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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

Ceramic Matrix Composite (CMC) Thermal Protection Systems (TPS) and Hot Structures for Hypersonic Vehicles

Thermal protection systems (TPS) and hot structures are required for a range of hypersonic vehicles ranging from ballistic reentry to hypersonic cruise vehicles, both within Earth’s atmosphere and non-Earth atmospheres. The focus of this presentation is on air breathing hypersonic vehicles in the Earth's atmosphere. This includes single-stage to orbit (SSTO), two-stage to orbit (TSTO) accelerators, access to space vehicles, and hypersonic cruise vehicles. The presentation will start with a brief discussion of aerodynamic heating and thermal management techniques to address the high heating, followed by an overview of TPS for rocket-launched and air-breathing vehicles. The argument is presented that as we move from rocket-based vehicles to air-breathing vehicles, we need to move away from the “insulated airplane” approach used on the Space Shuttle Orbiter to a wide range of TPS and hot structure approaches. The primary portion of the presentation will discuss issues and design options for CMC TPS and hot structure components, including leading edges, acreage TPS, and control surfaces. The current state-of-the-art will be briefly discussed for some of the components. The two primary technical challenges impacting the use of CMC TPS and hot structures for hypersonic vehicles are environmental durability and fabrication, and will be discussed briefly.

David E Glass↗

Ceramic Matrix Composite (CMC) Thermal Protection Systems (TPS) and Hot Structures for Hypersonic Vehicles

Thermal protection systems (TPS) and hot structures are required for a range of hypersonic vehicles ranging from ballistic reentry to hypersonic cruise vehicles, both within Earth’s atmosphere and non-Earth atmospheres. The focus of this presentation is on air breathing hypersonic vehicles in the Earth's atmosphere. This includes single-stage to orbit (SSTO), two-stage to orbit (TSTO) accelerators, access to space vehicles, and hypersonic cruise vehicles. The presentation will start with a brief discussion of aerodynamic heating and thermal management techniques to address the high heating, followed by an overview of TPS for rocket-launched and air-breathing vehicles. The argument is presented that as we move from rocket-based vehicles to air-breathing vehicles, we need to move away from the “insulated airplane” approach used on the Space Shuttle Orbiter to a wide range of TPS and hot structure approaches. The primary portion of the presentation will discuss issues and design options for CMC TPS and hot structure components, including leading edges, acreage TPS, and control surfaces. The current state-of-the-art will be briefly discussed for some of the components. The two primary technical challenges impacting the use of CMC TPS and hot structures for hypersonic vehicles are environmental durability and fabrication, and will be discussed briefly.

Thermal Protection Systems, hot structure↗

Firex Water Tank, SWMU 069, Confirmatory Sampling Report

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) permit requires identification and evaluation of known Solid Waste Management Units (SWMU) located at the Kennedy Space Center (KSC). Firex Water Tank (FWT), or the “site,” is designated as SWMU 069 under the NASA RCRA permit. This report summarizes the results of the Confirmatory Sampling (CS) field activities carried out during Fall 2021, at FWT, SWMU 069, KSC, Florida. Three locations of concern (LOCs) were identified by screening historical sample results to current State of Florida soil cleanup target levels (SCTL). A total of 18 soil samples were collected to investigate the historical exceedance locations. Samples at LOC 1 and 2 were analyzed for arsenic and the results for all were below the SCTL. Samples at LOC 3 were analyzed for polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons and it was determined that certain locations have results that remain above the SCTL. The current land use controls will remain in place at FWT to mitigate potential risks.

Firex↗

Promoting Astronaut Autonomy in Human Spaceflight Missions

Mission operations will have to adapt for long duration, long distance human spaceflight missions. This change is driven mainly by the significantly different communication availability between Earth and space. As astronauts travel farther from Earth, the one-way communication latency increases; the amount of bandwidth will be limited; and there will be period of long and/or no communication. Currently, ground flight controllers collaborate and cooperate with astronauts in space to accomplish essential operational functions. Astronaut autonomy, i.e., the crew’s ability to work more independently from mission control, will be a key enabler in future exploration missions. Over the last several years, the NASA Ames Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) Group has investigated various ways to promote and support astronaut autonomy in human spaceflight missions. Software prototypes are researched, designed, implemented, and assessed for their ability to enable astronaut autonomy. From integrated Internet of Thing for Space, advanced procedures interfaces, comm-delayed chats, and self-scheduling tools, the HCI Group has explored different aspects of astronaut autonomy. Specifically, the self-scheduling tool Playbook has been evaluated in analog extreme environments and onboard the International Space Station, successfully paving the way for future autonomous astronauts.

