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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 631 records · Page 35
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

RadLab: A Comprehensive Database and Graphical and Programming Interfaces for Space Radiation Data

RadLab, a component of the NASA Open Science Data Repository (OSDR), is a database of radiation measurements from multiple instruments and spacecraft that provides visual and programmatic interfaces for interrogation and retrieval of these data. The attributes of data available through RadLab include spacecraft, types of radiation sensing instruments, locations within the spacecraft (e.g. ISS modules), associated celestial bodies, trajectories, and spacecraft coordinates; the primary type of data is the absorbed dose rate, as well as flux and dose equivalent rate where available. The application programming interface (API) implements a request syntax for retrieval of timestamped data filtered by various combinations of such attributes; the graphical user interface (GUI) extends this functionality with visualizations (time series plots, comparison plots, geospatial visualizations) which provide easy means to assess data availability, iteratively refine search parameters, interactively inspect the data, and export target data subsets. Datasets are continuously being added to the RadLab database as part of the rolling release process. Investigators from multiple countries, including the US, Canada, Germany, Bulgaria, Hungary, Italy, Japan, Russia and the Czech Republic, have committed to provide data from their instruments in and beyond low Earth orbit. The current release contains datasets provided by US and international collaborators and includes readings from multiple modules of the ISS, the BioSentinel CubeSat, Chang’e 4, the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, the ExoMars Orbiter, and the Curiosity rover. Datasets are associated with respective RadLab knowledgebase articles which include instrument descriptions and provide bibliographical references. RadLab aims to provide a comprehensive, dynamic compendium of space radiation data, enabling the scientific community to perform analyses of data from multiple detectors and to determine the radiation environment of research missions and experiments. Some of its applications include inference of absorbed radiation dose for NASA GeneLab payloads, and training predictive models as part of the 2024 FDL-X challenge. The platform is actively expanding and seeking additional data, with plans to also cover past (e.g. Shuttle, Mir) and future (e.g. Artemis) missions. The RadLab Working Group has been created to aid in this process as well as to foster collaborations among data contributors and users, to develop standards for data harmonization, and to guide the development of the platform, with the goal to establish the use of RadLab in space radiation research and to advance our understanding of the radiation environment in outer space.

Kirill Grigorev↗
NASA NTRS2013

Improved Targeting Through Collaborative Decision-Making and Brain Computer Interfaces

This paper reports a first step toward a brain-computer interface (BCI) for collaborative targeting. Specifically, we explore, from a broad perspective, how the collaboration of a group of people can increase the performance on a simple target identification task. To this end, we requested a group of people to identify the location and color of a sequence of targets appearing on the screen and measured the time and accuracy of the response. The individual results are compared to a collective identification result determined by simple majority voting, with random choice in case of drawn. The results are promising, as the identification becomes significantly more reliable even with this simple voting and a small number of people (either odd or even number) involved in the decision. In addition, the paper briefly analyzes the role of brain-computer interfaces in collaborative targeting, extending the targeting task by using a BCI instead of a mechanical response.

Brain computer interfaces (BCI)↗
NASA NTRS1995

Communication Interface for SAMS

An interface is described that supplies communications between the flight instruments and the analog input of an existing conventional recording unit for the Shuttle Space Acceleration Measurement System (SAMS), a data acquisition unit. The architecture and current implementation of an STD bus/LonTalk communication interface are described.

SAMS accelerometer communication interface↗
NASA NTRS2014

Assessment of Alternative Interfaces for Manual Commanding of Spacecraft Systems: Compatibility with Flexible Allocation Policies

Astronauts will be responsible for executing a much larger body of procedures as human exploration moves further from Earth and Mission Control. Efficient, reliable methods for executing these procedures, including manual, automated, and mixed execution will be important. Our interface integrates step-by-step instruction with the means for execution. The research reported here compared manual execution using the new system to a system analogous to the manual-only system currently in use on the International Space Station, to assess whether user performance in manual operations would be as good or better with the new than with the legacy system. The system used also allows flexible automated execution. The system and our data lay the foundation for integrating automated execution into the flow of procedures designed for humans. In our formative study, we found speed and accuracy of manual procedure execution was better using the new, integrated interface over the legacy design.

