Engineering Papers⌕ Search

SEARCH · Engineering Papers

Results for “Surface Power”

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.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 343 records · Page 19
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS2012

In-Space Propulsion Engine Architecture Based on Sublimation of Planetary Resources: From Exploration Robots to NEO Mitigation

This project, sponsored by the NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts examines how the systematic use of space resources such as frozen volatiles can create a new paradigm in surface power generation for deep space missions. The ubiquitous presence of ices of water, carbon dioxide and other compounds throughout the Solar System under conditions favorable for their sublimation will enable novel in-space propulsion and actuation concepts to become a reality and to address one of NASA's Grand Challenges of "All Access Mobility." Accessing such a resource in the far corners of our interplanetary neighborhood let us conceive exploration missions capable of refueling in the Jovian and Saturnian systems to achieve new goals or reach new destinations. The concept also has potential to apply in-situ propulsion to a comet or an asteroid to deflectits orbit slightly to avoid a future encounter with Earth.

Compounds↗
NASA NTRS2023

Mars Surface Solar Arrays With Storage (SAWS) Seedling Study

The Solar Arrays With Storage (SAWS) Seedling Study was a year-long effort initiated by the Game Changing Development (GCD) Program under NASA’s Space Technology Mission Directorate to evaluate the feasibility and key technical challenges that must be addressed for a solar-based surface power system to support a crewed Mars base.

Frederick Elliott↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Long -Term Architecture Development For The Moon And M

Developing an enterprise-level architecture encompassing future human-robotic science and exploration at the Moon and Mars requires a visionary approach that ensures NASA is responsive to national priorities and global science and technology advancement objectives. While the initial capabilities needed to return humans to the Moon may be well understood, NASA is still formulating a long-term infrastructure at the Moon and working to narrow the trade space for the first human missions to Mars. This paper will focus on the formulation and current status of engineering and design applications for a long-term and robust lunar architecture that will implement the Artemis Base Camp concept, including pre-formulation activities and elements currently in formulation. Authors will demonstrate how the Moon-to-Mars campaign approach fosters commonality of requirements and standards across individual mission elements, as well as multi-destination systems and operations, to reduce risk and encourage healthy competition in the growing space market. Among the Artemis Base Camp elements discussed will be multiple surface mobility elements, a fixed, anchoring surface habitat, fission surface power, and an in-situ resource development pilot plant. The narrative will clearly illustrate the direct evolution of the base camp elements to a minimal Mars architecture concept, and also outline unique development efforts that will be required in the next decade to make it possible to send humans to the Red Planet as early as the 2030s.

Greg Chavers↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Artemis Missions Probabilistic Risk Assessment (PRA) & Reliability Assessment Overview

To show how NASA’s Moon-to-Mars (M2M) program can use hardware reliability assessments and comprehensive Probabilistic Risk Assessments (PRAs) to estimate risk of future missions and manage risk via safety and mission success requirements from the top down, so that this risk can be balanced with other program metrics like cost and schedule. These PRAs and reliability assessments can be used during the concept, design, and operational phases of development. This presentation also provides some thoughts on how the NASA process can be utilized for a lunar surface power grid development.

PRA↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Lunar Passive Fuel Cell Technologies: Evaporator + Fluid Polishing Elements

This project investigates key elements of a fully-passive, fuel-cell based, surface power generation concept. The overall concept replaces the actively pumped thermal management of a state of the art (SOA) fuel cell/electrolyzer stack with a passive 2-phase thermosyphon for heat transport and a passive shape memory actuating radiator for temperature management. The elements of the concept investigated in this project are: Evaporator Element: Evaluating the compatibility of common fuel-cell interconnect materials in the evaporator of a 2-phase water thermosyphon Fluid Polishing element: The use of membrane gas separation and resin water polishing to address non-condensable gas removal and water purity.

Fuel Cell↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Space Nuclear Propulsion 101

The Fission Surface Power (FSP) project is a NASA effort to demonstrate a tens of kilowatt class nuclear fission reactor power system on the Moon in next decade. Fission technology promises a class of long-duration Sun-independent scalable power systems with applications across the Solar System. The FSP project is just the beginning of the journey for this technology. This presentation will showcase the current state of the project, technical goals and accomplishments, future plans, and how this technology may find exciting future applications.

fission↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Advanced Materials for the Lunar Surface: Multiscale Computational Design of Refractory Alloys and Carbides

