Engineering Papers⌕ Search

SEARCH · Engineering Papers

Results for “planned”

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.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 901 records · Page 50

Introduction to orbital flight planning (1)

This workbook is designed for students interested in space flight planning, who after training, may serve as flight planning aides. Routine flight planning activities requiring engineering-type calculations and analysis are covered. Practice exercises and brief instructions are given for the programming and use of the hand calculator as well as the calculation of position and velocity in the orbital plane. Calculation of relative orbital position is also covered with emphasis upon celestial coordinates and time measurement.

Blackwell, H. E.↗

San Juan National Forest Land Management Planning Support System (LMPSS) requirements definition

The role of remote sensing data as it relates to a three-component land management planning system (geographic information, data base management, and planning model) can be understood only when user requirements are known. Personnel at the San Juan National Forest in southwestern Colorado were interviewed to determine data needs for managing and monitoring timber, rangelands, wildlife, fisheries, soils, water, geology and recreation facilities. While all the information required for land management planning cannot be obtained using remote sensing techniques, valuable information can be provided for the geographic information system. A wide range of sensors such as small and large format cameras, synthetic aperture radar, and LANDSAT data should be utilized. Because of the detail and accuracy required, high altitude color infrared photography should serve as the baseline data base and be supplemented and updated with data from the other sensors.

Werth, L. F.↗

Plan of research for integrated soil moisture studies. Recommendations of the Soil Moisture Working Group

Soil moisture information is a potentially powerful tool for applications in agriculture, water resources, and climate. At present, it is difficult for users of this information to clearly define their needs in terms of accuracy, resolution and frequency because of the current sparsity of data. A plan is described for defining and conducting an integrated and coordinated research effort to develop and refine remote sensing techniques which will determine spatial and temporal variations of soil moisture and to utilize soil moisture information in support of agricultural, water resources, and climate applications. The soil moisture requirements of these three different application areas were reviewed in relation to each other so that one plan covering the three areas could be formulated. Four subgroups were established to write and compile the plan, namely models, ground-based studies, aircraft experiments, and spacecraft missions.

Source record↗

An assessment of PERT as a technique for schedule planning and control

The PERT technique including the types of reports which can be computer generated using the NASA/LaRC PPARS System is described. An assessment is made of the effectiveness of PERT on various types of efforts as well as for specific purposes, namely, schedule planning, schedule analysis, schedule control, monitoring contractor schedule performance, and management reporting. This assessment is based primarily on the author's knowledge of the usage of PERT by NASA/LaRC personnel since the early 1960's. Both strengths and weaknesses of the technique for various applications are discussed. It is intended to serve as a reference guide for personnel performing project planning and control functions and technical personnel whose responsibilities either include schedule planning and control or require a general knowledge of the subject.

Sibbers, C. W.↗

The NASA MERIT program - Developing new concepts for accurate flight planning

It is noted that the rising cost of aviation fuel has necessitated the development of a new approach to upper air forecasting for flight planning. It is shown that the spatial resolution of the present weather forecast models used in fully automated computer flight planning is an important accuracy-limiting factor, and it is proposed that man be put back into the system, although not in the way he has been used in the past. A new approach is proposed which uses the application of man-computer interactive display techniques to upper air forecasting to retain the fine scale features of the atmosphere inherent in the present data base in order to provide a more accurate and cost effective flight plan. It is pointed out that, as a result of NASA research, the hardware required for this approach already exists.

Steinberg, R.↗

Airline flight planning: The weather connection

Airline flight planning has shown little improvement in accuracy since the introduction of computerized techniques in 1964. This has primarily been, because both the type of weather product utilized by the carriers and the way they have employed it has remained unchanged over the past 15 years. The airlines now have an opportunity to make a significant advance in this area with attendant benefits in fuel savings. Most the technological ingredients are in place, but it will take increased cooperation between government and the private sector if cost effective improvements are to be made on a reasonable time scale. This paper reviews the meteorological basis for the present method of flight planning and analyzes its impact on current flight operations. A new approach is suggested for developing a weather data base, for flight planning, which has the potential of providing a fuel savings of between 2 and 3 percent on long distance flights.

Steinberg, R.↗

PDSS configuration control plan and procedures

The payload development support system (PDSS) configuration control plan and procedures are presented. These plans and procedures establish the process for maintaining configuration control of the PDSS system, especially the Spacelab experiment interface device's (SEID) RAU, HRM, and PDI interface simulations and the PDSS ECOS DEP Services simulation. The plans and procedures as specified are designed to provide a simplified but complete configuration control process. The intent is to require a minimum amount of paperwork but provide total traceability of PDSS during experiment test activities.

Source record↗

Description and planned use of a data distribution evaluation system for fiber optic data buses

A general description of a laboratory data distribution evaluation system (DDES) is given and some plans to use the system. The DDES is a microprocessor-based evaluation system consisting of three identical terminals. The DDES provides the capability for evaluating different system protocols and data word structures by making appropriate software changes, and different transmission medias and modulation schemes by making front-end hardware changes. A data multiplexing standard for fiber optic data transmission which parallels MIL-STD-1553B has proposed four different data modulation schemes. These modulation schemes will be described along with the plans to evaluate each of them. NASA-Langley has also been developing a data distribution approach which utilizes optical wavelength division multiplexing (WDM). A four-port, four-wavelength WDM system will be described along with the planned use of the DDES to evaluate its performance.