HCI↗
NASA NTRS2020

On Development of Modern Software Interface to Glenn Research Center’s Communication Analysis Suite

NASA’s Space Communications and Navigation (SCaN) program analyzes space communication channels involving satellites in any Earth orbit and deep space for a multitude of operations. Specifically, the SCaN program will power the future of lunar communications in the next decade and beyond. A web based user interface of the static link analysis component of the Glenn Research Center’s Communication Analysis Suite (GCAS) was developed. It is operated through a newly designed front-end application with an easy to use and intuitive web-based user interface that provides accurate satellite communications link analysis capabilities.

link analysis↗
NASA NTRS1993

Hypertext-Based Design of a User Interface for Scheduling

Operations Mission Planner (OMP) is an ongoing research project at JPL that utilizes Artificial Intelligence techniques to create an intelligent, automated planning and scheduling system. The challenge with a user interface is to 1) present as much information as possible at a given moment and 2) allow the user to quickly navigate through the various types of displays. This paper describes a design which applies the hypertext model to solve user interface problems. The general paradigm is to provide maps and search queries to allow the user to quickly find an interesting conflict or problem. Then allow the user to navigate through the displays in a hypertext fashion.

hypertext↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Designing Autonomy into Interfaces for Long-Duration Missions

As NASA develops technologies for long-duration crewed missions, we must understand how communication between ground control teams and astronauts differs from the current dynamic to adapt new concepts for long-duration mission operations. Today, ground control teams support astronauts with immediate availability to answer questions, resolve issues, and manage activities. In the near future, however, extended communication delays during long-duration missions will require astronauts to become more autonomous. As many of the responsibilities shift from the ground control teams to the astronauts on-board, the concept of operations must also change from how it functions today. With increased astronaut autonomy, software tools must be developed that enable efficient completion of mission tasks without increased mental workload. Designing software tools to facilitate crew autonomy requires development teams to know which data will enhance quick decision making while providing necessary context for situational awareness of systems being managed on-board. NASA's Autonomous Systems and Operations (ASO) team is presently developing a software interface tool, EXPRESS (EXpedite the PRocessing of Experiments for Space Station) 2.5 to enable a long-duration crew to schedule activities for and operate autonomous systems. This paper describes details of the integrated human factors approach that drove the design of the elements of the software tool, including self-managed scheduling, constraint-driven planning, autonomous system fault recovery, and recommended troubleshooting actions. Additionally, this paper will chronicle ASO modifications of the user interface after the team's first flight demonstration, how it was based on lessons learned during software development, as well as from crew feedback in order to develop the current version which will be demonstrated on ISS in 2021. In the upcoming ISS demonstration, the astronaut crew will be given scenarios for scheduling and operating autonomous system activities, including off-nominal scenarios and autonomous system recoveries. The demonstration of the EXPRESS 2.5 tool is a step towards improved levels of autonomy as our new journeys take us farther into space.

autonomy↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Lunar Microgrid Trade Studies to Define Interface Converter Requirements

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is interested in developing an incremental lunar power grid to support continuous human/robotic operations under the Artemis missions and can scale to global power utilization and industrial power levels. The initial lunar surface power system will be composed primarily of assets that contain their own power generation and energy storage. These assets can be connected to form a grid, which allows power to be shared between the system’s distributed energy resources. This grid can provide backup power to existing assets as well as primary power to future assets. A trade study was conducted for an Artemis scale grid, which has identified 3 kVAC as an ideal transmission voltage. This paper documents the analysis and findings from these trade studies. These studies were used to define the operating voltage and develop a common interface for connecting lunar surface assets to the power grid. The Universal Modular Interface Converter (UMIC) connects lunar surface assets to the high voltage grid. Products from this grid definition and UMIC development work will enable highly reliable and available power for Artemis and future planetary surface missions, which is key to achieving NASA’s long-term vision of space exploration.

Planetary surface power↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

A Modular AC to DC Interface Converter to Enable Lunar Surface Power Transmission

NASA is developing technology to enable sustained operations on extraterrestrial planetary bodies such as the Moon and Mars. One fundamentally enabling technology is long-distance electrical power transmission. This paper describes the Universal Modular Interface Converter (UMIC), which connects 120 VDC space power equipment to a 3 kVAC grid, and is intended to enable kilometer-distance transmission of 1s to 10s of kW of electrical power to support Artemis and future lunar missions. Specifically, this paper describes the technology within the UMIC product, its electrical power interfaces, and the state of its development. It also describes initial hardware and simulation test results of the UMIC.

