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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 775 records · Page 43
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1990

Definition of experiments to investigate fire suppressants in microgravity

Defined and justified here are the conceptual design and operation of a critical set of experiments expected to yield information on suppressants and on suppressant delivery systems under realistic spacecraft-fire conditions (smoldering). Specific experiment parameters are provided on the solid fuel (carbon), oxidants (habitable spacecraft atmospheres), fuel/oxidant supply, mixing mode, and rate (quiescent and finite; ventilated and replenishable), ignition mode, event, and reignition tendency, fire-zone size, fire conditions, lifetime, and consequences (toxicity), suppressants (CO2, H2O, N2) and suppressant delivery systems, and diagnostics. Candidate suppressants were identified after an analysis of how reduced gravity alters combustion, and how these alterations may influence the modes, mechanisms, and capacities of terrestrial agents to suppress unwanted combustion, or fire. Preferred spacecraft suppression concepts included the local, near-quiescent application of a gas, vapor, or mist that has thermophysical fire-suppression activity and is chemically inert under terrestrial (normal gravity) combustion conditions. The scale, number, and duration (about 1 hour) of the proposed low-gravity experiments were estimated using data not only on the limitations imposed by spacecraft-carrier (Shuttle or Space Station Freedom) accommodations, but also data on the details and experience of standardized smolder-suppression experiments at normal gravity. Deliberately incorporated into the conceptual design was sufficient interchangeability for the prototype experimental package to fly either on Shuttle now or Freedom later. This flexibility is provided by the design concept of up to 25 modular fuel canisters within a containment vessel, which permits both integration into existing low-gravity in-space combustion experiments and simultaneous testing of separate experiments to conserve utilities and time.

Reuther, James J.↗
NASA NTRS1972

Ground and flight test program of a Stokes-flow parachute: Packaging, deployment, and sounding rocket integration

The current design and hardware components of the patented 14 sqm Stokes flow parachute are described. The Stokes-flow parachute is a canopy of open mesh material, which is kept deployed by braces. Because of the light weight of its mesh material, and the high drag on its mesh elements when they operate in the Stokes-flow flight regime, this parachute has an extremely low ballistic coefficient. It provides a stable aerodynamic platform superior to conventional nonporous billowed parachutes, is exceptionally packable, and is easily contained within the canister of the Sidewinder Arcas or the RDT and E rockets. Thus, it offers the potential for gathering more meteorological data, especially at high altitudes, than conventional billowed parachutes. Methods for packaging the parachute are also recommended. These methods include schemes for folding the canopy and for automatically releasing the pressurizing fluid as the packaged parachute unfolds.

Niederer, P. G.↗
NASA NTRS1979

Power Extension Package (PEP) system definition extension, orbital service module systems analysis study. Volume 4: PEP functional specification

The functional, performance, design, and test requirements for the Orbiter power extension package and its associated ground support equipment are defined. Both government and nongovernment standards and specifications are cited for the following subsystems: electrical power, structural/mechanical, avionics, and thermal control. Quality control assurance provisions and preparation for delivery are also discussed.

Source record↗
NASA NTRS2004

Intelligent Control for the BEES Flyer

This paper describes the effort to provide a preliminary capability analysis and a neural network based adaptive flight control system for the JPL-led BEES aircraft project. The BEES flyer was envisioned to be a small, autonomous platform with sensing and control systems mimicking those of biological systems for the purpose of scientific exploration on the surface of Mars. The platform is physically tightly constrained by the necessity of efficient packing within rockets for the trip to Mars. Given the physical constraints, the system is not an ideal configuration for aerodynamics or stability and control. The objectives of this effort are to evaluate the aerodynamics characteristics of the existing design, to make recommendaaons as to potential improvements and to provide a control system that stabilizes the existing aircraft for nominal flight and damaged conditions. Towards this several questions are raised and analyses are presented to arrive at answers to some of the questions raised. CART3D, a high-fidelity inviscid analysis package for conceptual and preliminary aerodynamic design, was used to compute a parametric set of solutions over the expected flight domain. Stability and control derivatives were extracted from the database and integrated with the neural flight control system. The Integrated Vehicle Modeling Environment (IVME) was also used for estimating aircraft geometric, inertial, and aerodynamic characteristics. A generic neural flight control system is used to provide adaptive control without the requirement for extensive gain scheduling or explicit system identification. The neural flight control system uses reference models to specify desired handling qualities in the roll, pitch, and yaw axes, and incorporates both pre-trained and on-line learning neural networks in the inverse model portion of the controller. Results are presented for the BEES aircraft in the subsonic regime for terrestrial and Martian environments.

