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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 NTRS1991

Space mechanisms needs for future NASA long duration space missions

Future NASA long duration missions will require high performance, reliable, long lived mechanical moving systems. In order to develop these systems, high technology components, such as bearings, gears, seals, lubricants, etc., will need to be utilized. There has been concern in the NASA community that the current technology level in these mechanical component/tribology areas may not be adequate to meet the goals of long duration NASA mission such as Space Exploration Initiative (SEI). To resolve this concern, NASA-Lewis sent a questionnaire to government and industry workers (who have been involved in space mechanism research, design, and implementation) to ask their opinion if the current space mechanisms technology (mechanical components/tribology) is adequate to meet future NASA Mission needs and goals. In addition, a working group consisting of members from each NASA Center, DoD, and DOE was established to study the technology status. The results of the survey and conclusions of the working group are summarized.

Fusaro, Robert L.↗
NASA NTRS1991

Lidar In-Space Technology Experiment (LITE) - NASA's first in-space lidar system for atmospheric research

Engineering aspects are presented of the design, fabrication, integration, and operation of the Lidar In-Space Technology Experiment (LITE) for flight aboard the Space Shuttle in mid-1993. The LITE system is being developed by NASA/Langley Research Center and will be used to detect stratospheric and tropospheric aerosols, probe the planetary boundary layer, measure cloud top heights, and measure atmospheric temperature and density in the 10- to 40-km range. The system consists of a nominal telescope receiver 1 meter in diameter, a three-color Nd:YAG laser transmitter, and the system electronics. The system makes extensive use of Space Shuttle resources for electrical power, thermal control, and command and data handling.

Couch, Richard H.↗
NASA NTRS1990

Engineering, construction, and operations in space II; Proceedings of Space 90, the Second International Conference, Albuquerque, NM, Apr. 22-26, 1990. Vols. 1 & 2

Attention is given to such topics as the processing of lunar soils, the automated processing of extraterrestrial materials, lunar excavation and mining, lunar oxygen, lunar base development, lunar surface structures, planetary surface transportation, and Mars missions. Papers are also presented on the Space Station, space debris, robotics and automated processing, structures and structural response, Mission to Planet Earth, life support systems, space power, human factors, artificial gravity, and education.

Johnson, Stewart W.↗
NASA NTRS1990

SP-100 nuclear space power systems with application to space commercialization

The technology of the SP-100 space nuclear power system program is compared to that of more familiar solar-power systems. The SP-100 program develops, validates, and demonstrates the technology for space nuclear power systems in the range of 10 to 1000 kilowatts electric for use in future military and civilian space missions. Mission applications, including earth orbiting platforms and lunar/Mars surface power, are enhanced or made possible by SP-100 technology. Attention is given to the SP-100 reference flight system design, the SP-100 nuclear reactor and nuclear-reactor shield, the platform-mounted, tethered, and free-flying reactors, and installation, operation, and disposal options, as well as lunar-Mars surface applications. The SP-100 is presented as one of the nuclear energy sources needed for long-life, compact, lightweight, continuous high power independent of solar orientation, specific orbits, or missions.

Smith, J. M.↗
NASA NTRS1991

Space mechanisms needs for future NASA long duration space missions

Future NASA long duration missions will require high performance, reliable, long lived mechanical moving systems. In order to develop these systems, high technology components such as bearings, gears, seals, lubricants, etc., will need to be utilized. There has been concern in the NASA community that the current technology level in these mechanical component/tribology areas may not be adequate to meet the goals of long duration NASA mission such as Space Exploration Initiative (SEI). To resolve this concern, NASA-Lewis sent a questionnaire to government and industry workers (who have been involved in space mechanism research, design, and implementation) to ask their opinion if the current space mechanisms technology (mechanical components/tribology) is adequate to meet future NASA Mission needs and goals. In addition, a working group consisting of members from each NASA Center, DoD, and DOE was established to study the technology status. The results of the survey and conclusions of the working group are summarized.

