Engineering Papers⌕ Search

SEARCH · Engineering Papers

Results for “flight deck”

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.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 631 records · Page 35

Translation of shuttle operations simulation from GPSS 2 to GPSS 1100

A method has been developed which enables a programmer to convert the General Purpose Systems Simulator (GPSS) 2 simulation language into the GPSS 1100 language. To accomplish the conversion, a translator deck is used in addition to hand changes made by the analyst after translation. The conversion of a particular GPSS 2 program used at the Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) is reported and major changes required for compatibility of the two languages are summerized. Validation of the GPSS 1100 model was completed by comparing the results of the GPSS 2 statistics to the converted 1100 model.

Marshall, A. J.↗

STS-82 Flight Day 03 Highlights

The third day of the STS-82 mission begins with the crew, Commander Kenneth D. Bowersox, Pilot Scott J. Horowitz, Payload Commander Mark C. Lee, and Mission Specialists Gregory J. Harbaugh, Steven L. Smith, Joseph R. Tanner, and Steven A. Hawley successfully retrieving the Hubble Space Telescope. Hawley than lowers the 12-ton observatory onto the Flight Support System berthing platform in Discovery's cargo bay, where it is latched in place for servicing. The astronauts are then seen in the mid-deck preparing for the first of four spacewalks designed to service and upgrade the scientific capabilities of the Hubble Space Telescope.

Source record↗

[STS-48 Post Flight Press Conference]

The flight crew of the STS-48 Space Shuttle Discovery's 13th Flight (Cmdr. J. O. Creighton, Pilot Ken Reightler, MS Charles Gemar, MS James Buchli, and MS Mark Brown) review their mission and discuss their in-flight activities and experiments in this video. The primary goal of this mission was the deployment of the Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite (UARS). Secondary payloads included: the Mid-Deck Zero Gravity Experiment (MODE) that showed how fluids in microgravity and in in-orbit conditions respond to different influences (dynamics and harmonic analysis) and the Extended Duration Orbiter physiological tests of astronaut heat and lung functions. Through these experiments, information useful in the construction and design of the proposed Space Station is hoped to be gained. Earth views included: the Aurora Borealis (B/W); polar region ice packs and caps; the Nile River (at night); the Galapagos Islands, and Earth lightning shots. A night landing is shown.

Source record↗

Relative Efficiency of TLD-100 to High Linear Energy Transfer Radiation: Correction to Astronaut Absorbed Dose

Response of thermoluminescent detectors (TLD-100) to high linear energy transfer (LET) particles has been studied using helium, carbon, silicon, and iron ions from the Heavy Ion Medical Accelerator at Chiba (Japan), iron ions from the Brookhaven National Laboratory (NY) Alternate Gradient Synchrotron, and 53, 134, 185, and 232 MeV protons from the Loma Linda accelerator. Using the measured relative (to 137Cs) dose efficiency, and measured LET spectra from a tissue equivalent proportional counter (TEPC) on 20 Space Shuttle flights, and 7 Mir flights, the underestimation of absorbed dose by these detectors has been evaluated. The dose underestimation is between 15-20% depending upon the flight inclination and shielding location. This has been confirmed by direct correlation of measured dose by TEPC and TLD-100 at a low shielded location in the Shuttle mid-deck. A comparison of efficiency- LET data with a compilation of similar data from TLD-700, shows that shapes of the two curves are nearly identical, but that the TLD-100 curve is systematically lower by about 13%, and is the major cause of dose underestimation. These results strongly suggest that TLDs used for crew dose estimation be regularly calibrated using heavy ions.

