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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 325 records · Page 18
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1976

Laser-zone growth in a Ribbon-To-Ribbon (RTR) process, silicon sheet growth development for the large area silicon sheet task of the low cost silicon solar array project

The objective of this research is to fully investigate the Ribbon-To-Ribbon (R-T-R) approach to silicon ribbon growth. Initial work has concentrated on modification and characterization of an existing R-T-R apparatus. In addition, equipment for auxiliary heating of the melt is being evaluated and acquired. Modification of the remote viewing system and mechanical staging are nearly complete. Characterization of the laser and other components is in progress and several auxiliary heating techniques are being investigated.

Gurtler, R. W.↗
NASA NTRS1980

The reduction of remote sensing data by visual means

Issues likely to be of concern to educators called upon to teach courses involving the reduction (interpretation) of remotely sensed data by visual means are considered. Topics covered include: (1) information requirements of those using remotely-sensed data; (2) educational concepts involved in teaching students how to generate the desired information from a visual analysis of the data; (3) principles and techniques specific to the photointerpretation process; (4) concepts involved in the making of photographic measurements, as dictated by the geometry of remote sensing imagery; (5) the nature of the various kinds of mapping, plotting, and photointerpretation equipment; and (6) some special considerations with respect to the convergence of evidence and other principles involved in the interpretation of photographs. A recommended procedure for determining the usefulness of any given type of aerial or space photography in relation to the inventory of natural resources is included.

Colwell, R. N.↗
NASA NTRS1982

Teleoperator maneuvering system

The teleoperator maneuvering system (TMS), consisting of the vehicle, the shuttle orbiter bay cradle with airborne support equipment, and the aft flight deck control station, is described. The vehicle is a reusable remotely controlled free flying vehicle capable of a variety of missions including payload placement, retrieval, servicing, viewing, and large space systems assembly support. The TMS flies preprogrammed trajectories as well as being controlled or reprogrammed from the aft flight deck or the ground. A building block design philosophy is described which permits the evolution of capability as it is needed and delays cost as much as possible. Various mission operations are discussed.

Turner, J. R.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Remote sensing education for the Earth sciences: The University of Georgia experience

A prospectus is presented of the following courses offered by the Department of Geography: (1) use and interpretation of aerial photographs; (2) advanced photogrammetry; (3) remote sensing of environment; (4) geographic information systems; and (5) directed problems in the remote sensing of the environment. In addition to the course content and objectives, the various equipments available for student training and use are listed.

Welch, R.↗
NASA NTRS2008

NASA and Caterpillar: An Innovative Partnership

This viewgraph presentation reviews the partnership between NASA and the Caterpillar Corporation. Through the Innovative Partnerships Program (IPP) NASA is providing leveraged technology for projects that are new initiatives that enhance NASA's ability to meet mission technology goals by providing seed funding to initiate cost-shared, joint-development partnerships. This relationship will assist NASA in the development of lunar In Situ resource utilization (ISRU) and surface handling equipment control and hardware requirements and the human-system interaction processes for time delayed remote operations.

Savely, Robert T.↗
NASA NTRS2016

Lighter-Than-Air (LTA) "AirStation": Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) Carrier Concept

Proposals for adapting modern airship technologies for military missions have mostly focused on exploiting the airships high flight endurance and low fuel requirement to conduct direct surveillance missions requiring high degrees of persistence over the areas to be observed. While this mission has value, it constrains the airship in two regards. (1) It places all the surveillance sensors, communication systems, and other mission equipment in the airship itself. (2) It requires the airship to be physically in the vicinity of the areas to be directly observed. A more advanced utilization of airship technology would be to add the capability to deploy a separate set of surveillance equipment, thereby enabling indirect and distributed observation operations. This can be undertaken by installing surveillance equipment in a squadron of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) that can be carried and operated remotely from the airship, and then return to the airship as a base of support. This could be accomplished by deploying 20-30 UASs on an optionally manned (5 person crew) airship. The mission focus of the airship UAS carrier would be for support of distributed intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR), close air support (CAS), maritime patrol and interdiction, electronic warfare (EW), persistent area dominance and missile defense. The logic for utilizing an airship carrier over a ground base to deploy UAS will be examined. Whether to be used as a stand-alone platform or in concert with conventional intelligence gathering techniques, the airship UAS carrier can provide the following benefits: a mobile base that will remain accessible despite political fallout which may render a ground base unavailable for use, the psychological impact of a power projection tool that has no geographical limits (imagined in the same way a naval carrier group projects power), cost-saving intelligence gathering over manned alternatives (assumption), and a wider area of influence when compared to an immobile ground base that must facilitate the transfer of UAS to other bases in order to overfly particular areas (all operations, launch, recover, etc. take place from the airship).