Fusaro, Robert L.↗
NASA NTRS1991

Space mission support by NASA Space Network

Normal NASA operational considerations and Phase 1 of Space Network (SN) interoperability foresees S band cross support between user spacecraft and space networks or partnering agencies. A typical interoperable scenario for an S band user spacecraft of a partner space agency with the NASA SN is presented. ESA's Hermes Manned Spaceplane exemplifies a typical interoperable user. In order to demonstrate the support potential of the NASA SN, the internal and external interfaces of the TDRSS (Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System), ATDRSS (Advanced TDRSS), and supporting elements are examined. Communications and operational requirements for a typical mission supported by the NASA SN are discussed.

Godfrey, Robert↗
NASA NTRS1991

Large space structures and systems in the space station era: A bibliography with indexes (supplement 03)

Bibliographies and abstracts are listed for 1221 reports, articles, and other documents introduced into the NASA scientific and technical information system between January 1, 1991 and June 30, 1991. Topics covered include large space structures and systems, space stations, extravehicular activity, thermal environments and control, tethering, spacecraft power supplies, structural concepts and control systems, electronics, advanced materials, propulsion, policies and international cooperation, vibration and dynamic controls, robotics and remote operations, data and communication systems, electric power generation, space commercialization, orbital transfer, and human factors engineering.

Source record↗
NASA NTRS1992

Long Duration Exposure Facility (LDEF) preliminary findings: LEO space effects on the space plasma-voltage drainage experiment

The Space Plasma-High Voltage Drainage Experiment (SP-HVDE) provided a unique opportunity to study long term space environmental effects on materials because it was comprised of two identical experimental trays; one tray located on the ram facing side (D-10), and the other on the wake facing side (B-4) of the LDEF. This configuration allows for the comparison of identical materials exposed to two distinctly different environments. The purpose of this work is to document an assessment of the effects of five and three quarters years of low Earth orbital space exposure on materials comprising the SP-HVDE (experiment no. A0054). The findings of the materials investigation reported focus on atomic oxygen effects, micrometeor and debris impact site documentation, thermal property measurements, and environmentally induced contamination.

Blakkolb, Brian K.↗
NASA NTRS1992

Scattering effects of solar panel on Space Station Space-To-Ground (SGS) antenna performance

The purpose of this study is to characterize the scattering effects of a solar panel on the Space Station Space-to-Ground Subsystem reflector antenna when the antenna is operated in the RF tracking (difference) mode. This analysis is based on a combination of geometrical theory of diffraction and aperture integration techniques. The advantage of this combination method is its capability in predicting reflector antenna patterns not only in the forward region but also in the far-out sidelobes and backlobes. To verify the analytical model, measurements were performed on the Johnson Space Center far-field antenna test facility. Good agreement between computed and measured results was obtained. It was shown from computation and experiment that the solar panel scattering interference causes a shift in null position, a decrease in the depth of the null, as well as a decrease in the gain on the antenna difference mode patterns.

Hwu, Shian U.↗
NASA NTRS1992

Interaction dynamics of an orbiter and a flexible space structure undergoing incremental in-space construction

A theoretical investigation is presented pertaining to the use of a Shuttle based remote manipulator system to construct and assemble the Space Station at the primary stage. The equations of motion for an on-orbit Space Shuttle with flexible or rigid remote manipulator system are developed including the effect of librational motion, starting and stopping motion constraints, and contact/impact conditions in maneuvering the Space Shuttle Remote Manipulator System (SRMS). Preliminary results indicated that the orbiting system may become unstable when certain disturbances have been triggered that provided a guideline in maneuvering the SRMS.

Chiou, J. C.↗
NASA NTRS1992

Space Shuttle orbiter modifications to support Space Station Freedom

The modifications to the Space Shuttle orbiter required to support Space Station Freedom (SSF) assembly and operations are described. Attention is given to berthing modifications, Shuttle Remote Manipulator System upgrades, docking modifications, and Spacelab mission modifications. For SSF assembly missions, the Space Shuttle orbiter will transport elements of the SSF to a 28.5 deg inclination, 220 nm altitude (nominal) orbit.

