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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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George Diller, NASA Public Affairs, introduces Bill Gerstenmaier, Deputy Manager of the ISS Program, Dave King, NASA Director of Shuttle Processing, and Judy Konecky, Staff Meteorologist, in this STS-105 press conference. An overview is given of the success of the Expedition 2 crew, the expectations of the Expedition 3 crew, the launch countdown status, and the weather forecast for the Shuttle launch. They then answer questions from the press.
On this seventh day of the STS-108 mission, NASA Ground Control, STS-108 crew (Commander Dominic Gorie, Pilot Mark Kelly, and Mission Specialists Linda Godwin and Daniel Tani), Expedition 3 crew (Commander Frank Culbertson, Jr. and Flight Engineers Mikhail Turin and Vladimir Dezhurov), and Expedition 4 crew (Commander Yuri Onufrienko and Flight Engineers Carl Walz and Daniel Bursch) are seen during a ceremony of remembrance on the three-month anniversary of the September 11th tragedy. The three crews also answer questions from the press on their missions. They are seen as they transfer supplies and equipment from the Rafaello Multipurpose Logistics Module.
A continuation of 'STS-104 Mission Highlights Resource Tape, Part 1 of 4' (internal ID 2001214904), this video shows footage from flight days four through seven of the STS-104 mission. Mission Specialists Mike Gernhardt and Jim Reilly are seen during their spacewalks, Pilot Charles Hobaugh and Mission Specialists Janet Kavandi, Mike Gernhardt, and Jim Reilly, and Expedition 2 Flight Engineer Susan Helms work inside the newly installed Quest Airlock. Expedition 2 Flight Engineer Jim Voss is seen as he works to outfit the vestibule between the Unity Module and Quest and opening the hatch between the two components of the International Space Station. Flight days seven (continued) though twelve can be found on the videos 'STS-104 Mission Highlights Resource Tape, Part 3 of 4' (internal ID 2001214906) and 'STS-104 Mission Highlights Resource Tape, Part 4 of 4' (internal ID 2001214905).
On this eighth day of the STS-108 mission, the STS-108 crew (Commander Dominic Gorie, Pilot Mark Kelly, and Mission Specialists Linda Godwin and Daniel Tani), Expedition 3 crew (Commander Frank Culbertson, Jr. and Flight Engineers Mikhail Turin and Vladimir Dezhurov), and Expedition 4 crew (Commander Yuri Onufrienko and Flight Engineers Carl Walz and Daniel Bursch) work to reload the Rafaello Multipurpose Logistics Module. Commander Culbertson is seen on the International Space Station's treadmill.
On this third day of the STS-108 mission, the Endeavour Orbiter is seen docking with the International Space Station. The crew of STS-108 (Commander Dominic Gorie, Pilot Mark Kelly, and Mission Specialists Linda Godwin and Daniel Tani) and Expedition 4 (Commander Yuri Onufrienko and Flight Engineers Carl Walz and Daniel Bursch) greet the Expedition 3 crew (Commander Frank Culbertson, Jr. and Flight Engineers Mikhail Turin and Vladimir Dezhurov) in the Destiny Laboratory Module.
On this fifth day of the STS-108 mission, the STS-108 crew (Commander Dominic Gorie, Pilot Mark Kelly, and Mission Specialists Linda Godwin and Daniel Tani), Expedition 3 crew (Commander Frank Culbertson, Jr. and Flight Engineers Mikhail Turin and Vladimir Dezhurov), and Expedition 4 crew (Commander Yuri Onufrienko and Flight Engineers Carl Walz and Daniel Bursch) join in an on-orbit conference to honor those who lost loved ones in the September 11th tragedy. They are also seen moving equipment from the Rafaello Multipurpose Logistics Module to the International Space Station.
