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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 361 records · Page 20
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS2013

Internship at NASA Kennedy Space Center's Cryogenic Test laboratory

NASA's Kennedy Space Center (KSC) is known for hosting all of the United States manned rocket launches as well as many unmanned launches at low inclinations. Even though the Space Shuttle recently retired, they are continuing to support unmanned launches and modifying manned launch facilities. Before a rocket can be launched, it has to go through months of preparation, called processing. Pieces of a rocket and its payload may come in from anywhere in the nation or even the world. The facilities all around the center help integrate the rocket and prepare it for launch. As NASA prepares for the Space Launch System, a rocket designed to take astronauts beyond Low Earth Orbit throughout the solar system, technology development is crucial for enhancing launch capabilities at the KSC. The Cryogenics Test Laboratory at Kennedy Space Center greatly contributes to cryogenic research and technology development. The engineers and technicians that work there come up with new ways to efficiently store and transfer liquid cryogens. NASA has a great need for this research and technology development as it deals with cryogenic liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen for rocket fuel, as well as long term space flight applications. Additionally, in this new era of space exploration, the Cryogenics Test Laboratory works with the commercial sector. One technology development project is the Liquid Hydrogen (LH2) Ground Operations Demonstration Unit (GODU). LH2 GODU intends to demonstrate increased efficiency in storing and transferring liquid hydrogen during processing, loading, launch and spaceflight of a spacecraft. During the Shuttle Program, only 55% of hydrogen purchased was used by the Space Shuttle Main Engines. GODU's goal is to demonstrate that this percentage can be increased to 75%. Figure 2 shows the GODU layout when I concluded my internship. The site will include a 33,000 gallon hydrogen tank (shown in cyan) with a heat exchanger inside the hydrogen tank attached to a refrigerator capable of removing 850 Watts at 20 Kelvin (shown in green). The refrigerator and most of its supporting equipment will be kept in a standard shipping container (shown in pink). Currently, GODU is in the fabrication process and some of the large components have already been purchased.

Holland, Katherine↗
NASA NTRS1989

GetAway Tether Experiment (GATE) for the Tether Dynamics Explorer (TDE) series

Designs for the GetAway Tether Experiment (GATE) can easily be adapted and applied to the Tether Dynamics Explorer (TDE) series. The GATE development schedule coincides with the planned first flight of the TDE. GATE technology has centered on the development of miniature deployers/actuators, sensors, control laws and simulation capability. The sensors currently under development are a tension sensor and a video based tether tracker. Both sensors are currently undergoing laboratory testing and development. The actuators currently being investigated are a small reel/deployed for active control of the tether and a small tether crawler to damp vibrations of the tether. Laboratory results are presented and the designs reviewed and discussed.

Greene, Michael↗
NASA NTRS1991

Comparisons of elastic and rigid blade-element rotor models using parallel processing technology for piloted simulations

A piloted comparison of rigid and aeroelastic blade-element rotor models was conducted at the Crew Station Research and Development Facility (CSRDF) at Ames Research Center. A simulation development and analysis tool, FLIGHTLAB, was used to implement these models in real time using parallel processing technology. Pilot comments and quantitative analysis performed both on-line and off-line confirmed that elastic degrees of freedom significantly affect perceived handling qualities. Trim comparisons show improved correlation with flight test data when elastic modes are modeled. The results demonstrate the efficiency with which the mathematical modeling sophistication of existing simulation facilities can be upgraded using parallel processing, and the importance of these upgrades to simulation fidelity.

Hill, Gary↗
NASA NTRS2012

Air Traffic Management Technology Demonstration-1 Concept of Operations (ATD-1 ConOps)

The operational goal of the ATD-1 ConOps is to enable aircraft, using their onboard FMS capabilities, to fly Optimized Profile Descents (OPDs) from cruise to the runway threshold at a high-density airport, at a high throughput rate, using primarily speed control to maintain in-trail separation and the arrival schedule. The three technologies in the ATD-1 ConOps achieve this by calculating a precise arrival schedule, using controller decision support tools to provide terminal controllers with speeds for aircraft to fly to meet times at a particular meter points, and onboard software providing flight crews with speeds for the aircraft to fly to achieve a particular spacing behind preceding aircraft.

