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At least 181 records · Page 10

PTTI applications to deep space navigation

Radio metric deep space navigation relies nearly exclusively upon coherent, two way, Doppler and ranging for all precise applications. These data types and the navigational accuracies they can produce are reviewed. The deployment of hydrogen maser frequency standards and the development of Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI) systems within the Deep Space Network are used in the development of non-coherent, one way data forms that promise much greater inherent navigational accuracy. The underlying structure between each data class and clock performance is charted. VLBI observations of the natural radio sources are the planned instrument for the synchronization task. This method and a navigational scheme using differential measurements between the spacecraft and nearby quasars are described.

Curkendall, D. W.↗

CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE FOR SPACE DATA SYSTEMS (CCSDS) WHITE PAPER ON THE USE OF BUNDLE PROTOCOL (BP) VERSION 7

This export is a technical white paper that recommends what is necessary to create a version (V7) DTN specification for the Consultative Committee for Space Data Systems (CCSDS) blue book and is based on IETF RFC BPBis.v26 (Note the original CCSDS standard as IRTF 5050). The considerations in this document follow the current CCSDS specification 734.2-B-1 (​https://public.ccsds.org/Pubs/734x2b1.pdf​) and is consistent with its intent and level of service. In it, are identified areas requiring updates and specification items that are essential to meet current minimums of capability.

Delay Tolerant Networking↗

CCSDS BP V7 Bluebook Recommendation

This export is a CCSDS presentation that recommends what is necessary to create a version (V7) DTN specification for the Consultative Committee for Space Data Systems (CCSDS) blue book and is based on IETF RFC BPBis.v26 (Note the original CCSDS standard as IRTF 5050). The considerations in this presentation follow the current CCSDS specification 734.2-B-1 (​https://public.ccsds.org/Pubs/734x2b1.pdf​) and is consistent with its intent and level of service. In it, are identified areas requiring updates and specification items that are essential to meet current minimums of capability.

Delay Tolerant Networking↗

A flexible CAMAC based data system for Space Shuttle scientific instruments

An effort has been made within NASA to produce a low-cost modular system for implementation of Shuttle payloads based on the CAMAC standards for packaging and data transfer. A key element of such a modular system is a means for controlling the data system, collecting and processing the data for transmission to the ground, and issuing commands to the instrument either from the ground or based on the data collected. A description is presented of such a means based on a network of digital processors and CAMAC crate controllers, which allows for the implementation of instruments ranging from those requiring only a single CAMAC crate of functional modules and no data processing to ones requiring multiple crates and multiple data processors.

Ehrmann, C. H.↗

Results of On-Orbit Testing of an Extra-Vehicular Infrared Camera Inspection System

This paper will discuss an infrared camera inspection system that has been developed to allow astronauts to demonstrate the ability to inspect reinforced carbon-carbon (RCC) components on the space shuttle as part of extra-vehicular activities (EVA) while in orbit. Presented will be the performance of the EVA camera system coupled with solar heating for inspection of damaged RCC specimens and NDE standards. The data presented was acquired during space shuttle flights STS-121 and STS-115 as well during a staged EVA from the ISS. The EVA camera system was able to detect flatbottom holes as small as 2.54cm in diameter with 25% material loss. Results obtained are shown to be comparable to ground-based thermal inspections performed in the laboratory using the same camera and simulated solar heating. Data on both the time history of the specimen temperature and the ability of the inspection system to image defects due to impact will likewise be presented.

Howell, Patricia A.↗

Readout of DSN Monitor Data

DSN Monitor Data Reader is a computer program that, as its name suggests, reads file of monitor data from the Deep Space Network (DSN). The monitor data constitute information on the status and performance of tracking, telemetry, command, and pointing equipment at the DSN antennas. The DSN has recently introduced a new, more advanced monitor data format, denoted 0158-Mon, that is based on the standard formatted data unit (SFDU) and compressed header data objects (CHDO) of the Consultative Committee for Space Data Systems (CCSDS). The 0158-Mon data format is a very flexible generic format that provides for specific variable-length formats and for self-identifying parameters that obviate the proprietary NASA Communications (NASCOM) bit-packed formats of the past. The monitor data SFDUs are also encapsulated in Standard DSN Blocks and routed to DSN customers for processing at their local mission control centers. This program helps a DSN customer to read and parse the monitor data to assess the statuses of the DSN stations in support of spacecraft flight operations.

