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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 721 records · Page 40
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1987

Orbiter transfer vehicle concept definition and system analysis study. Volume 4: Space station accommodations. Revision 1

A brief summary is given of the key objectives of Task 5 of the Space Station Accommodations Concept Definition. Space station accommodations were assessed and defined for each potential candidate Space-Based OTV concept and for the composite OTV fleet. To accomplish this, the functional and physical interactions between each OTV concept and the space station were defined. Then, conceptual accommodation designs were prepared and optimized for approach and configuration. Initial space station requirements were identified, including the ability to accommodate and support evolution to maturity, and then a time-phasing of accommodations was prepared showing that evolution. In the process of developing physical and functional interactions, operational requirements were defined, together with associated timelines. In that the crew complement is subject to limitations, the operational requirements derivation is biased toward automation wherever possible. For each candidate Ground-Based OTV concept, operating in conjunction with the space station, the above process was repeated.

Randall, Roger M.↗
NASA NTRS1987

The opportunities for space biology research on the Space Station

The life sciences research facilities for the Space Station are being designed to accommodate both animal and plant specimens for long durations studies. This will enable research on how living systems adapt to microgravity, how gravity has shaped and affected life on earth, and further the understanding of basic biological phenomena. This would include multigeneration experiments on the effects of microgravity on the reproduction, development, growth, physiology, behavior, and aging of organisms. To achieve these research goals, a modular habitat system and on-board variable gravity centrifuges, capable of holding various animal, plant, cells and tissues, is proposed for the science laboratory.

Ballard, Rodney W.↗
NASA NTRS1988

Hypervelocity impact damage assessment for Space Station

To inhibit damage and limit the probability of penetration of the Space Station pressure wall by micrometeoroids and orbital debris, a shield placed away from the wall is used to form a double wall. To determine shield effectiveness and assess impact damage, existing test data were reviewed and additional testing was performed for Space Station double wall designs. Empirical spallation and penetration functions derived from the data show that shield thickness and impact angle affect the damage to the wall. Thick shields reduce wall damage for low angle impacts but increase damage for oblique impacts. Multilayer insulation between the shield and wall reduces impact damage to the wall. A relationship between impact velocity and spall damage to the wall is demonstrated. Preliminary test results on Li-Al shield material indicate possible improved effectiveness over Al shields.

Coronado, Alex R.↗
NASA NTRS1988

Spaceborne VHSIC multiprocessor system for AI applications

A multiprocessor system, under design for space-station applications, makes use of the latest generation symbolic processor and packaging technology. The result will be a compact, space-qualified system two to three orders of magnitude more powerful than present-day symbolic processing systems.

Lum, Henry, Jr.↗
NASA NTRS1988

CAD-model-based vision for space applications

A pose acquisition system operating in space must be able to perform well in a variety of different applications including automated guidance and inspections tasks with many different, but known objects. Since the space station is being designed with automation in mind, there will be CAD models of all the objects, including the station itself. The construction of vision models and procedures directly from the CAD models is the goal of this project. The system that is being designed and implementing must convert CAD models to vision models, predict visible features from a given view point from the vision models, construct view classes representing views of the objects, and use the view class model thus derived to rapidly determine the pose of the object from single images and/or stereo pairs.

Shapiro, Linda G.↗
NASA NTRS1989

Durable thin film coatings for reflectors used in low earth orbit

This paper discusses the properties of thin film coatings used to provide a durable reflective surface for solar concentrators used in the solar dynamic system designed for the Space Station. The material system to be used consists of an adhesion promotion layer, a silver reflective layer, and a protective layer of aluminum oxide and silicon dioxide. The performance characteristics of this system are described and compared to those of several alternative systems which use aluminum as the reflective layer.

Mcclure, Donald J.↗
NASA NTRS1989

PLAID as a maintainability tool

PLAID is a computer-aided design tool for human factors engineering which has been used successfully in the Space Shuttle program and for design analysis of Space Station Freedom. PLAID capability includes analysis of visual fields of view, of the ability to reach a specified point, and of spatial conflicts. It enables the creation of animations which depict whole sequences of motions of astronauts and equipment. The PLAID graphics capability is described and its application to man-systems integration is briefly examined. The use of PLAID for maintainability is addressed, and future plans for PLAID are discussed.

Woolford, Barbara J.↗
NASA NTRS1990

Keeping the dream alive: Managing the Space Station Program, 1982 to 1986

The management is described and analyzed of the formative years of the NASA Space Station Program (1982 to 1986), beginning with the successful initiative for program approval by Administrator James M. Beggs through to the decision to bring program management to Reston, Virginia. Emphasis is on internal management issues related to the implementation of the various phases of the program. Themes examined are the problem of bringing programmatic and institutional interests together and focusing them to forward the program; centralized versus decentralized control of the program; how the history of NASA and of the individual installations affected the decisions made; and the pressure from those outside NASA. The four sections are: (1) the decision to build the space station, (2) the design of the management experiment, (3) the experiment comes to life, and (4) the decision reversal.

Lewin, Thomas J.↗
NASA NTRS1990

User's view of Space Station

It is pointed out that the current Space Station Freedom (SSF) design is the minimum station capable of satisfying the top-level user requirements, effectively incorporating the international partners, and providing the 'hooks' and 'scars' required to cost-effectively evolve the capabilites of the SSF. Research requirements have resulted in very important design drivers on the SS: three labs, three crewmembers per shift, low microgravity in the labs, minimum disturbances, high power for users, high data rates, multiple external attach points, and clean induced environment. Also addressed are the design capabilities that allow the SSF to support the development of technologies and the operations to expand the human presence in the solar system.

