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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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At least 271 records · Page 15
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1992

KUREX-91 - A USSR/US study for global climate processes in steppe vegetation

Researchers use satellite remote sensing of the earth's reflected and emitted radiation as correlated indices of the variables they measure on the ground or within the atmosphere. The Kursk 1991 Experiment (KUREX-91) was conducted to develop capabilities for monitoring global change, and to understand how the earth's land-surface vegetation and atmospheric boundary layer interact. The experiment enabled scientific interactions between the international participants, and comparisons of instruments and data. Intensive ground measurements were coordinated with helicopter, aircraft and satellite data acquisitions.

Deering, Donald W.↗
NASA NTRS1994

Small business innovation research program solicitation

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration invites eligible small business concerns to submit Phase 1 proposals for its 1994 Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program, which is described in this twelfth annual NASA SBIR Program Solicitation. The 1994 solicitation period for Phase 1 proposals begins April 4, 1994 and ends June 15, 1994. Eligible firms with research or research and development capabilities (R/R&D) in any of the listed topic and subtopic areas are encouraged to participate. Through SBIR, NASA seeks innovative concepts addressing the program needs described in the SBIR solicitation subtopics and offering commercial application potential. This document contains program background information, outlines eligibility requirements for SBIR participants, describes the three SBIR program phases, and provides the information qualified offerors need to prepare and submit responsive proposals.

Source record↗
NASA NTRS1995

PTTI applications at the limits of GPS

Canadian plans for precise time and time interval services are examined in the light of GPS capabilities developed for geodesy. We present our experience in establishing and operating a geodetic type GPS station in a time laboratory setting, and show sub-nanosecond residuals for time transfer between geodetic sites. We present our approach to establishing realistic standard uncertainties for short-term frequency calibration services over time intervals of hours, and for longer-term frequency dissemination at better than the 10(exp -15) level of accuracy.

Douglas, Rob J.↗
NASA NTRS1996

Internal Temperature Control For Vibration Testers

Vibration test fixtures with internal thermal-transfer capabilities developed. Made of aluminum for rapid thermal transfer. Small size gives rapid response to changing temperatures, with better thermal control. Setup quicker and internal ducting facilitates access to parts being tested. In addition, internal flows smaller, so less energy consumed in maintaining desired temperature settings.

Dean, Richard J.↗
NASA NTRS1998

X-Ray Spectroscopic Laboratory Experiments In Support of the NASA X-Ray Astronomy Flight Program

During the 1997 performance period, our work focused on the L-shell X-ray emission from highly charged iron ions in the 10-18 A region. Details of our accomplishments in 1997 are presented in the following. We start by describing the laboratory measurements made and their impact on the X-ray flight program and conclude by an overview of new instrumental capabilities developed for uses in the coming year.

Kahn, Steven M.↗
NASA NTRS1999

Mars Observer Propulsion and Pyrotechnics Corrective Actions Test Program Blanket Release

The Mars Observer Propulsion and Pyrotechnic Corrective Actions Test Program has been in progress at the NASA White Sands Test Facility since 1995. This program has developed capabilities to accurately characterize pyrovalve hazards and has established corrective actions that arc helping to preclude loss of spacecraft due to pyrovalve and propellant interaction. Rather than wait for conclusion of the test program, significant rest results, findings, and safety recommendations have been and will continue to be released soon after they became available to meet needs of near-term NASA and commercial space programs. This release will cover approximately three to five papers per year until program end.

Saulsberry, Regor L.↗
NASA NTRS2000

Space Solar Power Multi-body Dynamics and Controls, Concepts for the Integrated Symmetrical Concentrator Configuration

Orbiting space solar power systems are currently being investigated for possible flight in the time frame of 2015-2020 and later. Such space solar power (SSP) satellites are required to be extremely large in order to make practical the process of collection, conversion to microwave radiation, and reconversion to electrical power at earth stations or at remote locations in space. These large structures are expected to be very flexible presenting unique problems associated with their dynamics and control. The purpose of this project is to apply the expanded TREETOPS multi-body dynamics analysis computer simulation program (with expanded capabilities developed in the previous activity) to investigate the control problems associated with the integrated symmetrical concentrator (ISC) conceptual SSP system. SSP satellites are, as noted, large orbital systems having many bodies (perhaps hundreds) with flexible arrays operating in an orbiting environment where the non-uniform gravitational forces may be the major load producers on the structure so that a high fidelity gravity model is required. The current activity arises from our NRA8-23 SERT proposal. Funding, as a supplemental selection, has been provided by NASA with reduced scope from that originally proposed.

