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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 343 records · Page 19
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1987

NASA and the Space Station - Current Status

In the baseline configuration of the Space Station, NASA engineers have provided for a range of modifications that will enlarge the capabilities available to future users. An extensive definition and design study has been completed which is supplemented by a critical evaluation of the Space Station configuration; a three-year technology-development effort has also drawn to a close which examined operational factors and restructured program management responsibilities. Costs have been estimated on the basis of the revised configuration in order to insure full consistency for program funding plans.

Moser, Thomas L.↗
NASA NTRS1988

Optimization of aeroassisted orbital transfer - Current status

This paper presents the theory of optimal aeroassisted orbital transfer, with special consideration given to the transfer about a central body with an atmosphere, with propulsive maneuvers in space modeled as instantaneous changes in the velocity vector. It is shown that there are four potentially optimal transfer modes, two aeroassisted and two all-propulsive, for each point in the two-dimensional transfer space. Aeroassisted orbital transfer introduces a strong coupling between the trajectory design and the vehicle design; a trajectory that minimizes fuel mass without attention to heating may require the vehicle to have a heavy thermal protection system. It is emphasized that, if aeroassisted transfer is to be preferred to all-propulsive transfer, it must offer a reduction in fuel mass greater than the increase in thermal protection mass.

Mease, K. D.↗
NASA NTRS1988

Current status of the international Halley Watch infrared net archive

The primary purposes of the Halley Watch have been to promote Halley observations, coordinate and standardize the observing where useful, and to archive the results in a database readily accessible to cometary scientists. The intention of IHW is to store the observations themselves, along with any information necessary to allow users to understand and use the data, but to exclude interpretations of these data. Each of the archives produced by the IHW will appear in two versions: a printed archive and a digital archive on CD-ROMs. The archive is expected to have a very long lifetime. The IHW has already produced an archive for P/Crommelin. This consists of one printed volume and two 1600 bpi tapes. The Halley archive will contain at least twenty gigabytes of information.

Mcguinness, Brian B.↗
NASA NTRS1988

The current status of and future outlook for the NASA space program

A brief general overview of NASA programs and planning is presented. Topics discussed include long-term policy goals (creating commercial opportunities, construction of the International Space Station, and manned planetary missions), the scientific and technological projects planned for the Space Station, the key role of the Space Station in solar-system exploration, the pathfinder-technologies concept, and the comprehensive remote-sensing program Mission to Planet Earth.

Myers, D. D.↗
NASA NTRS1990

Gamma ray bursts: Current status of observations and theory

Gamma ray bursts display a wide range of temporal and spectral characteristics, but typically last several seconds and emit most of their energy in a low energy, gamma ray region. The burst sources appear to be isotropically distributed on the sky. Several lines of evidence suggest magnetic neutron stars as sources for bursts. A variety of energy sources and emission mechanisms are proposed.

Meegan, Charles A.↗
NASA NTRS1990

Gamma ray bursts: Current status of observations and theory

Gamma-ray bursts display a wide range of temporal and spectral characteristics, but typically last several seconds and emit most of their energy in the low-energy gamma-ray region. The burst sources appear to be isotropically distributed on the sky. Several lines of evidence suggest magnetic neutron stars as sources for bursts. A variety of energy sources and emission mechanisms were proposed.

Meegan, Charles A.↗
NASA NTRS1990

Background, current status, and prognosis of the ongoing slush hydrogen technology development program for the NASP

Among the Hydrogen Projects at the NASA Lewis Research Center (NASA LeRC), is the task of implementing and managing the Slush Hydrogen (SLH2) Technology Program for the United States' National AeroSpace Plane Joint Program Office (NASP JPO). The objectives of this NASA LeRC program are to provide verified numerical models of fluid production, storage, transfer, and feed systems and to provide verified design criteria for other engineered aspects of SLH2 systems germane to a NASP. The pursuit of these objectives is multidimensional, covers a range of problem areas, works these to different levels of depth, and takes advantage of the resources available in private industry, academia, and the U.S. Government. A summary of the NASA LeRC overall SLH2 program plan, is presented along with its implementation, the present level of effort in each of the program areas, some of the results already in hand, and the prognosis for the effort in the immediate future.

Dewitt, R. L.↗
NASA NTRS1990

The mini-dome Fresnel lens photovoltaic concentrator array - Current status of component and prototype panel testing

NASA Lewis and ENTECH have been developing a high-efficiency, lightweight space photovoltaic concentrator array. The emphasis of the program has shifted to fabrication and testing of the minidome Fresnel lens and other array components. Protototype lenses have been tested for optical efficiency, with results around 90 percent, and tracking error performance. The results of these tests have been very consistent with the predicted analytical performance. Work has also progressed in the fabrication of the array support structure. Recent advances in 30 percent efficient stacked cell technology will have a significant effect on the array performance. It is concluded that near-term array performance goals of 300 W/sq m and 100 W/kg are feasible.

Piszczor, M. F.↗
NASA NTRS1991

Current status and future developments in radar remote sensing

Some of the major initiatives and directions of remote sensing using SAR (Synthetic Aperture Radar) data alone and in conjunction with other sensors for Earth science investigations are outlined. Specific emphasis is on areas key to global monitoring using SAR data from spaceborne platforms: calibration, geophysical processing, and generation of digital elevation models. Calibration as used here encompasses end to end system characterization over the life of a sensor and characterization of data products relative to past and future sensors. Geophysical processing is defined here to include any processing which results in derived geophysical units. An additional data type, topography, which is required to complete the three dimensional view of surface properties and correct for distortions inherent in SAR is discussed. Future challenges in radar remote sensing include development of strategies to extrapolate from regional to global scale models and development of new sensor technology.

