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At least 325 records · Page 18
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1986

Space station propulsion technology: Space station propulsion system test bed test plan

Testing of the hydrogen/oxygen Space Station Propulsion System will demonstrate the technology readiness for the IOC application. To facilitate early demonstration of this technology and to allow demonstration of maturing technology, this testing will be performed with the components installed on a test bed which simulated the Space Station Structure. The test plan contains a description of the test bed, test objective, instrumentation plan, and controls plan. Each of these is discussed in detail.

Briley, G. L.↗
NASA NTRS1988

Simulation test beds for the space station electrical power system

NASA Lewis Research Center and its prime contractor are responsible for developing the electrical power system on the space station. The power system will be controlled by a network of distributed processors. Control software will be verified, validated, and tested in hardware and software test beds. Current plans for the software test bed involve using real time and nonreal time simulations of the power system. This paper will discuss the general simulation objectives and configurations, control architecture, interfaces between simulator and controls, types of tests, and facility configurations.

Sadler, Gerald G.↗
NASA NTRS1988

Physiology of prolonged bed rest

Bed rest has been a normal procedure used by physicians for centuries in the treatment of injury and disease. Exposure of patients to prolonged bed rest in the horizontal position induces adaptive deconditioning responses. While deconditioning responses are appropriate for patients or test subjects in the horizontal position, they usually result in adverse physiological responses (fainting, muscular weakness) when the patient assume the upright posture. These deconditioning responses result from reduction in hydrostatic pressure within the cardiovascular system, virtual elimination of longitudinal pressure on the long bones, some decrease in total body metabolism, changes in diet, and perhaps psychological impact from the different environment. Almost every system in the body is affected. An early stimulus is the cephalic shift of fluid from the legs which increases atrial pressure and induces compensatory responses for fluid and electrolyte redistribution. Without countermeasures, deterioration in strength and muscle function occurs within 1 wk while increased calcium loss may continue for months. Research should also focus on drug and carbohydrate metabolism.

Greenleaf, J. E.↗
NASA NTRS1988

The WCSAR telerobotics test bed

Component technologies for use in telerobotic systems for space are being developed. As part of this effort, a test bed was established in which these technologies can be verified and integrated into telerobotic systems. The facility consists of two slave industrial robots, an articulated master arm controller, a cartesian coordinate master arm controller, and a variety of sensors, displays and stimulators for feedback to human operators. The controller of one of the slave robots remains in its commercial state, while the controller of the other robot has been replaced with a new controller that achieves high-performance in telerobotic operating modes. A dexterous slave hand which consists of two fingers and a thumb is being developed, along with a number of force-reflecting and non-force reflecting master hands, wrists and arms. A tactile sensing finger tip based on piezo-film technology has been developed, along with tactile stimulators and CAD-based displays for sensory feedback and sensory substitution. The telerobotics test bed and its component technologies are described, as well as the integration of these component technologies into telerobotic systems, and their performance in conjunction with human operators.

Duffie, N.↗
NASA NTRS1988

Simulation test beds for the Space Station electrical power system

NASA Lewis Research Center and its prime contractor are respnsible for developing the electrical power system on the Space Station. The power system will be controlled by a network of distributed processors. Control software will be verified, validated, and tested in hardware and software test beds. Current plans for the software test bed involve using real time and nonreal time simulations of the power system. This paper will discuss the general simulation objectives and configurations, control architecture, interfaces between simulator and controls, types of tests, and facility configurations.

Sadler, Gerald G.↗
NASA NTRS1988

The hemodynamic effects of repeated bed rest exposure

The effects of three 2-week periods of bed rest (with and without isometric/aerobic exercise, and separated by 3-week ambulatory recovery periods) on hemodynamic responses to stepwise application of LBNP (-20 to -40 mm Hg) are investigated experimentally in seven physically active male subjects aged 19-21 years. The data are presented in extensive tables and graphs and characterized in detail. It is found that bed rest produces significant changes in the responses of heart rate and end-diastolic volume index which (1) are greater than can be accounted for by lowered plasma volume, (2) persist during the recovery periods, and (3) do not respond to the exercises employed to prevent deconditioning.