The aerospace industry has long been perceived as the domain of both physicists and mechanical engineers. This perception has endured even though the primary method of providing the thrust necessary to launch a rocket into space is chemical in nature. The chemical engineering and chemistry personnel behind the systems that provide access to space have labored in the shadows of the physicists and mechanical engineers. As exploration into the cosmos moves farther away from Earth, there is a very distinct need for new chemical processes to help provide the means for advanced space exploration. The state of the art in launch systems uses chemical propulsion systems, primarily liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen, to provide the energy necessary to achieve orbit. As we move away from Earth, there are additional options for propulsion. Unfortunately, few of these options can compare to the speed or ease of use provided by the chemical propulsion agents. It is with great care and significant cost that gaseous compounds such as hydrogen and oxygen are liquefied and become dense enough to use for rocket fuel. These low-temperature liquids fall within a specialty area known as cryogenics. Cryogenics, the science and art of producing cold operating conditions for use on Earth, in orbit, or on some other nonterrestrial body, has become increasingly important to our ability to travel within our solar system. The production of cryogenic fuels and the long-term storage of these fluids are necessary for travel. As our explorations move farther away from Earth, we need to address how to produce the necessary fuels to make a round-trip. The cost and the size of these expeditions are extreme at best. If we take everything necessary for our survival for the round-trip, we invalidate any chance of travel in the near future. As with the early explorers on Earth, we need to harvest much of our energy and our life support from the celestial bodies. The in situ production of these energy sources is paramount to success. We are currently working on several processes to produce the propellants that would allow us to visit and explore the surface of Mars. The capabilities currently at our disposal for launching and delivering equipment to another planet or satellite dictate that the size and scale of any hardware must be extremely small. The miniaturization of the processes needed to prepare the in situ propellants and life support commodities is a real challenge. Chemical engineers are faced with the prospect of reproducing an entire production facility in miniature so the complex can be lifted into space and delivered to our destination. Another area that does not normally concern chemical engineers is the extreme physical aspects payloads are subjected to with the launch of a spacecraft. Extreme accelerations followed by the sudden loss of nearly all gravitational forces are well outside normal equipment design conditions. If the equipment cannot survive the overall trip, then it obviously will not be able to yield the needed products upon arrival. These launch constraints must be taken into account. Finally, we must consider both the effectiveness and efficiencies of the processes. A facility located on the Moon or Mars will not have an unlimited supply of power or other ancillary utilities. For a Mars expedition, the available electric power is severely limited. The design of both the processes and the equipment must be considered. With these constraints in mind, only the most efficient designs will be viable. Cryogenics, in situ resource utilization, miniaturization, launchability, and power/process efficiencies are only a few of the areas that chemical engineers provide support and expertise for the exploration of space.
On this eleventh day of the STS-108 mission, the Expedition 3 crew (Commander Frank Culbertson, Jr. and Flight Engineers Mikhail Turin and Vladimir Dezhurov), Expedition 4 crew (Commander Yuri Onufrienko and Flight Engineers Carl Walz and Daniel Bursch), and STS-108 crew (Commander Dominic Gorie, Pilot Mark Kelly, and Mission Specialists Linda Godwin and Daniel Tani) are seen as the E3 crew bids farewell to the International Space Station (ISS) that has been their home for the previous several months. Endeavour undocks from ISS and performs the customary flyaround. The STS-108 crew and Commander Culbertson answer questions from the press in an on-orbit interview.
On this ninth day of the STS-108 mission, the Expedition 3 crew (Commander Frank Culbertson, Jr. and Flight Engineers Mikhail Turin and Vladimir Dezhurov), Expedition 4 crew (Commander Yuri Onufrienko and Flight Engineers Carl Walz and Daniel Bursch), and STS-108 crew (Commander Dominic Gorie, Pilot Mark Kelly, and Mission Specialists Linda Godwin and Daniel Tani) are seen during a ceremony where the E3 crew officially hands over the control of the International Space Station of the E4 crew. Kelly, Godwin, and Tani are seen on the middeck of Endeavour stowing equipment.
On this twelfth day of the STS-108 mission, the deployment of the Starship-3 satellite is shown. Expedition 3 Commander Frank Culbertson, STS-108 Commander Dominic Gorie, Expedition 3 Flight Engineers Mikhail Turin and Vladimir Dezhurov, and STS-108 Pilot Mark Kelly are seen in an on-orbit interview, where they answer questions about their missions. Gorie, Kelly, and STS-108 Mission Specialist Linda Godwin are seen as they stow equipment on the middeck of Endeavour.
