated driver as heart of event-thermometer (ET) system. Thermal expansion and contraction of silicone oil activates driver. Potential applications in fluid-control systems where precise valve controls are needed.

Kinard, William H.↗

NASA NTRS2002

First Materials Science Research Facility Rack Capabilities and Design Features

The first Materials Science Research Rack (MSRR-1) is the primary facility for U.S. sponsored materials science research on the International Space Station. MSRR-1 is contained in an International Standard Payload Rack (ISPR) equipped with the Active Rack Isolation System (ARIS) for the best possible microgravity environment. MSRR-1 will accommodate dual Experiment Modules and provide simultaneous on-orbit processing operations capability. The first Experiment Module for the MSRR-1, the Materials Science Laboratory (MSL), is an international cooperative activity between NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) and the European Space Agency's (ESA) European Space Research and Technology Center (ESTEC). The MSL Experiment Module will accommodate several on-orbit exchangeable experiment-specific Module Inserts which provide distinct thermal processing capabilities. Module Inserts currently planned for the MSL are a Quench Module Insert, Low Gradient Furnace, and a Solidification with Quench Furnace. The second Experiment Module for the MSRR-1 configuration is a commercial device supplied by MSFC's Space Products Development (SPD) Group. Transparent furnace assemblies include capabilities for vapor transport processes and annealing of glass fiber preforms. This Experiment Module is replaceable on-orbit. This paper will describe facility capabilities, schedule to flight and research opportunities.

Cobb, S.↗

NASA NTRS2005

Welding in Space: Lessons Learned for Future In Space Repair Development

Welds have been made in the harsh environment of space only twice in the history of manned space flight. The United States conducted the M5 12 experiment on Skylab and the former Soviet Union conducted an Extravehicular Activity. Both experiments demonstrated electron beam welding. A third attempt to demonstrate and advance space welding was made by the Marshall Space Flight Center in the 90's but the experiment was demanifested as a Space Shuttle payload. This presentation summarizes the lessons learned from these three historical experiences in the areas of safety, design, operations and implementation so that welding in space can become an option for in space repair applications.

Russell, C. K.↗

NASA NTRS2001

STS-105 Post-Flight

The crewmembers of STS-105, Commander Scott Horowitz, Pilot Fred Sturckow, and Mission Specialists Dan Barry and Pat Forrester, narrate this video as footage from the mission is seen, starting with the boarding and launch of Discovery. Various on-orbit activities are shown, including on-orbit activities (H Reflex Experiment), the rendezvous and docking of Discovery with the International Space Station (ISS), the transfer of materials from the Multipurpose Logistics Module, extravehicular activities, and the exchange of resident ISS crews. The video ends with Discovery undocking from the ISS and the landing of the orbiter.

Source record↗

NASA NTRS1980

Astronaut training manual

Scientific information from previous space flights, space medicine, exercise physiology, and sports medicine was used to prepare a physical fitness manual suitable for use by members of the NASA astronaut population. A variety of scientifically valid exercise programs and activities suitable for the development of physical fitness are provided. Programs, activities, and supportive scientific data are presented in a concise, easy to read format so as to permit the user to select his or her mode of training with confidence and devote time previously spent experimenting with training routines to preparation for space flight. The programs and activities included were tested and shown to be effective and enjoyable.

Coleman, E. A.↗

NASA NTRS1973

Plasma physics and environmental perturbation laboratory

Current work aimed at identifying the active magnetospheric experiments that can be performed from the Space Shuttle, and designing a laboratory to carry out these experiments is described. The laboratory, known as the PPEPL (Plasma Physics and Environmental Perturbation Laboratory) consists of 35-ft pallet of instruments connected to a 25-ft pressurized control module. The systems deployed from the pallet are two 50-m booms, two subsatellites, a high-power transmitter, a multipurpose accelerator, a set of deployable canisters, and a gimbaled instrument platform. Missions are planned to last seven days, during which two scientists will carry out experiments from within the pressurized module. The type of experiments to be performed are outlined.

