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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 541 records · Page 30
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1978

Manufacturing Process Applications Team (MATeam)

The activities of the Manufacturing Process Applications Team concerning the promotion of joint Industry/Federal Agency/NASA funded research and technology operating plan (RTOP) programs are reported. Direct transfers occurred in cutting tools, laser wire stripping, soldering, and portable X-ray unit technology. TROP program funding approval was obtained for the further development of the cutting tool Sialon and development of an automated nondestructive fracture toughness testing system.

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NASA NTRS1981

Space Telescope orbital viewing constraints

Astronomical observations with the Space Telescope will be constrained by spacecraft operational requirements and capabilities, orbital viewing conditions, and the space environment. While ultraviolet or bright visual-range observations may be performed for 53 to 94.6 minutes per orbit (from a 500 kilometer altitude), certain stray light sensitive experiments may be limited to 0-48 minutes of viewing per orbit. Careful operations planning may make possible observations of 'secondary' targets while a primary target is occulted, of objects as close as 18 deg to the sun, or of objects visible when the spacecraft is in a high radiation environment.

Sherrill, T. J.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Metric camera experiment

A test of the mapping capabilities of high resolution space photography taken at the resolution limit of image motion on large film format is planned. The metric camera system and its planned operation are described.

Reynolds, M.↗
NASA NTRS1982

Moonport to Spaceport - The changing face at KSC

The facilities and planned operations of the Orbiter Processing Facility (OPF) at Kennedy Space Center are described, noting an eventual goal of five to six weeks turnaround for the vehicle. The dual-bay OPF is being developed to handle processing of two Orbiters in parallel. Once in the facility, all fuels are drained, parts and systems needing maintenance are removed for shipping and refurbishing or repair in-place, hazardous cargo is secured, and a thorough visual inspection is made of all accessible areas. Mobile launch platforms previously used as transports in the Apollo program have been upgraded and modernized and serve for the Shuttle launch preparations. Details of launch procedures are outlined, and the reduction of launch personnel to 45 persons is mentioned. Finally, details of payload insertion and mating with the Spacelab modules are described, along with the progress on the test flights.

Boggs, W. H.↗
NASA NTRS1982

LANDSAT-4 post launch report 1

LANDSAT-4 (formerly LANDSAT-D) was launched successfully at 1:59 p.m. EDT on July 16, 1982, from Vandenberg Air Force Base. The Delta 3920 launch vehicle performed flawlessly and placed the satellite into the planned three sigma low orbit of 694 km. The lower orbit was selected to eliminate a retrograde maneuver for the orbit adjust burns necessary to place the satellite into its planned operational 16-day repeat track at 705 km. Spacecraft separation and the initiation of solar array depolyment occurred, over the Indian Ocean tracking station. Spacecraft attitude rates at separation were low, allowing the Earth sensor to immediately acquire the Earth with the momentum wheels and without use of the propulsion system. All systems activated as of noon on July 18, 1982, are performing well with no significant discrepancies reported.

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NASA NTRS1982

A review of utility issues for the integration of wind electric generators

A review of issues and concerns of the electric utility industry for the integration of wind electric generation is offered. The issues have been categorized in three major areas: planning, operations, and dynamic interaction. Representative studies have been chosen for each area to illustrate problems and to alleviate some concerns. The emphasis of this paper is on individual large wind turbines (WTs) and WT arrays for deployment at the bulk level in a utility system.

Reddoch, T. W.↗
NASA NTRS1984

The PH-D proposal - A manned mission to Phobos and Deimos

The rationale for a manned mission to the satellites of Mars is discussed. The view has been expressed that NASA must define a major program to follow the Shuttle and to utilize it. However, such a program could not be initiated and proceed without public support, and to obtain this support, public interest would have to be excited. It is shown that, of a number of possible targets for manned exploration in the solar system, Mars appears to be the only possible candidate. Attention is given to a comparison of three Mars missions, a Mars 1984 mission, a manned landing on Mars surface, a manned landing on Phobos and Deimos (Ph-D project), putting men in Mars orbit, the capabilities of the Ph-D mission, a description of the spacecraft, a Ph-D project operations plan, and aspects of timing, technology, and costs.

Singer, S. F.↗
NASA NTRS1983

Computer science: Key to a space program renaissance. The 1981 NASA/ASEE summer study on the use of computer science and technology in NASA. Volume 2: Appendices

Adoption of an aggressive computer science research and technology program within NASA will: (1) enable new mission capabilities such as autonomous spacecraft, reliability and self-repair, and low-bandwidth intelligent Earth sensing; (2) lower manpower requirements, especially in the areas of Space Shuttle operations, by making fuller use of control center automation, technical support, and internal utilization of state-of-the-art computer techniques; (3) reduce project costs via improved software verification, software engineering, enhanced scientist/engineer productivity, and increased managerial effectiveness; and (4) significantly improve internal operations within NASA with electronic mail, managerial computer aids, an automated bureaucracy and uniform program operating plans.

Freitas, R. A., Jr.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Moisture loss from graphite structures for the Hubble Space Telescope

The construction and telescope assembly of the NASA's Hubble Space Telescope (HST) is described with particular reference to the features of its construction material. Due to the hygroscopic nature of the graphite-fiber reinforced epoxy, used for much of the structure of the HST, the telescope, when in orbit, suffers losses of water, absorbed during on-ground procedures, accompanied by shrinkage of the epoxy matrix, and needs periodic realignment. Using a combination of analytic, laboratory measured, and in-space measured data, an operational plan for adjusting the alignment of the HST is presented. The refocusing plan must take into account the preceding ground environment, as well as the prelaunch, lift-off, and predeployment environments of the HST-bearing Space Shuttle.