Segert, Randall↗
NASA NTRS1992

Orbiting Space Interferometer (OSI): A first generation space interferometer

The technical requirements and performance of a first generation space interferometer is discussed. The performance of an interferometer, sensitivity, field of view, dynamic range, astrometric accuracy, etc, in space is set by what cannot be achieved for a ground-based instrument. For the Orbiting Space Interferometer (OSI), the nominal performance parameters are 20 mag sensitivity, field of view of approximately 500*500 pixels, a 1000:1 dynamic range in the image with one milliarcsec resolution, and an astrometric accuracy of 0.1 milliarcsec for wide angle astrometry and 10 microarcsec accuracy for narrow field astrometry (few degrees). OSI is a fully phased interferometer where all critical optical paths are controlled to 0.05 wavelengths. The instrument uses two guide interferometers locked on bright stars several degrees away to provide the spacecraft attitude information needed to keep the fringes from the faint science object stable on the detector.

Shao, Michael↗
NASA NTRS1992

Utilization of space resources in the space transportation system

Utilization of space resources (i.e., raw materials obtained from nonterrestrial sources) has often been cited as a prerequisite for large-scale industrialization and habitation of space. While transportation of extremely large quantities of material from Earth would be costly and potentially destructive to our environment, vast quantities of usable resources might be derived from the Moon, the asteroids, and other celestial objects in a cost-effective and environmentally benign manner. The primary purpose of the parametric cost model developed as part of this study is to identify the factors that have the greatest influence on the economics of space resource utilization. In the near term, this information can be used to devise strategies for technology development so that capabilities developed will produce cost-effective results.

Simon, Michael C.↗
NASA NTRS1989

Space biology initiative program definition review. Trade study 6: Space Station Freedom/spacelab modules compatibility

The differences in rack requirements for Spacelab, the Shuttle Orbiter, and the United States (U.S.) laboratory module, European Space Agency (ESA) Columbus module, and the Japanese Experiment Module (JEM) of Space Station Freedom are identified. The feasibility of designing standardized mechanical, structural, electrical, data, video, thermal, and fluid interfaces to allow space flight hardware designed for use in the U.S. laboratory module to be used in other locations is assessed.

Jackson, L. Neal↗
NASA NTRS1993

Protein crystallization aboard the Space Shuttle and the Mir space station

Two different protein crystallizations, namely ,the free Fab fragment of the Je142 monoclonal antibody and the complex of Fab fragment/HPr with antigen, were performed aboard the Discovery Space Shuttle flights and the Mir space station, respectively. Medium sized crystals of the Je142 Fab fragment were obtained. The Je142 Fab fragment/Hpr complex produced two medium-sized crystals after two months aboard the Mir space station. Microgravity was found to eliminate the tendency of these crystals to form clusters.

Delbaere, Louis T. J.↗
NASA NTRS1993

Limitations to the study of man in space in the U.S. space program

Research on humans conducted during spaceflight is fraught both with great opportunities and great obstacles. The purpose of this paper is to review some of the limitations to research in space in the United States with hope that an informed scientific community may lead to more rapid and efficient solution of these problems. Limitations arise because opportunities to study the same astronauts in well-controlled situations on repeated spaceflights are practically non-existent. Human research opportunities are further limited by the necessity of avoiding simultaneous mutually-interfering experiments. Environmental factors, including diet and other physiological perturbations concomitant with spaceflight, also complicate research design and interpretation. Technical limitations to research methods and opportunities further restrict the development of the knowledge base. Finally, Earth analogues of space travel all suffer from inadequacies. Though all of these obstacles will eventually be overcome, creativity, diligence, and persistence are required to further our knowledge of humans in space.

Bishop, Phillip A.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Interaction between the space transportation systems and the Space Station architecture and operations and technology requirements

This study, limited to the interaction between the Space Station and an orbital transfer vehicle, illustrates the need to include the space transportation system and the station in a synergistic analysis to determine an overall operationally efficient system that takes full advantage of the potential for the exploration and exploitation of space. Included are examples of the effects of the mission model on the selection of a possible orbit transfer vehicle design and processing procedures at the station; safe, timely, and flexible transfer vehicle trajectories from GEO to the station; mechanical assists on the station for vehicle arrivals and departures that reduce the risk of contamination and collision; and a discussion of the need for efficient procedures for vehicle maintenance and processing at the station.

Eide, Donald G.↗