Krishnakumar, K.↗
NASA NTRS2000

Noise Reduction Potential of Large, Over-the-Wing Mounted, Advanced Turbofan Engines

As we look to the future, increasingly stringent civilian aviation noise regulations will require the design and manufacture of extremely quiet commercial aircraft. Indeed, the noise goal for NASA's Aeronautics Enterprise calls for technologies that will help to provide a 20 EPNdB reduction relative to today's levels by the year 2022. Further, the large fan diameters of modem, increasingly higher bypass ratio engines pose a significant packaging and aircraft installation challenge. One design approach that addresses both of these challenges is to mount the engines above the wing. In addition to allowing the performance trend towards large, ultra high bypass ratio cycles to continue, this over-the-wing design is believed to offer noise shielding benefits to observers on the ground. This paper describes the analytical certification noise predictions of a notional, long haul, commercial quadjet transport with advanced, high bypass engines mounted above the wing.

Berton, Jeffrey J.↗
NASA NTRS2001

A Second Generation Multi-Angle Imaging SpectroRadiometer (MISR-2)

The Multi-angle Imaging SpectroRadiometer (MISR) has been in Earth orbit since December 1999 on NASA's Terra spacecraft. This instrument provides new ways of looking at the Earth's atmosphere, clouds, and surface for the purpose of understanding the Earth's ecology, environment, and climate. To facilitate the potential future continuation of MISR's multi-angle observations, a study was undertaken in 1999 and 2000 under the Instrument Incubator Program (IIP) of NASA Code Y's Earth Science Technology Office (ESTO) to investigate and demonstrate the feasibility of a successor to MISR that will have greatly reduced size and mass. The kernel of the program was the design, construction, and testing of a highly miniaturized camera, one of the nine that would probably be used on a future space borne MISR-like instrument. This demonstrated that the size and mass reduction of the optical system and camera electronics are possible and that filters can be assembled to meet the miniaturized packaging requirements. An innovative, reflective optics design was used, enabling the wavelength range to be extended into the shortwave infrared. This was the smallest all-reflective camera ever produced by the contractor. A study was undertaken to determine the feasibility of implementing nine (multi-angle) cameras within a single structure. This resulted in several possible configurations. It would also be possible to incorporate one of the cameras into an airborne instrument.

spectroradiometers↗
NASA NTRS1991

Findings of the Joint Workshop on Evaluation of Impacts of Space Station Freedom Ground Configurations

At the workshop, experts from the plasma interactions community evaluated the impacts of environmental interactions on the Space Station Freedom (SSF) under each of the proposed grounding schemes. The grounding scheme chosen for the SSF power system was found to have serious implications for SSF design. Interactions of the SSF power system and structure with the low Earth orbit (LEO) plasma differ significantly between different proposed grounding schemes. Environmental constraints will require modification of current SSF designs under any grounding scheme. Maintaining the present negative-grounding scheme compromises SSF safety, structural integrity, and electromagnetic compatibility. It also will increase contamination rates over alternative grounding schemes. One alternative, positive grounding of the array, requires redesign of the primary power system in work package four. Floating the array reduces the number of circuit changes to work package four but adds new hardware. Maintaining the current design will affect all work packages; however, no impacts were identified on work packages one, two, or three by positively grounding or floating the array, with the possible exception of extra corona protection in multi-wire connectors.

Ferguson, Dale C.↗
NASA NTRS1971

Brayton heat exchange unit development program

A Brayton Heat Exchanger Unit (BHXU), consisting of a recuperator, a heat sink heat exchanger and a gas ducting system, was designed, fabricated, and tested. The design was formulated to provide a high performance unit suitable for use in a long-life Brayton-cycle powerplant. A parametric analysis and design study was performed to establish the optimum component configurations to achieve low weight and size and high reliability, while meeting the requirements of high effectiveness and low pressure drop. Layout studies and detailed mechanical and structural design were performed to obtain a flight-type packaging arrangement. Evaluation testing was conducted from which it is estimated that near-design performance can be expected with the use of He-Xe as the working fluid.