Baxley, Brian T.↗
NASA NTRS1990

A piloted comparison of elastic and rigid blade-element rotor models using parallel processing technology

A piloted comparison of rigid and aeroelastic blade-element rotor models was conducted at the Crew Station Research and Development Facility (CSRDF) at Ames Research Center. FLIGHTLAB, a new simulation development and analysis tool, was used to implement these models in real time using parallel processing technology. Pilot comments and quantitative analysis performed both on-line and off-line confirmed that elastic degrees of freedom significantly affect perceived handling qualities. Trim comparisons show improved correlation with flight test data when elastic modes are modeled. The results demonstrate the efficiency with which the mathematical modeling sophistication of existing simulation facilities can be upgraded using parallel processing, and the importance of these upgrades to simulation fidelity.

Hill, Gary↗
NASA NTRS1991

Comparison of elastic and rigid blade-element rotor models using parallel processing technology for piloted simulations

A piloted comparison of rigid and aeroelastic blade-element rotor models was conducted at the Crew Station Research and Development Facility (CSRDF) at Ames Research Center. A simulation development and analysis tool, FLIGHTLAB, was used to implement these models in real time using parallel processing technology. Pilot comments and qualitative analysis performed both on-line and off-line confirmed that elastic degrees of freedom significantly affect perceived handling qualities. Trim comparisons show improved correlation with flight test data when elastic modes are modeled. The results demonstrate the efficiency with which the mathematical modeling sophistication of existing simulation facilities can be upgraded using parallel processing, and the importance of these upgrades to simulation fidelity.

Hill, Gary↗
NASA NTRS2005

NASA's Growing Commitment: The Space Garden

Astronauts cannot live on dehydrated ice cream alone. Like everyone else, they need their vegetables. Enter VEGGIE, the Deployable Vegetable System, currently under development by Orbital Technologies Corporation (ORBITEC). VEGGIE is the latest in a long line of vegetable production units ORBITEC is currently working on, with NASA assistance, to grow salad crops to supplement prepackaged foods during long stays in space. The primary goal of the VEGGIE project is to provide flight crews with palatable, nutritious, and safe sources of fresh food with minimal volume and operational resources. In addition, ORBITEC recognizes the age-old adage that gardening is good for the soul, and it acknowledges that gardens are beneficial for relaxation and recreation. As evidence, astronauts on the International Space Station (ISS), who often stay for periods of 6 months, have been enjoying plant experiments, which provide them with much missed greenery and can occupy valuable free time with an enjoyable task. VEGGIE is a project that grew out of technology developed by ORBITEC for the Biomass Production System (BPS). The BPS is equivalent in size to a Space Shuttle middeck locker, and provides four plant growth chambers. Each chamber has independent control of temperature, humidity, nutrient and water delivery, lighting, and atmospheric composition. The BPS flew to the ISS in 2002, and astronaut Dan Bursch had positive comments about his interaction with the plants while in orbit. Astronaut Peggy Whitson had similarly positive remarks during the following expedition while she was growing soybeans for another experiment. Whitson reflects on her time in space with the plantings on Expedition 5, "Although it doesn t sound like much, it was really exciting to see something green. I assumed that this was just because I really enjoy plants, but it surprised me that both of my crewmates were just as excited. They wanted photos of themselves with the plants and asked if they could eat some of them, too!" The astronauts did not eat the plants, but these initial experiments gave the researchers information they needed about the basics of growing crops in space.