Badhwar, G. D.↗

Relative Efficiency of TLD-100 to Linear Energy Transfer Radiation: Correction to Astronaut Absorbed Dose

Response of thermoluminescent detectors (TLD-100) to high linear energy transfer (LET) particles has been studied using helium, carbon, silicon, and iron ions from the Heavy Ion Medical Accelerator at Chiba (Japan), iron ions from the Brookhaven National Laboratory (NY) Alternate Gradient Synchrotron, and 53, 134, 185, and 232 MeV protons from the Loma Linda accelerator. Using the measured relative (to (137)Cs dose efficiency, and measured LET spectra from a tissue equivalent proportional counter (TEPC) on 20 Space Shuttle flights, and 7 Mir flights, the underestimation of absorbed dose by these detectors has been evaluated. The dose underestimation is between 15-20% depending upon the flight inclination and shielding location. This has been confirmed by direct correlation of measured dose by TEPC and TLD-100 at a low shielded location in the Shuttle mid-deck. A comparison of efficiency- LET data with a compilation of similar data from TLD-700, shows that shapes of the two curves are nearly identical, but that the TLD-100 curve is systematically lower by about 13%, and is the major cause of dose underestimation. These results strongly suggest that TLDs used for crew dose estimation be regularly calibrated using heavy ions.

Badhwar, Gautam D.↗

Reduced Crew Operations Research at NASA Ames Research Center

In 2012, NASA began exploring the feasibility of single pilot reduced crew operations (SPORCO) in the context of scheduled passenger air carrier operations (i.e., Parts 121 and 135). This research was spurred by two trends in aviation research: the trend toward reducing costs and a shortage of pilots. A series of simulations were conducted to develop tools and a concept of operations to support RCO. This slide deck is a summary of the NASA Ames RCO research prepared for an R T team at Airbus. Airbus is considering moving forward with reducing crew during the cruise phase of flight with long-haul flights and is interested in the work we have completed.

reduced crew operations↗

Fixed wing CCW aerodynamics with and without supplementary thrust deflection

The concept of circulation control was successfully demonstrated in flight using an A-6 aircraft. Circulation control can provide an aircraft with STOL performance of heavy lift capability. For ship based Naval aircraft the lower takeoff and landing velocities result in reduced deck gear and wind over the deck requirements. Circulation control airfoils can be mechanically less complex and lightweight compared to multi-element high lift airfoils.

Nichols, J. H.↗

The Cl-36 in the stratosphere

Initial measurements of the cosmogenic radionuclide, Cl-36, in the lower stratosphere were made by accelerator mass spectrometry. Samples were obtained using the large volume LASL air sampling pods on a NASA WB-57F aircraft. Untreated (for collection of particulates only) and tetrabutyl ammonium hydroxide treated (for collection of particulates and HCl) IPC-1478 filters were flown on three flights in the lower stratosphere. Chlorine (Cl) and Cl compounds are important trace constituents for stratospheric chemistry, in particular with respect to O3 destruction. Stratospheric Cl chemistry has recently received increased attention with the observation of strong O3 depletion in the Antarctic winter vortex and in the weaker and more complex Arctic winter vortices. Cosmogenic (Cl-36) is produced by spallation reactions from Ar mainly in the stratosphere, and has had several applications as a geochemical tracer. The large amounts of Cl-36 introduced by nuclear weapon testing have been removed from the stratosphere by now, and measurements in the stratosphere to obtain cosmogenic production rates and concentration distributions is now possible. The use of cosmogenic Cl-36 as a tracer for stratospheric Cl chemistry and for stratospheric/tropospheric exchange processes is investigated. A first attempt to determine stratospheric and tropospheric production rates, the partitioning of Cl-36 among particulate and gaseous Cl compounds, and the respective inventories and removal rates is being made. Results from a flight at 13.7 km, 30-33 degrees N, 97-107 degrees W, and from a second flight at 17.7 km, 43-45-36 degrees N, 92-94 degrees W, for the untreated and treated filters respectively are presented.

