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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 415 records · Page 23
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1985

Space research in the era of the space station

The major elements of the NASA manned space station are described, and science activities it could be used for are suggested. The core facilities include at least two major laboratory modules with supporting utilities, including habitation accommodations, docking facilities, power and heat rejection units, and external space and support for attached payloads. A vertically oriented structure, called the Power Tower, is being studied. Scientific accommodations inside the modules include major facility instrumentation for a variety of microgravity research projects, with initial emphasis upon materials research and life sciences. The second element is composed of free-flying satellites operating in orbits near the core station. The third element consists of satellites in polar orbits. One or more large, multi-instrument platforms are planned for Earth observation and solar-terrestrial processes research.

Banks, P. M.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Physiological considerations for EVA in the Space Station era

The physiological parameters that will affect EMU design and operational scheduling for the Space Station Program are discussed. The system must be designed to safely and effectively handle the increased frequency of extravehicular activity projected for longer flight periods than in the past. In order to minimize the risk of decompression sickness a proper combination of equilibration time to cabin pressure, suit pressure, and prebreathing denitrogenation, is necessary. Effective thermal exchange is projected to be automatically controlled and to have an 8-hr 1000 BTU/hr capability. Physiological changes due to adaptation to weightlessness must be considered in scheduling for their impact on performance/fatigue and in coping with motion sickness. Radiation protection to the limit of 80 rad/quarter must be achieved by scheduling to avoid periodic proton and solar flare exposure, and by additional EMU shielding. Additional EMU considerations are the control of microorganisms and the higher pressure requirement for emergency O2 purge.

Horrigan, D. J., Jr.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Workshop on Cosmic Ray and High Energy Gamma Ray Experiments for the Space Station Era, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, October 17-20, 1984, Proceedings

The potential of the Space Station as a platform for cosmic-ray and high-energy gamma-ray astronomy is discussed in reviews, reports, and specific proposals. Topics examined include antiparticles and electrons, science facilities and new technology, high-energy nuclear interactions, nuclear composition and energy spectra, Space Shuttle experiments, Space Station facilities and detectors, high-energy gamma rays, and gamma-ray facilities and techniques. Consideration is given to universal-baryon-symmetry testing on the scale of galactic clusters, particle studies in a high-inclination orbit, balloon-borne emulsion-chamber results on ultrarelativistic nucleus-nucleus interactions, ionization states of low-energy cosmic rays, a large gamma-ray telescope for point-source studies above 1 GeV, and the possible existence of stable quark matter.

Jones, W. V.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Anomalous cosmic ray interaction events for investigations in the SSC and Space Station era - 'Long lived she-devil phenomena'

Observational data on anomalous cosmic-ray interaction events are compiled, classified, and briefly characterized. The events are divided into three groups: those confirmed by later observation or experiment, those shown to be the result of observational or analytical error, and those still unexplained. Among the phenomena in the latter group are magnetic-monopole candidates, fractionally charged particles, massive stable particles, anomalons, proton-decay and neutron-oscillation candidates, muon bundles, narrow showers, anomalous photons, fanlike phenomena, quark-gluon-plasma candidates, and anomalous long-range delta rays.

Takahashi, Y.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Generation of microwave background fluctuations from nonlinear perturbations at the era of galaxy formation

The production of temperature distortions of the microwave background by primordial galaxy formation is investigated theoretically. The temperature anisotropies induced by the presence of hot ionized gas during the formation of structure are roughly approximated and found to be greater than the initial anisotropies predicted by hierarchical models, and close to the present upper limit (delta (T/T = about 0.00001 at angular scale 1 arcmin) for standard cold-dark-matter models with Omega(0) = Omega(b) = H/(100 km/s) = 1. It is suggested that sensitive small-scale microwave-fluctuation measurements can impose significant constraints on models of primordial galaxy formation.