Source record↗
NASA NTRS2015

Development of a Near Real-Time Hail Damage Swath Identification Algorithm for Vegetation

Every year in the Midwest and Great Plains, widespread greenness forms in conjunction with the latter part of the spring-summer growing season. This prevalent greenness forms as a result of the high concentration of agricultural areas having their crops reach their maturity before the fall harvest. This time of year also coincides with an enhanced hail frequency for the Great Plains (Cintineo et al. 2012). These severe thunderstorms can bring damaging winds and large hail that can result in damage to the surface vegetation. The spatial extent of the damage can relatively small concentrated area or be a vast swath of damage that is visible from space. These large areas of damage have been well documented over the years. In the late 1960s aerial photography was used to evaluate crop damage caused by hail. As satellite remote sensing technology has evolved, the identification of these hail damage streaks has increased. Satellites have made it possible to view these streaks in additional spectrums. Parker et al. (2005) documented two streaks using the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) that occurred in South Dakota. He noted the potential impact that these streaks had on the surface temperature and associated surface fluxes that are impacted by a change in temperature. Gallo et al. (2012) examined at the correlation between radar signatures and ground observations from storms that produced a hail damage swath in Central Iowa also using MODIS. Finally, Molthan et al. (2013) identified hail damage streaks through MODIS, Landsat-7, and SPOT observations of different resolutions for the development of a potential near-real time applications. The manual analysis of hail damage streaks in satellite imagery is both tedious and time consuming, and may be inconsistent from event to event. This study focuses on development of an objective and automatic algorithm to detect these areas of damage in a more efficient and timely manner. This study utilizes the MODIS sensor aboard the NASA Aqua satellite. Aqua was chosen due to an afternoon orbit over the United States when land surface temperatures are relatively warm and improve the contrast between damaged and undamaged areas. This orbit is also similar to the orbit of the Suomi-National Polar-orbiting Partnership (NPP) satellite. The Suomi NPP satellite hosts the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) instrument, which is the next generation of a MODIS-like sensor in polar orbit.

MODIS VIIRS↗
NASA NTRS2015

High Thermal Conductivity NARloy-Z-Diamond Composite Liner for Advanced Rocket Engines

NARloy-Z (Cu-3Ag-0.5Zr) alloy is state-of-the-art combustion chamber liner material used in liquid propulsion engines such as the RS-68 and RS-25. The performance of future liquid propulsion systems can be improved significantly by increasing the heat transfer through the combustion chamber liner. Prior work1 done at NASA Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) has shown that the thermal conductivity of NARloy-Z alloy can be improved significantly by embedding high thermal conductivity diamond particles in the alloy matrix to form NARloy-Z-diamond composite (fig. 1). NARloy-Z-diamond composite containing 40vol% diamond showed 69% higher thermal conductivity than NARloy-Z. It is 24% lighter than NARloy-Z and hence the density normalized thermal conductivity is 120% better. These attributes will improve the performance and life of the advanced rocket engines significantly. The research work consists of (a) developing design properties (thermal and mechanical) of NARloy-Z-D composite, (b) fabrication of net shape subscale combustion chamber liner, and (c) hot-fire testing of the liner to test performance. Initially, NARloy-Z-D composite slabs were made using the Field Assisted Sintering Technology (FAST) for the purpose of determining design properties. In the next step, a cylindrical shape was fabricated to demonstrate feasibility (fig. 3). The liner consists of six cylinders which are sintered separately and then stacked and diffusion bonded to make the liner (fig. 4). The liner will be heat treated, finish-machined, and assembled into a combustion chamber and hot-fire tested in the MSFC test facility (TF 115) to determine perform.

Bhat, Biliyar↗
NASA NTRS1973

Land Use and Mapping

From the standpoint of technology, the most encouraging thing about ERTS has been the level of land-use identification. Land-use detail has exceeded the expectations of the Interagency Steering Committee and the requirements of land-use classification proposed by the Department of Interior. Whereas in the latter instance it was anticipated that only nine classes of land use would probably be identifiable, in fact some 14 to 18 classes have been identified. The success in the level of land-use identification results primarily from the various attributes of the ERTS system. These include the ability to provide repetitive coverage, and in particular seasonal coverage; the ability to image in four bands of the electromagnetic spectrum (green, red, and two near-infrared), which allows for manipulation of various combinations of bands; and the provision by the ERTS system of computer-compatible tapes for machine processing of data. Furthermore, the resolution of ERTS imagery has been better than expected. Although there is some question as to its exact resolving power, it is safe to say objects as small as 100 meters (300 feet) in diameter have been identified. Linear features as narrow as 16 meters (50 feet) can be detected (Figure 1).

