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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 685 records · Page 38
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1973

Cost estimation for unmanned lunar and planetary programs

A basic model is presented for estimating the cost of unmanned lunar and planetary programs. Cost data were collected and analyzed for eight lunar and planetary programs. Total cost was separated into the following components: labor, overhead, materials, and technical support. The study determined that direct labor cost of unmanned lunar and planetary programs comprises 30 percent of the total program cost. Twelve program categories were defined for modeling: six spacecraft subsystem categories (science, structure, propulsion, electrical power, communications, and guidance and integration, test and quality assurance, launch and flight operations, ground equipment, systems analysis and engineering, and program management). An analysis showed that on a percentage basis, direct labor cost and direct labor manhours compare on a one-to-one ratio. Therefore, direct labor hours is used as the parameter for predicting cost, with the advantage of eliminating the effect of inflation on the analysis.

Dunkin, J. H.↗
NASA NTRS1973

High resolution infrared radiation sounder for the Nimbus F spacecraft

The activities on the HIRS program are described for the period of July through September, 1973. Completion of design activity and early fabrication effort on the protoflight unit were the major efforts. Operation of the engineering model in spacecraft integration tests was completed during July and August, after which the unit was returned for added test and evaluation.

Koenig, E. W.↗
NASA NTRS1973

Skylab SO71/SO72 circadian periodicity experiment

The circadian rhythm hardware activities from 1965 through 1973 are considered. A brief history of the programs leading to the development of the combined Skylab SO71/SO72 Circadian Periodicity Experiment (CPE) is given. SO71 is the Skylab experiment number designating the pocket mouse circadian experiment, and SO72 designates the vinegar gnat circadian experiment. Final design modifications and checkout of the CPE, integration testing with the Apollo service module CSM 117 and the launch preparation and support tasks at Kennedy Space Center are reported.

Fairchild, M. K.↗
NASA NTRS1974

Determination of the availability of appropriate aged flight rocket motors

A program to identify surplus solid rocket propellant engines which would be available for a program of functional integrity testing was conducted. The engines are classified as: (1) upper stage and apogee engines, (2) sounding rocket and launch vehicle engines, and (3) jato, sled, and tactical engines. Nearly all the engines were available because their age exceeds the warranted shelf life. The preference for testing included tests at nominal flight conditions, at design limits, and to establish margin limits. The principal failure modes of interest were case bond separation and grain bore cracking. Data concerning the identification and characteristics of each engine are tabulated. Methods for conducting the tests are described.

Martin, P. J.↗
NASA NTRS1973

IMP J summary technical report

The IMP J Summary Technical Report provides technical and administrative guidance for design, fabrication, integration, testing, and prelaunch activity on future spacecraft programs. General problems encountered on the IMP J program are described, and a recommendation is offered for these problems on future programs.

Source record↗
NASA NTRS1972

Small-scale explosive seam welding

A unique small scale explosive seam welding technique is reported that has successfully joined a variety of aluminum alloys and alloy combinations in thicknesses to 0.125 inch, as well as titanium in thicknesses to 0.056 inch. The explosively welded joints are less than one-half inch in width and apparently have no long length limitation. The ribbon explosive developed in this study contains very small quantities of explosive encased in a flexible thin lead sheath. The evaluation and demonstration of this welding technique was accomplished in three phases: evaluation and optimization of ten major explosive welding variables, the development of four weld joints, and an applicational analysis which included photomicrographs, pressure integrity tests, vacuum effects, and fabrication of some potentially useful structures in aluminum and titanium.

Bement, L. J.↗
NASA NTRS1973

Spacelab software development and integration concepts study report, volume 1

The proposed software guidelines to be followed by the European Space Research Organization in the development of software for the Spacelab being developed for use as a payload for the space shuttle are documented. Concepts, techniques, and tools needed to assure the success of a programming project are defined as they relate to operation of the data management subsystem, support of experiments and space applications, use with ground support equipment, and for integration testing.

Rose, P. L.↗
NASA NTRS1973

Report to the administrator by the NASA Aerospace Safety Advisory Panel on the Skylab program. Volume 1: Summary report

Contractor and NASA technical management for the development and manufacture of the Skylab modules is reviewed with emphasis on the following management controls: configuration and interface management; vendor control; and quality control of workmanship. A review of the modified two-stage Saturn V launch vehicle which focused on modifications to accommodate the Skylab payload; resolution of prior flight anomalies; and changes in personnel and management systems is presented along with an evaluation of the possible age-life and storage problems for the Saturn 1-B launch vehicle. The NASA program management's visibility and control of contractor operations, systems engineering and integration, the review process for the evaluation of design and flight hardware, and the planning process for mission operations are investigated. It is concluded that the technical management system for development and fabrication of the modules, spacecraft, and launch vehicles, the process of design and hardware acceptance reviews, and the risk assessment activities are satisfactory. It is indicated that checkout activity, integrated testing, and preparations for and execution of mission operation require management attention.