Sandler, Harold↗
NASA NTRS1990

Test Bed For Telerobots

Assembly of electromechanical and electronic equipment (including computers) constitutes test bed for development of advanced robotic systems for remote manipulation. Combines features not found in commercial systems. Its architecture allows easy growth in complexity and level of automation. System national resource for validation of new telerobotic technology. Intended primarily for robots used in outer space, test bed adapted to development of advanced terrestrial telerobotic systems for handling radioactive materials, dangerous chemicals, and explosives.

Matijevic, Jacob R.↗
NASA NTRS1990

Test bed experiments for various telerobotic system characteristics and configurations

Dexterous manipulation and grasping in telerobotic systems depends on the integration of high-performance sensors, displays, actuators and controls into systems in which careful consideration has been given to human perception and tolerance. Research underway at the Wisconsin Center for Space Automation and Robotics (WCSAR) has the objective of enhancing the performance of these systems and their components, and quantifying the effects of the many electrical, mechanical, control, and human factors that affect their performance. This will lead to a fundamental understanding of performance issues which will in turn allow designers to evaluate sensor, actuator, display, and control technologies with respect to generic measures of dexterous performance. As part of this effort, an experimental test bed was developed which has telerobotic components with exceptionally high fidelity in master/slave operation. A Telerobotic Performance Analysis System has also been developed which allows performance to be determined for various system configurations and electro-mechanical characteristics. Both this performance analysis system and test bed experiments are described.

Duffie, Neil A.↗
NASA NTRS1990

Hubble space telescope six-battery test bed

A test bed for a large space power system breadboard for the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) was designed and built to test the system under simulated orbital conditions. A discussion of the data acquisition and control subsystems designed to provide for continuous 24 hr per day operation and a general overview of the test bed is presented. The data acquisition and control subsystems provided the necessary monitoring and protection to assure safe shutdown with protection of test articles in case of loss of power or equipment failure over the life of the test (up to 5 years).

Pajak, J. A.↗
NASA NTRS1989

Work capacity during 30 days of bed rest with isotonic and isokinetic exercise training

Results are presented from a study to determine whether or not short-term variable intensity isotonic and intermittent high-intensity isokinetic short-duration leg exercise is effective for the maintenance of peak O2 (VO2) uptake and muscular strength and endurance, respectively, during 30 days of -6 deg head-down bed rest deconditioning. The results show no significant changes in leg peak torque, leg mean total work, arm total peak torque, or arm mean total work for members of the isotonic, isokinetic, and controls groups. Changes are observed, however, in peak VO2 levels. The results suggest that near-peak variabile intensity, isotonic leg excercise maintains peak VO2 during 30 days of bed rest, while peak intermittent, isokinetic leg excercise protocol does not.

Greenleaf, J. E.↗
NASA NTRS1990

Head-down bed rest impairs vagal baroreflex responses and provokes orthostatic hypotension

The hypothesis that baroreflex malfunction contributes to orthostatic hypotension in microgravity was tested by studying vagally mediated carotid baroreceptor-cardiac reflexes in healthy human subjects before, during, and after 30 days of 6-deg head-down bed rest. The baroreflex response relationships were provoked with ramped neck pressure-suction sequences comprising pressure elevations to 40 mm Hg followed by serial R-wave-triggered 15-mm Hg reductions to -65 mm0 Hg; each R-R interval was plotted as a function of systolic pressure minus the neck chamber pressure applied during the interval. It is shown that head-down bed rest led to an impairment of vagal baroreflex function and that it was associated with an impairment of hemodynamic adjustments to standing, indicating that baroreflex impairment may contribute to orthostatic hypotension observed in spacecrews after a flight.

