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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 73 records · Page 4
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1992

Control of on-orbit contamination for the Argos (P91-1) satellite

The ARGOS (P91-1) satellite presents a challenging combination of on-orbit contamination concerns while mandating a low-cost approach. Several experiment payloads contain contamination sensitive optics, another contains large quantities of CO2 and Xe for release in orbit, and one contains an NH3 fueled arc jet thruster. The latter includes a suite of sensors to measure contamination; so prelaunch calculations will be tested. Planned contamination control techniques include: physical separation of sensitive surfaces from contamination sources; flight covers to protect sensitive surfaces during early outgassing on-orbit; gas release and thruster operation early in the flight, before flight covers are opened; and careful control of plumes and venting through a detailed analysis of each.

Kelley, Joseph G.↗
NASA NTRS2012

Dust-Tolerant Intelligent Electrical Connection System

Faults in wiring systems are a serious concern for the aerospace and aeronautic (commercial, military, and civilian) industries. Circuit failures and vehicle accidents have occurred and have been attributed to faulty wiring created by open and/or short circuits. Often, such circuit failures occur due to vibration during vehicle launch or operation. Therefore, developing non-intrusive fault-tolerant techniques is necessary to detect circuit faults and automatically route signals through alternate recovery paths while the vehicle or lunar surface systems equipment is in operation. Electrical connector concepts combining dust mitigation strategies and cable diagnostic technologies have significant application for lunar and Martian surface systems, as well as for dusty terrestrial applications. The dust-tolerant intelligent electrical connection system has several novel concepts and unique features. It combines intelligent cable diagnostics (health monitoring) and automatic circuit routing capabilities into a dust-tolerant electrical umbilical. It retrofits a clamshell protective dust cover to an existing connector for reduced gravity operation, and features a universal connector housing with three styles of dust protection: inverted cap, rotating cap, and clamshell. It uses a self-healing membrane as a dust barrier for electrical connectors where required, while also combining lotus leaf technology for applications where a dust-resistant coating providing low surface tension is needed to mitigate Van der Waals forces, thereby disallowing dust particle adhesion to connector surfaces. It also permits using a ruggedized iris mechanism with an embedded electrodynamic dust shield as a dust barrier for electrical connectors where required.

Lewis, Mark↗
NASA NTRS1989

Urey prize lecture - Water on Mars

Taking the heat-transport physics of ice-covered lakes in the Dry Valleys of Antarctica as a model, it is presently suggested that liquid water lakes could have persisted for significant periods under protective ice covers in the Valles Marineris depressions of Mars. Calculations of ground ice thermodynamic stability in a Martian setting indicate that they may exist close to the surface at high latitudes, but are able to persist near the equator only at substantial depths. Such Martian landforms as terrain-softening are attributable to the creep of the Martian regolith under the influence of ground-ice deformation; FEM modeling of the flow process implies terrain-softening to be a near-surface phenomenon.

Squyres, Steven W.↗
NASA NTRS2020

Lower Omo Food Security & Agriculture: Mapping Land Cover Change in Unprotected and Protected Areas in the Lower Omo River Valley, Ethiopia

Ethiopia is home to unique wildlife, biodiversity, and ecosystem services and, like much of the world, is undergoing population growth, development, and land use change. As a result, some biodiverse regions may be at risk of being urbanized, cultivated as agricultural plots, or losing access to water bodies that are essential for maintaining both terrestrial and aquatic life. The DEVELOP team partnered with the Ethiopian Wildlife Conservation Authority to quantify the land cover change between the years 1994, 2010, and 2018. The team utilized Ethiopia’s dry season (January to May) for training point development which was crucial in differentiating the level of greenness between the four land cover classes: water, natural vegetation, cultivated land, and bare ground. The study area covered 62,000 km2 of the Lower Omo River Valley and includes eight protected areas. Data from Landsat 5 Thematic Mapper, Landsat 7 Enhanced Thematic Mapper Plus, Landsat 8 Operational Land Imager, and Shuttle Radar Topography Mission were used to employ a Random Forest classifier and identify the four classes within Google Earth Engine. For each of the supervised classifications, overall model accuracy was between 83% (2018) and 89% (1994). Between 1994 and 2018, the Lower Omo Valley experienced an overall increase of 258% (919 km2) in water and 291% (7,188 km2) in cultivated areas, while experiencing a 9% (2,761 km2) decrease in natural vegetation and 19% (5,346 km2) bare ground. There was an increase in water and cultivated land and a decrease in natural vegetation and bare ground in unprotected areas and all protected areas. However, protected areas maintained natural vegetation better than unprotected areas and only experienced a 1% (59 km2) loss compared to a 10% (2,701 km2) loss in unprotected areas.