Glaese, John R.↗
NASA NTRS1999

NASA Headquarters/Kennedy Space Center: Organization and Small Spacecraft Launch Services

The objectives of the Kennedy Space Center's (KSC) Expendable Launch Vehicles (ELV) Program are to provide safe, reliable, cost effective ELV launches, maximize customer satisfaction, and perform advanced payload processing capability development. Details are given on the ELV program organization, products and services, foreign launch vehicle policy, how to get a NASA launch service, and some of the recent NASA payloads.

Sierra, Albert↗
NASA NTRS1997

A Generative Control Capability for a Model-based Executive

This paper describes Burton, a core element of a new generation of goal-directed model-based autonomous executives. This executive makes extensive use of component-based declarative models to analyze novel situations and generate novel control actions both at the goal and hardware levels. It uses an extremely efficient online propositional inference engine to efficiently determine likely states consistent with current observations and optimal target states that achieve high level goals. It incorporates a flexible generative control sequencing algorithm within the reactive loop to bridge the gap between current and target states. The system is able to detect and avoid damaging and irreversible situations, After every control action it uses its model and sensors to detect anomalous situations and immediately take corrective action. Efficiency is achieved through a series of model compilation and online policy construction methods, and by exploiting general conventions of hardware design that permit a divide and conquer approach to planning. The paper presents a formal characterization of Burton's capability, develops efficient algorithms, and reports on experience with the implementation in the domain of spacecraft autonomy. Burton is being incorporated as one of the key elements of the Remote Agent core autonomy architecture for Deep Space One, the first spacecraft for NASA's New Millenium program.

Williams, Brian C.↗
NASA NTRS2002

Cryogenic Reflectance Spectroscopy in Support of Planetary Missions

Present understanding of planetary composition is based primarily on remotely-sensed data, and in particular upon ultraviolet, visible, and infrared spectroscopy. Spectra acquired by telescopic and spacecraft instruments are compared to laboratory measurements of pure materials in order to identify surface components based on characteristic absorption features. Cryogenic spectral measurements are necessary for the study of worlds beyond the Earth's orbit. While some materials exhibit only small spectral changes as a function of temperature, many others are strongly temperature-dependent. For example, hydrated salts exhibit different spectral behavior under conditions appropriate to Europa than at terrestrial temperatures. The icy satellites of the outer solar system contain significant quantities of volatile ices which do not even exist at standard temperature and pressure (STP). A comprehensive spectral database of ices and minerals covering a wide temperature range will have applications ranging from the study of comets and Kuiper Belt objects to outer planet satellites and the polar regions of Mars. Efforts are presently underway at NASA-Ames to develop capabilities which will contribute to such a database. As spacecraft instruments feature increasing spatial and spectral resolution, appropriate laboratory reference spectra become increasingly critical to accurate interpretation of the spacecraft data.

Dalton, J. B.↗
NASA NTRS2003

The Neurolab Spacelab Mission: Neuroscience Research in Space: Results from the STS-90, Neurolab Spacelab Mission

Neurolab (STS-90) represents a major scientific achievement that built upon the knowledge and capabilities developed during the preceding 15 successful Spacelab module missions. NASA proposed a dedicated neuroscience research flight in response to a Presidential declaration that the 1990's be the Decade of the Brain. Criteria were established for selecting research proposals in partnership with the National Institutes of Health (NM), the National Science Foundation, the Department of Defense, and a number of the International Space Agencies. The resulting Announcement of Opportunity for Neurolab in 1993 resulted in 172 proposals from scientists worldwide. After an NIH-managed peer review, NASA ultimately selected 26 proposals for flight on the Neurolab mission.

Buckey, Jay C., Jr.↗
NASA NTRS2003

Electrostatic Return of Contaminants

A Model has been developed capable of calculating the electrostatic return of spacecraft-emitted molecules that are ionized and attracted back to the spacecraft by the spacecraft electric potential on its surfaces. The return of ionized contaminant molecules to charged spacecraft surfaces is very important to all altitudes. It is especially important at geosynchronous and interplanetary environments, since it may be the only mechanism by which contaminants can degrade a surface. This model is applicable to all altitudes and spacecraft geometries. In addition to results of the model will be completed to cover a wide range of potential space systems.

Rantanen, R.↗
NASA NTRS2004

MSFC Propulsion Research Center Overview

The MSFC Propulsion Research Center (PRC) is housed in a new research laboratory and provides research and technology development capabilities in several areas related to space propulsion. These areas include advanced chemical propulsion and high power propulsion for in-space applications. The research directions and capabilities, including a description of the facilities, of the PRC will be discussed.