Ostriker, J. P.↗
NASA NTRS1986

TAE Plus: A conceptual view of TAE in the space station era

The use of the Transportable Applications Executive (TAE) for prototyping user interfaces has been the prime force behind the new TAE research and development work. The Data Systems Technology Division at GSFC is developing prototypes of user interfaces for different functions involved in the operation, analysis and data communication of space station payloads. TAE is a valuable prototyping tool because it enables a developer to build an entire application user interface model and run it without writing a single line of application code. One force driving new development is the need to update TAE's user interface to support the latest interactive graphic device technology. The current TAE, TAE Classic, uses interface techniques designed for an 80x24 character monochrome alphanumeric terminal, but does not effectively utilize features such as windowing, graphics, color, and selection devices available on newer workstations. To meet our needs, development of a TAE Plus began in FY-86 and involves augmenting TAE with three different sets of tools: a user interface toolkit; an application toolkit; and run-time service subroutines. A phased approach is being used to develop TAE Plus. In the first phase, we have met the needs of the user community and provided some support for rapid prototyping by developing a TAE Facelift, which adds an enhanced TAE interface (with windowing, mouse interaction, pull-down menus, etc.) to a select set of graphic workstations. The TAE Facelift allows many new concepts to be tested quickly for feedback and performance. In the second phase, a fully-integrated user interface management system, TAE Plus, will be built that supports the separation of interface from application, with the concomitant ability to prototype and rapidly change interfaces. This robust functionality will support, in an integrated manner, an application's development cycle from the prototype step through to the fully operational system.

Szczur, Martha↗
NASA NTRS1987

Mass storage systems for data transport in the early space station era 1992-1998

NASA's Space Station Program will provide a vehicle to deploy an unprecedented number of data producing experiments and operational devices. Peak down link data rates are expected to be in the 500 megabit per second range and the daily data volume could reach 2.4 terabytes. Such startling requirements inspired an internal NASA study to determine if economically viable data storage solutions are likely to be available to support the Ground Data Transport segment of the NASA data system. To derive the requirements for data storage subsystems, several alternative data transport architectures were identified with different degrees of decentralization. Data storage operations at each subsystem were categorized based on access time and retrieval functions, and reduced to the following types of subsystems: First in First out (FIFO) storage, fast random access storage, and slow access with staging. The study showed that industry funded magnetic and optical storage technology has a reasonable probability of meeting these requirements. There are, however, system level issues that need to be addressed in the near term.

Carper, Richard↗
NASA NTRS1986

U.S. experience in satellite servicing and linkage to the Space Station era

A history of on-orbit servicing and repair is given with emphasis placed on the Solar Maximum Repair Mission. The experience gained thus far in on-orbit servicing and the design of the Space Station's servicing capabilities impose the following requirements on users: (1) satellites must have a standard grapple for capture and a standard berthing interface, (2) Space Station safety requirements must meet to preclude damage to the Space Station or injury to the EVA crew, (3) sensitive instruments will need to implement remotely controlled protective devices to prevent damage, and (4) satellite thermal systems must be designed to maintain survival temperatures during transfer from orbit to the Space Station servicing facility.

Browning, R. K.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Communications satellites in the fiber optics era

Three new satellite technologies, i.e., electronically hopped antenna beams, on-board switching, and laser intersatellite links, will soon be tested on experimental satellites. These technologies will enable future satellites to capture significant amounts of data and voice traffic. Fiber cables on the continents will dominate trunking routes, but satellites functioning as switches will be more flexible and reliable, and will cost less than terrestrial-based switches. When satellite switches and laser intersatellite links are combined, the resulting satellite networks will provide cost-effective, independent voice/data networks in the coming global village. They will augment existing terrestrial networks for thin route and low data rate links.

Lovell, R. R.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Operational medicine in Space Station era

Medical considerations for long duration manned space missions are examined. The requirements and hardware for medical operations on the Space Station are diagrammatically presented. The physiological and psychological changes that have been observed during space flights are discussed. Crew health maintenance and medical care in the Space Station environment require earth-based and in flight continuity. It is also necessary to identify the appropriate zero-G therapeutic methods for treating a patient. Techniques for transferring patients in orbit and to earth are studied. Considerations are given to control and life support systems and data management for medical operations.

Furukawa, S.↗
NASA NTRS1987

Data storage systems technology for the Space Station era

The paper presents the results of an internal NASA study to determine if economically feasible data storage solutions are likely to be available to support the ground data transport segment of the Space Station mission. An internal NASA effort to prototype a portion of the required ground data processing system is outlined. It is concluded that the requirements for all ground data storage functions can be met with commercial disk and tape drives assuming conservative technology improvements and that, to meet Space Station data rates with commercial technology, the data will have to be distributed over multiple devices operating in parallel and in a sustained maximum throughput mode.