Hochstetler, Ron↗
NASA NTRS2020

Hybrid Electric MC-12 Ground Testing Plan Chapter

In the commercial aviation world, hybrid/electric propulsion is a promising technology for fuel, emissions, and noise reduction in support of the challenging goals established by 2050 EU Flightpath/SRIA, NASA ARMD Strategic Implementation Plan, and the US Air Force ATTAM programs. Ongoing results indicate operational benefits are possible in those three technical areas. Considering military applications, hybrid/electric propulsion may yield further significant improvements by enabling new, unorthodox mission capabilities. Potential benefits are expected in the areas of vehicle signature reduction (lower noise, lower exhaust signature), usage in enhanced flight environments, minimized human-in-the-loop workload by offering a platform compatible with future goals of autonomous operations facilitation, maintenance cost reductions, and performance burst/dash energy. Additional synergies are likely when used in conjunction with energy weapons. Some potential areas of mutual interest could include, dusty operations capability, remote supply capability, extended surveillance, dispatch able power, fuel-flexible vehicles, and autonomous rescue equipment. Many of the key technologies that have been demonstrated in ground operation must now be qualified for altitude conditions. We expect to have many flight qualified powertrain systems over the next decade for military planners to choose from for new future battlefield capability. This requires new flight-weight and flight-efficient powertrain components, fault tolerant power management, and electromagnetic interference mitigation technologies. Moreover, initial studies indicate some combination of ambient and cryogenic thermal management and relatively high bus voltages when compared to state of practice will be required to achieve a net system benefit. Developing all these powertrain technologies within a realistic aircraft architectural geometry and under realistic operational conditions requires a unique electric aircraft test bed. The MC-12 surveillance aircraft is an ideal military aircraft for demonstrating some of the benefits of incorporating hybrid electric propulsion. This report details an approach for full-scale ground-based altitude testing the hybrid electric MC-12 powertrain through a full flight profile.

military electric aircraft propulsion↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Application of Lidar-Radar Combined Data Products during the IMPACTS 2020 Field Campaign

The Investigation of Microphysics and Precipitation for Atlantic Coast-Threatening Snowstorms (IMPACTS) is a three-year field campaign investigating the formation and lifecycle of banded, precipitation structures within intense wintertime cyclones impacting the highly-populated northeast United States. Unlike previous campaigns in the region, IMPACTS mission scientists have access to and coordinate the NASA ER-2 and P-3 aircraft to collect observations from both a remote sensing and in-situ perspective, respectively. For IMPACTS, the ER-2 aircraft was equipped with lidar (CPL), radar (CRS, HIWRAP, EXRAD), microwave radiometer (CoSMIR, AMPR) instruments, each with their own unique capabilities and limitations. Our on-going work effort aims to develop IMPACTS lidar and radar merged data products, which can be used to supplement the raw data sources, tease out additional aspects of the mechanisms underpinning wintertime cyclones, and enhance our understanding of microphysical properties in sensor overlap regions. Preliminary merged data products combine CPL lidar with any one of the NASA High Altitude Radar (HAR) radar products (CRS, HIWRAP, EXRAD) and represent these data as both normalized values and translated to reflectivity signal (dB). Continuing work will further refine our merged data product algorithm to provide additional information on hydrometeor species identification, ice crystal habit, and ice-water content, which will help IMPACTS achieve its mission goal of improving microphysical properties retrievals from both airborne and spaceborne platforms.

Stephen D. Nicholls↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Multi-Decadal Nitrogen Dioxide and Derived Products from Satellites (MINDS) Datasets Released by NASA GES DISC and Their Applications for Air Quality