Deck, Bruce↗

Plant reproduction in spaceflight environments

Because plant reproduction is a complex developmental process there are many possible sites of perturbation by the unusual environments of orbital spacecraft. Previous long-duration experiments on Soviet platforms shared features of slowed development through the vegetative stage of plant growth and aborted reproductive function. Our goal has been to understand how special features of the spaceflight environment impact physiological function and reproductive development. In a series of short-duration experiments in the Shuttle mid-deck we studied early reproductive development in Arabidopsis thaliana. Pollen and ovule development aborted at an early stage in the first experiment on STS-54 which utilized closed plant growth chambers. Post-flight analysis suggested that the plants may have been carbon dioxide limited. Subsequent experiments utilized carbon dioxide enrichment (on STS-51) and cabin air flow-through with an air exchange system (on STS-68). Both modifications allowed pollen and ovule development to occur normally on orbit, and full reproductive development up to the stage of an immature seed occurred on STS-68. However, analysis of plant roots from these experiments demonstrated a limitation in rootzone aeration in the spaceflight material that was not mitigated by these procedures. In the future, additional resources (crew time, upgraded flight hardware, and special platforms) will invite more elaborate, long-duration experimentation. On the ISS, a variable speed centrifuge and upgraded plant habitats will permit detailed experiments on the role of gravity in shaping the plant micro-environment, and what influence this plays during reproduction.

Review, Tutorial↗

STS-114 Flight Day 8 Highlights

The major activities of Day 8 for the STS-114 crew of the Space Shuttle Discovery (Commander Eileen Collins, Pilot James Kelly, Mission Specialists Soichi Noguchi, Stephen Robinson, Andrew Thomas, Wendy Lawrence, and Charles Camarda) and the Expedition 11 crew of the International Space Station (ISS) (Commander Sergei Krikalev and NASA ISS Science Officer and Flight Engineer John Phillips) are a press conference and a conversation with President Bush. The two crews are interviewed by American, Japanese, and Russian media. Discovery crew members on the shuttle's mid-deck review paperwork regarding the impending extravehicular activity (EVA) to remove gap fillers from underneath the orbiter, and the Space Station Remote Manipulator System grapples the External Stowage Platform-2 in the Shuttle's payload bay. Finally, Mission control grants the shuttle crew some time off.

Source record↗

Full Scale Rotor Aeroacoustic Predictions and the Link to Model Scale Rotor Data

The NASA Aeroacoustic Prediction System (NAPS) is used to establish a link between model-scale and full-scale rotor predictions and is partially validated against measured wind tunnel and flight aeroacoustic data. The prediction approach of NAPS couples a comprehensive rotorcraft analysis with acoustic source noise and propagation codes. The comprehensive analysis selected for this study is CAMRAD-II, which provides the performance/trim/wake solution for a given rotor or flight condition. The post-trim capabilities of CAMRAD-II are used to compute high-resolution sectional airloads for the acoustic tone noise analysis, WOPMOD. The tone noise is propagated to observers on the ground with the propagation code, RNM (Rotor Noise Model). Aeroacoustic predictions are made with NAPS for an isolated rotor and compared to results of the second Harmonic Aeroacoustic Rotor Test (HART-II) program, which tested a 40% dynamically and Mach-scaled BO-105 main rotor at the DNW. The NAPS is validated with comparisons for three rotor conditions: a baseline condition and two Higher Harmonic Control (HHC) conditions. To establish a link between model and full-scale rotor predictions, a full-scale BO-105 main rotor input deck for NAPS is created from the 40% scale rotor input deck. The full-scale isolated rotor predictions are then compared to the model predictions. The comparisons include aerodynamic loading, acoustic levels, and acoustic pressure time histories for each of the three conditions. With this link established, full-scale predictions are made for a range of descent flight conditions and compared with measured trends from the recent Rotorcraft Operational Noise Abatement Procedures (RONAP) flight test conducted by DLR and ONERA. Additionally, the effectiveness of two HHC conditions from the HART-II program is demonstrated for the full-scale rotor in flight.