crew autonomy↗

Firex Water Tank, SWMU 069, Confirmatory Sampling Report: Revision 2

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) permit requires identification and evaluation of known Solid Waste Management Units (SWMU) located at the Kennedy Space Center (KSC). Firex Water Tank (FWT), or the “site,” is designated as SWMU 069 under the NASA RCRA permit. This report summarizes the results of the Confirmatory Sampling (CS) field activities carried out during Fall 2021, at FWT, SWMU 069, KSC, Florida. Three locations of concern (LOCs) were identified by screening historical sample results to current State of Florida soil cleanup target levels (SCTL). A total of 18 soil samples were collected to investigate the historical exceedance locations. Samples at LOC 1 and 2 were analyzed for arsenic and the results for all were below the SCTL. Samples at LOC 3 were analyzed for polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons and it was determined that certain locations have results that remain above the SCTL. The current land use controls will remain in place at FWT to mitigate potential risks.

Firex↗

NASA Engineering and Safety Center Technical Bulletin No. 22-08; Contaminant Reduction in High Purity Hydrazine

Hydrazine and its derivatives are used ubiquitously in liquid propulsion systems. In smaller thruster systems, contaminant build up has historically caused flow decay and consequently performance losses. Many of these contaminants are not controlled by the current revision of MIL-PRF-26536 [1], the High Purity Hydrazine (HPH) procurement specification, yet have been observed to be present in HPH at variable concentration and, often exceed potentially problematic levels for small thrusters. This technical bulletin outlines recent work aimed at identifying appropriate separation processes to remove specific target elemental and carbonaceous contamination in HPH.

Technical Bulletin No. 22-08↗

Data Driven UAM Flight Energy Consumption Prediction and Risk Assessment

With the current technological advancements revolutionizing the concept of Urban Air Mobility (UAM) and package delivery, there is also, a concurrent need to quantify the operational safety of these vehicles in terms of their associated risk. Conducting safe flight operations is critical for UAM vehicles which are electrically Vertical Takeoff and Landing (eVTOL) vehicles, to operate in current Air traffic control. In this paper, a data-driven method for UAM vehicle energy consumption prediction and risk quantification with conditional value-at-risk based on energy consumption distribution is presented. Significant factors affecting energy consumption, such as density altitude, aircraft design, airspeed, and collision avoidance algorithms, are considered in the data-driven based energy consumption prediction of different eVTOL

Data-driven↗

Shallow Soil Polychlorinated Biphenyl Site Assessment Report

This report presents a summary of the shallow soil polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) site assessment activities that occurred from December 2020 through July 2022 at General Services Administration Reclamation Yard, Solid Waste Management Unit (SWMU) 010, located at the John F. Kennedy Space Center (KSC), Florida. The site is monitored under KSC’s Resource Conservation and Recovery Act Corrective Action Program, which also meets the requirements of Chapter 62-780, Florida Administrative Code. For the purposes of this report, three separate shallow soil plumes, known as the Northeast Shallow Soil PCB Plume, Southeast Shallow Soil PCB Plume, and West Shallow Soil PCB Plume, were identified for this site. The activities presented in this report include seven field events conducted between December 2020 and July 2022, which include shallow soil sample collection in the Northeast, Southeast, and West Shallow Soil PCB Plumes. AECOM Technical Services, Inc., personnel collected 330 soil samples from 118 boring locations. The samples were collected at 0.5-foot depth intervals to various depths based on analytical results and depth to groundwater. The soil samples were submitted to a fixed-based laboratory for analysis by United States Environmental Protection Agency Method 8082A for total PCBs. Several soil samples had PCB concentrations above the State of Florida Direct Exposure Residential and Industrial Soil Cleanup Target Levels (SCTLs), and two soil samples had PCB concentrations above the State of Florida Leachability for Groundwater. No soil borings were located beneath impervious surfaces, such as concrete or asphalt. The current Land Use Control Implementation Plan (LUCIP) covers PCBs in soils above the residential SCTL, which includes the paved areas.