Morse, C. J.↗
NASA NTRS2019

Overview of the Optomechanical Design of the LUVOIR Instruments

The Large Ultraviolet/Optical/Infrared Surveyor (LUVOIR) is a space telescope being submitted for review to the 2020 Decadal Survey in Astronomy and Astrophysics. Its science objectives include both direct imaging and spectral characterization of habitable exoplanets around sun-like stars, the study of planet, star, and galaxy formation, the transfer of matter between different galaxies, and the remote sensing of objects within the Solar System. Two architectures have been designed: a 15 m diameter on-axis telescope (LUVOIR-A) and an 8 m off-axis telescope (LUVOIR-B). This paper discusses the opto-mechanical design of the three LUVOIR instruments: the High Definition Imager (HDI), the LUVOIR UV Multi-object Spectrograph (LUMOS), and the Extreme Coronagraph for Living Planetary Systems (ECLIPS). For both the LUVOIR-A and LUVOIR-B variants of each instrument, optical design specifications are presented including first-order constraints, packaging requirements, and optical performance metrics. These factors are used to illustrate the final design of each instrument and LUVOIR as a whole. In addition to the optical designs, mechanical models are presented for each instrument showing the optical mounts, mechanisms, support structure, etc.

Decadal Study↗
NASA NTRS1988

Applications of an architecture design and assessment system (ADAS)

A new Architecture Design and Assessment System (ADAS) tool package is introduced, and a range of possible applications is illustrated. ADAS was used to evaluate the performance of an advanced fault-tolerant computer architecture in a modern flight control application. Bottlenecks were identified and possible solutions suggested. The tool was also used to inject faults into the architecture and evaluate the synchronization algorithm, and improvements are suggested. Finally, ADAS was used as a front end research tool to aid in the design of reconfiguration algorithms in a distributed array architecture.

Gray, F. Gail↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Full Scale Flat Floor Testing of a 500-M2-Class Solar Sail Deployer

Solar sailing missions rely on deployable systemsfor large area to mass ratios once in space, whilestill being small enough for launcher envelopes inthe stowed configuration. Many of thesedeployable systems feature booms that areflattened and subsequently coiled onto aspool/hub. As part of a collaborative deployablespace structures research effort of NASA and DLR,a boom deployment mechanism for a future 500 m²solar sail has been developed since 2017. To achieve the respective solar sail size goal, 16.5m long booms produced by NASA were integratedinto a DLR-designed deployer mechanism. Thisconsiderable size, as well as the lightweightconstruction of the booms and respectivedeployable systems makes ground testing asignificant challenge. Some systems for gravitycompensation and boom alignment will bepresented in the paper. However, the main focus isthe functional flat floor testing of the integratedboom-deployment mechanism system, as well asits challenges. The testing performed includes full deployment aswell as stowage of the booms. Both have beenperformed multiple times. The latter is one of thekey parameters determining packaging efficiency,which in turn confirms design assumptions. Duringsystem development, small scale tests and modelshave been used in preparation of flat floor testingof the 33 m span cross of the full-scale booms anddeployment mechanism. Hence a small chapter isalso devoted to analysing the differences inbehaviour between small- and full-scaledeployment systems. More parameters that are vital to design decisionshave been determined this way, such as drivingbelt force or hub brake torque. This paper alsofocuses on development goals and needs forfuture steps to achieve higher levels of technologyreadiness, such as the balancing of driving motorforce, synchronisation of its transmission and thecountering hub brake torque

Deployment mechanism↗
NASA NTRS1997

The Effectiveness of the Proportional Counter With a Specially Designed Filter as a Solar X-Ray Monitor on the NEAR Mission

The X-ray instrument package on the Near Earth Asteroid Rendezvous (NEAR) spacecraft is designed to provide direct measurements of the major elemental abundances for the asteroid 433 Eros. These will be the first such measurements ever made for a 'primitive' body. For this task to be performed, simultaneous measurements must be provided of both the X-ray lines characteristic of major elements at the asteroid's surface as well as the solar flux, which is the source of these lines (1,2). The solar flux consists of a continuum which is generated by thermal bremstrahlung and radiative recombination, with superimposed major lines which result from emission due to transitions in H and He-like ions. The relative contribution of each component of the solar flux varies as the level of solar output changes, and thus solar output must be monitored to correct for varations in surface data caused by the changing levels of solar output.