Schafer, Charles↗
NASA NTRS2001

The NASA astrobiology program

The new discipline of astrobiology addresses fundamental questions about life in the universe: "Where did we come from?" "Are we alone in the universe?" "What is our future beyond the Earth?" Developing capabilities in biotechnology, informatics, and space exploration provide new tools to address these old questions. The U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has encouraged this new discipline by organizing workshops and technical meetings, establishing a NASA Astrobiology Institute, providing research funds to individual investigators, ensuring that astrobiology goals are incorporated in NASA flight missions, and initiating a program of public outreach and education. Much of the initial effort by NASA and the research community was focused on determining the technical content of astrobiology. This paper discusses the initial answer to the question "What is astrobiology?" as described in the NASA Astrobiology Roadmap.

Extraterrestrial Environment↗
NASA NTRS2004

National Aeronautics and Space Administration Exploration Systems Interim Strategy

Contents include the following: 1. The Exploration Systems Mission Directorate within NASA. Enabling the Vision for Space Exploration. The Role of the Directorate. 2. Strategic Context and Approach. Corporate Focus. Focused, Prioritized Requirements. Spiral Transformation. Management Rigor. 3. Achieving Directorate Objectives. Strategy to Task Process. Capability Development. Research and Technology Development. 4. Beyond the Horizon. Appendices.

Source record↗
NASA NTRS2007

Preliminary Investigation of Curved Liner Sample in the NASA LaRC Curved Duct Test Rig

This viewgraph presentation reviews the preliminary investigation of the curved liner sample in the NASA LaRC Curved Duct Test Rig (CDTR). It reviews the purpose of the Curved Duct Test Rig. Its purpose is to develop capability to investigate acoustic and aerodynamic properties in ducts. It has several features to accomplish that purpose: (1) Large scale (2) Flow rate to M = 0.275 (3) Higher order mode control (4) Curved flow path (5) Adaptable test section (6) Flexible test configurations. The liner has minimal effect on turbulence or boundary layer growth in duct. The curved duct sample attenuation is affected by mode scattering. In conclusion, the CDTR is valid tool for aerodynamic and acoustic evaluation of duct treatment

Gerhold, Carl H.↗
NASA NTRS2008

Adaptive Flight Control Research at NASA

A broad overview of current adaptive flight control research efforts at NASA is presented, as well as some more detailed discussion of selected specific approaches. The stated objective of the Integrated Resilient Aircraft Control Project, one of NASA s Aviation Safety programs, is to advance the state-of-the-art of adaptive controls as a design option to provide enhanced stability and maneuverability margins for safe landing in the presence of adverse conditions such as actuator or sensor failures. Under this project, a number of adaptive control approaches are being pursued, including neural networks and multiple models. Validation of all the adaptive control approaches will use not only traditional methods such as simulation, wind tunnel testing and manned flight tests, but will be augmented with recently developed capabilities in unmanned flight testing.

Motter, Mark A.↗
NASA NTRS2008

Analysis of a Dynamic Multi-Track Airway Concept for Air Traffic Management

The Dynamic Multi-track Airways (DMA) Concept for Air Traffic Management (ATM) proposes a network of high-altitude airways constructed of multiple, closely spaced, parallel tracks designed to increase en-route capacity in high-demand airspace corridors. Segregated from non-airway operations, these multi-track airways establish high-priority traffic flow corridors along optimal routes between major terminal areas throughout the National Airspace System (NAS). Air traffic controllers transition aircraft equipped for DMA operations to DMA entry points, the aircraft use autonomous control of airspeed to fly the continuous-airspace airway and achieve an economic benefit, and controllers then transition the aircraft from the DMA exit to the terminal area. Aircraft authority within the DMA includes responsibility for spacing and/or separation from other DMA aircraft. The DMA controller is responsible for coordinating the entry and exit of traffic to and from the DMA and for traffic flow management (TFM), including adjusting DMA routing on a daily basis to account for predicted weather and wind patterns and re-routing DMAs in real time to accommodate unpredicted weather changes. However, the DMA controller is not responsible for monitoring the DMA for traffic separation. This report defines the mature state concept, explores its feasibility and performance, and identifies potential benefits. The report also discusses (a) an analysis of a single DMA, which was modeled within the NAS to assess capacity and determine the impact of a single DMA on regional sector loads and conflict potential; (b) a demand analysis, which was conducted to determine likely city-pair candidates for a nationwide DMA network and to determine the expected demand fraction; (c) two track configurations, which were modeled and analyzed for their operational characteristic; (d) software-prototype airborne capabilities developed for DMA operations research; (e) a feasibility analysis of key attributes in the concept design; (f) a near-term, transitional application of the DMA concept as a proving ground for new airborne technologies; and (g) conclusions. The analysis indicates that the operational feasibility of a national DMA network faces significant challenges, especially for interactions between DMAs and between DMA and non-DMA traffic. Provided these issues are resolved, sectors near DMAs could experience significant local capacity benefits.

Wing, David J.↗