Levister, Katherine↗

An avionics scenario and command model description for Space Generic Open Avionics Architecture (SGOAA)

This paper presents a description of a model for a space vehicle operational scenario and the commands for avionics. This model will be used in developing a dynamic architecture simulation model using the Statemate CASE tool for validation of the Space Generic Open Avionics Architecture (SGOAA). The SGOAA has been proposed as an avionics architecture standard to NASA through its Strategic Avionics Technology Working Group (SATWG) and has been accepted by the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) for conversion into an SAE Avionics Standard. This architecture was developed for the Flight Data Systems Division (FDSD) of the NASA Johnson Space Center (JSC) by the Lockheed Engineering and Sciences Company (LESC), Houston, Texas. This SGOAA includes a generic system architecture for the entities in spacecraft avionics, a generic processing external and internal hardware architecture, and a nine class model of interfaces. The SGOAA is both scalable and recursive and can be applied to any hierarchical level of hardware/software processing systems.

Stovall, John R.↗

CCSDS File Delivery Protocol (CFDP): Why it's Useful and How it Works

Reliable delivery of data products is often required across space links. For example, a NASA mission will require reliable delivery of images produced by an on-board detector. Many missions have their own (unique) way of accomplishing this, requiring custom software. Many missions also require manual operations (e.g. the telemetry receiver software keeps track of what data is missing, and a person manually inputs the appropriate commands to request retransmissions). The Consultative Committee for Space Data Systems (CCSDS) developed the CCSDS File Delivery Protocol (CFDP) specifically for this situation. CFDP is an international standard communication protocol that provides reliable delivery of data products. It is designed for use across space links. It will work well if run over the widely used CCSDS Telemetry and Telecommand protocols. However, it can be run over any protocol, and will work well as long as the underlying protocol delivers a reasonable portion of the data. The CFDP receiver will autonomously determine what data is missing, and request retransmissions as needed. The CFDP sender will autonomously perform the requested transmissions. When the entire data product is delivered, the CFDP receiver will let the CFDP sender know that the transaction has completed successfully. The result is that custom software becomes standard, and manual operations become autonomous. This paper will consider various ways of achieving reliable file delivery, explain why CFDP is the optimal choice for use over space links, explain how the core protocol works, and give some guidance on how to best utilize CFDP within various mission scenarios. It will also touch on additional features of CFDP, as well as other uses for CFDP (e.g. the loading of on-board memory and tables).

Ray, Tim↗

A model for rotorcraft flying qualities studies

This paper outlines the development of a mathematical model that is expected to be useful for rotorcraft flying qualities research. A computer model is presented that can be applied to a range of different rotorcraft configurations. The algorithm computes vehicle trim and a linear state-space model of the aircraft. The trim algorithm uses non linear optimization theory to solve the nonlinear algebraic trim equations. The linear aircraft equations consist of an airframe model and a flight control system dynamic model. The airframe model includes coupled rotor and fuselage rigid body dynamics and aerodynamics. The aerodynamic model for the rotors utilizes blade element theory and a three state dynamic inflow model. Aerodynamics of the fuselage and fuselage empennages are included. The linear state-space description for the flight control system is developed using standard block diagram data.

Mittal, Manoj↗

Field-Programmable Gate Array Implementation of a Single Photon-Counting Receive Modem

We present a field-programmable gate array (FPGA) implementation of a single photon-counting receive modem for a pulse position modulated signal. The modem is compliant with the Consultative Committee for Space Data Systems (CCSDS) High Photon Efficiency (HPE) Optical Communications Coding and Synchronization standard and is capable of a maximum data rate of 267 Mbps. The system is designed on a commercial off-the-shelf FPGA platform and utilizes superconducting nanowire single photon counting detectors, analog to digital converters (ADC s) to sample the detectors, and two FPGAs. Symbol timing recovery, photon counting, convolutional deinterleaving, and codeword synchronization areis performed in the first FPGA. The second FPGA performs iterative decoding on each codeword of the serially concatenated pulse position modulated (SCPPM) signal. A digital filter is included to compensate for timing jitter of the detector, and the decoder throughput can be modified adjusted through reconfigurable parallelization. The decoder also implements a resource-efficient, algorithmic polynomial interleaver and deinterleaver. Both FPGAs can be reconfigured to switch between pulse position modulation (PPM)-16 and PPM-32 with code rates 1/3, 1/2, and 2/3. In this paper, we describe the receiver architecture and FPGA implementation of the timing recovery loop and SCPPM decoder, FPGA utilization for the different modes, and receive modem characterization test results.