Food Security & Agriculture↗
NASA NTRS2013

Ceramic Adhesive and Methods for On-Orbit Repair of Re-Entry Vehicles

This adhesive is capable of repairing damaged leading edge components of reentry vehicles while in space, and is novel with regard to its ability to be applied in the vacuum of space, and in a microgravity environment. Once applied, the adhesive provides thermal and oxidation protection to the substrate (in this case, reinforced carbon/carbon composites, RCCs) during re-entry of a space vehicle. Although there may be many formulations for repair adhesives, at the time of this reporting, this is the first known adhesive capable of an on-orbit repair. The adhesive is an engineered ceramic material composed of a pre-ceramic polymer and refractory powders in the form of a paste or putty that can be applied to a scratched, cracked, or fractured composite surface, covering and protecting the damaged area. The adhesive is then "cured" with a heat cycle, thereby cross-linking the polymer into a hardened material and bonding it to the substrate. During the heat of reentry, the material is converted to a ceramic coating that provides thermal and oxidative stability to the repaired area, thus allowing the vehicle to pass safely from space into the upper atmosphere. Ceramic powders such as SiC, ZrB2 and Y2O3 are combined with allylhydridopolycarbosilane (AHPCS) resin, and are mixed to form a paste adhesive. The material is then applied to the damaged area by brush, spatula, trowel, or other means to fill cracks, gaps, and holes, or used to bond patches onto the damaged area. The material is then cured, in a vacuum, preferably at 250F (approximately equal to 121C) for two hours. The re-entry heating of the vehicle at temperatures in excess of 3,000F (approximately equal to 1,650C) then converts this material into a ceramic coating. This invention has demonstrated advantages in resistance to high temperatures, as was demonstrated in more than 100 arc-jet tests in representative environments at NASA. Extensive testing verified oxidation protection for the repaired substrate (RCC), and confirmed that the microstructure of the resulting repair leads to durability and resistance to melting or flow. Its processability and working life in a vacuum was demonstrated by NASA astronauts in glovebox processing studies, as well as on-orbit in the open space shuttle bay. All of these advantages increase the working life of NASA vehicles, as well as improve safety for any crew on a manned vehicle. The adhesive, trademarked NOAX(TM). or Non-Oxide Adhesive Experimental, flew on all space shuttle missions from Return To Flight (STS-114) until the final flight (STS- 135) as a crack repair material for the leading edges and nose cap of the vehicle. NOAX(TM) was patented under U.S. Patents 7,628,878 and 7,888,277.

Riedell, James A.↗
NASA NTRS1987

Ice-covered water volcanism on Ganymede

Eruption of liquid H2O magmas along extensional fractures and graben-bounding normal faults may have played a critical role in the development of Ganymede's grooved terrain. The resurfacing potential of a water magma is dependent on a variety of factors, including the areal extent of the source region, the rate of discharge, the thickness of the flow, and the time that it takes the flow to completely freeze to its base. In this paper the thermal evolution of such a flow is considered in detail. The minimum unfrozen lifetime of a 5-m flow is approximately 12.5 days while a 10-m flow would survive for at least 50 days. Heating resulting from frictional head loss could reasonably extend these lifetimes by 50 percent or more. With a discharge rate of the order of 1-10 cu km/d, an individual volcanic water flow could flood an area of about 10,000 sq km before freezing. As the flow solidifies, its volume will increase, thus lifting and arching its protective ice cover. Extensional fractures may then develop in the ice subparallel to the graben walls. These fractures could result in grooves directly, given a sufficiently thick (1 km) flow, or they may simply act to concentrate various tectonic forces that could initiate groove-producing faults.