Nitrogen dioxide (NO2), a pervasive air pollutant, comes from vehicles, power plants, industrial emissions, and off-road sources such as construction or lawn and gardening equipment. The NASA Goddard Earth Sciences Data and Information Services Center (GES DISC) curates many remote sensing datasets with NO2 retrievals, which have been utilized for air quality research and applications. The remotely-sensed datasets include those generated by the Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI) on the Aura satellite, the TROPOspheric Monitoring Instrument (TROPOMI) onboard the Copernicus Sentinel-5 Precursor (S5P), and the Ozone Mapping and Profiling Suite (OMPS) Nadir-Mapper (NM) instrument on the Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership (S- NPP). In collaboration with the NASA Making Earth System Data Records for Use in Research Environments (MEaSUREs) Multi-Decadal Nitrogen Dioxide and Derived Products from Satellites (MINDS) project, the GES DISC recently released MINDS datasets. The NASA MEaSUREs MINDS project aims to develop long-term NO2 global data records by adapting a consistent retrieval algorithm to multiple instrument measurements. Long-term data records will be achieved by applying consistent retrieval approaches to multiple satellite instruments, including OMI (2004 - ); the Global Ozone Monitoring Experiment (GOME, 1995-2011) onboard the second European Remote Sensing satellite (ERS-2); the Scanning Imaging Spectrometer for Atmospheric Cartography (SCIAMACHY, 2002-2012) onboard the ENVIronmental SATellite (ENVISAT); GOME-2 on the Meteorological Operational satellites (MetOp-A and MetOp-B, 2006 - ); and TROPOMI onboard the Copernicus S5P (2017 - ). The long-term record (1995 to present) of MINDS datasets makes them very useful for air quality trend studies. Some MINDS datasets with high spatial resolution of only a few kilometers can be used for air quality research and applications at regional scales. In this presentation, we will introduce all of the MINDS products and services, and demonstrate use cases of MINDS data for studying air quality. We will also present a few other NO2 datasets acquired from NASA’s Health and Air Quality Applied Sciences Team (HAQAST), to be archived and distributed by the GES DISC, and highlight some of their applications for air quality and health.

Feng Ding↗
NASA NTRS2024

Machine Learning Based Aerosol and Ocean Color Joint Retrieval Algorithm for Multiangle Polarimeters over Coastal Waters

NASA’s Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, ocean Ecosystem (PACE) mission, recently launched in February 2024, carries two multiangle polarimeters (MAPs): the UMBC Hyper-Angular Rainbow Polarimeter (HARP2) and SRON Spectropolarimeter for Planetary Exploration One (SPEXone). Measurements from these MAPs will greatly advance ocean ecosystem and aerosol studies as their measurements contain rich information on microphysical properties of aerosols and hydrosols. The Multi-Angular Polarimetric Ocean coLor (MAPOL) joint retrieval algorithm has been developed to retrieve aerosol and ocean color information, which uses a vector radiative transfer (RT) model as the forward model. The RT model is computationally expensive, which makes processing a large amount of data challenging. FastMAPOL was developed to expedite retrieval using neural networks to replace the RT forward models. As a prototype study, FastMAPOL was initially limited to open ocean applications where the ocean Inherent Optical Properties (IOPs) were parameterized in terms of one parameter: chlorophyll-a concentration (Chla). In this study we further expand the FastMAPOL joint retrieval algorithm to incorporate NN based forward models for coastal waters, which use multi-parameter bio-optical models. In addition, aerosols are represented by six components, i.e., fine mode non absorbing insoluble (FNAI), brown carbon (BrC), black carbon (BC), fine mode non absorbing soluble (FNAS), sea salt (SS) and non-spherical dust (Dust). Sea salt and dust are coarse mode aerosols, while the other components are in the fine mode. The sizes and spectral refractive indices are fixed for each aerosol component, while their abundances are retrievable. The multi-parameter bio-optical model and aerosol components are chosen to represent the coastal marine environment. The retrieval algorithm is applied to synthetic measurements in three different configurations ofMAPs in the PACE mission: HARP2 observations only, SPEXone observations only and combined HARP2 and SPEXone observations. The retrieval results from synthetic measurements show that for aerosol retrieval the SPEXone-only configuration works equally well with the HAPR2-only configuration. On the other hand, for ocean color retrieval the SPEXone instrument provides better information due to its larger spectral coverage. For the surface parameters (wind speed), HARP2 measurements provide better information due to its wide field of view. Combined measurement configuration HARP2+SPEXone performed the best to retrieve all aerosol, ocean color and surface parameters. We also studied the impact of sun glint to aerosol and ocean color retrievals. The retrieval test revealed that wind speed and absorbing aerosol retrieval improves significantly when including measurements at glint geometries. Furthermore, the retrieval algorithm is equipped with modules for atmospheric correction and bidirectional reflectance distribution (BRDF) correction to obtain the remote sensing reflectance, which enables ocean biogeochemistry studies using the PACE polarimeter data.