The crewmembers of STS-108, Commander Dominic Gorie, Pilot Mark Kelly, and Mission Specialists Linda Godwin and Daniel Tani, narrate this video as footage from the mission is shown. The crew is seen flying into Kennedy Space Center, suiting up, boarding the Endeavour Orbiter, and during launch. Various mission highlights are seen, including the rendezvous with the International Space Station (ISS) and docking of Endeavour, the unloading of the Multipurpose Logistics Module (MPLM), and the spacewalk to install thermal blankets over the Beta Gimbal Assemblies (BGAs) at the bases of the Space Station's solar panels. A glimpse is given into the difficulties of working in a microgravity environment as the crewmembers attempt to eat food before it floats away from them and drink water from a bag. The exchange of the Expedition 4 (Yuri I. Onufrienko, Carl E. Walz, and Daniel W. Bursch) for the Expedition 3 crew (Frank L. Culbertson, Mikhail Turin, and Vladimir N. Dezhurov) is also seen. The Endeavour undocks from the ISS, which is seen over the Caribbean Sea. Endeavour passes over Cuba, and footage of the Swiss Alps is shown. The video ends with the landing of the spacecraft.
A continuation of 'STS-105 Mission Highlights Resource Tape: Flight Days 1-3' (internal ID 2002046550), this video shows footage from flight days four through six of the STS-105 mission. Commander Scott Horowitz helps Mission Specialist Pat Forrester maneuver the Space Shuttle's robotic arm as it grapples the Multipurpose Logistics Module (MPLM) from Discovery's payload bay to the International Space Station (ISS). The three crews, STS-105 (Commander Horowitz, Pilot Fred Sturckow, and Mission Specialists Dan Barry and Forrester), Expedition 2 (Commander Yuriy Usachev and Flight Engineers James Voss and Susan Helms), and Expedition 3 (Commander Frank Culbertson, Jr. and Flight Engineers Mikhail Turin and Vladimir Dezhurov), are seen during unloading operations as they transfer equipment from the MPLM to the ISS. Forrester and Barry check their equipment and suits for the next day's spacewalks. The E2 crew shows the E3 crew around ISS. The crescent moon and the end of a sunset are seen from space. For activities from flight days 7-13, see 'STS-105 Mission Highlights Resource Tape: Flight Days 7-9' (internal ID 2002046552) and 'STS-105 Mission Highlights Resource Tape: Flight Days 10-13' (internal ID 2002046551).
A continuation of 'STS-105 Mission Highlights Resource Tape: Flight Days 1-3' (internal ID 2002046550) and 'STS-105 Mission Highlights Resource Tape: Flight Days 4-6' (internal ID 2002046549), this video shows footage from flight days seven through nine of the STS-105 mission. Mission Specialists Dan Barry and Pat Forrester are seen preparing for and performing their spacewalks, where they install an Early Ammonia Servicer on the International Space Station (ISS). The Expedition 2 crew (Commander Yuriy Usachev and Flight Engineers James Voss and Susan Helms) hands control of the ISS over to the Expedition 3 crew (Commander Frank Culbertson, Jr. and Flight Engineers Mikhail Turin and Vladimir Dezhurov) in a short ceremony. Barry and Forrester return to space the next day for another spacewalk to install handrails and heater cables. Hawaii is seen from space as ISS passes over, and the smoke from forest fires in Oregon and Idaho is shown. For footage from flight days 10-13, see 'STS-105 Mission Highlights Resource Tape: Flight Days 10-13' (internal ID 2002049551).
A continuation of 'STS-105 Mission Highlights Resource Tape: Flight Days 1-3' (internal ID 2002046550), 'STS-105 Mission Highlights Resource Tape: Flight Days 4-6' (internal ID 2002046549), and 'STS-105 Mission Highlights Resource Tape: Flight Days 7-9' (internal ID 2002046552), this video shows footage from flight days 10 through 13 of the STS-105 mission. The Multipurpose Logistics Module (MPLM) is moved from the International Space Station (ISS) to the payload bay of Discovery. The STS-105 crew (Commander Scott Horowitz, Pilot Fred Sturckow, and Mission Specialists Dan Barry and Pat Forrester) and Expedition 2 crew (Commander Yuriy Usachev and Flight Engineers James Voss and Susan Helms) bid farewell to the Expedition 3 crew (Commander Frank Culbertson, Jr. and Flight Engineers Mikhail Turin and Vladimir Dezhurov), who are to remain on ISS. ISS is seen against the Earth as Discovery performs its fly-around after the orbiter undocks. There is no flight day footage from flight day 12. Discovery is seen landing.