Boyd, D. Douglas, Jr.↗

A stratocumulus thermodynamic analysis: July 5 case study

On July 5 (NCAR Electra flight 4, Mission 186-G) the Electra flew a single aircraft mission which consisted of cross and along-wind legs at 6 different altitudes between 10:43 to 16:00 PDT (17:43 to 23:00 GMT). The leg length was kept short (8 to 10 minutes) to permit maximum vertical resolution, and there were 8 soundings. Observer notes report a thin, solid stratocumulus cloud deck which gradually became more broken in the afternoon. Winds were from the north at 10 to 13/ms throughout the night. Sea surface temperature measurements and conservative variable analyses for several of the July 5 legs are presented. These results are preliminary to a study of the thermodynamic budget on July 5; they indicate that: the sea surface temperature dropped more than 1 K (from 17.3 to 15.9 C) over the course of the flight (18:01 and at 21:51 GMT); mixing lines for each of the horizontal subcloud legs show the effect of a strong north-south gradient in SST; and there is a clear demarcation over a transition of 5 to 10 km between air to the south and cooler, moister air to the north. The FSSP measurements indicate there are small clouds/scud 250 m below cloud base on the cold northern side of this transition. The transition is seen in the saturation point diagrams at 984, 959, and 946 mb. There is no corresponding change in the horizontal wind across the transition regions.

Austin, Philip↗

Cloud albedo control by cloud-top entrainment

Marine stratus and stratocumulus clouds exert a considerable influence on the earth's heat budget, mainly due to their high albedos relative to the ocean surface. It is therefore important to understand the processes that control the radiative properties of these extensive cloud systems, particularly during daylight hours. Aircraft measurements of a stratocumulus cloud deck taken around local noon during the 1987 field phase of the First International Satellite Cloud Climatology Project Regional Experiment are the topic of this paper. A mixing line analysis of data from a series of flight tracks across a strong gradient in cloud albedo provides evidence that variations in the water vapor content of the air above the marine inversion can be responsible for the albedo change. The implications of this unexpected result for climate modeling are discussed.

Hanson, Howard P.↗

Testing Prospects for Reliable Diatom Nanotechnology in Microgravity

The worldwide effort to grow nanotechnology, rather than use lithography, focuses on diatoms, single cell eukaryotic algae with ornate silica shells, which can be replaced by oxides and ceramics, or reduced to elemental silicon, to create complex nanostructures with compositions of industrial and electronics importance. Diatoms produce an enormous variety of structures, some of which are microtubule dependent and perhaps sensitive to microgravity. The NASA Single Loop for Cell Culture (SLCC) for culturing and observing microorganisms permits inexpensive, low labor in-space experiments. We propose to send up to the International Space Station diatom cultures of the three diatom species whose genomes are being sequenced, plus the giant diatoms of Antarctica (up to 2 mm diameter for a single cell) and the unique colonial diatom, Bacillaria paradoxa. Bacillaria cells move against each other in partial synchrony, like a sliding deck of cards, by a microfluidics mechanism. Will normal diatoms have aberrant pattern and shape or motility compared to ground controls? The generation time is typically one day, so that many generations may be examined from one flight. Rapid, directed evolution may be possible running the SLCC as a compustat. The shell shapes and patterns are preserved in hard silica, so that the progress of normal and aberrant morphogenesis may be followed by drying samples on a moving filter paper "diatom tape recorder". With a biodiversity of 100,000 distinct species, diatom nanotechnology may offer a compact and portable nanotechnology toolkit for exploration anywhere.