Field-programmable Gate Array↗

Real-Time Optical Receiver Decoder Architecture Changes for High-Speed Modes

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) at Glenn Research Center (GRC) has developed an optical communications transmitter and receiver using Commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) components. The goal of this project is to become fully compliant with Consultative Committee for Space Data Systems (CCSDS) High Photon Efficiency (HPE) Optical Communications Coding and Synchronization standard. The receive modem’s decoder has been modified using shift registers to enable the decoding of higher data rate pulse-position modulation (PPM) 4 and PPM-8 signals. PPM-4 and PPM-8 is then verified by comparing the codeword error rate (CWER) of a hardware implementation to a software simulation. The changes show the capability to decode PPM-4 and PPM-8 for a single decoder. This memorandum details the changes made, the performance achieved with the changes, and necessary future work.

PPM↗

Linear system identification via an asymptotically stable observer

This paper presents a formulation for identification of linear multivariable systems from single or multiple sets of input-output data. The system input-output relationship is expressed in terms of an observer, which is made asymptotically stable by an embedded eigenvalue assignment procedure. The prescribed eigenvalues for the observer may be real, complex, mixed real and complex, or zero. In this formulation, the Markov parameters of the observer are identified from input-output data. The Markov parameters of the actual system are then recovered from those of the observer, and used to obtain a state space model of the system by standard realization techniques. The basic mathematical formulation is derived, and numerical examples using simulated noise-free data are presented to illustrate the proposed method.

Phan, Minh↗

The CCSDS return all frames Space Link Extension service

Existing Consultative Committee for Space Data Systems (CCSDS) Recommendations for Telemetry Channel Coding, Packet Telemetry, Advanced Orbiting Systems, and Telecommand have facilitated cross-support between Agencies by standardizing the link between spacecraft and ground terminal. CCSDS is currently defining a set of Space Link Extension (SLE) services that will enable remote science and mission operations facilities to access the ground termination of the Space Link services in a standard manner. The first SLE service to be defined is the Return All Frames (RAF) service. The RAF service delivers all CCSDS link-layer frames received on a single space link physical channel. The service provides both on-line and off-line data transfer modes to accommodate the variety of access methods typical of space mission operations. This paper describes the RAF service as of the Summer of 1994. It characterizes the behavior of the service as seen across the interface between the user and the service and gives an overview of the interactions involved in setting up and operating the service in a cross-support environment.

Uhrig, Hans↗

Designing a Distributed Space Systems Simulation in Accordance with the Simulation Interoperability Standards Organization (SISO)

Simulations are essential for engineering design. These virtual realities provide characteristic data to scientists and engineers in order to understand the details and complications of the desired mission. A standard development simulation package known as Trick is used in developing a source code to model a component (federate in HLA terms). The runtime executive is integrated into an HLA based distributed simulation. TrickHLA is used to extend a Trick simulation for a federation execution, develop a source code for communication between federates, as well as foster data input and output. The project incorporates international cooperation along with team collaboration. Interactions among federates occur throughout the simulation, thereby relying on simulation interoperability. Communication through the semester went on between participants to figure out how to create this data exchange. The NASA intern team is designing a Lunar Rover federate and a Lunar Shuttle federate. The Lunar Rover federate supports transportation across the lunar surface and is essential for fostering interactions with other federates on the lunar surface (Lunar Shuttle, Lunar Base Supply Depot and Mobile ISRU Plant) as well as transporting materials to the desired locations. The Lunar Shuttle federate transports materials to and from lunar orbit. Materials that it takes to the supply depot include fuel and cargo necessary to continue moon-base operations. This project analyzes modeling and simulation technologies as well as simulation interoperability. Each team from participating universities will work on and engineer their own federate(s) to participate in the SISO Spring 2011 Workshop SIW Smackdown in Boston, Massachusetts. This paper will focus on the Lunar Rover federate.

Cowen, Benjamin↗

Identification of linear systems by an asymptotically stable observer

A formulation is presented for the identification of a linear multivariable system from single or multiple sets of input-output data. The system input-output relationship is expressed in terms of an observer, which is made asymptotically stable by an embedded eigenvalue assignment procedure. The prescribed eigenvalues for the observer may be real, complex, mixed real and complex, or zero. In this formulation, the Markov parameters of the observer are identified from input-output data. The Markov parameters of the actual system are then recovered from those of the observer and used to obtain a state space model of the system by standard realization techniques. The basic mathematical formulation is derived, and extensive numerical examples using simulated noise-free data are presented to illustrate the proposed method.