Allison, M. Lee↗
NASA NTRS1990

Hazards protection for space suits and spacecraft

A flexible multi-layered covering article for protection against the hazards of exposure to the environment of outer space is disclosed. The covering includes an outer layer section comprising an outermost lamina of woven expanded tetrafluoroethylene yarns (Gore Tex) for protecting against abrasion and tearing, an underlying weave of meta-aramid yarns (Nomex) and para-aramid yarns (Kevlar) for particle impart protection, and electrostatic charge dissipation and control system incorporated therein, and a chemical contaminants control barrier applied as a coating. A middle section includes a succession of thermal insulating layers of polymeric thermoplastic or thermoforming material, each of which is coated with a metal deposit of high infra-red emissivity and low solar radiation absorption characteristics and separated from adjacent insulating layers by a low thermal conductance material. The covering further includes a radiation attenuating layer of a tungsten-loaded polymeric elastomer binder for protecting against bremsstrahlung radiation and an inner layer of rip-stop polyester material for abrasion protection. A chloroprene coating may be supplied the polyester-material for added micrometeroid protection. Securing means of low heat conductance material secures the multi-layers together as a laminar composite.

Kosmo, Joseph J.↗
NASA NTRS1972

Xenon Filled Silicon Germanium Thermoelectric Generators

An analysis is presented that shows the desirability and feasibility of using a xenon fill in the initial stages of operation of a silicon-germanium radioisotope thermoelectric generator to be used in outer-planetary exploration. The xenon cover gas offers protection against oxidation and against material sublimation, and allows the generator to deliver required power throughout the prelaunch and launch phases. The protective mechanisms afforded by the xenon cover gas and the mechanization of a xenon supply system are also discussed.

Dewinter, F.↗
NASA NTRS1983

Designing Glass Panels for Economy and Reliability

Analytical method determines probability of failure of rectangular glass plates subjected to uniformly distributed loads such as those from wind, earthquake, snow, and deadweight. Developed as aid in design of protective glass covers for solar-cell arrays and solar collectors, method is also useful in estimating the reliability of large windows in buildings exposed to high winds and is adapted to nonlinear stress analysis of simply supported plates of any elastic material.

Moore, D. M.↗
NASA NTRS1992

Hidden Fastening-And-Unfastening Mechanism

Proposed mechanism placed behind panel fastens panel to, or unfastens it from, underlying structure. Electric motor and gearbox drives bolt to engage or disengage captive floating nut. Used where head at outer end of bolt or other fastener covered with protective outer layer on panel and inner end of bolt inaccessible.

Macconochie, Ian O.↗
NASA NTRS1927

Aero dopes and varnishes

Before proceeding to discuss the preparation of dope solutions, it will be necessary to consider some of the essential properties which should be possessed of a dope film, deposited in and on the surface of an aero fabric. The first is that it should tighten the material and second it should withstand weathering.

DOPES↗
NASA NTRS1994

Inert-Gas Diffuser For Plasma Or Arc Welding

Inert-gas diffuser provides protective gas cover for weld bead as it cools. Follows welding torch, maintaining continuous flow of argon over newly formed joint and prevents it from oxidizing. Helps to ensure welds of consistently high quality. Devised for plasma arc keyhole welding of plates of 0.25-in. or greater thickness, also used in tungsten/inert-gas and other plasma or arc welding processes.

Gilbert, Jeffrey L.↗
NASA NTRS2001

Technologies for Icy Bodies Access

Recent events in planetary exploration have profoundly changed the way both space scientists and the public regard the solar system and our place in it. These events include the Galileo data suggesting subsurface oceans in the Jovian system, ever stronger suggestions of near-surface water on Mars, as well as the complex structure observed for the Mars polar caps. And, of course, interest in icy cometary bodies is as old as humankind. Finally, the Mars north polar cap may conceivably cover and protect an ancient ocean floor, an obvious candidate ancient or extant habitat. In short, our interest in searching for life embraced early on the search for liquid water, and that has led us to an additional appreciation for water ice as both a commonplace partner with liquid water and as an issue to be addressed in the exploration of a host of interesting sites. In general, the spectrum of specialized technology for space exploration has not yet been broadened to include the requirements brought about by exploration of icy sites. We argue that technologies for access, operations, and science in icy solar system sites must be examined and their prioritized development initiated in order to successfully plan missions to these compelling sites over the next two decades. Additional information is contained in the original extended abstract.