Facey, T. A.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Robotics for the United States Space Station

Advances in robotics technology that will be necessary for the NASA Space Station to achieve its optimal level of automation are examined. The present state and emerging trends in teleoperator systems, hybrid teleoperated robots, and autonomous robots are reviewed, and scenarios of assembly, inspection, satellite servicing, and manufacturing are presented in order to illustrate potential uses of automation and robotics on the Space Station. Individual important technology development areas for Space Station robotics are surveyed, including end effectors and mechanization, control systems, telepresence and human factors, preception, manipulation in space, operation planning and data bases, and hardware maintenance.

Arnold, J. R.↗
NASA NTRS1987

Space station WP-04 power system. Volume 1: Executive summary

Major study activities and results of the phase B study contract for the preliminary design of the space station Electrical Power System (EPS) are summarized. The areas addressed include the general system design, man-tended option, automation and robotics, evolutionary growth, software development environment, advanced development, customer accommodations, operations planning, product assurance, and design and development phase planning. The EPS consists of a combination photovoltaic and solar dynamic power generation subsystem and a power management and distribution (PMAD) subsystem. System trade studies and costing activities are also summarized.

Hallinan, G. J.↗
NASA NTRS1987

Space station WP-04 power system. Volume 2: Study results

Results of the phase B study contract for the definition of the space station Electric Power System (EPS) are presented in detail along with backup information and supporting data. Systems analysis and trades, preliminary design, advanced development, customer accommodations, operations planning, product assurance, and design and development phase planning are addressed. The station design is a hybrid approach which provides user power of 25 kWe from the photovoltaic subsystem and 50 kWe from the solar dynamic subsystem. The electric power is distributed to users as a utility service; single phase at a frequency of 20 kHz and voltage of 440VAC. The solar array NiH2 batteries of the photovoltaic subsystem are based on commonality to those used on the co-orbiting and solar platforms.

Hallinan, G. J.↗
NASA NTRS1988

U.S. Laboratory Module - Its capabilities and accommodations to support user payloads

The U.S. Laboratory Module of the Space Station is discussed, focusing on user accommodations. The configuration and subsystems capabilities of the module are described, including the power, thermal, environmental control, and data management subsystems, the vacuum system, process materials management, and laboratory support equipment. The experimental facilities included in the laboratory are listed. The experiment operations planned for the laboratory are examined and compared with the experimental activities in other manned space laboratories.

Powell, Luther E.↗
NASA NTRS1989

A procedure concept for local reflex control of grasping

An architecture is proposed for the control of robotic devices, and in particular of anthropomorphic hands, characterized by a hierarchical structure in which every level of the architecture contains data and control function with varying degree of abstraction. Bottom levels of the hierarchy interface directly with sensors and actuators, and process raw data and motor commands. Higher levels perform more symbolic types of tasks, such as application of boolean rules and general planning operations. Layers implementation has to be consistent with the type of operation and its requirements for real time control. It is proposed to implement the rule level with a Boolean Artificial Neural Network characterized by a response time sufficient for producing reflex corrective action at the actuator level.

Fiorini, Paolo↗
NASA NTRS1989

Training for spacecraft technical analysts

Deep space missions such as Voyager rely upon a large team of expert analysts who monitor activity in the various engineering subsystems of the spacecraft and plan operations. Senior teammembers generally come from the spacecraft designers, and new analysts receive on-the-job training. Neither of these methods will suffice for the creation of a new team in the middle of a mission, which may be the situation during the Magellan mission. New approaches are recommended, including electronic documentation, explicit cognitive modeling, and coached practice with archived data.

Ayres, Thomas J.↗
NASA NTRS1989

Autonomous organization of grasping tasks

This paper describes an architecture for the control of robotic devices, and in particular of anthropomorphic hands, characterized by a hierarchical structure in which every level of the architecture contains data and control function with varying degree of abstraction. Bottom levels of the hierarchy interface directly with sensors and actuators, and process raw data and motor commands. Higher levels perform more symbolic types of tasks, such as application of Boolean rules and general planning operations. The implementation of the layer has to be consistent with the type of operation and its requirements for real time control. One implementation of the rule level, with a Boolean artificial neural network which would have a response time sufficient for producing reflex corrective action at the actuator level is presented.

Fiorini, Paolo↗
NASA NTRS1986

An expert system prototype for aiding in the development of software functional requirements for NASA Goddard's command management system: A case study and lessons learned

At NASA Goddard, the role of the command management system (CMS) is to transform general requests for spacecraft opeerations into detailed operational plans to be uplinked to the spacecraft. The CMS is part of the NASA Data System which entails the downlink of science and engineering data from NASA near-earth satellites to the user, and the uplink of command and control data to the spacecraft. Presently, it takes one to three years, with meetings once or twice a week, to determine functional requirements for CMS software design. As an alternative approach to the present technique of developing CMS software functional requirements, an expert system prototype was developed to aid in this function. Specifically, the knowledge base was formulated through interactions with domain experts, and was then linked to an existing expert system application generator called 'Knowledge Engineering System (Version 1.3).' Knowledge base development focused on four major steps: (1) develop the problem-oriented attribute hierachy; (2) determine the knowledge management approach; (3) encode the knowledge base; and (4) validate, test, certify, and evaluate the knowledge base and the expert system prototype as a whole. Backcasting was accomplished for validating and testing the expert system prototype. Knowledge refinement, evaluation, and implementation procedures of the expert system prototype were then transacted.

Liebowitz, Jay↗
NASA NTRS1991

Space physics missions handbook

The purpose of this handbook is to provide background data on current, approved, and planned missions, including a summary of the recommended candidate future missions. Topics include the space physics mission plan, operational spacecraft, and details of such approved missions as the Tethered Satellite System, the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory, and the Atmospheric Laboratory for Applications and Science.

Cooper, Robert A.↗