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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 451 records · Page 25

The Skylab orbital laboratory.

The Skylab orbital laboratory is described in terms of spacecraft design features, the experiment programs, and the schedule of planned missions. Attention is given to flight and crew operations, rescue measures, the Multiple Docking Adapter, the Airlock Module, the Workshop, the Apollo Telescope Mount, Saturn V booster, Command and Service Modules, the life support system, thermal and environmental control, electrical power, attitude and pointing control, instrumentation and communications, crew equipment, provisions, and stowage.

Schneider, W. C.↗

A cursory look at shuttle flight operations.

The purpose of the shuttle system is to permit us to do more useful and necessary things in space at minimum cost. The flight operation subsystem must be consistent with these goals. This review of the predicted payload and mission types reveals a ground facility functionally similar to the Skylab Control Center is needed to provide trajectory control and system management services for the spacecraft and payloads and to provide rapid, effective payload data acquisition and distribution to the user. An automated mission management system must be added to translate user requirements into specific missions, directives, schedules, and plans.

Tindall, H. W., Jr.↗

Feasibility study: Liquid hydrogen plant, 30 tons per day

The design considerations of the plant are discussed in detail along with management planning, objective schedules, and cost estimates. The processing scheme is aimed at ultimate use of coal as the basic raw material. For back-up, and to provide assurance of a dependable and steady supply of hydrogen, a parallel and redundant facility for gasifying heavy residual oil will be installed. Both the coal and residual oil gasifiers will use the partial oxidation process.

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Shuttle payload interface verification equipment study. Volume 3: Specification data

A complete description is given of the IVE physical and performance design requirements as evolved in this study. The data are presented in a format to facilitate the development of an item specification. Data were used to support the development of the project plan data (schedules, cost, etc.) contained in Volume 4 of this report.

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ERDA-NASA wind energy project ready to involve users

The NASA contribution to the Wind Energy Project is discussed. NASA is responsible for the following: (1) identification of cost-effective configurations and sizes of wind-conversion systems, (2) the development of technology needed to produce these systems, (3) the design of wind-conversion systems that are compatible with user requirements, particularly utility networks, and (4) technology transfer obtained from the program to stimulate rapid commercial application of wind systems. Various elements of the NASA program are outlined, including industry-built user operation, the evaluation phase, the proposed plan and schedule for site selection and user involvement, supporting research and technology (e.g., energy storage), and component and subsystem technology development.

Thomas, R.↗

A plan for application system verification tests: The value of improved meteorological information, volume 1

The framework within which the Applications Systems Verification Tests (ASVTs) are performed and the economic consequences of improved meteorological information demonstrated is described. This framework considers the impact of improved information on decision processes, the data needs to demonstrate the economic impact of the improved information, the data availability, the methodology for determining and analyzing the collected data and demonstrating the economic impact of the improved information, and the possible methods of data collection. Three ASVTs are considered and program outlines and plans are developed for performing experiments to demonstrate the economic consequences of improved meteorological information. The ASVTs are concerned with the citrus crop in Florida, the cotton crop in Mississippi and a group of diverse crops in Oregon. The program outlines and plans include schedules, manpower estimates and funding requirements.

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Spacelab payloads

The various payloads planned for Spacelab are discussed with emphasis on the experimental objectives of the payload, the state of planning or development, and the planned flight schedule. Attention is given to payloads involving life sciences, atmospheric and space physics, infrared astronomy, solar physics, ultraviolet/optical astronomy, and high energy astrophysics.

Sharp, G. W.↗

Definition study for variable cycle engine testbed engine and associated test program

The product/study double bypass variable cycle engine (VCE) was updated to incorporate recent improvements. The effect of these improvements on mission range and noise levels was determined. This engine design was then compared with current existing high-technology core engines in order to define a subscale testbed configuration that simulated many of the critical technology features of the product/study VCE. Detailed preliminary program plans were then developed for the design, fabrication, and static test of the selected testbed engine configuration. These plans included estimated costs and schedules for the detail design, fabrication and test of the testbed engine and the definition of a test program, test plan, schedule, instrumentation, and test stand requirements.

Vdoviak, J. W.↗

The 25 kW power module evolution study. Part 3: Conceptual designs for power module evolution. Volume 2: Program plans

A plan is presented for the evolutionary development and deployment of the power module system with performance capabilities required to support the 1983 to 1990 user requirements. Aspects summarized include program functional, operational, and hardware elements; program work breakdown and specification items; development plans and schedules for developmental and technology milestones; test concepts and timeliness; and ground and orbit operations concepts.

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Cryogenic cooling study for the advanced limb scanner

The cryogenic operating requirements for a VM refrigerator to be used for detector cooling of the advanced limb scanner (ALS) instrument are defined. Determination of these requirements include consideration of mission and environmental constraints. Based on the operating requirements a detailed refrigerator design and performance analysis is conducted resulting in an optimized VM refrigerator conceptual design. The cooler-instrument-spacecraft interfaces are evaluated resulting in recommendations as to the best approach and most effective concepts resulting in simple and satisfactory interfaces. A preliminary implementation plan and schedule describing the general tasks required to develop, design, manufacture, test, and deliver three VM coolers and required support equipment to support an ALS flight experiment are presented. The result of this effort shows that existing VM cooler technology is sufficient to satisfy ALS mission requirements and schedules.