Lindgren, D. T.↗
NASA NTRS1987

Multiple-angle observations of reflectance anisotropy from an airborne linear array sensor

An airborne pointable imaging multispectral linear array sensor has been developed for the multidirectional observation of surface reflectance anisotropy. The sensor design permits observations up to 45 deg off-nadir in three spectral bands (green, red, and near-infrared). Calibration permits the conversion of sensor data to radiance units with an absolute uncertainty of 6 percent. Observations of five field plots from seven view directions are discussed. Calibration and atmospheric corrections are used to derive hemispherical-directional reflectance factors. A three-term reflectance model is fit to the reflectance factors for each plot to represent the continuous distribution of reflectance factors with view direction. The reflectance model is integrated over all view directions to calculate bihemispherical reflectance factors. The calculated bihemispherical factors differed by 1 to 25 percent from values based on an assumption of isotropic reflectance depending on spectral band and field plot. These calculations demonstrate the technologic and scientific capabilities required for the remote characterization of surface reflectance anisotropy. Remote multidirectional observations are both feasible and needed to fully evaluate land reflectance characteristics.

Irons, James R.↗
NASA NTRS2023

Subsonic Ultra Green Aircraft Research: Phase IV Final Report – Volume I Mach 0.80 Transonic Truss-Braced Wing High-Speed Design Report

This design report summarizes work performed by the Boeing Subsonic Ultra-Green Aircraft Research (SUGAR) team from December 2016 through June 2018. In Phase IV of the SUGAR program, Boeing is working to improve the productivity of a TTBW configuration by updating the Mach 0.745 vehicle concept to operate efficiently at Mach 0.80. Due to the aerodynamic and structural design challenges associated with adapting the design to a higher speed, design tasks have been broken into several subtasks. The information in this report (Volume I) documents the development of a Mach 0.80 vehicle outer mold line, maturation of TTBW structural concepts, and presents a preliminary high-liftsystem assessment. Results from these studies were integrated into an aircraft-level performance code that estimates the benefits of TTBW technology, both on its own and as a part of the SUGAR integrated technology suite. The aerodynamic performance results presented herein detail the high cruise efficiency of the TTBW concept operating at M=0.80. Results from the RANS code OVERFLOW indicate that the TTBW is aerodynamically well suited for operation at the design M=0.80 transonic cruise Mach number. Aircraft-level performance predictions show that the TTBW offers a 7.2% improvement in fuel burn (per seat) for an economic mission of 900nm, and a 9.0% improvement in fuel burn (per seat) for a 3500nm mission with full passenger payload, relative to an aspect ratio 13 conventional tube and wing configuration of equivalent technology. Integration of the TTBW performance benefits into the SUGAR technology suite shows a 55.9% reduction in fuel burn (for the economic mission) relative to the reference (SUGAR Free) aircraft, which is a consistently sized traditional cantilever wing, single-aisle transport typical of the 2008 fleet. This benefit does not include the performance improvement potential of hybrid-electric systems studied in earlier phases of the SUGAR program Structural concept development work completed in Phase IV has identified several strut attachment concepts that are worth additional development activity – an inboard strut attachment swivel joint concept (which enables the strut to carry axial loads while avoiding strut bending induced by wing twist during flight) significantly simplifies the construction of the main strut. An outboard offset strut attachment concept holds significant potential for further reductions in wing-strut interference drag. Based on work performed to date on Phase IV and the previous phases of the SUGAR program, the TTBW concept continues to remain a viable concept for significantly improving the performance of future aircraft. High-fidelity aerodynamic analysis of the Mach 0.80 TTBW aircraft has shown fuel burn improvement that has exceeded initial expectations despite the increase in cruise Mach number. Structural concept maturation has continued to refine the TTBW structure, and has found no obvious ‘show-stoppers’ to date. Therefore, the potential benefit of improved performance through the use of a very high aspect ratio strut-braced wing continues to warrant additional study