Evans, Diane L.↗
NASA NTRS1991

The SERENDIP 2 SETI project: Current status

Over the past 30 years, interest in extraterrestrial intelligence has progressed from philosophical discussion to rigorous scientific endeavors attempting to make contact. Since it is impossible to assess the probability of success and the amount of telescope time needed for detection, Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI) Projects are plagued with the problem of attaining the large amounts of time needed on the world's precious few large radio telescopes. To circumvent this problem, the Search for Extraterrestrial Radio Emissions from Nearby Developed Intelligent Populations (SERENDIP) instrument operates autonomously in a piggyback mode utilizing whatever observing plan is chosen by the primary observer. In this way, large quantities of high-quality data can be collected in a cost-effective and unobtrusive manner. During normal operations, SERENDIP logs statistically significant events for further offline analysis. Due to the large number of terrestrial and near-space transmitters on earth, a major element of the SERENDIP project involves identifying and rejecting spurious signals from these sources. Another major element of the SERENDIP Project (as well as most other SETI efforts) is detecting extraterrestrial intelligence (ETI) signals. Events selected as candidate ETI signals are studied further in a targeted search program which utilizes between 24 to 48 hours of dedicated telescope time each year.

Bowyer, C. S.↗
NASA NTRS1991

Columbus Programme (current status)

A description is presented for the Columbus Program. The Columbus program comprises a space segment, a ground segment, and operations preparation program, and a utilization preparation program. The space segment consist of three elements: an Attached Pressurized Module (APM); a Man Tended Free Flyer (MTFF); and a Polar platform (PPF). The ground segment is a program shared with other European programs such as Hermes, for communications, services, training and tracking facilities. The Operations preparation program focuses on preparing the ground segment for readiness for the launch of the space segment elements. And the Utilization preparation program includes definition of candidate payload facilities, initial payload selection and precursor flights (Eureca, Spacelab).

Source record↗
NASA NTRS1992

Comment on: The current status of turbulence modeling in CFD and its future prospects

Information is given in viewgraph form on computational fluid dynamics (CFD). Topics covered include the fundamental problem with conventional turbulence modeling, the fundamental problems with the state-of-the-art turbulence modeling approach of 'eddy viscosity', major problems with Reynolds stress equation (RSE) closures, RSE challenges that are probably addressable within the context of Reynolds averaging, RSE challenges which may require theoretical/numerical spectral adjuncts for satisfactory solutions, tools available to aid RSE modeling, and a simplex view of the status of turbulence modeling.

Bushnell, D. M.↗
NASA NTRS1992

Current status of computational methods for transonic unsteady aerodynamics and aeroelastic applications

The status of computational methods for unsteady aerodynamics and aeroelasticity is reviewed. The key features of challenging aeroelastic applications is discussed in terms of the flowfield state - low angle high speed flows and high angle vortex dominated flows. The critical role played by viscous effects in determining aeroelastic stability for conditions of incipient flow separation is stressed. The need for a variety of flow modeling tools, from linear formulations to implementations of the Navier-Stokes equations, is emphasized. Estimates of computer run times for flutter calculations using several computational methods are given. Applications of these methods for unsteady aerodynamic and transonic flutter calculations for airfoils, wings, and configurations are summarized. Finally, recommendations are made concerning future research directions.

Edwards, John W.↗
NASA NTRS1992

Current status of the development of an ignition transient model for solid rocket motors

The primary objectives of the computational fluid dynamics (CFD) code are to calculate the pressure rise rate and the maximum chamber pressure which occurs during the first second of the Advanced Solid Rocket Motor (ASRM) action time. A specific objective is to determine the relative difference between the ignition transients produced during a single port igniter and that produced by a multiport igniter. Discussed here are the results obtained from the one dimensional code and the plans for the development of the three dimensional code. Much of the information is given in viewgraph form.

Luke, Gary D.↗
NASA NTRS1992

Current status and future developments in radar remote sensing

Some of the major initiatives and directions of remote sensing using SAR (Synthetic Aperture Radar) data alone and in conjunction with other sensors for earth science investigations are outlined. Specific emphasis is on areas key to global monitoring using SAR data from spaceborne platforms: calibration, geophysical processing, and generation of digital elevation models. Calibration as used here encompasses end-to-end system characterization over the life of a sensor and characterization of data products relative to past and future sensors. Geophysical processing is defined here to include any processing which results in derived geophysical units. An additional data type, topography, which is required to complete the three-dimensional view of surface properties and correct for distortions inherent in SAR is discussed. Future challenges in radar remote sensing include development of strategies to extrapolate from regional to global scale models and development of new sensor technology.

Evans, Diane L.↗
NASA NTRS1993

Current status of liquid sheet radiator research

Initial research on the external flow, low mass liquid sheet radiator (LSR), has been concentrated on understanding its fluid mechanics. The surface tension forces acting at the edges of the sheet produce a triangular planform for the radiating surface of width, W, and length, L. It has been experimentally verified that (exp L)/W agrees with the theoretical result, L/W = (We/8)exp 1/2, where We is the Weber number. Instability can cause holes to form in regions of large curvature such as where the edge cylinders join the sheet of thickness, tau. The W/tau limit that will cause hole formation with subsequent destruction of the sheet has yet to be reached experimentally. Although experimental measurements of sheet emissivity have not yet been performed because of limited program scope, calculations of the emissivity and sheet lifetime is determined by evaporation losses were made for two silicon based oils; Dow Corning 705 and Me(sub 2). Emissivities greater than 0.75 are calculated for tau greater than or equal to 200 microns for both oils. Lifetimes for Me(sub 2) are much longer than lifetimes for 705. Therefore, Me(sub 2) is the more attractive working fluid for higher temperatures (T greater than or equal to 400 K).

Chubb, Donald L.↗