Vogl, J. L.↗

NASA NTRS1991

Experimental demonstration of a classical approach for flexible space structure control: NASA CSI testbeds

The results of active control experiments performed for the Mini-Mast truss structure are presented. The primary research objectives were: (1) to develop active structural control concepts and/or techniques; (2) to verify the concept of robust non-minimum-phase compensation for a certain class of non-colocated structural control problems through ground experiments; (3) to verify a 'dipole' concept for persistent disturbance rejection control of flexible structures; and (4) to identify CSI (Control Structure Interaction) issues and areas of emphasis for the next generation of large flexible spacecraft. The classical SISO (Single Input and Single Output) control design approach was employed.

Bond, Wie↗

NASA NTRS1992

Shuttle Orbiter Environmental Control and Life Support System - Flight experience

This paper describes the overall design of the Shuttle Orbiter Environmental Control and Life Support System (ECLSS). The Orbiter ECLSS consists of six major subsystems which accomplish the functions of providing a habitable pressurized cabin atmosphere and removing gaseous contaminants, controlling the temperature of the cabin and vehicle components within acceptable ranges, providing fire detection and suppression capability, maintaining a supply of potable water, collecting and removing metabolic waste materials, and providing utilities and access for extravehicular activity. The operational experience is summarized for the 45 space flights accomplished to date during which the Orbiter ECLSS has been demonstrated to perform reliably, and has proved to have the flexibility to meet a variety of mission needs. Significant flight problems are described, along with the design or procedure changes which were implemented to resolve the problems.

Winkler, H. E.↗

NASA NTRS1994

Mini All-purpose Satellite Control Center (MASCC)

A new generation of Mini All-purpose Satellite Control Centers (MASCC) has been developed by CNES (F). They turn out to be easily adaptable to different kinds of satellites, both Low Earth Orbital or Geostationary. The features of MASCC allow both standard satellite control activities, and checking of passengers experiments hosted on a space platform. In the different environments in which it may be used, MASCC provides standard broadcasting of telemetry parameters on animated synoptics (curves, bar graphs, alphanumeric displays, ...), which turns out to be a very useful and ergonomic medium for operational teams or satellite specialists. Special care has been taken during the MASCC development about two points: - automation of all routine tasks, allowing automated operation, and limiting human commitment to system supervision and decision making, - software adaptability. To reach these two main objectives, the MASCC design provides:(1) a simple, robust and flexible hardware architecture, based on powerful distributed workstations; and (2) a table-driven software architecture, easily adapted to various operational needs. Satellite characteristics are described in a central Data Base. Hence, the processing of telemetry and commands is largely independent from the satellite itself. In order to validate these capabilities, the MASCC has been customized to several types of satellites and orbital platforms: (1) SPOT4, the French new generation of remote sensing satellites; (2) TELECOM2, the French geostationary TV and telecommunication satellite; and (3) MIR, the Russian orbital platform. MASCC development has been completed by the third quarter of 1993. This paper will provide first a description of the MASCC basic functions, of its hardware and software design. It will then detail the increased automation capability, along with the easy adaptation of the MASCC to new satellites with minimal software modifications.

Zaouche, Gerard↗

NASA NTRS2002

The Kinetics of Crystallization of Colloids and Proteins: A Light Scattering Study

Hard-sphere colloidal systems serve as model systems for aggregation, nucleation, crystallization and gelation as well as interesting systems in their own right. Similar colloidal systems have important technological uses such as paints and pharmaceuticals. There is a strong current interest in using colloidal systems to form photonic crystals. A number of colloidal experiments have flown on the space shuttle and a suite of experiments is currently active on the ISS A major scientific thrust of NASA's microgravity research is the crystallization of proteins for structural determination. The crystallization of proteins is a complicated process that requires a great deal of trial and error experimentation. In spite of a great deal of work, "better" protein crystals cannot always be grown in microgravity and conditions for crystallization are not well understood. Crystallization of colloidal systems interacting as hard spheres and with an attractive potential induced by entropic forces have been studied in a series of static light scattering experiments. Additionally, aggregation of a protein as a function of pH has been studied using dynamic light scattering.