PACE↗
DOE OSTI2020

Opinion: Lighting Research During and After the Pandemic

For many lighting researchers, the recent restrictions related to COVID-19 have paused most in-person laboratory or field experiments. In certain countries, regulatory institutions have allowed such experiments to resume but issued safety recommendations like pre-checking participants for disease symptoms and excluding those that are especially vulnerable. To avoid potential complications and delays, researchers are likely to resort to other research designs that enable remote research — eliminating the need for the experimenter and subjects to be in the same room. While unanticipated, this shift to remote research methods is an opportunity to revisit and further develop remote experimental techniques, which can have beneficial long-lasting implications on lighting research during and after the pandemic. Perhaps the most common type of remote research is online experiments; which can greatly benefit from improved techniques to allow for greater control or characterization of experimental conditions, like those proposed by Villa and Labayrade . These techniques require validation specific to the type of response collected and context, e.g. space type and attributes. New research techniques continue to emerge and will enable remote collection of objective measures such as gaze direction and high dynamic range images (HDRIs) without specialized equipment. In fact, many of these methods and techniques are commonly used in other disciplines, like vision science and psychology, and can be adapted for lighting research. Not all lighting studies can be conducted online, but in the age of ubiquitous and connected technologies, there is a largely missed opportunity to utilize crowdsourced responses to lighting conditions in real environments where people live and go about their daily lives without the research being limited to a certain time and laboratory locations. For instance, outdoor street luminaires can be rated by passersby using ecological momentary assessments on mobile phones. While this approach does not provide laboratory-level control over experimental conditions, it can provide more contextual responses resulting from ‘normal’ dynamic gaze, behavior, and interactions. Further, it can also reduce bias related to the experimental setting. Further development of remote research methods and their use in lighting research can improve the quality of lighting research. Given that sample sizes in most lighting research are relatively small, remote research can substantially increase sample sizes, reduce research costs, and shorten study duration, all while reducing interaction between experimenter and subjects. Another benefit is reaching a wider audience and including under-represented individuals who typically are not reachable using common recruitment methods. The pandemic has set back our plans for in-lab experiments, but can it inspire us to think of new and creative ways to expand lighting research?

Abboushi, Belal K.↗
NASA NTRS2003

Design, Development and Testing of the Miniature Autonomous Extravehicular Robotic Camera (Mini AERCam) Guidance, Navigation and Control System

Engineers at NASA Johnson Space Center have designed, developed, and tested a nanosatellite-class free-flyer intended for future external inspection and remote viewing of human spaceflight activities. The technology demonstration system, known as the Miniature Autonomous Extravehicular Robotic Camera (Mini AERCam), has been integrated into the approximate form and function of a flight system. The primary focus has been to develop a system capable of providing external views of the International Space Station. The Mini AERCam system is spherical-shaped and less than eight inches in diameter. It has a full suite of guidance, navigation, and control hardware and software, and is equipped with two digital video cameras and a high resolution still image camera. The vehicle is designed for either remotely piloted operations or supervised autonomous operations. Tests have been performed in both a six degree-of-freedom closed-loop orbital simulation and on an air-bearing table. The Mini AERCam system can also be used as a test platform for evaluating algorithms and relative navigation for autonomous proximity operations and docking around the Space Shuttle Orbiter or the ISS.

Wagenknecht, J.↗
NASA NTRS1984

The future of satellite remote sensing: A worldwide assessment and prediction

A frame-work in which to assess and predict the future prospects for satellite remote sensing markets is provided. The scope of the analysis is the satellite-related market for data, equipment, and services. It encompasses both domestic and international markets and contains an examination of the various market characteristics by market segment (e.g., Federal Government, State and Local Governments, Academic Organizations, Industrial Companies, and Individuals) and primary applications areas (e.g., Geology, Forestry, Land Resource Management, Agriculture and Cartography). The forecasts are derived from an analysis of both U.S. and foreign market data. The evolution and current status of U.S. and Foreign markets to arrive at market growth rates is evaluated. Circumstances and events which are likely to affect the future market development are examined. A market growth scenario is presented that is consistent with past data sales trends and takes into account the dynamic nature of the future satellite remote sensing market. Several areas of current and future business opportunities available in this market are discussed. Specific worldwide forecasts are presented in three market sectors for the period 1980 to 1990.

