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At least 685 records · Page 38

Information management system study results. Volume 2: IMS study results appendixes

Computer systems program specifications are presented for the modular space station information management system. These are the computer program contract end item, data bus system, data bus breadboard, and display interface adapter specifications. The performance, design, tests, and qualification requirements are established for the implementation of the information management system. For Vol. 1, see N72-19972.

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Pioneer Venus mission plan for atmospheric probes and an orbiter.

The mission concept is described for a spin-stabilized spacecraft being designed to deliver an array of aerodynamic probes over the surface of Venus, and, on a second flight mission, to inject the spacecraft into a Venusian orbit. Large and Small Probes and the instrumented 'Bus' structure will enter the Venusian atmosphere and directly measure its characteristics. An orbiting configuration of the same basic Bus spacecraft will serve as a platform from which to examine the planetary environment, the outer atmosphere and its interaction with the solar wind, as well as surface topography. The orbital mission will extend over a complete revolution of the planet around the sun and around its own axis. Requirements for cost effectiveness and firm adherence within early cost projections are emphatic program guidelines which affect every major element of the mission plan and conceptual design.

Dyer, J. W.↗

System design of the Pioneer Venus spacecraft. Volume 3: Systems analysis

The mission, systems, operations, ground systems, and reliability analysis of the Thor/Delta baseline design used for the Pioneer Space Probe are discussed. Tradeoff decisions concerning spin axis orientation, bus antenna design, communication system design, probe descent, and reduced science payload are analyzed. The reliability analysis is made for the probe bus mission, large probe mission, and small probe mission. Detailed mission sequences were established to identify critical areas and provide phasing of critical operation.

Fisher, J. N.↗

System design of the Pioneer Venus spacecraft. Volume 9: Attitude control/mechanisms subsystems studies

The Pioneer Venus mission study was conducted for a probe spacecraft and an orbiter spacecraft to be launched by either a Thor/Delta or an Atlas/Centaur launch vehicle. Both spacecraft are spin stabilized. The spin speed is controlled by ground commands to as low as 5 rpm for science instrument scanning on the orbiter and as high as 71 rpm for small probes released from the probe bus. A major objective in the design of the attitude control and mechanism subsystem (ACMS) was to provide, in the interest of costs, maximum commonality of the elements between the probe bus and orbiter spacecraft configurations. This design study was made considering the use of either launch vehicle. The basic functional requirements of the ACMS are derived from spin axis pointing and spin speed control requirements implicit in the acquisition, cruise, encounter and orbital phases of the Pioneer Venus missions.

Neil, A. L.↗

Atmospheric entry probes for outer planet exploration. Outer planet entry probe technical summary

The use of unmanned space probes for investigating the conditions existing on and around the outer planets of the solar system is discussed. The subjects included in the report are: (1) the design of a common entry probe for outer planet missions, (2) the significant trades related to the development of a common probe design, (3) the impact of bus selection on probe design, (4) the impact of probe requirements on bus modifications, and (5) the key technology elements recommended for advanced development. Drawings and illustrations of typical probes are included to show the components and systems used in the space probes.

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Solid state power controllers

Solid state power controllers (SSPC's) are to be considered for use as replacements of electromechanical relays and circuit breakers in future spacecraft and aircraft. They satisfy the combined function of both the relay and circuit breaker and can be remotely controlled by small signals, typically 10 mA, 5 to 28 v(dc). They have the advantage over conventional relay/circuit breaker systems in that they can be located near the utilization equipment and the primary ac or dc bus. The low level control, trip indication and status signals can be circuited by small gauge wire for control, computer interface, logic, electrical multiplexing, onboard testing, power management, and distribution purposes. This results in increased system versatility at appreciable weight saving and increased reliability. Conventional systems require the heavy gage load wiring and the control wiring to be routed from the bus to the load to other remote relay contacts, switches, sensors, etc. and to the circuit breaker located in the flight engineer's compartment for purposes of manual reset.

Gibbs, R. S.↗

Multiple IMU system hardware interface design, volume 2

The design of each system component is described. Emphasis is placed on functional requirements unique in this system, including data bus communication, data bus transmitters and receivers, and ternary-to-binary torquing decision logic. Mechanization drawings are presented.

Landey, M.↗

Study of passenger subjective response to ideal and real-vehicle vibration environments

The stimulus received by subjects tested on the passenger ride quality apparatus (PRQA) is defined. Additional analyses on the data collected from field tests using buses, were conducted to assess the relation between subjective ratings of ride quality and vibrations measured on the buses, and to better define the vibration stimulus measured in the field. The relation of subjective evaluation of simulations of bus rides produced by the DRQA to subjective evaluations of the actual bus rides is discussed. The relative contribution of the seat and floor vibration to human comfort in a simulated aircraft ride environment is discussed along with the determination of equal comfort curves through magnitude estimation.

Kirby, R. H.↗

The Atmosphere Explorer power subsystem

The present work describes the design and in-flight performance of the power subsystem for the first three Atmosphere Explorer (AE) spacecraft. The subsystem provides all electrical power to the spacecraft loads and consists of a solar array, three batteries, and a power supply electronics unit. Power from the solar array is supplied to the spacecraft loads through an unregulated power bus, which varies between -26 and -38 V. Loads which are normally on only during data collection phases of an orbit are fed from a tightly regulated -24.5 V bus. Power subsystem performance during the first three months in orbit has been nominal, except for an anomally in the shunt limiter protection circuitry. A malfunctioning shunt control amplifier was reconnected via ground command.