Convertino, Victor A.↗
NASA NTRS1989

Hormonal regulation of fluid and electrolytes during prolonged bed rest - Implications for microgravity

The results of studies on the physiological changes of body fluids and electrolytes during bed rest with and without exercise training are overviewed to determine the effect of exercise and to assess the role of hormonal regulation in fluid-electrolyte responses to hypogravity. Special attention is given to fluid shifts observed in spacecraft personnel during space missions. It is concluded that, despite an apparent uncoupling of prominent hormonal interactions during bed-rest deconditioning (and, possibly, during microgravity), the exercise-training-induced hypervolemia helps to counter the hypohydrostatic-induced dehydration. Thus, it was found that, after nearly a year of spaceflight during which one cosmonaut exercised for about 4 hr per day, the water balance and physiological functioning were not disturbed significantly.

Greenleaf, John E.↗
NASA NTRS1991

National test bed concept

Information on the National Test Bed concept is given in outline form. Program objectives include the development of a national test bed for propulsion system testing, the efficient utilization of NASA's limited funding for future propulsion system development and sustained flight support, ensuring that adequate test facilities are available within NASA to support future propulsion systems, and the development and maintenance within NASA and the private sector of the technical skills and expertise for future propulsion system development. Proposed actions and programs as well as major milestones are outlined.

Meyer, Roger↗
NASA NTRS1991

Postural responses of head and foot cutaneous microvascular flow and their sensitivity to bed rest

To explore the mechanism for facial puffiness, headache, and nasal congestion associated with microgravity and cephalad fluid shifts, the postural responses of the cutaneous microcirculation (CMC) in the forehead and dorsum of the foot of eight healthy men were studied by changing body position on a tilt table and measuring blood flows with a laser Doppler flowmeter. Increasing arterial pressure in the feet by moving from a -6-deg head-down tilt to a 60-deg head-up posture decreased foot CMC by 46.5 + or - 12.0 percent. Raising arterial pressure in the head increased forehead CMC by 25.5 + or - 0.7 percent (p less than 0.05). To investigate the possibility that these opposite responses could be modified by simulated microgravity, tilt test were repeated after 7 d of -6-deg head-down-tilt bed rest. The responses were not significantly different from those recorded before bed rest. Therefore, CMC in the feet is well regulated to prevent edema when shifting to an upright position, whereas there is less regulation in the head CMC.

Aratow, Michael↗
NASA NTRS1992

Improved Fluidized-Bed Reactor With Horizontal Staging

Design of fluidized-bed reactor containing multiple, horizontally arrayed stages offers advantages over present multistage fluidized bed reactors with horizontal, vertical, or slanted stacking. In new reactor, solids proceed from one stage to next by flow over weir. Design promotes conservation of energy and optimization of flows and residence times.

Sullivan, Thomas A.↗
NASA NTRS1991

Particle bed reactor nuclear rocket concept

The particle bed reactor nuclear rocket concept consists of fuel particles (in this case (U,Zr)C with an outer coat of zirconium carbide). These particles are packed in an annular bed surrounded by two frits (porous tubes) forming a fuel element; the outer one being a cold frit, the inner one being a hot frit. The fuel element are cooled by hydrogen passing in through the moderator. These elements are assembled in a reactor assembly in a hexagonal pattern. The reactor can be either reflected or not, depending on the design, and either 19 or 37 elements, are used. Propellant enters in the top, passes through the moderator fuel element and out through the nozzle. Beryllium used for the moderator in this particular design to withstand the high radiation exposure implied by the long run times.

Ludewig, Hans↗
NASA NTRS1991

Pellet bed reactor for nuclear propelled vehicles: Part 2: Missions and vehicle integration trades

Mission and vehicle integration tradeoffs involving the use of the pellet bed reactor (PBR) for nuclear powered vehicles is discussed, with much of the information being given in viewgraph form. Information is given on propellant tank geometries, shield weight requirements for conventional tank configurations, effective specific impulse, radiation mapping, radiation dose rate after shutdown, space transfer vehicle design data, a Mars mission summary, sample pellet bed nuclear orbit transfer vehicle mass breakdown, and payload fraction vs. velocity increment.

Haloulakos, V. E.↗