Carsey, F. D.↗
NASA NTRS2008

A Gyroless Safehold Control Law Using Angular Momentum as an Inertial Reference Vector

A novel safehold control law was developed for the nadir-pointing Vegetation Canopy Lidar (VCL) spacecraft, necessitated by a challenging combination of constraints. The instrument optics did not have a recloseable cover to protect them form potentially catastrophic damage if they were exposed to direct sunlight. The baseline safehold control law relied on a single-string inertial reference unit. A gyroless safehold law was developed to give a degree of robustness to gyro failures. Typical safehold solutions were not viable; thermal constraints made spin stabilization unsuitable, and an inertial hold based solely on magnetometer measurements wandered unaceptably during eclipse. The novel approach presented here maintains a momentum bias vector not for gyroscopic stiffness, but to use as an inertial reference direction during eclipse. The control law design is presented. The effect on stability of the rank-deficiency of magnetometer-based rate derivation is assessed. The control law's performance is evaluated by simulation.

Stoneking, Eric↗
NASA NTRS2008

A Gyroless Safehold Control Law using Angular Momentum as an Inertial Reference Vector

A novel safehold control law was developed for the nadir-pointing Vegetation Canopy Lidar (VCL) spacecraft, necessitated by a challenging combination of constraints. The instrument optics did not have a reclosable cover to protect them from potentially catastrophic damage if they were exposed to direct sunlight. The baseline safehold control law relied on a single-string inertial reference unit. A gyroless safehold law was developed to give a degree of rebustness to gyro failures. Typical safehold solutions were not viable; thermal constraints made spin stabilization unsuitable, and an inertial hold based solely on magnetometer measurements wandered unacceptably during eclipse. The novel approach presented here maintains a momentum bias vector not for gyroscopic stiffness, but to use as an inertial reference direction during eclipse. The control law design is presented. The effect on stability of the rate-deficiency of magnetometer-based rate derivation is assessed. The control law's performance is evaluated by simulation.

Stoneking, Eric↗
NASA NTRS2012

Seal with integrated shroud for androgenous docking and berthing in contaminated environments

The present invention is directed to a specially configured seal system which provides a barrier to gas leakage flow between a pressurized module and its external environment. The seal includes a shroud covering which protects the sealing interface from its environment when not in use, and retracts to expose the sealing interface when mated. The seal system is constructed and arranged to mate with a seal of identical construction and arrangement or to mate with a flat surface.

Daniels, Christopher C.↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

An Analysis of Fire Dynamics Inside and Outside Indigenous Territories and Protected Areas in a Brazilian Agricultural Frontier

Sustainable land management, including protected areas, is integral to conserving tropical ecosystems and reducing carbon emissions in the Brazilian Amazon. In disturbed Amazon landscapes fire is commonly used to clear land or old fields for agriculture or pastureland. Human-set fires are the most common driver of deforestation and carbon emissions in Amazonia. Evidence suggests that indigenous groups have also used fire for land management since Pre-Columbian times. However, when used unsustainably, fires in this biome can result in degradation of forest ecosystems, decreased ability to store carbon, and health impacts resulting from smoke and particulate matter. Due to the uptick in fire occurrences in 2019, more restrictions on fire use were implemented in 2019 and 2020. Presidential decrees 9.992/2019 and 10.424/2020 banned fire use completely for periods of 60 and 120 days respectively, except by indigenous communities or authorities. Despite these bans, fire use remained high in both years. In the state of Mato Grosso, agricultural activity and expansion influences the anthropogenic fire regime. Indigenous and protected areas cover approximately 25% of its land area.

remote sensing↗
NASA NTRS1986

Viewport concept for space station modules

The generic design of a 20-in. diameter viewport for the space station modules is discussed. It should possess the capabilities of meteoroid/debris protection (with no metallic cover), redundancies in its meteoroid/debris protection, and pressure sealing systems. In addition, it should provide ease of change out for maintenance or repair. The design does not take into account the bumper-shield effect of the outermost panes in the meteoroid/debris analysis.

Douglas, F., III↗