Dalton, John↗
NASA NTRS1987

Satellite servicing in the Space Station era

The paper examines the lessons learned from past experiences, the requirements that apply to the various types of missions requiring servicing, and the present plans for establishing a system by which on-orbit servicing, assembly, and repair will become routine. It is noted that, by expanding on the servicing experience and capabilities provided directly by the STS, the Space Station will significantly enhance the mission objectives of long-duration scientific missions, not only by repair and consumable replenishment, but also by the addition and replacement of scientific instruments with upgraded versions. The servicing facility design is described, and a typical servicing scenario is presented.

Lavigna, Thomas A.↗
NASA NTRS1987

Hubble Space Telescope servicing - Experience base for a new era

An account is given of the conceptual evolution of the Hubble Space Telescope's (HST) maintenance methodology, and the belated recognition of its long-term support requirements, as well as measures conceived for the extension of this orbiting observatory's service life, and the prospective benefits derivable by comparable programs from HST experience. Attention is given to HST cost and capability tradeoffs, the maintenance concept's definition, the integrated logistic support planning instituted by the program and its failure-prediction methods, as well as the institutional support base employed.

Welch, James C.↗
NASA NTRS1987

Space Network mission support in the Space Station era

The Mission Model for user support and NASA's plans to provide the necessary support resources are discussed. Particular attention is given to considerations which imply operation of up to two additional Tracking and Data Relay Satellites (TDRS), as well as potential interoperability with data relay satellite systems planned for launch in the mid-1990s by the ESA and by the NASDA of Japan. NASA activities related to the development of an Advanced TDRS system for the support of missions flying in the 21st century are also discussed.

Harris, David W.↗
NASA NTRS1988

OSSA's Telescience concept for the Space Station era

NASA's Office of Space Science and Applications has formulated an operational concept, 'telescience', for Space Station-related missions; telescience encompasses teledesign, teleoperations, teleanalysis, and an overall integrating structure that defines and delineates the system's architectural infrastructure and networking for implementation. Attention is here given to the development status of data interchange standards, interoperable networks, automated data-ingest mechanisms and access directories, means to the accessing of heterogeneous data bases, and user-support environments.

Weiss, James R.↗
NASA NTRS1988

A telescope for high energy gamma-ray measurements in the Space Station era

This paper describes the concept of a large gamma-ray imaging telescope system (GRITS) which will provide sufficient sensitivity for the identification of faint objects to be catalogued by the Gamma-Ray Observatory. The technique used in this telescope for the detection of gamma rays is based on the conversion of the incident gamma ray into an electron-positron pair which subsequently produces Cherenkov radiation. The gamma ray is identified by a unique signature based on a sequence of time-delayed coincidence events. The GRITS telescope will use the extended Shuttle external tank, ET, as the pressure vessel necessary for the gas-Cherenkov process. Astronauts from the Shuttle or the Space Station performing EVA will convert ET to an autonomous spacecraft and install the telescope inside the ET.

Koch, David G.↗
NASA NTRS1987

Space 2000: Meeting the challenge of a new era

The focus of the present book is on the variety of past and future human activities in space. NASA's response to the Challenger explosion is discussed and an overview is given of the agency's relations with foreign competitors in the 1980s. The practical uses of space are described with attention given to communications satellites, the orbital high ground (weather watching, spying, and SDI), earth science, and materials processing in space. Other topics include the exploration of the near and distant universe, and permanent stations in space and on the moon.

Shipman, Harry L.↗
NASA NTRS1989

Remote sensing information sciences research group: Browse in the EOS era

The problem of science data browse was examined. Given the tremendous data volumes that are planned for future space missions, particularly the Earth Observing System in the late 1990's, the need for access to large spatial databases must be understood. Work was continued to refine the concept of data browse. Further, software was developed to provide a testbed of the concepts, both to locate possibly interesting data, as well as view a small portion of the data. Build II was placed on a minicomputer and a PC in the laboratory, and provided accounts for use in the testbed. Consideration of the testbed software as an element of in-house data management plans was begun.

Estes, John E.↗