Phan, Minh Q.↗

Recommendations for a service framework to access astronomical archives

There are a large number of astronomical archives and catalogs on-line for network access, with many different user interfaces and features. Some systems are moving towards distributed access, supplying users with client software for their home sites which connects to servers at the archive site. Many of the issues involved in defining a standard framework of services that archive/catalog suppliers can use to achieve a basic level of interoperability are described. Such a framework would simplify the development of client and server programs to access the wide variety of astronomical archive systems. The primary services that are supplied by current systems include: catalog browsing, dataset retrieval, name resolution, and data analysis. The following issues (and probably more) need to be considered in establishing a standard set of client/server interfaces and protocols: Archive Access - dataset retrieval, delivery, file formats, data browsing, analysis, etc.; Catalog Access - database management systems, query languages, data formats, synchronous/asynchronous mode of operation, etc.; Interoperability - transaction/message protocols, distributed processing mechanisms (DCE, ONC/SunRPC, etc), networking protocols, etc.; Security - user registration, authorization/authentication mechanisms, etc.; Service Directory - service registration, lookup, port/task mapping, parameters, etc.; Software - public vs proprietary, client/server software, standard interfaces to client/server functions, software distribution, operating system portability, data portability, etc. Several archive/catalog groups, notably the Astrophysics Data System (ADS), are already working in many of these areas. In the process of developing StarView, which is the user interface to the Space Telescope Data Archive and Distribution Service (ST-DADS), these issues and the work of others were analyzed. A framework of standard interfaces for accessing services on any archive system which would benefit archive user and supplier alike is proposed.

Travisano, J. J.↗

AOCS Performance and Stability Validation for a 160-m Solar Sail with Control-Structure Interactions

Future solar sail missions, such as NASA's Solar Polar Imager Vision, will require sails with dimensions on the order of 50-500 m. We are examining a square sail design with moving mass (trim control mass, TCM) and quadrant rotation primary actuators plus pulsed plasma thrusters (PPTs) at the mast tips for backup attitude control. Quadrant rotation is achieved via roll stabilizer bars (RSB) at the mast tips. At these sizes, given the gossamer nature of the sail supporting structures, flexible modes may be low enough to interact with the control system, especially as these actuators are located on the flexible structure itself and not on the rigid core. This paper develops a practical analysis of the flexible interactions using state-space systems and modal data from finite element models of the system. Torsion and bending of the masts during maneuvers could significantly affect the function of the actuators while activation of the membrane modes could adversely affect the thrust vector direction and magnitude. Analysis of the RSB and TCM dynamics for developing high-fidelity simulations is included. For control analysis of the flexible system, standard finite-element models of the flexible sail body are loaded and the modal data is used to create a modal coordinate state-space system. Key parameters include which modes to include, which nodes are of interest for force inputs and displacement outputs, connecting nodes through which external forces and torques are applied from the flex body to the core, any nominal momentum in the system, and any steady rates. The system is linearized about the nominal attitude and rate. The state-space plant can then be analyzed with a state-space controller, and Bode, Nyquist, step and impulse responses generated. The approach is general for any rigid core with a flexible appendage. This paper develops a compensator for a simple two-mass flex system and extrapolates the results to the solar sail. A finite element model of the 20 m solar sail by ATK Space Systems, recently validated in ground tests, is used to demonstrate the sail analysis approach.

Wie, Bong↗

Comparison of Wind-Tunnel and Flight Unsteady Pressure Stochastic Characteristics for the Space Launch System Artemis I Flight

Over the course of more than ten years, numerous wind-tunnel tests have been conducted to acquire data for characterizing the unsteady pressure environments expected to act on the Space Launch System Block 1 crew launch vehicle during ascent. These wind-tunnel tests of highly-instrumented rigid models are the current standard for the estimation of unsteady environments. Following the successful launch of the Artemis I mission, the extensive flight data acquired can be analyzed to evaluate the accuracy of unsteady pressure environments predicted in subscale wind-tunnel testing in comparison to the flight test data. In this paper, analyses focusing on data from several Space Launch System wind-tunnel tests and the Artemis I flight test are presented, including assessments of test-to-test, tunnel-to-tunnel, and tunnel-to-flight stochastic characteristics and preflight modeling validity based on wind-tunnel testing. In general, the fluctuating pressure environments measured during the several preflight subscale wind-tunnel tests compare favorably and provide relatively accurate estimates of the environments measured during flight. Discrepancies in fluctuating magnitudes, spatial extent of regions of unsteadiness, and narrowband frequency peaks are noted in the multibody region aft of the solid rocket booster forward attachment to the core stage.

wind-tunnel↗