Gordon, Richard↗

Sherlock Data Warehouse

This slide deck provides an overview of the data and resources available in the Sherlock Data Warehouse. Sherlock was developed and is currently maintained by the Aviation Systems Division at NASA Ames Research Center. Sherlock contains a valuable collection of flight, air traffic management, and weather data. But Sherlock is not just a data archive. Sherlock also includes tools and resources to access, download, and visualize data, as well as resources to process the data. This overview summarizes Sherlock data sources, demonstrates data analytics and visualization with MicroStrategy, illustrates disparate data integration using the ATM Knowledge graph, and presents a machine learning use case using the Big Data system.

data warehouse↗

Final Mission and Navigation Design for the 2016 Mars InSight Mission

Project Overview: NASA’s 12th Discovery Program mission that will place a single geophysical lander on Mars to study its deep interior using seismic (tidal, marsquake, and impact), rotational, and thermal measurements -First mission to unveil the composition, structure and thermal state of martian crust, mantle and core; Rebuild of the Phoenix flight system, upgraded with Juno/GRAIL avionics -Phoenix cruise stage: 3-axis stabilized, 3.2 square meter UTJ (Ultra Triple-Junction) solar array, X-band telecom -Phoenix aeroshell (heat shield, backshell, parachute) -Phoenix lander: radar, pulsed thrusters, legs, payload deck, 5.1 square meter UTJ solar arrays, two redundant Li-ion batteries, UHF (Ultra High Frequency)/X-band telecom -Dual string: Internally or functionally-redundant equipment; Science Payload -SEIS (Seismic Experiment for Interior Structure) / CNES (Centre National d’Etudes Spatiales); Three-axis seismometry, to measure seismic waves traveling through the interior -HP3 (Heat Flow and Physical Properties Probe) / DLR (German Aerospace Center) -Subsurface heat probe, to measure the heat flux from the interior - RISE (Rotation and Interior Structure Experiment) / JPL (Jet Propulsion Laboratory) -Radiometric geodesy, to determine precession & nutation of the planet’s rotation axis. 2016 Disclaimer: The InSight launch in 2016 was suspended due to critical issues with the Seismic Experiment for Interior Structure (SEIS) instrument that could not be fixed prior to the planned launch period. This presentation and its corresponding paper represent the state of the design for the 2016 mission. No attempt has been made to reflect the latest developments. [2018 Note: InSight (Mars Lander) was later launched and arrived on Mars on Nov. 26, 2018.]

Abilleira, F.↗

Airflow calibration and exhaust pressure/temperature survey of an F404, S/N 215-109, turbofan engine

A General Electric F-404 turbofan engine was calibrated for thrust and airflow at the NASA Lewis Propulsion System Laboratory in support of future flight tests of the X-29 aircraft. Tests were conducted with and without augmentation, over a range of flight conditions, including the two design points of the airplane. Data obtained during the altitude tests will be used to correct two independent gross thrust calculation routines which will be installed and operated on the airplane to determine in-flight gross thrust. Corrected airflow data as a function of corrected fan speed collapsed onto a single curve. Similarly, trends were observed and defined for both augmented and dry thrust. Overall agreement between measured data and F-404 Engine Spec Deck data was within 2 percent for airflow and 6 percent for thrust. The results of an uncertainty analysis for thrust and airflow is presented. In addition to the thrust calibration, the exhaust gas boundary layer pressure and temperatures were surveyed at selected condition and engine power levels to obtain data for another NASA F-404 program. Test data for these surveys are presented.

Burns, Maureen E.↗

An analysis of eight flights by U-2 aircraft over severe storms in Oklahoma

The method and results of the analysis of photographic records of the summit areas of severe storms obtained from a U-2 aircraft flying at an altitude of 65,000 ft. over Oklahoma are described. Comparison of the heights of storm cells protruding through the main anvil cirrus deck of a squall line with the predictions of simple "parcel" theory suggests the latter may be used to indicate the maximum development attainable (but not necessarily attained) by a squall line on a given day. It is suggested that temperatures approaching -1OO°C. may occur in the domes of giant quasi-steady storm cells reaching altitudes of 55,000 - 60,000 ft. bounded by a thin shell of extremely stable air, which is not inconsistent with the rather smooth texture of dome summits sometimes shown by the U-2 photographs.

CLOUD PHOTOGRAPHY↗