SUGAR↗
NASA NTRS1996

Hypercars: The next industrial revolution

The auto industry -- one-seventh of the GNP, and the highest expression of the Iron Age -- is about to trigger the biggest transformation in industrial structure since the microchip. Ultralight cars molded from net-shape advanced composites can be several-fold lighter than present steel cars, yet safer, sportier, and more comfortable, durable, and beautiful. Modern hybrid-electric drives boost efficiency approximately 1.3-1.5x in heavy steel cars, but approximately 5-20x in ultralight, very slippery plafforms. Synergistically combined into ultralight-hybrid 'hypercars,' these elements can yield state-of-the-shelf family cars that average 150-300+ mi/gal -- twice that with state-of-the-art technologies -- yet can also be superior in all other respects, probably including cost: carbon-fiber monocoques can actually be cheaper to mass-produce that steel unibodies. Designing cars more like aircraft and less like tanks requires not only an approximately 400-500 kg curb mass and very low air and road drag, but also an aerospace philosophy of engineering integration. Mass, cost, and complexity turn out to compound with heavy hybrids but to decompound with ultralight hybrids, owing partly to radical simplification. Excellent aerodynamics, preferable including advanced techniques for passive boundary-layer control, will be the key to successful design integration. Transforming automaking is a competitive and environmental imperative, could form the nucleus of a green industrial Renaissance, and would enhance national security by, among other things, saving as much oil as OPEC now extracts. However, this transformation faces serious cultural barriers. For example, hypercars will be more like computers with wheels than like cars with chips -- they'll have an order of magnitude more code than today's cars -- but Detroit is not a software culture. Just the transition from stamped and welded steel to integrated and adhesive-joined synthetics is difficult enough. Nonetheless, hypercars are rapidly heading to market in the late 1990s, because approximately 25 current and intending automakers are eager to capture their potentially decisive competitive advantages -- including order-of-magnitude reductions in product cycle time, tooling cost, assembly effort, and parts count. Hypercars will succeed, and may well sweep the market, not because of mandates or subsidies, but because of manufacturers' quest for competitive advantage and customers' desire for better, smarter cars.

Lovins, Amory B.↗
NASA NTRS1972

The adversary process in technology assessment

An Agency which would act as a responsible technological ombudsman is proposed for inclusion in the technology assessment mechanism. The agency would be charged solely with the function and responsibility to probe and identify the negative factors and present them to Congress and the public. It is felt that in the development of technology in private sectors there are assessments and controls exerted by the public. However, in governmental technology, the agencies involved tend to emphasize the useful and beneficial aspects, and it is pointed out that the administrative agencies also tend to develop unwholesome affinities to the industries they regulate. It is also felt that scientific and engineering experts have a bias in favor of accomplishing what they think can be accomplished. The proposed devil's advocate agency would investigate the areas of hazards and potential hazards, and would subject Congress to the pressures of public opinion.

Green, H. P.↗
NASA NTRS1978

Microcomputer technology applications: Charger and regulator software for a breadboard programmable power processor

Software programs are described, one which implements a voltage regulation function, and one which implements a charger function with peak-power tracking of its input. The software, written in modular fashion, is intended as a vehicle for further experimentation with the P-3 system. A control teleprinter allows an operator to make parameter modifications to the control algorithm during experiments. The programs require 3K ROM and 2K ram each. User manuals for each system are included as well as a third program for simple I/O control.

Green, D. M.↗
NASA NTRS2008

AERONET-OC: Strengths and Weaknesses of a Network for the Validation of Satellite Coastal Radiometric Products