Russo, S. C.↗

Conceptual Design of an In-Space Cryogenic Fluid Management Facility

The conceptual design of a Spacelab experiment to develop the technology associated with low gravity propellant management is presented. The proposed facility consisting of a supply tank, receiver tank, pressurization system, instrumentation, and supporting hardware, is described. The experimental objectives, the receiver tank to be modeled, and constraints imposed on the design by the space shuttle, Spacelab, and scaling requirements, are described. The conceptual design, including the general configurations, flow schematics, insulation systems, instrumentation requirements, and internal tank configurations for the supply tank and the receiver tank, is described. Thermal, structural, fluid, and safety and reliability aspects of the facility are analyzed. The facility development plan, including schedule and cost estimates for the facility, is presented. A program work breakdown structure and master program schedule for a seven year program are included.

Willen, G. S.↗

The Galileo Delta-VEGA mission to Jupiter

Project Galileo is to perform a more comprehensive investigation of the Jupiter system than was possible with Voyager. The Galileo spacecraft consists of both a planetary Orbiter and an atmospheric entry Probe. In connection with budgetary considerations and schedule problems, plans concerning the implementation of the project were changed a number of times. For the first seven months of 1982, the project Galileo was baselined as a Delta-VEGA transfer to be launched in 1985 by the Space Shuttle using the U.S. Air Force two-stage IUS as the upper stage augmented by a spacecraft Injection Module. The new mission and systems aspects of this 1985 Galileo Delta-VEGA baseline are compared to the prior 1985 Centaur direct transfer baseline. The techniques developed to virtually restore all the mission science in spite of greatly reduced launch vehicle performance are discussed. In July 1982, the U.S. Government reinstated the Centaur development and stipulated that Galileo be launched by Shuttle/Centaur in 1986.

Oneil, W. J.↗

Decision-making and problem-solving methods in automation technology

The state of the art in the automation of decision making and problem solving is reviewed. The information upon which the report is based was derived from literature searches, visits to university and government laboratories performing basic research in the area, and a 1980 Langley Research Center sponsored conferences on the subject. It is the contention of the authors that the technology in this area is being generated by research primarily in the three disciplines of Artificial Intelligence, Control Theory, and Operations Research. Under the assumption that the state of the art in decision making and problem solving is reflected in the problems being solved, specific problems and methods of their solution are often discussed to elucidate particular aspects of the subject. Synopses of the following major topic areas comprise most of the report: (1) detection and recognition; (2) planning; and scheduling; (3) learning; (4) theorem proving; (5) distributed systems; (6) knowledge bases; (7) search; (8) heuristics; and (9) evolutionary programming.

Hankins, W. W.↗

Space Telescope mission planning

Planning and scheduling for the Space Telescope astronomy mission involves a combination of concerns regarding orbital environment constraints and spacecraft operational characteristics. In many cases proper selection or sequencing of observations can minimize the impact of disadvantageous orbital geometry with respect to targets of interest or of repeatedly encountered environmental factors such as spacecraft passages through high radiant regions on the earth's upper atmosphere. An overview is presented of the characteristics of viewing celestial targets from low earth orbit and the principal effects and operational considerations which constrain or restrict the scheduling of observations of them.

Sherrill, T. J.↗

Uprated orbital maneuvering engine

The baseline orbital maneuvering system (OMS) of the Space Shuttle has the potential for significant performance uprating, leading to increased Shuttle payload capability. The baseline OMS, its requirements, and its operational characteristics are described. Potential uprating approaches are discussed and the logic for selection of a higher performance engine is presented. It is shown that a higher performance engine essentially means an engine operating at higher pressures and that a pump-fed engine is necessary for the higher pressure operation. A description of the uprated OMS engine, including requirements, baseline engine characteristics, and significant engine issues, is presented. Discussion of the program underway at the NASA Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center to attain additional insight into these issues, through the performance of a component demonstration program, includes the technical objectives, approach, and program schedule. The plans for further development are presented, culminating in the plans for integration with the Orbiter and the Shuttle system.

Hooper, J. C.↗

Artificial intelligence - New tools for aerospace project managers

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is currently being used for business-oriented, money-making applications, such as medical diagnosis, computer system configuration, and geological exploration. The present paper has the objective to assess new AI tools and techniques which will be available to assist aerospace managers in the accomplishment of their tasks. A study conducted by Brown and Cheeseman (1983) indicates that AI will be employed in all traditional management areas, taking into account goal setting, decision making, policy formulation, evaluation, planning, budgeting, auditing, personnel management, training, legal affairs, and procurement. Artificial intelligence/expert systems are discussed, giving attention to the three primary areas concerned with intelligent robots, natural language interfaces, and expert systems. Aspects of information retrieval are also considered along with the decision support system, and expert systems for project planning and scheduling.

Moja, D. C.↗

Orbital fluid servicing and resupply operations

The capability to reservice spacecraft and satellites with expendable fluids will provide significant increases in the usability, operational efficiency and cost effectiveness of in-space systems. Initial resupply will be accomplished from the Orbiter cargo bay starting with monopropellant servicing which will eventually be extended to servicing of bipropellants and pressurants. Other fluids, such as freon, ammonia, methanol, superfluid helium, and liquid/gaseous nitrogen may also need to be resupplied once a space station becomes a reality. These fluids/gases are required for subsystem working fluid replacement and payload/experiment fluid replenishment. A logistics module operating on a 90 day schedule is planned for space station servicing. Resupplying hundreds of thousands of pounds of cryogenic propellants and reactants for users such as the Orbital Transfer Vehicle (OTV) also represents future logistics challenges. Implementation of on-orbit fluid transfer requires solving many problems including fluid management in the low-g environment, system docking and interface mating, configuration of user friendly avionics to monitor and control the entire servicing operation, and minimized maintenance and enhanced reliability. Candidate fluid transfer methods and possible gas transfer methods are discussed, and preliminary storable monopropellant and bipropellant tanker designs are summarized.

Eberhardt, R. N.↗