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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 91 records · Page 5
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1973

Postflight simulation of parachute deployment dynamics of Viking qualification flight tests

Simulation calculations of the Viking qualification flight tests are conducted by use of analytical models of the parachute deployment dynamics process. Results from the study indicate that good simulations of event times and trajectory are obtained. If the full-scale parachute drag coefficient is used, a good simulation of first opening load is obtained and the overall nature of the load history is calculated. For longitudinal motions, the two-degree-of-freedom models give good agreement with a six-degree-of-freedom model. It is believed that the analytical models used are tools which will aid in the analysis of future flight systems.

Whitlock, C. H.↗
NASA NTRS1965

Postflight Evaluation of Atlas-Centaur AC-5 (Launched 2 March 1965)

The Atlas-Centaur AC-5 vehicle was launched from ETR Complex 36A on March 2., 1965 at 8:25.04 a.m. EST. Within about 1 second after launch the thrust of the Atlas booster engine decayed rapidly; the vehicle settled back on the launch pad and was quickly destroyed by fire and explosion. Considerable damage was sustained by the launch complex and its associated equipment. Loss of booster engine thrust was due to fuel depletion at the turbopump inlets, which is attributed to closure of the fuel prevalve or the staging valve. To preclude the recurrence of either of these fuel valving malfunctions, the following corrective action has been taken: The remote control actuator has been replaced by manual operation of the Atlas fuel prevalve; the internal passage dimensions in the staging valve have been increased to lessen the hydraulic load on the valve poppet. In addition to the Atlas fuel system malfunction, a failure in the power control circuitry of the Centaur guidance computer resulted in partial removal of power at umbilical ejection. To prevent such a guidance system failure on future flights some redundant circuitry has been eliminated and more rigorous checkout procedures have been adopted. No further anomalies were discovered in the telemetered data prior to the Atlas booster thrust decay. A prime objective of the AC-5 flight was to place a dynamic model of the Surveyor spacecraft in a simulated lunar transfer trajectory. An important facet of this problem is the demonstration of a launch-on-time capability in accordance with the proper Earth-moon relation. The window opening time was established at 8:25 a.m. EST; thus the actual launch occurred within 4 seconds of the planned time.

Source record↗
NASA NTRS1976

Postflight analysis of science demonstrations

A summary of the results of the 12 Marshall Space Flight Center science demonstrations performed on Skylab is presented. The demonstrations include diffusion in liquids, ice melting, liquid floating zone, gyroscope, liquid films, immiscible liquids, Rochelle salt growth, deposition of silver crystals, fluid mechanics, neutron environment, orbital mechanics, and charged particle mobility.

Bannister, T. C.↗
NASA NTRS1976

Operational plans for life science payloads - From experiment selection through postflight reporting

Key features of operational plans developed in a study of the Space Shuttle era life science payloads program are presented. The data describes the overall acquisition, staging, and integration of payload elements, as well as program implementation methods and mission support requirements. Five configurations were selected as representative payloads: (a) carry-on laboratories - medical emphasis experiments, (b) mini-laboratories - medical/biology experiments, (c) seven-day dedicated laboratories - medical/biology experiments, (d) 30-day dedicated laboratories - Regenerative Life Support Evaluation (RLSE) with selected life science experiments, and (e) Biomedical Experiments Scientific Satellite (BESS) - extended duration primate (Type I) and small vertebrate (Type II) missions. The recommended operational methods described in the paper are compared to the fundamental data which has been developed in the life science Spacelab Mission Simulation (SMS) test series. Areas assessed include crew training, experiment development and integration, testing, data-dissemination, organization interfaces, and principal investigator working relationships.

