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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 NTRS1981

High spectral and spatial resolution observations of the 12.28 micron emission from H2 in the Orion molecular cloud

The pure rotational S(2) line of molecular hydrogen at 12.28 microns was looked for in 44 positions in the Orion moleular cloud with 6 in. beams and 35 km/s spectral resolution; it was detected in 27 positions. Emission was observed over a velocity range of + or - 100 km/s. The lines are approximately symmetric, and have full widths at half maximum ranging from 100 km/s down to the resolution limit. The distribution of intensities and line shapes is largely consistent with that seen in the 2 micron hydrogen transitions. However, unexpectedly complex line profiles and point-to-point variations in linear shapes appear, particularly in the region near IRc9.

Beck, S. C.↗
NASA NTRS1982

High spectral and spatial resolution observations of the 12.28 micron emission from H2 in the Orion Molecular Cloud

The pure rotational S(2) line of H2 at 12.28 microns was sought in 44 positions in the Orion Molecular Cloud with 6-arcsec beams and 35 km/s spectral resolution; and it was detected in 27 positions. The lines are approximately symmetric and have full widths at half-maximum ranging from 100 km/s down to the resolution limit. The distribution of intensities and line shapes is largely consistent with that observed in the 2-micron hydrogen transitions; however, unexpectedly complex line profiles and point-to-point variations in line shapes appear, particularly in the region near IRc9.

Beck, S. C.↗
NASA NTRS1983

Application of the rectilinear impact pseudostate method to modeling of third-body effects on interplanetary trajectories

Interplanetary transfer trajectories, subject to the third-body gravitational attraction of the departure and arrival planets, noticeably deviate from the conic Lambert theorem solutions. The pseudostate method represents a useful improvement over conic theory by allowing the spacecraft motion about the sun and each terminal body to be superimposed, provided certain rules are followed. The new variant of the method requires iteration on time along the two planetocentric rectilinear impact trajectories. The operational equivalence of the method to the point-to-point Lambert formulation is an attractive feature, already used to advantage in the generation of mission design data

Sergeyevsky, A. B.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Antenna Subreflector Fed by a Line Source

Additional antenna design options made available by subreflector concept for converting cylindrical waves into spherical waves. Waves used to feed main reflector that shapes radiation pattern into pencil beam for point-to-point communication or into fan beam for aircraft tracking, space surveillance, or directional beacon transmission.

Brown, A. C., Jr.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Asteroid/comet mission possibilities using a Galileo spacecraft

Opportunities for rendezvous missions to three comets and two asteroids using a Galileo spacecraft have been identified. These missions are launched in the 1988 to 1990 time frame. Mission performance as measured by propellant margin after rendezvous is assessed for a ten-day launch period. Optimal trajectories are determined in each case subject to the maximum launch energy capability of the Shuttle/Centaur. These trajectories include third-body dynamics. The comet Tempel 2 mission uses a distant powered flyby of Jupiter, while each asteroid mission uses two flybys of Mars to accomplish rendezvous. Comparison of the results of the analysis using third-body dynamics with point-to-point conic results is made. The more accurate dynamic model is seen to be particularly important for the Tempel 2 mission. The results of this preliminary analysis indicate that a Galileo spacecraft launched with the Shuttle/Centaur system could be used for rendezvous with any of several comets or asteroids in the near future.

Byrnes, D. V.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Quaternions for Galileo scan platform control

The application of quaternions for the articulation control of the Galileo scan platform is presented in this paper. The purpose of selecting quaternions is to minimize onboard computation time and program size. Attention has been focused on performing inertial pointing while the spacecraft is in a dual spin configuration. Target quaternion and relative target quaternion are introduced and used to specify the target position of the scan platform for point-to-point absolute slews and mosaic relative slews, respectively. The pointing error of the platform is represented by an error quaternion which is converted into gimbal angular errors defining the attitude change. For path control, a moving target quaternion is generated; the corresponding tracking error quaternion and the related spacecraft motion compensation capability are also addressed. A sample slew case is used to demonstrate the implementation of these concepts.

Breckenridge, W. G.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Wide-Brightness-Range Video Camera

Television camera selectively attenuates bright areas in scene without affecting dim areas. Camera views scenes containing extremes of light and dark without overexposing light areas and underexposing dark ones. Camera uses liquid-crystal light valve for selective attenuation. Feedback cathoderay tube locally alters reflection characteristics of liquid-crystal light valve. Results in point-to-point optoelectronic automatic gain control to enable viewing of both dark and very bright areas within scene.