Jim McClymer↗

NASA NTRS2002

The high-energy proton fluxes in the SAA observed with REM aboard the MIR orbital station

During two years, from November 1994 to 1996, the particle detector REM measured the highly energetic electron and proton environment at the outside of the MIR orbital station. Using mission averaged data we investigate various aspects of the proton fluxes in the SAA. Comparison with the radiation belt model AP8 reveal important differences. c2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.

long duration↗

NASA NTRS1997

Total Dose Testing of a CMOS Charged Particle Spectrometer

A first-generation CMOS Charged Particle Spectrometer chip [1] was designed at JPL for flight on the STRV-2 spacecraft. These devices will collect electron and proton spectra in low Earth orbit as part of an experiment to demonstrate Active Pixel Sensor (APS) technology in space. This paper presents the results of total dose testing on these chips and, where possible, attempts to extend the results to other Active Pixel Sensors.

CMOS↗

NASA NTRS1987

Active vibration control in microgravity environment

The low gravity environment of the space station is suitable for experiments or manufacturing processes which require near zero gravity. An experiment was fabricated to test the validity of the active control process and to verify the flow and control parameters identified in a theoretical model. Zero gravity is approximated in the horizontal plane using a low friction air bearing table. An analog control system was designed to activate calibrated air jets when displacement of the test mass is sensed. The experiment demonstrates that an air jet control system introduces an effective damping factor to control oscillatory response. The amount of damping as well as the flow parameters, such as pressure drop across the valve and flow rate of air, are verified by the analytical model.

Gerhold, Carl H.↗

NASA NTRS2009

Disruption Tolerant Networking Flight Validation Experiment on NASA's EPOXI Mission

In October and November of 2008, the Jet Propulsion Laboratory installed and tested essential elements of Delay/Disruption Tolerant Networking (DTN) technology on the Deep Impact spacecraft. This experiment, called Deep Impact Network Experiment (DINET), was performed in close cooperation with the EPOXI project which has responsibility for the spacecraft. During DINET some 300 images were transmitted from the JPL nodes to the spacecraft. Then they were automatically forwarded from the spacecraft back to the JPL nodes, exercising DTN's bundle origination, transmission, acquisition, dynamic route computation, congestion control, prioritization, custody transfer, and automatic retransmission procedures, both on the spacecraft and on the ground, over a period of 27 days. All transmitted bundles were successfully received, without corruption. The DINET experiment demonstrated DTN readiness for operational use in space missions. This activity was part of a larger NASA space DTN development program to mature DTN to flight readiness for a wide variety of mission types by the end of 2011. This paper describes the DTN protocols, the flight demo implementation, validation metrics which were created for the experiment, and validation results.

DTN↗

NASA NTRS2010

Developing Systems Engineering Skills Through NASA Summer Intern Project

During the Formulation phases of the NASA Project Life Cycle, communication systems engineers are responsible for designing space communication links and analyzing their performance to ensure that the proposed communication architecture is capable of satisfying high-level mission requirements. Senior engineers with extensive experience in communications systems perform these activities. However, the increasing complexity of space systems coupled with the current shortage of communications systems engineers has led to an urgent need for expedited training of new systems engineers. A pilot program, in which college-bound high school and undergraduate students studying various engineering disciplines are immersed in NASA s systems engineering practices, was conceived out of this need. This rapid summerlong training approach is feasible because of the availability of advanced software and technology tools and the students inherent ability to operate such tools. During this pilot internship program, a team of college-level and recently-hired engineers configured and utilized various software applications in the design and analysis of communication links for a plausible lunar sortie mission. The approach taken was to first design the direct-to-Earth communication links for the lunar mission elements, then to design the links between lunar surface and lunar orbital elements. Based on the data obtained from these software applications, an integrated communication system design was realized and the students gained valuable systems engineering knowledge. This paper describes this approach to rapidly training college-bound high school and undergraduate engineering students from various disciplines in NASA s systems engineering practices and tools. A summary of the potential use of NASA s emerging systems engineering internship program in broader applications is also described.

Bhasin, Kul↗