PCBs↗

Shallow Soil Polychlorinated Biphenyl Site Assessment Report: General Services Administration Reclamation Yard Solid Waste Management Unit 010

This report presents a summary of the shallow soil polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) site assessment activities that occurred from December 2020 through July 2022 at General Services Administration Reclamation Yard, Solid Waste Management Unit (SWMU) 010, located at the John F. Kennedy Space Center (KSC), Florida. The site is monitored under KSC’s Resource Conservation and Recovery Act Corrective Action Program, which also meets the requirements of Chapter 62-780, Florida Administrative Code. For the purposes of this report, three separate shallow soil plumes, known as the Northeast Shallow Soil PCB Plume, Southeast Shallow Soil PCB Plume, and West Shallow Soil PCB Plume, were identified for this site. The activities presented in this report include seven field events conducted between December 2020 and July 2022, which include shallow soil sample collection in the Northeast, Southeast, and West Shallow Soil PCB Plumes. AECOM Technical Services, Inc., personnel collected 330 soil samples from 118 boring locations. The samples were collected at 0.5-foot depth intervals to various depths based on analytical results and depth to groundwater. The soil samples were submitted to a fixed-based laboratory for analysis by United States Environmental Protection Agency Method 8082A for total PCBs. Several soil samples had PCB concentrations above the State of Florida Direct Exposure Residential and Industrial Soil Cleanup Target Levels (SCTLs), and two soil samples had PCB concentrations above the State of Florida Leachability for Groundwater. No soil borings were located beneath impervious surfaces, such as concrete or asphalt. The current Land Use Control Implementation Plan (LUCIP) covers PCBs in soils above the residential SCTL, which includes the paved areas.

soil assessment↗

Temperature-Controlling Circuit

Simple circuit switches current to electrical heater on and off to maintain temperature of room at 25 plus or minus 0.5 degree C. Lightweight, compact, reliable, insensitive to electrical noise, and uses single 5-Vdc power supply. Handles ac loads of 10 A. Designed to operate outside temperature controlled environment over range of -55 to +85 degree C. Thermistor provides input signal for simple temperature controller. Output of controller applied to solid-state relay, which in turn switches current to resistance heater.

Temple, Gerald↗

Variable Synthetic Capacitance

Feedback amplifier circuit synthesizes electronically variable capacitance. Variable Synthetic Capacitor is amplifier circuit with follower/feedback configuration. Effective input capacitance depends on input set current. If synthetic capacitor is connected across resonant element of oscillator, oscillator frequency controlled via input set current. Circuit especially suitable for fine frequency adjustments of piezoelectric-crystal or inductor/capacitor resonant oscillators.

Kleinberg, L. L.↗

Advanced Power Regulator Developed for Spacecraft

The majority of new satellites generate electrical power using photovoltaic solar arrays and store energy in batteries for use during eclipse periods. Careful regulation of battery charging during insolation can greatly increase the expected lifetime of the satellite. The battery charge regulator is usually custom designed for each satellite and its specific mission. Economic competition in the small satellite market requires battery charge regulators that are lightweight, efficient, inexpensive, and modular enough to be used in a wide variety of satellites. A new battery charge regulator topology has been developed at the NASA Lewis Research Center to address these needs. The new regulator topology uses industry-standard dc-dc converters and a unique interconnection to provide size, weight, efficiency, fault tolerance, and modularity benefits over existing systems. A transformer-isolated buck converter is connected such that the high input line is connected in series with the output. This "bypass connection" biases the converter's output onto the solar array voltage. Because of this biasing, the converter only processes the fraction of power necessary to charge the battery above the solar array voltage. Likewise, the same converter hookup can be used to regulate the battery output to the spacecraft power bus with similar fractional power processing. The advantages of this scheme are: 1) Because only a fraction of the power is processed through the dc-dc converter, the single- stage conversion efficiency is 94 to 98 percent; 2) Costly, high-efficiency dc-dc converters are not necessary for high end-to-end system efficiency; 3) The system is highly fault tolerant because the bypass connection will still deliver power if the dc-dc converter fails; and 4) The converters can easily be connected in parallel, allowing higher power systems to be built from a common building block. This new technology will be spaceflight tested in the Photovoltaic Regulator Kit Experiment (PRKE) on TRW's Small Spacecraft Technology Initiative (SSTI) satellite scheduled for launch in 1996. This experiment uses commercial dc-dc converters (28 to 15 Vdc) and additional control circuitry to regulate current to a battery load. The 60-W, 87- percent efficiency converters can control 180 W of power at an efficiency of 94 percent in the new configuration. The power density of the Photovoltaic Regulator Kit Experiment is about 200 W/kg.