Mccollum, G. W.↗
NASA NTRS1977

Prolonged weightlessness effect on postflight plasma thyroid hormones

Blood drawn before and after spaceflight from the nine Skylab astronauts showed a statistically significant increase in mean plasma thyroxine (T-4) of 1.4 micro g/dl and in thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) of 4 microunits ml. Concurrent triiodothyronine (T-3) levels decreased 27 ng/dl indicating inhibited conversion of T-4 to T-3. The T-3 decrease is postulated to be a result of the increased cortisol levels noted during and following each mission. These results confirm the thyroidal changes noted after the shorter Apollo flights and show that thyroid hormone levels change during spaceflight.

Leach, C. S.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Postflight analysis of the single-axis acoustic system on SPAR VI and recommendations for future flights

The single axis acoustic levitator that was flown on SPAR VI malfunctioned. The results of a series of tests, analyses, and investigation of hypotheses that were undertaken to determine the probable cause of failure are presented, together with recommendations for future flights of the apparatus. The most probable causes of the SPAR VI failure were lower than expected sound intensity due to mechanical degradation of the sound source, and an unexpected external force that caused the experiment sample to move radially and eventually be lost from the acoustic energy well.

Naumann, R. J.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Postflight analysis of the Space Shuttle ascent air data system

An analysis of measurements recorded by the ascent air data system (AADS) located on the nose of the external tank of the Shuttle during the first flight is presented. The 30/10 deg biconic spike has five pressure ports for tracking yaw and pitch attitude, total pressure, and static pressure; comparison of AADS data with wind tunnel data allowed determination of angle of attack, angle of sideslip, Mach number, and dynamic pressure. Program goals for AADS development are reviewed, and specific design features are described. Wind tunnel test data were compared with best estimates simulations and initial flight data where possible; only wind tunnel derived Mach number predictions for time intervals 90 sec after launch are noted to deviate significantly from actual flight data.

Hillje, E. R.↗
NASA NTRS1982

Preflight and postflight processing of Spacelab missions at KSC

The Spacelab program is discussed in the context of the preparation of assembly, test, and processing facilities at the Kennedy Space Center (KSC). The management of the program within NASA is reviewed, along with flight tests of experimental packages, the first Spacelab mission, payload mission management, Spacelab processing responsibilities at the KSC, Space Shuttle processing and launch, Spacelab deintegration, OSS-1 management functions, and the OSS-1 processing flow at the KSC. The four levels of payload integration and checkout on a Spacelab are described, and testing at the four levels is briefly examined.

Neilon, J. J.↗
NASA NTRS1990

Mission safety evaluation report for STS-33: Postflight edition

Space Transportation System 33 (STS-33) safety risk factors that represent a change from previous flights, factors from previous flights that have an impact on this flight, and the factors that are not unique to this flight are discussed. While some changes to the safety risk baseline are included to highlight their significance in risk level change, the primary purpose is to insure that changes which were too late to include in formal changes through the Failure Modes and Effects Analysis/Critical Items List and Hazard Analysis process are documented along with the safety position, which includes the acceptance rationale.

Hill, William C.↗
NASA NTRS1991

Mission safety evaluation report for STS-35: Postflight edition

Space Transportation System 35 (STS-35) safety risk factors that represent a change from previous flights that had an impact on this flight, and factors that were unique to this flight are discussed. While some changes to the safety risk baseline since the previous flight are included to highlight their significance in risk level change, the primary purpose is to insure that changes which were too late too include in formal changes through the Failure Modes and Effects Analysis/Critical Items List (FMEA/CIL) and Hazard Analysis process are documented along with the safety position, which includes the acceptance rationale.

Hill, William C.↗
NASA NTRS1991

Mission safety evaluation report for STS-48, postflight edition

Space Shuttle Discovery was launched into a 57 deg inclination orbit from the Kennedy Space Center (KSC) Launch Complex 39A at 7:11 p.m. EDT on 12 Sep. 1991. STS-48 was the second mission since return-to-flight to have KSC as the planned end-of-mission landing site, and the first mission to have a planned night landing at KSC. However, due to weather conditions at KSC, Discovery flew one extra orbit and landed at Edwards AFB, Calif. at 3:38 a.m. EDT on 18 Sep. 1991. Operation of all systems was generally satisfactory during the 5 day mission. On flight day 3, the Upper Atmospheric Research Satellite (UARS) was deployed from Discovery's payload bay 350 statute miles above Earth. This orbiting observatory will study mankind's effects on the planet's atmosphere and its shielding ozone layer. STS-48 safety risk factors are addressed that represent a change from previous flights, factors from previous flights that had an impact on this flight, and factors that are unique to this flight.