An overview of the STS-105 mission is given through footage of each flight day. Scenes from flight days one through three show activities such as astronaut prelaunch procedures (breakfast, suit-up, and boarding Discovery), the launch from multiple vantage points, and various on-orbit activities. Expedition 3 (E3) Commander Frank Culbertson, Jr. and Flight Engineer Mikhail Turin perform the H-Reflex Experiment, an experiment to test the effects of microgravity on the human spinal cord. As Discovery approaches the International Space Station (ISS), the Expedition 2 (E2) crew, Commander Yuriy Usachev and Flight Engineers James Voss and Susan Helms, are seen working in the Destiny Laboratory Module aboard ISS. Discovery docks to the space station and the three crews (STS-105, E2, and E3) greet each other after the hatches between the orbiter and ISS are opened. As Discovery passes over the United States, Utah, Wyoming, South Dakota, and Minnesota are seen through patchy clouds. Footage from flight days 4-13 can be found on 'STS-105 Mission Highlights Resource Tape: Flight Days 4-6' (internal ID 2002046549), 'STS-105 Mission Highlights Resource Tape: Flight Days 7-9' (internal ID 2002046552), and 'STS-105 Mission Highlights Resource Tape: Flight Days 10-13' (internal ID 2002046551).
From the beginning to the present expeditions to the Moon have involved a large investment of human labor. This has been true for all aspects of the process, from the initial design of the mission, whether scientific or technological, through the development of the instruments and the spacecraft, to the flight and operational phases. In addition to the time constraints that this situation imposes, there is also a significant cost associated with the large labor costs. As a result lunar expeditions have been limited to a few robotic missions and the manned Apollo program missions of the 1970s. With the rapid rise of the new information technologies, new paradigms are emerging that promise to greatly reduce both the time and cost of such missions. With the rapidly increasing capabilities of computer hardware and software systems, as well as networks and communication systems, a new balance of work is being developed between the human and the machine system. This new balance holds the promise of greatly increased exploration capability, along with dramatically reduced design, development, and operating costs. These new information technologies, utilizing knowledge-based software and very highspeed computer systems, will provide new design and development tools, scheduling mechanisms, and vehicle and system health monitoring capabilities that have hitherto been unavailable to the mission and spacecraft designer and the system operator. This paper will utilize typical lunar missions, both robotic and crewed, as a basis to describe and illustrate how these new information system technologies could be applied to all aspects such missions. In particular, new system design tradeoff tools will be described along with technologies that will allow a very much greater degree of autonomy of exploration vehicles than has heretofore been possible. In addition, new information technologies that will significantly reduce the human operational requirements will be discussed.
Four Antarctic explorers were invited to a workshop at Johnson Space Center (JSC) to provide expert assessments of NASA's current understanding of future human exploration missions beyond low Earth orbit. These explorers had been on relatively sophisticated, extensive Antarctic expeditions with sparse or nonexistent support infrastructure in the period following World War II through the end of the International Geophysical Year. Their experience was similar to that predicted for early Mars or other planetary exploration missions. For example: one Antarctic a expedition lasted two years with only one planned resupply mission and contingency plans for no resupply missions should sea ice prevent a ship from reaching them; several traverses across Antarctica measured more than 1000 total miles, required several months to complete, and were made without maps (because they did not exist) and with only a few aerial photos of the route; and the crews of six to 15 were often international in composition. At JSC, the explorers were given tours of development, training, and scientific facilities, as well as documentation at operational scenarios for future planetary exploration. This report records their observations about these facilities and plans in answers to a series of questions provided to them before the workshop.
STS-113 Mission Specialist 2 John Herrington is seen during a prelaunch interview. He answers questions about his inspiration to become an astronaut and his career path, as well as his thoughts on becoming the first Native American in space. He gives details on the mission's goals and significance, which include the transfer of the International Space Station's (ISS) Expedition 6 crew for the Expedition 5 crew, as well as the installation of the ISS's P-1 integrated truss structure. Herrington, who will participate in three EVAs (extravehicular activity), provides details on the installation of the truss structure. He also describes the process of crew transfer, which also involves the transfer of soft goods and scientific experiments, such as the MEMS (microelectromechanical systems)-based Picosatellite Inspector (MEPSI) which will be ejected from the shuttle shortly after it undocks from the ISS.