Craig, G. D.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Evaluating NASA Technology Programs in Terms of Private Sector Impacts

NASA is currently developing spacecraft technology for application to NASA scientific missions, military missions and commercial missions which are part of or form the basis of private sector business ventures. The justification of R&D programs that lead to spacecraft technology improvements encompasses the establishment of the benefits in terms of improved scientific knowledge that may result from new and/or improved NASA science missions, improved cost effectiveness of NASA and DOD missions and new or improved services that may be offered by the private sector (for example communications satellite services). It is with the latter of these areas that attention will be focused upon. In particular, it is of interest to establish the economic value of spacecraft technology improvements to private sector communications satellite business ventures. It is proposed to assess the value of spacecraft technology improvements in terms of the changes in cash flow and present value of cash flows, that may result from the use of new and/or improved spacecraft technology for specific types of private sector communications satellite missions (for example domestic point-to-point communication or direct broadcasting). To accomplish this it is necessary to place the new and/or improved technology within typical business scenarios and estimate the impacts of technical performance upon business and financial performance.

Greenberg, J. S.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Global interconnectivity in the next two decades - A scenario

The present paper provides a description of a part of NASA's current long range plans, taking into account the development of hierarchal space switching centers and laser intersatellite links which can interconnect the globe. It is pointed out that a special objective involves the development of technology and satellite architecture for reducing the cost of an end-to-end voice message per minute from the present average value of around $.40 now realized by terrestrial telephone systems to less than $.10. The next decade of NASA communications activity (1985-1995) is discussed, giving attention to the Advanced Communications Technology Satellite ACTS (July 1984) which will test the technology of space switchboard and signal processing in space. The environment of the decade 1985-1995 is considered along with the roles of communications satellites, the hierarchies of terrestrial public switched networks, cost comparisons of terrestrial and space point-to-point links, and concomitant technology developments related to supercomputers.

Lovell, R.↗
NASA NTRS1987

Digital Autonomous Terminal Access Communication (DATAC) system

In order to accommodate the increasing number of computerized subsystems aboard today's more fuel efficient aircraft, the Boeing Co. has developed the DATAC (Digital Autonomous Terminal Access Control) bus to minimize the need for point-to-point wiring to interconnect these various systems, thereby reducing total aircraft weight and maintaining an economical flight configuration. The DATAC bus is essentially a local area network providing interconnections for any of the flight management and control systems aboard the aircraft. The task of developing a Bus Monitor Unit was broken down into four subtasks: (1) providing a hardware interface between the DATAC bus and the Z8000-based microcomputer system to be used as the bus monitor; (2) establishing a communication link between the Z8000 system and a CP/M-based computer system; (3) generation of data reduction and display software to output data to the console device; and (4) development of a DATAC Terminal Simulator to facilitate testing of the hardware and software which transfer data between the DATAC's bus and the operator's console in a near real time environment. These tasks are briefly discussed.

Novacki, Stanley M., III↗
NASA NTRS1986

Path-constrained rendezvous - Necessary and sufficient conditions

The problem of path-constrained rendezvous in the vicinity of a Large Space Structure (LSS) was first introduced some years ago. The present contribution to this field centers on a demonstration that the problem can be reduced from a path-constraint problem to one of end-point constraints or certain (common) LSS geometries, under the assumption of an unrestrictive upper limit on the transfer time. This finding has been made under the assumption of a circular Keplerian orbit, and has been normalized with respect to orbital semimajor axis and LSS size. In addition to demonstrating this important simplification of the path-constrained rendezvous problem, the results of numerical simulations of path-constrained transfers from point-to-point on large spherical structures in orbit are discussed, and a series of conclusions having both architectural (design) and operational implications for LSS designers/operators is derived.

Soileau, K. M.↗
NASA NTRS1988

It's time to reinvent the general aviation airplane

Current designs for general aviation airplanes have become obsolete, and avenues for major redesign must be considered. New designs should incorporate recent advances in electronics, aerodynamics, structures, materials, and propulsion. Future airplanes should be optimized to operate satisfactorily in a positive air traffic control environment, to afford safety and comfort for point-to-point transportation, and to take advantage of automated manufacturing techniques and high production rates. These requirements have broad implications for airplane design and flying qualities, leading to a concept for the Modern Equipment General Aviation (MEGA) airplane. Synergistic improvements in design, production, and operation can provide a much needed fresh start for the general aviation industry and the traveling public. In this investigation a small four place airplane is taken as the reference, although the proposed philosophy applies across the entire spectrum of general aviation.