Clatterbuck, Guy E.↗
NASA NTRS1991

Mission safety evaluation report for STS-39, postflight edition

After a delay of approximately 2 months due to a rollback from the pad to replace the External Tank door lug housing, Space Shuttle Discovery was launched from NASA-Kennedy at 7:33 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time on 28 April 1991. STS-39 was the first unclassified DoD Shuttle mission. On 28 April, countdown proceeded normally through the T-20 minute hold. No significant problems were encountered except for the Operations Sequence-2 recorder starting unexpectedly; it was stopped by an uplink command. Discovery landed on KSC runway 15 at 2:55 p.m. EDT on 6 May 1991. This was the second time in 6 months that the Space Shuttle was diverted to KSC for landing because of high winds at Edwards AFB, Calif. This was also the 7th of 40 Shuttle missions to land at KSC in the history of the Space Shuttle Program. The Main Landing Gear outer right tire shredded 3 of the 16 cords due to either an uneven landing or a maximum force breaking test during rollout. Contributing factors to the tire cord shredding were the development of last minute crosswinds and reluctance of the ground controllers to distract the Shuttle pilots with warnings of the low flight path. As a corrective action, communication procedures will be modified for future flights.

Hardie, Kenneth O.↗
NASA NTRS1990

Mission safety evaluation report for STS-38, postflight edition

After several months delay due to Liquid Hydrogen (LH2) leaks in the External Tank (ET) 17 in LH2 umbilical disconnect, Atlantis was launched at 6:48 p.m. Eastern Standard Time on 15 Nov. 1990. Atlantis was cleared for launch after the replacement of the ET 17 in umbilical disconnect and a successful tanking test on 24 Oct. 1990. No technical concerns were encountered during the countdown. The end of the STS-38 mission was extended by one day because of high crosswinds at the primary landing site, Edwards Air Force Base (EAFB), Calif. On the next day, 20 Nov. 1990, the winds were too high for a safe landing at EAFB, and a decision was made to select the Shuttle Landing Facility (SLF) at the Kennedy Space Center (KSC) at the primary landing site. The deorbit burn was performed on orbit 79 of the STS-38 mission. Reentry and descent were effected with no problems. Postlanding inspection of Atlantis' exterior found little evidence of damage. There has been a concern about returning an Orbiter to KSC, because the last mission to do so experienced tire failure. Atlantis' tires and brakes were in excellent condition with no indication of excessive wear.

Hill, William C.↗
NASA NTRS1991

Mission safety evaluation report for STS-37, postflight edition

STS-37/Atlantis was launched on April 5, 1991 from Kennedy Space Center launch complex 39B at 9:23 a.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST). Launch was delayed 4 minutes 45 seconds because of safety concerns about the low cloud ceiling and the wind direction in the potential blast area. Based on the limited number and type of inflight anomalies encountered, the Space Shuttle operated satisfactorily throughout the STS-37 mission. A contingency EVA was performed by the crew on Flight Day (FD) 3 to free a sticky Gamma Ray Observatory (GRO) high gain antenna, after which the GRO primary payload was successfully deployed by the Orbiter's Remote Manipulator System. The GRO, which weighed just over 35,000 lbs, was the heaviest NASA science satellite ever deployed by the Space Shuttle into low Earth orbit. The scheduled entry/landing on FD 6 was waved off for one day due to high wind conditions at Edwards Air Force Base. Atlantis landed on FD 7, 11 April 1991 on Edwards AFB lakebed runway 33 at 9:55 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time.

Hill, William C.↗