Emerging operational environments, such as the lunar surface, present novel challenges for NASA and drive the need for advanced materials in applications like fission surface power systems. To address these demands, computational materials science is rapidly evolving to augment or replace costly and hazardous empirical testing. Although materials selection at NASA remains predominantly experimentally driven, advanced simulation methodologies are being steadily integrated into the engineering lifecycle. This work details the application of multiscale simulation techniques—including first-principles calculations, CALPHAD, dislocation dynamics, and molecular dynamics—at NASA's Ames Research Center to evaluate advanced materials for extreme environments. First, we present contributions to the Space Nuclear Propulsion Project. Be-cause propellant channel coatings in nuclear thermal rockets must withstand high-pressure, high-temperature hydro-gen, optimizing these materials is critical. First-principles calculations were employed to establish a rigorous quantitative and qualitative understanding of the behavior of the refractory carbides ZrC, NbC, and their mixtures in high-enthalpy hydrogen environments. This necessitated the generation of high-fidelity thermodynamic models for both stoichiometric and carbon-depleted carbides, both with and without the presence of hydrogen. Furthermore, we highlight efforts under the Refractory Alloy Additive Manufacturing Build Optimization (RAAMBO) project, where existing and novel alloy compositions were assessed for additive manufacturing printability and subsequent performance in applications such as heat pipes and rocket nozzle extensions. This was accomplished through a comprehensive multiscale simulation framework that bridged the gap from the nanometer to the millimeter scale. Across both initiatives, rigorous validation against empirical data was prioritized. By systematically employing a verified and validated computational frame-work, we demonstrate how simulation effectively supports multidisciplinary engineering efforts, builds project-wide confidence, and drives critical materials development.

computational materials↗
NASA NTRS1991

Beam power options for the moon

A study to determine the feasibility of providing long-term electrical power to the moon's surface by beaming power from satellites is reported. The model used to develop the reference designs are described, and the major system tradeoffs and reference design characteristics are discussed. The beam power masses and the lunar surface power system masses are compared. In some cases, the beam power system have a quarter of the mass of surface power systems, but the beam power satellites have large space structures that may present complex transportation, deployment, pointing, and control problems.

Fay, E. H.↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Enabling Universal Access to Power on the Lunar Surface

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Artemis Missions will return human astronauts to the lunar surface, demonstrate technologies that establish a sustained presence on the lunar surface and enable human missions to Mars, and help create a lunar commercial economy. Creating a sustained permanent presence on the lunar surface will require access to continuous and highly reliable power to support mission needs. During Artemis, lunar surface operations will evolve and grow over time (years), requiring an increase in the amount of power needed (100s of kW) and distance that the power must be transmitted (up to 10 km during early Artemis missions). A lunar commercial economy is likely to exceed this power demand to the MW level and distance in the 100s of km. This increased distance and demand for highly reliable power drives the need to create an electric power grid by connecting localized lunar power systems (e.g., habitats, in-situ resource utilization plants, etc.), each containing one or more loads and/or sources. Developing a lunar surface power grid will allow lunar surface operations to resemble electrical utility operations on Earth; it allows power to be generated where it is convenient and allows power to be consumed where it is convenient and required. A lunar surface electric power grid will facilitate the growth of a lunar commercial economy because it provides a means to connect new loads to an existing electrical power system. A common standardized interface to the grid and a set of standardized voltages is required to take full advantage of the benefits of an electric power grid, similar to the terrestrial power grid. NASA Glenn Research Center is leading an effort to create universal access to power through the development of the Universal Modular Interface Converter (UMIC). The UMIC is designed to have a common interface that connects sources and loads compliant with the International Space Power System Interoperability Standard (ISPSIS) to a higher voltage AC transmission system or power grid. This presentation will further discuss the evolution of power during the Artemis missions, challenges associated with creating a sustained presence on the lunar surface, progress made on the UMIC, and future opportunities for technology development and standards.

space power systems↗
NASA NTRS1977

Acoustic loads on upper-surface-blown powered-lift systems

Powered-lift concepts are utilized in aircraft currently under development for STOL application. One of the concepts, upper surface blowing, places the jet exit just above the upper surface of the wing to produce powered lift from the jet exhaust blowing over the deflected flap. New data are presented to show the effects of airspeed, angle of attack, and angle of jet impingement. Scaling relationships are investigated concerning their applicability for extrapolating data to a different model size. The effects of a number of test parameters are examined and full-scale spectra are predicted from model data. It is concluded that scale models are an effective means for obtaining fluctuating pressure spectra for use in aircraft design. The prediction of full-scale loads from model data will require geometrically accurate models and closely spaced measurement locations.