Spann, G. W.↗
NASA NTRS1994

Special test equipment and fixturing for MSAT reflector assembly alignment

The MSAT Reflector Assembly is a state of the art subsystem for Mobile Satellite (MSAT), a geosynchronous-based commercial mobile telecommunication satellite program serving North America. The Reflector Assembly consisted of a deployable, three-hinge, folding-segment Boom, deployable 5.7 x 5.3-meter 16-rib Wrap-Rib Reflector, and a Reflector Pointing Mechanism (RPM). The MSAT spacecraft was based on a Hughes HS601 spacecraft bus carrying two Reflector Assemblies independently dedicated for L-band transmit and receive operations. Lockheed Missiles and Space Company (LMSC) designed and built the Reflector Assembly for MSAT under contract to SPAR Aerospace Ltd. Two MSAT satellites were built jointly by SPAR Aerospace Ltd. and Hughes Space and Communications Co. for this program, the first scheduled for launch in 1994. When scaled for wavelength, the assembly and alignment requirements for the Reflector Assembly were in many instances equivalent to or exceeded that of a diffraction-limited visible light optical system. Combined with logistical constraints inherent to large, compliant, lightweight structures; 'bolt-on' alignment; and remote, indirect spacecraft access; the technical challenges were formidable. This document describes the alignment methods, the special test equipment, and fixturing for Reflector Assembly assembly and alignment.

Young, Jeffrey A.↗
NASA NTRS1974

International Symposium on Remote Sensing of Environment, 9th, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Mich., April 15-19, 1974, Proceedings. Volumes 1, 2 & 3

The present work gathers together numerous papers describing the use of remote sensing technology for mapping, monitoring, and management of earth resources and man's environment. Studies using various types of sensing equipment are described, including multispectral scanners, radar imagery, spectrometers, lidar, and aerial photography, and both manual and computer-aided data processing techniques are described. Some of the topics covered include: estimation of population density in Tokyo districts from ERTS-1 data, a clustering algorithm for unsupervised crop classification, passive microwave sensing of moist soils, interactive computer processing for land use planning, the use of remote sensing to delineate floodplains, moisture detection from Skylab, scanning thermal plumes, electrically scanning microwave radiometers, oil slick detection by X-band synthetic aperture radar, and the use of space photos for search of oil and gas fields. Individual items are announced in this issue.

Source record↗
NASA NTRS1973

Geosynchronous platform definition study. Volume 4, Part 1: Traffic analysis and system requirements for the baseline traffic model

The traffic analyses and system requirements data generated in the study resulted in the development of two traffic models; the baseline traffic model and the new traffic model. The baseline traffic model provides traceability between the numbers and types of geosynchronous missions considered in the study and the entire spectrum of missions foreseen in the total national space program. The information presented pertaining to the baseline traffic model includes: (1) definition of the baseline traffic model, including identification of specific geosynchronous missions and their payload delivery schedules through 1990; (2) Satellite location criteria, including the resulting distribution of the satellite population; (3) Geosynchronous orbit saturation analyses, including the effects of satellite physical proximity and potential electromagnetic interference; and (4) Platform system requirements analyses, including satellite and mission equipment descriptions, the options and limitations in grouping satellites, and on-orbit servicing criteria (both remotely controlled and man-attended).

Source record↗
NASA NTRS1977

Airborne atmospheric sampling system

Device installed on commercial 747 airliners and operated during normal passenger service combines sensitive air constituent measuring instruments with modern aircraft avionics and data acquisition equipment to automatically monitor air quality on worldwide basis. System may be modified for use in remote unmanned ground monitoring stations.

Nyland, T. W.↗
NASA NTRS1976

DSN research and technology support

Continuing remote controlled pulsar observations are noted, along with routine observations of 22 pulsars. Preliminary installation of equipment for planned unattended operation of the Venus Station is reported, along with extensive measurements and performance evaluation of the 26-m antenna. Support of the X-band radar at the Mars Station (DSS 14), and stability and reliability testing of the DSS 13 receiving system is reported. Klystron testing and other DSN support activities of the DSN High-Power Transmitter Maintenance Facility are noted, along with energy conservation modifications to two buildings at DSS 13. Radio Science experiment support included Planetary Radio Astronomy, Pulsar Rotation Constancy, Interstellar Microwave Spectroscopy, and Very Long Baseline Interferometry observations. An increased schedule of clock synchronization transmissions, planned on five-day centers, is noted, as 39 transmissions were made to Australia, DSS 43, and Spain, DSS 63.

Jackson, E. B.↗