Planetary surface power↗
NASA NTRS1968

Study of Behavior of Sterols at Interfaces

Behavior of sterols and sterol acetates on various types of interfaces indicates that the function of a sterol depends upon a surface orientation and surface energy of the interface. Column-chromatographic techniques determine the retention volume of various sterols under standard conditions.

Klein, P. D.↗
NASA NTRS1971

Modular space station phase B extension: Shuttle interface requirements

The interface requirements between the modular space station (MSS) and the space shuttle cover both the ground and orbital phases of operation from the launch of the first MSS module until the initial modular station has been manned and in routine operation. As a point of reference, the NR two-stage, fully reusable space shuttle, whose definition has been obtained from the space shuttle Phase B definition studies, has been selected around which the interface requirements have been described.

Source record↗
NASA NTRS1972

The brightness temperature of the air-sea interface at microwave frequencies

Available results of observation have shown that at nadir the brightness temperature of the sea surface at 19.35 GHz increases linearly with increasing wind speed. The computational results of the modified theoretical model presented are in good agreement with the measurement results both at nadir and other angles. The model depicts that, for a fully developed sea driven by the wind with speed above 5 m/sec, the air in the transitional zone immediately above the air-sea interface is mixed with sea water droplets from bursting air bubbles. The droplet concentration has a profile tapering off to zero at a certain height. The dielectric constant of the inhomogeneous droplet profile is thus both a function of the height above the interface and the wind speed. Both the inhomogeneity effect and the possible attenuation effect of the droplet concentration have been considered.

Tang, C. C. H.↗
NASA NTRS1972

Shuttle/Agena study. Volume 2, part 2: Agena tug configurations, Shuttle/Agena interface, performance, safety, cost

An evaluation of the compatibility of the space shuttle and Agena rocket vehicle was conducted. The Agena space tug configuration design is described in terms of the total vehicle system as well as the individual subsystems and major assemblies and components. The complete interface between the Agena space tug and the space shuttle orbiter is defined for in-flight and ground operations. The derivation and design of an evolutionary stage is also presented. This vehicle conforms to the same guidelines and interface requirements as the Agena space tug. Performance data developed for both vehicles for each of the three study baseline missions are included.

Source record↗
NASA NTRS1972

Orbital operations study. Volume 2: Interfacing activities analyses. Part 3: Data management activity group

A summary of the findings of the data management group of the orbital operations study is presented. Element interfaces, alternate approaches, design concepts, operational procedures, functional requirements, design influences, and approach selection are described. The following interfacing activities are considered: (1) communications, (2) rendezvous, (3) stationkeeping, and (4) detached element operations.

Mehrbach, E.↗
NASA NTRS1973

Fiber composite materials: A survey of fiber matrix interface mechanics

Report is described which discusses mechanism of load transfer from matrix to fiber through interface and effects of interface on composite structural integrity. Theoretical considerations are supplemented with experimental data. General trends and significant points are illustrated graphically.

Chamis, C. C.↗
NASA NTRS1972

Atmosphere explorer missions C, D, and E. Spacecraft experiment interface definition study

The Atmosphere Explorer Missions C, D, & E Spacecraft/Experiment Interface Definition Study is discussed. The objectives of the study included an analysis of the accommodation requirements of the experiments for the three missions, an assessment of the overall effect of these requirements on the spacecraft system design and performance, and the detailed definition of all experiment/spacecraft electrical, mechanical, and environmental interfaces. In addition, the study included the identification and definition of system characteristics required to ensure compatibility with the consolidated STADAN and MSFN communications networks.

Source record↗
NASA NTRS1972

An analysis of the relaxation of laminar boundary layer on a flat plate after passage of an interface with application to expansion-tube flows

The relaxation of the accelerating-gas boundary layer to the test-gas boundary layer over a flat plate in an expansion tube is analyzed. Several combinations of test gas and acceleration gas are considered. The problem is treated in two conically similar limits: (1) when the time lag between the arrival of the shock and the interface at the leading edge of the plate is very large, and (2) when this lag is negligible. The time-dependent laminar-boundary-layer equations of a binary mixture of perfect gases are taken as the flow-governing equations. This coupled set of differential equations, written in terms of the Lam-Crocco variables, has been solved by a line-relaxation finite-difference techniques. The results presented include the Stanton number and the local skin-friction coefficient as functions of shock Mach number and the nondimensional distance-time variable. The results indicate that more than 95 percent of the test-gas boundary layer exists over a length, measured from the leading edge of the plate, equal to about three-tenths of the distance traversed by the interface in the free stream.

Gupta, R. N.↗