Willis, C. M.↗
NASA NTRS1989

Multicolor surface photometry of powerful radio galaxies. I - Observations and data reduction

The first of a series of papers which explore the optical morphology, photometric properties, and colors of powerful radio galaxies is presented. This paper reports the observations and data reduction process. The surface photometry techniques used in the analysis are described and the calibration of the results is given. The resulting images reveal that a significant fraction of powerful radio galaxies are morphologically distorted and that many of these galaxies have unusual colors. Results for individual objects are discussed.

Smith, Eric P.↗
NASA NTRS2018

Compact Telescoping Surface Array for Mars Solar Power

This paper describes a lightweight, large-area solar array concept for Mars surface power called the Compact Telescoping Surface Array (CTSA). The design is derived from the Compact Telescoping Array (CTA) proposed in 2015 for high-power spacecraft. The CTSA deploys horizontally from Mars landers, provides 1000 sq.m of solar cell area, and generates about 50-80 kW daytime and 10 kW nighttime power (from energy storage) near the equator with clear skies. The total mass is about 1500 kg, and the stowed volume is about 10 cu.m, equivalent to 200 W/kg and 30 kW/cu.m at 1 astronomical unit (AU) from the sun. These challenging mass and volume goals require compact, lightweight structures to deploy and tension thin solar cell blankets in the Mars 0.38 g gravity field. Other features include single-axis rotation for daily or seasonal sun tracking, dust shedding, and feathering in high winds and sufficient strength for sustained 40 m/s winds in dust storms and brief 100 m/s winds in dust devils (dynamic pressure of 120 Pa). Based on preliminary design and analysis reported in the paper, CTSA appears to be a feasible approach for 1000 sq.m-class Mars solar arrays that autonomously deploy from landers prior to human arrival.

Pappa, Richard↗
NASA NTRS2005

Electric Power System Technology Options for Lunar Surface Missions

In 2004, the President announced a 'Vision for Space Exploration' that is bold and forward-thinking, yet practical and responsible. The vision explores answers to longstanding questions of importance to science and society and will develop revolutionary technologies and capabilities for the future, while maintaining good stewardship of taxpayer dollars. One crucial technology area enabling all space exploration is electric power systems. In this paper, the author evaluates surface power technology options in order to identify leading candidate technologies that will accomplish lunar design reference mission three (LDRM-3). LDRM-3 mission consists of multiple, 90-day missions to the lunar South Pole with 4-person crews starting in the year 2020. Top-level power requirements included a nominal 50 kW continuous habitat power over a 5-year lifetime with back-up or redundant emergency power provisions and a nominal 2-kW, 2-person unpressurized rover. To help direct NASA's technology investment strategy, this lunar surface power technology evaluation assessed many figures of merit including: current technology readiness levels (TRLs), potential to advance to TRL 6 by 2014, effectiveness of the technology to meet the mission requirements in the specified time, mass, stowed volume, deployed area, complexity, required special ground facilities, safety, reliability/redundancy, strength of industrial base, applicability to other LDRM-3 elements, extensibility to Mars missions, costs, and risks. For the 50-kW habitat module, dozens of nuclear, radioisotope and solar power technologies were down-selected to a nuclear fission heat source with Brayton, Stirling or thermoelectric power conversion options. Preferred energy storage technologies included lithium-ion battery and Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) Regenerative Fuel Cells (RFC). Several AC and DC power management and distribution architectures and component technologies were defined consistent with the preferred habitat power generation technology option and the overall lunar surface mission. For rover power, more than 20 technology options were down-selected to radioisotope Stirling, liquid lithium-ion battery, PEM RFC, or primary fuel cell options. The author discusses various conclusions that can be drawn from the findings of this surface power technologies evaluation.

Kerslake, Thomas W.↗
NASA NTRS1990

The effect of leveling coatings on the atomic oxygen durability of solar concentrator surfaces

Space power systems for Space Station Freedom will be exposed to the harsh environment of low earth orbit (LEO). Neutral atomic oxygen is the major constituent in LEO and has the potential of severely reducing the efficiency of solar dynamic power systems through degradation of the concentrator surfaces. Several transparent dielectric thin films have been found to provide atomic oxygen protection, but atomic oxygen undercutting at inherent defect sites is still a threat to solar dynamic power system survivability. Leveling coatings smooth microscopically rough surfaces, thus eliminating potential defect sites prone to oxidation attack on concentrator surfaces. The ability of leveling coatings to improve the atomic oxygen durability of concentrator surfaces was investigated. The application of a EPO-TEK 377 epoxy leveling coating on a graphite epoxy substrate resulted in an increase in solar specular reflectance, a decrease in the atomic oxygen defect density by an order of magnitude and a corresponding order of magnitude decrease in the percent loss of specular reflectance during atomic oxygen plasma ashing.

Degroh, Kim K.↗