Source record↗
NASA NTRS1975

Joint USAF/NASA hypersonic research aircraft study

A joint USAF/NASA study has developed a conceptual design for a new high-speed research airplane (X-24C) and identified candidate flight research experiments in the Mach 3 to 6 speed range. Four major categories of high priority research experiments are described as well as the X-24C design concept. The vehicle, a rocket-boosted, delta planform aircraft, is air launched from a B-52 and is capable of forty seconds of rocket cruise at Mach 6 with a research scramjet. Research provisions include a dedicated 10-foot long research experiments section, removable fins and strakes, and provisions for testing integrated airbreathing propulsion systems.

F. S. Kirkham↗
NASA NTRS1975

Mapping X-ray heliometer for Orbiting Solar Observatory-8

An instrument combining mechanical collimators and proportional counter detectors was designed to record solar X-rays with energies of 2-30 keV with good temperal, spectral, and spatial resolution. The overall operation of the instrument is described to the degree needed by personnel who interact with the experimenter during SC/experiment interfacing, experiment testing, observatory integration and testing, and pre/post launch data processing. The general layout of the instrument is given along with a summary of the instrument characteristics.

Acton, L. W.↗
NASA NTRS1976

Procedures used in flight tests of an integrated propulsion control system on an F-111E airplane

A digital integrated propulsion control system (IPCS) was tested on an F-111E airplane. The IPCS provided full authority control of the left inlet and the TF30 afterburning engine. Supersonic test conditions were of primary interest. The operational procedures and maneuvers developed for IPCS evaluation, displays for test monitoring and data acquisition, flight safety, and problems encountered are discussed. The software refinements that made modifications to standard flight test procedures necessary are described. The flexibility of digital control and the ways software was used to overcome hardware deficiencies are discussed. Application of these procedures to a typical IPCS flight is described.

Baer, J. L.↗
NASA NTRS1979

Report of the Power Sub systems Panel

Problems in spacecraft power system design, testing, integration, and operation are identified and solutions are defined. The specific technology development problems discussed include substorm and plasma design data, modeling of the power subsystem and components, power system monitoring and degraded system management, rotary joints for transmission of power and signals, nickel cadmium battery manufacturing and application, on-array power management, high voltage technology, and solar arrays.

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NASA NTRS1980

YF-12 cooperative airframe/propulsion control system program, volume 1

Several YF-12C airplane analog control systems were converted to a digital system. Included were the air data computer, autopilot, inlet control system, and autothrottle systems. This conversion was performed to allow assessment of digital technology applications to supersonic cruise aircraft. The digital system was composed of a digital computer and specialized interface unit. A large scale mathematical simulation of the airplane was used for integration testing and software checkout.

Anderson, D. L.↗
NASA NTRS1980

Submillimeter wave survey of the galactic plane

The survey measured, over virtually the entire galactic plane, the distribution and basic physical conditions of the coolest dust component of the interstellar medium. The instrument designed for observations of extended, low surface brightness continuum emission consisted of a balloon borne, gyro stablized, 1.2 m Cassegrain telescope and a liquid cooled photometer. The design, integration, tests, and flight operation of the survey are presented.

Cheung, L. H.↗
NASA NTRS1980

Space Shuttle cargo processing.

The spacecraft processing techniques to be used at the Kennedy Space Center for the assembly and check-out of Space Shuttle cargoes are discussed. The processing flow for vertically handled spacecraft, which are inserted into the Shuttle orbiter cargo bay while the orbiter is in the vertical position and often are attached to a separate solid booster stage, includes assembly into unified payloads in the Vertical Processing Facility, followed by Cargo Integration Test Equipment tests to ensure cargo bay compatibility, and transportation to the launch pad. Horizontally handled spacecraft such as Spacelab, which are inserted into the Orbiter cargo bay while it is in the Orbiter Processing Facility in the horizontal position, are assembled and checked out within the Operations and Checkout Building, where the CITE tests are performed and the Spacelab will be disassembled, and then transported to the Orbiter Processing Facility. It is pointed out that during the Space Shuttle era, when the number of spacecraft to be processed simultaneously at Kennedy will double or triple, all spacecraft processing facilities will be required to handle the workload.

Neilon, J. J.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Development techniques for generic software

In developing the first version of a generic implementation of X.25, Levels 2 and 3, three development techniques are examined: table driven finite state machine implementation, an integrated testing environment, and top down design. A finite state machine (FSM) is a powerful tool for both specifying and implementing protocols. This technique was used in the X.25 specification. A table driven implementation of the FSM was chosen to facilitate changes and simplify coding. The effect that this technique have on program size, speed of execution, coding time, and debugging time are investigated.

Hamilton, R. L.↗
NASA NTRS1982

A method for determining the flight readiness of the integrated Space Shuttle system

The Space Shuttle Dynamic Integrated Test (DIT) system is described. The DIT is an open-loop system which makes no attempt to simulate Shuttle sensors, and by which the Shuttle redundancy management system is left unmodified. Open-loop operation is shown to inherently require less computing capacity during a test than the closed-loop alternative. DIT tests have generated a high degree of confidence in the Shuttle hardware, allowing the identification of such problems as a sluggish main fuel valve, which caused a countdown hold seconds before the simulated T-zero, and Main Engine Controller software malfunctions. Attention is given to the combination and substitution of sensor data, the modification of nominal flight software, and the preparation of simulation data. It is noted that greater performance would have been achieved if the interface with DIT had been a design requirement from the outset of Space Shuttle development.

Bacon, I.↗