Obenschain, A.↗

Pioneer Venus 1978

An orbiter and a multiprobe spacecraft will be sent to Venus in 1978 to conduct a detailed examination of the planet's atmosphere and weather. The spin-stabilized multiprobe spacecraft consists of a bus, a large probe and three identical small probes, each carrying a complement of scientific instruments. The large probe will conduct a detailed sounding of the lower atmosphere, obtaining measurements of the clouds, atmospheric structure, wind speed, and atmospheric composition. Primary emphasis will be placed on the planet's energy balance and clouds. The three small probes will provide information on the circulation pattern of the lower atmosphere. The probe bus will provide data on the upper atmosphere and ionosphere down to an altitude of about 120 km. The orbiter is designed to globally map the atmosphere, ionosphere, and the solar wind/ionosphere interaction. In addition, it will utilize radar mapping techniques to study the surface.

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Command decoder unit

The design and testing of laboratory hardware (a command decoder unit) used in evaluating space shuttle instrumentation, data processing, and ground check-out operations is described. The hardware was a modification of another similar instrumentation system. A data bus coupler was designed and tested to interface the equipment to a central bus controller (computer). A serial digital data transfer mechanism was also designed. Redundant power supplies and overhead modules were provided to minimize the probability of a single component failure causing a catastrophic failure. The command decoder unit is packaged in a modular configuration to allow maximum user flexibility in configuring a system. Test procedures and special test equipment for use in testing the hardware are described. Results indicate that the unit will allow NASA to evaluate future software systems for use in space shuttles. The units were delivered to NASA and appear to be adequately performing their intended function. Engineering sketches and photographs of the command decoder unit are included.

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Analysis of payload bay magnetic fields due to dc power multipoint and single point ground configurations

An analysis of magnetic fields in the Orbiter Payload Bay resulting from the present grounding configuration (structure return) was presented and the amount of improvement that would result from installing wire returns for the three dc power buses was determined. Ac and dc magnetic fields at five points in a cross-section of the bay are calculated for both grounding configurations. Y and Z components of the field at each point are derived in terms of a constant coefficient and the current amplitude of each bus. The dc loads assumed are 100 Amperes for each bus. The ac noise current used is a spectrum 6 db higher than the Orbiter equipment limit for narrowband conducted emissions. It was concluded that installing return wiring to provide a single point ground for the dc Buses in the Payload Bay would reduce the ac and dc magnetic field intensity by approximately 30 db.

Lawton, R. M.↗

The Multimission Modular Spacecraft for the 80's

The challenge to NASA is to prepare for the missions of tomorrow with manpower and funding constraints of today. The Goddard Space Flight Center has met this challenge with the Multimission Modular Spacecraft (MMS). This spacecraft design has evolved over the past six years while studying various potential missions. The key to the concept of the MMS is modularity and flexibility to accept mission unique hardware with minimum impact on the basic spacecraft bus. Beyond this, it was imperative that this multiple mission bus be cost effective even though it would not be of an optimum design for many missions having minimum performance requirements. The MMS performance and cost will capture 34 of the 43 potential spacecraft missions which have been initially studied. Gamma Ray Explorer (GRE) will be the first mission to utilize the MMS.

Bartlett, R. O.↗

Shuttle avionics system

The avionics system of the Space Shuttle is designed in a fail operational/fail safe architecture. The guidance, navigation and control system is implemented, through the onboard Orbiter digital computers. Guidance, navigation and control sensors are triplex, while the flight control effectors are mechanized either in load sharing or quad structure. Two sets of basic flight instruments and controls are provided along with electronic interfaces to allow for multiple selection of input destination and display source selection. Communications, tracking and instrumentation subsystems are mechanized as a dual hardware design for key operational elements. The data processing system allows for quad, triplex, dual or single computer operation. The power distribution subsystem provides a triple bus system with appropriate tie elements. A functional description is given of the computer system, the data bus, the mass memory unit, the multiplexer/demultiplexer and the CRT display system.

Gardiner, R. A.↗

The 30-cm ion thruster power processor

A power processor unit for powering and controlling the 30 cm Mercury Electron-Bombardment Ion Thruster was designed, fabricated, and tested. The unit uses a unique and highly efficient transistor bridge inverter power stage in its implementation. The system operated from a 200 to 400 V dc input power bus, provides 12 independently controllable and closely regulated dc power outputs, and has an overall power conditioning capacity of 3.5 kW. Protective circuitry was incorporated as an integral part of the design to assure failure-free operation during transient and steady-state load faults. The implemented unit demonstrated an electrical efficiency between 91.5 and 91.9 at its nominal rated load over the 200 to 400 V dc input bus range.

Herron, B. G.↗

Thermal design and development of a planetary probe - Pioneer Venus large probe

The thermal control system developed for the Large Atmospheric Probe of the Pioneer Venus Multiprobe Mission is described. The scope of the thermal control task requires maintaining the probe internal equipment shelf temperatures within a nonoperating range of -40 to 122 F and an operating range of -4 to 122 F during three different mission phases: (1) preseparation, the transit phase of the mission when the probe is attached to the Multiprobe Spacecraft Bus, (2) postseparation, the free-flight cruise phase of the mission following release from the Bus, and (3) descent, the phase of the mission from preentry equipment turn-on to impact on the Venus surface. Thermal control for these phases is achieved by a combination of passive thermal finishes on the probe exterior surfaces and heaters mounted on the equipment shelves. Verification of the adequacy of the total thermal design to meet all mission requirements has been completed.

Hennis, L. A.↗

Fiber-optic crossbar switch

Switch automatically crosspatches optical signals with little loss. Device is furnished with local control and remote control. Local control can be manual from control panel or by computer data bus. In remote control, switch is slaved to remote manual panel computer data bus.

Bell, C. H.↗