The Ocean Color component of the Aerosol Robotic Network (AERONET-OC) has been implemented to support long-term satellite ocean color investigations through cross-site consistent and accurate measurements collected by autonomous radiometer systems deployed on offshore fixed platforms. The ultimate purpose of AERONET-OC is the production of standardized measurements performed at different sites with identical measuring systems and protocols, calibrated using a single reference source and method, and processed with the same code. The AERONET-OC primary data product is the normalized water leaving radiance determined at center-wavelengths of interest for satellite ocean color applications, with an uncertainty lower than 5% in the blue-green spectral regions and higher than 8% in the red. Measurements collected at 6 sites counting the northern Adriatic Sea, the Baltic Proper, the Gulf of Finland, the Persian Gulf, and, the northern and southern margins of the Middle Atlantic Bay, have shown the capability of producing quality assured data over a wide range of bio-optical conditions including Case-2 yellow substance- and sedimentdominated waters. This work briefly introduces network elements like: deployment sites, measurement method, instrument calibration, processing scheme, quality-assurance, uncertainties, data archive and products accessibility. Emphases is given to those elements which underline the network strengths (i.e., mostly standardization of any network element) and its weaknesses (i.e., the use of consolidated, but old-fashioned technology). The work also addresses the application of AERONET-OC data to the validation of primary satellite radiometric products over a variety of complex coastal waters and finally provides elements for the identification of new deployment sites most suitable to support satellite ocean color missions.

Zibordi, Giuseppe↗
NASA NTRS2018

Public Engagement of Earth Science and Art Using Astronaut Photography

For over fifty years of crewed spaceflight missions, NASA astronauts have taken remarkable photographs of the Earth that offer various perspectives for viewing dynamic Earth processes. The International Space Station (ISS) today provides a unique platform to view and capture imagery of Earth at a variety of viewing angles, seasons, and times of day. Astronaut photos comprise a variable true-color (RGB - Red Green Blue) dataset taken with multiple handheld digital (and historically, film) cameras and lens types that differ from nadir-looking satellite-based remote sensing instruments with fixed temporal and spatial resolutions. The Crew Earth Observations (CEO) Facility within the Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit at NASA’s Johnson Space Center supports the acquisition, analysis, and curation of astronaut photography of Earth’s surface and atmosphere. CEO’s website, the Gateway to Astronaut Photography of Earth (eol.jsc.nasa.gov), provides free public access to view, search, and download over three million images taken by astronauts from Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo missions to current ISS missions. Handheld images taken by astronauts from the ISS are used for scientific research and public engagement in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) fields, particularly earth science. While segments of the public are actively interested in STEM fields, there may be groups who are underexposed to and disinterested in earth science or are unaware of astronaut photography from the ISS. A broader public audience can be introduced to earth science, STEM fields, and ISS research through artistic or abstract photos of the Earth. Wide angle pictures taken of Earth have identifiable landforms and bodies of water, however zoomed in, very high resolution photos without obvious geographic reference can attract new viewing audiences on a purely aesthetic basis. The CEO Facility actively curates a collection of exceptional astronaut photos of Earth as art used to reach a wider population through increased digital products and outreach events. This continuously-updated collection feeds development of freely accessible and high-quality downloadable materials including scientific articles, videos, computer wallpapers, and social media content. These materials are presented with science-based information that augments the artistic qualities of the imagery, and facilitate connection between art-engaged or non-STEM audiences to the ISS research platform and the need for future innovative STEM research.

Meado, Andrea L.↗
NASA NTRS1973

Design of a fault tolerant airborne digital computer. Volume 1: Architecture

This volume is concerned with the architecture of a fault tolerant digital computer for an advanced commercial aircraft. All of the computations of the aircraft, including those presently carried out by analogue techniques, are to be carried out in this digital computer. Among the important qualities of the computer are the following: (1) The capacity is to be matched to the aircraft environment. (2) The reliability is to be selectively matched to the criticality and deadline requirements of each of the computations. (3) The system is to be readily expandable. contractible, and (4) The design is to appropriate to post 1975 technology. Three candidate architectures are discussed and assessed in terms of the above qualities. Of the three candidates, a newly conceived architecture, Software Implemented Fault Tolerance (SIFT), provides the best match to the above qualities. In addition SIFT is particularly simple and believable. The other candidates, Bus Checker System (BUCS), also newly conceived in this project, and the Hopkins multiprocessor are potentially more efficient than SIFT in the use of redundancy, but otherwise are not as attractive.

Wensley, J. H.↗