Holt, Alan C.↗
NASA NTRS1989

Summary and recommendations for initial exercise prescription

The recommendations summarized herein constitute a basis on which an initial exercise prescription can be formulated. It is noteworthy that any exercise program designed currently would be an approximation. Examination of the existing space-flight data reveals a scarcity of in-flight data on which to rigorously design an exercise program. The relevant experience within the U.S. space program (with regard to long-duration space flight) is limited to the Skylab Program. Lessons learned from Skylab are relevant to the design of a Space Station exercise program, especially with regard to the total length of exercise time required, cardiovascular (CV) deconditioning/reconditioning, and bone loss. Certain observations of the U.S.S.R. exercise activities can also contribute to the formulation of an exercise prescription of Space Station. Reportedly, the U.S.S.R. uses both a bicycle ergometer and a treadmill device on long-duration missions with some degree of success. Using the third crew of Salyut 6, which was a 175-day stay, as a representative mission, the typical time dedicated to exercise varies from 2 to 3 hours per day. In addition, the cosmonauts wear an elasticized suit, called a penquin suit, for time periods ranging from 12 to 16 hours per day. This device provides a load across the axial skeleton against which the wearer must exert himself. Despite these extensive countermeasures, the effects of adaptation are not totally prevented.

Stewart, Donald F.↗
NASA NTRS1991

Optimization and performance of Space Station Freedom solar cells

High efficiency, large area and low cost solar cells are the drivers for Space Station solar array designs. The manufacturing throughput, process complexity, yield of the cells, and array manufacturing technique determine the economics of the solar array design. The cell efficiency optimization of large area (8 x 8 m), dielectric wrapthrough contact solar cells are described. The results of the optimization are reported and the solar cell performance of limited production runs is reported.

Khemthong, S.↗
NASA NTRS1991

Solar dynamic power for Earth orbital and lunar applications

Development of solar dynamic (SD) technologies for space over the past 25 years by NASA Lewis Research Center brought SD power to the point where it was selected in the design phase of Space Station Freedom Program as the power source for evolutionary growth. More recent studies showed that large cost savings are possible in establishing manufacturing processes at a Lunar Base if SD is considered as a power source. Technology efforts over the past 5 years have made possible lighter, more durable, SD components for these applications. A review of these efforts and respective benefits is presented.

Calogeras, James E.↗
NASA NTRS1991

ECLSS predictive monitoring

On Space Station Freedom (SSF), design iterations have made clear the need to keep the sensor complement small. Along with the unprecendented duration of the mission, it is imperative that decisions regarding placement of sensors be carefully examined and justified during the design phase. In the ECLSS Predictive Monitoring task, we are developing AI-based software to enable design engineers to evaluate alternate sensor configurations. Based on techniques from model-based reasoning and information theory, the software tool makes explicit the quantitative tradeoffs among competing sensor placements, and helps designers explore and justify placement decisions. This work is being applied to the Environmental Control and Life Support System (ECLSS) testbed at MSFC to assist design personnel in placing sensors for test purposes to evaluate baseline configurations and ultimately to select advanced life support system technologies for evolutionary SSF.

Doyle, Richard J.↗
NASA NTRS1992

Collapse of composite tubes under end moments

Cylindrical tubes of moderate wall thickness such as those proposed for the original space station truss, may fail due to the gradual collapse of the tube cross section as it distorts under load. Sometimes referred to as the Brazier instability, it is a nonlinear phenomenon. This paper presents an extension of an approximate closed form solution of the collapse of isotropic tubes subject to end moments developed by Reissner in 1959 to include specially orthotropic material. The closed form solution was verified by an extensive nonlinear finite element analysis of the collapse of long tubes under applied end moments for radius to thickness ratios and composite layups in the range proposed for recent space station truss framework designs. The finite element analysis validated the assumption of inextensional deformation of the cylindrical cross section and the approximation of the material as specially orthotropic.

Stockwell, Alan E.↗
NASA NTRS1992

Waste streams in a typical crewed space habitat: An update

A compilation of generation rates and chemical compositions of potential waste streams in a typical crewed space habitat, reported in a prior NASA Technical Memorandum and a related journal article, was updated. This report augments that compilation by the inclusion of the following new data: those data uncovered since completion of the prior report; those obtained from Soviet literature relevant to life support issues; and those for various minor human body wastes not presented previously (saliva, flatus, hair, finger- and toenails, dried skin and skin secretions, tears, and semen), but included here for purposes of completeness. These waste streams complement those discussed previously: toilet waste (urine, feces, etc.), hygiene water (laundry, shower/handwash, dishwasher water and cleansing agents), trash, humidity condensate, perspiration and respiration water, trace contaminants, and dust generation. This report also reproduces the latest information on the environmental control and life support system design parameters for Space Station Freedom.

Golub, M. A.↗
NASA NTRS1991

Corrosion consequences of microfouling in water reclamation systems

This paper examines the potential fouling and corrosion problems associated with microbial film formation throughout the water reclamation system (WRS) designed for the Space Station Freedom. It is shown that the use of advanced metal sputtering techiques combined with image analysis and FTIR spectroscopy will present realistic solutions for investigating the formation and function of biofilm on different alloys, the subsequent corrosion, and the efficiency of different treatments. These techniques, used in combination with electrochemical measurements of corrosion, will provide a powerful approach to examinations of materials considered for use in the WRS.

Ford, Tim↗
NASA NTRS1991

SEU hardened memory cells for a CCSDS Reed-Solomon encoder

A design technique to harden CMOS memory circuits against single event upset (SEU) in the space environment is reported. The design technique provides a recovery mechanism which is independent of the shape of the upsetting event. A RAM cell and flip-flop design are presented to demonstrate the method. The flip-flop was used in the control circuitry for a Reed-Solomon encoder designed for the Space Station and Explorer platforms.

Whitaker, Sterling↗