Source record↗

Process control integration requirements for advanced life support systems applicable to manned space missions

An overview of recent developments in process-control technology which might have applications in future advanced life support systems for long-duration space operations is presented. Consideration is given to design criteria related to control system selection and optimization, and process-control interfacing methodology. Attention is also given to current life support system process control strategies, innovative sensors, instrumentation and control, and innovations in process supervision.

Spurlock, Paul↗

Problems in modeling man machine control behavior in biodynamic environments

Reviewed are some current problems in modeling man-machine control behavior in a biodynamic environment. It is given in two parts: (1) a review of the models which are appropriate for manual control behavior and the added elements necessary to deal with biodynamic interfaces; and (2) a review of some biodynamic interface pilot/vehicle problems which have occurred, been solved, or need to be solved.

Jex, H. R.↗

Active control and system identification of rotordynamic structure

Four current research projects are summarized: (1) active control of rotor system dynamics; (2) attenuation of rotor vibration using controlled pressure hydrostatic bearings; (3) a new seal test facility for measuring isotropic and anisotropic linear rotordynamic characteristics; and (4) the use of rotordynamic instability thresholds to accurately measure bearing rotordynamic characteristics.

Adams, M. L.↗

Evaluation of Heave Disturbance Rejection and Control Response Criteria on the Handling Qualities Evaluation of Urban Air Mobility (UAM) eVTOL Quadrotors Using the Vertical Motion Simulator

The first piloted handling qualities study of an urban air mobility (UAM) vehicle leveraging the Vertical Motion Simulator (VMS) at NASA Ames Research Center was conducted in Spring 2021. The VMS provides a unique capability to reduce risk by assessing and iterating control designs. Minimal sources currently exist to provide performance and handling qualities data for large, rotor speed-controlled vehicles outside of the software environment. The study compares multiple handling qualities performance configurations for rotor speed and blade pitch-controlled variants of a six-passenger quadrotor conceptual design model developed by the NASA Revolutionary Vertical Lift Technology (RVLT) Project. Additionally, both ADS-33 and a tailored set of performance standards (notionally representing the agility required of a UAM mission) are examined under conditions with and without light turbulence. Preliminary results did show significant variation in ratings based on the set of standards utilized, controller tuning to either Level 1 or boundary Level 1/ Level 2 conditions, and presence or lack of turbulence. A custom approach and landing maneuver was also designed to bring these evaluation tasks together in a more comprehensive application.

Handling Qualities↗

Biocontamination Control for Spacesuit Garments - A Preliminary Study

This paper outlines a preliminary study that was conducted to review, test, and improve on current space suit biocontamination control. Biocontamination from crew members can cause space suit damage and objectionable odors and lead to crew member health hazards. An understanding of the level of biocontamination is necessary to mitigate its effects. A series of tests were conducted with the intent of evaluating current suit materials, ground and on-orbit disinfectants, and potential commercial off-the-shelf antimicrobial materials. Included in this paper is a discussion of the test methodology, results, and analysis method.

Rhodes, Richard A.↗

NASA/DOD Controls-Structures Interaction Technology 1989

The purpose of this conference was to report to industry, academia, and government agencies on the current status of controls-structures interaction technology. The agenda covered ground testing, integrated design, analysis, flight experiments, and concepts.

Newsom, Jerry R.↗