Clark, P. E.↗
NASA NTRS1991

Optical link demonstration with a lightweight transceiver breadboard

A compact optical communications transceiver breadboard was constructed. In order to keep the mass of the breadboard as low as possible the design was made very simple. The entire package weighs less than 5 kg. The optical module uses a 40 mW diode laser and a two-axis voice coil actuator for beam steering. The breadboard is capable of locking onto a laser beacon within its field of view and transmitting the diode laser beam back toward the beacon. Design of the breaboard, details of each component in the breadboard, and current experiments with the package are described.

Hemmati, H.↗
NASA NTRS2010

Packaging Concerns and Techniques for Large Devices: Challenges for Complex Electronics

NASA is going to have to accept the use of non-hermetic packages for complex devices. There are a large number of packaging options available. Space application subjects the packages to stresses that they were probably not designed for (vacuum for instance). NASA has to find a way of having assurance in the integrity of the packages. There are manufacturers interested in qualifying non-hermetic packages to MIL-PRF-38535 Class V. Government space users are agreed that Class V should be for hermetic packages only. NASA is working on a new Class for non-hermetic packages for M38535 Appendix B, "Class Y". Testing for package integrity will be required but can be package specific as described by a Package Integrity Test Plan. The plan is developed by the manufacturer and approved by DSCC and government space.

LaBel, Kenneth A.↗
NASA NTRS2019

Overview of NASA's Solar Electric Propulsion Project

NASA is continuing to develop and qualify a state of the art 13 kW-class Advanced Electric Propulsion System (AEPS) for NASA exploration missions through a contract with Aerojet Rocketdyne (AR). An objective of the AEPS project is accelerate the adoption of high power electric propulsion technologies by reducing the risk and uncertainty of integrating Solar Electric Propulsion (SEP) technologies into space flight systems. NASA and AR have recently initiated testing of engineering hardware including the Hall Current Thruster (HCT), Power Processing Unit (PPU), and Xenon Flow Controller (XFC) at both the component and system levels. The successful completion of these tests will provide the required information to advance the AEPS system towards Critical Design Review. In support of the AEPS contract, NASA and JPL have been performing risk reduction activities to address specific concerns of this higher power Hall thruster propulsion system. These risk reduction activities have included long duration wear testing of the Technology Demonstration Unit (TDU) Hall thruster and cathode hardware, thermal cycling of TDU cathode heaters and coils, plasma plume measurements, and performed early circuit testing of the AEPS PPU design. In addition to the propulsion system development, the SEP project is developing the Plasma Diagnostic Package (PDP) and the SEP Testbed. The PDP is designed for use in conjunction with a high-powered electric propulsion (EP) system to characterize in-space operation. The SEP Testbed system is being developed to demonstrate integrated SEP system performance. The paper presents an overview of the NASA and the AEPS contract activities and a summary of the associated NASA in-house activities.

Plasma diagnostics package↗
NASA NTRS1994

Conceptual design of an Orbital Debris Defense System

Man made orbital debris has become a serious problem. Currently NORAD tracks over 7000 objects in orbit and less than 10 percent of these are active payloads. Common estimates are that the amount of debris will increase at a rate of 10 percent per year. Impacts of space debris with operational payloads or vehicles is a serious risk to human safety and mission success. For example, the impact of a 0.2 mm diameter paint fleck with the Space Shuttle Challenger window created a 2 mm wide by 0.6 mm deep pit. The cost to replace the window was over $50,000. A conceptual design for a Orbital Debris Defense System (ODDS) is presented which considers a wide range of debris sizes, orbits and velocities. Two vehicles were designed to collect and remove space debris. The first would attach a re-entry package to de-orbit very large debris, e.g. inactive satellites and spent upper stages that tend to break up and form small debris. This vehicle was designed to contain several re-entry packages, and be refueled and resupplied with more re-entry packages as needed. The second vehicle was designed to rendezvous with and capture debris ranging from 10 cm to 2 m. Due to tracking limitations, no technically feasible method for collecting debris below 10 cm in size could be devised; it must be accomplished through international regulations which reduce the accumulation of space debris.

Bedillion, Erik↗