Stengel, Robert F.↗
NASA NTRS1987

A transputer based finite element solver

The feasibility of performing FEM structural-mechanics analyses on transputer systems is investigated experimentally. Transputers are programmable microprocessors equipped with local memory and point-to-point communication links; they can be joined in a large concurrent system via a programming language which supports distributed processing; this permits parallel processing at relatively low hardware cost. The computational tasks required by FEM programs are reviewed; the hardware (one PC, one master transputer, and 12 slave transputers) employed in the test calculations is described; and results demonstrating the speed and efficiency of the transputer array in assembling a global stiffness matrix and performing Gauss-Jordan matrix inversion are presented in graphs. It is predicted that larger transputer networks could approach the power of supercomputers at minicomputer costs.

Favenesi, J. A.↗
NASA NTRS1989

Hyperswitch Network For Hypercube Computer

Data-driven dynamic switching enables high speed data transfer. Proposed hyperswitch network based on mixed static and dynamic topologies. Routing header modified in response to congestion or faults encountered as path established. Static topology meets requirement if nodes have switching elements that perform necessary routing header revisions dynamically. Hypercube topology now being implemented with switching element in each computer node aimed at designing very-richly-interconnected multicomputer system. Interconnection network connects great number of small computer nodes, using fixed hypercube topology, characterized by point-to-point links between nodes.

Chow, Edward↗
NASA NTRS1989

Planning time-optimal robotic manipulator motions and work places for point-to-point tasks

A method is presented which combines simple time-optimal motions in an optimal manner to yield the minimum-time motions for an important class of complex manipulator tasks composed of point-to-point moves such as assembly, electronic component insertion, and spot welding. This method can also be used to design manipulator actions and work places so that tasks can be completed in minimum time. The method has been implemented in a computer-aided design software system. Several examples are presented. Experimental results show the method's validity and utility.

Dubowsky, S.↗
NASA NTRS1989

Engineering specification and system design for CAD/CAM of custom shoes. Phase 5: UMC involvement (January 1, 1989 - June 30, 1989)

The CAD/CAM of custom shoes is discussed. The solid object for machining is represented by a wireframe model with its nodes or vertices specified systematically in a grid pattern covering its entire length (point-to-point configuration). Two sets of data from CENCIT and CYBERWARE were used for machining purposes. It was found that the indexing technique (turning the stock by a small angle then moving the tool on a longitudinal path along the foot) yields the best result in terms of ease of programming, savings in wear and tear of the machine and cutting tools, and resolution of fine surface details. The work done using the LASTMOD last design system results in a shoe last specified by a number of congruent surface patches of different sizes. This data format was converted into a form amenable to the machine tool. It involves a series of sorting algorithms and interpolation algorithms to provide the grid pattern that the machine tool needs as was the case in the point to point configuration discussed above. This report also contains an in-depth treatment of the design and production technique of an integrated sole to complement the task of design and manufacture of the shoe last. Clinical data and essential production parameters are discussed. Examples of soles made through this process are given.

Bao, Han P.↗
NASA NTRS1989

A global approach for using kinematic redundancy to minimize base reactions of manipulators

An important consideration in the use of manipulators in microgravity environments is the minimization of the base reactions, i.e. the magnitude of the force and the moment exerted by the manipulator on its base as it performs its tasks. One approach which was proposed and implemented is to use the redundant degree of freedom in a kinematically redundant manipulator to plan manipulator trajectories to minimize base reactions. A global approach was developed for minimizing the magnitude of the base reactions for kinematically redundant manipulators which integrates the Partitioned Jacobian method of redundancy resolution, a 4-3-4 joint-trajectory representation and the minimization of a cost function which is the time-integral of the magnitude of the base reactions. The global approach was also compared with a local approach developed earlier for the case of point-to-point motion of a three degree-of-freedom planar manipulator with one redundant degree-of-freedom. The results show that the global approach is more effective in reducing and smoothing the base force while the local approach is superior in reducing the base moment.

Chung, C. L.↗
NASA NTRS1990

High speed all optical networks

An inherent problem of conventional point-to-point wide area network (WAN) architectures is that they cannot translate optical transmission bandwidth into comparable user available throughput due to the limiting electronic processing speed of the switching nodes. The first solution to wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) based WAN networks that overcomes this limitation is presented. The proposed Lightnet architecture takes into account the idiosyncrasies of WDM switching/transmission leading to an efficient and pragmatic solution. The Lightnet architecture trades the ample WDM bandwidth for a reduction in the number of processing stages and a simplification of each switching stage, leading to drastically increased effective network throughputs. The principle of the Lightnet architecture is the construction and use of virtual topology networks, embedded in the original network in the wavelength domain. For this construction Lightnets utilize the new concept of lightpaths which constitute the links of the virtual topology. Lightpaths are all-optical, multihop, paths in the network that allow data to be switched through intermediate nodes using high throughput passive optical switches. The use of the virtual topologies and the associated switching design introduce a number of new ideas, which are discussed in detail.

Chlamtac, Imrich↗