Spencer, J. L.↗

Planning in time - Windows and durations for activities and goals

The present general purpose automated planner/scheduler generates parallel plans aimed at the achievement of goals having imposed time constraints, with both durations and start time windows being specifiable for sets of goal conditions. Deterministic durations of such parallel plan activities as actions, events triggered by circumstances, inferences, and scheduled events entirely outside the actor's control, are explicitly modeled and may be any computable function of the activity variables. The final plan network resembles a PERT chart. Examples are given from the traditional 'blocksworld', and from a realistic 'Spaceworld' in which an autonomous spacecraft photographs objects in deep space and transmits the information to earth.

Vere, S. A.↗

The Pilot Land Data System: Report of the Program Planning Workshops

An advisory report to be used by NASA in developing a program plan for a Pilot Land Data System (PLDS) was developed. The purpose of the PLDS is to improve the ability of NASA and NASA sponsored researchers to conduct land-related research. The goal of the planning workshops was to provide and coordinate planning and concept development between the land related science and computer science disciplines, to discuss the architecture of the PLDs, requirements for information science technology, and system evaluation. The findings and recommendations of the Working Group are presented. The pilot program establishes a limited scale distributed information system to explore scientific, technical, and management approaches to satisfying the needs of the land science community. The PLDS paves the way for a land data system to improve data access, processing, transfer, and analysis, which land sciences information synthesis occurs on a scale not previously permitted because of limits to data assembly and access.

Source record↗

Manned spaceflight activity planning with knowledge-based systems

An on-board expert system, capable of assisting with crew-activity planning and platform-status monitoring, could provide unprecedented autonomy to the crew of a permanently manned space station. To demonstrate this concept's feasibility, an existing knowledge-based system is adapted to support Space Shuttle crew-activity timeline planning. Proposed timeline changes are to be checked for compliance with crew capabilities and mission operating guidelines, so that a nonexpert can be guided through a successful plan modification. Early lessons that have been learned about the scope of the adaptation needed to achieve this objective are presented.

Mogilensky, J.↗

Broadcasting satellite feeder links - Characteristics and planning

The paper presents the results of recent studies by the Feeder Link Sub-Working Group of the FCC Advisory Committee for the 1983 Regional Administrative Radio Conference (RARC). These studies conclude that specification of a few key parameters will make feeder link planning relatively straightforward. Feeder links can be located anywhere within a country if satellite orbit locations are separated by 10 deg for adjacent service areas and key parameter values presented in the paper are adopted. Colocated satellites serving a common service area need special attention to attain sufficient isolation between a desired channel and its adjacent cross-polarized channels and alternate co-polarized channels. In addition to presenting planning conclusions by the Advisory Committee, the paper presents and analyzes actions of the International Radio Consultative Committee's Conference Planning Meeting (CPM) concerning feeder links. The CPM reached conclusions similar to, and compatible with, those of the Advisory Committee.

Kiebler, J. W.↗

Project resources planning and control

This report contains instructional guidelines for the resources planning and control of research and development (R&D) projects managed by NASA's Langley Research Center (LaRC). Although written to serve primarily as a practical guide and reference for those LaRC personnel who perform resources planning, analysis, control, and reporting functions, it should also be meaningful to other NASA personnel who are directly or indirectly involved in or affected by these functions, especially project technical managers whose responsibilities include resources management. Certain sections should help Contractor personnel to better understand what resources information must usually be submitted on LaRC projects and what use is made of such information. The Project Manager of a large R&D project typicaly receives support from an Analyst in the area of resources management. The Analyst provides assistance in four functional areas: Planning, Analysis/Control, Administration, and Reporting. Each of these functions are discussed in detail. Examples of techniques used effectively on LaRC projects have been included where applicable. A considerable amount of information has been included on the use of Performance Measurement (Earned Value) Systems for contract cost control and reporting as little information is currently available on this subject in NASA publications.

Sibbers, C. W.↗

Planning fuel-conservative descents in an airline environmental using a small programmable calculator: Algorithm development and flight test results

A simple, airborne, flight-management descent algorithm was developed and programmed into a small programmable calculator. The algorithm may be operated in either a time mode or speed mode. The time mode was designed to aid the pilot in planning and executing a fuel-conservative descent to arrive at a metering fix at a time designated by the air traffic control system. The speed model was designed for planning fuel-conservative descents when time is not a consideration. The descent path for both modes was calculated for a constant with considerations given for the descent Mach/airspeed schedule, gross weight, wind, wind gradient, and nonstandard temperature effects. Flight tests, using the algorithm on the programmable calculator, showed that the open-loop guidance could be useful to airline flight crews for planning and executing fuel-conservative descents.

Knox, C. E.↗

Comparative analysis of operational forecasts versus actual weather conditions in airline flight planning, volume 3

The impact of more timely and accurate weather data on airline flight planning with the emphasis on fuel savings is studied. This volume of the report discusses the results of Task 3 of the four major tasks included in the study. Task 3 compares flight plans developed on the Suitland forecast with actual data observed by the aircraft (and averaged over 10 degree segments). The results show that the average difference between the forecast and observed wind speed is 9 kts. without considering direction, and the average difference in the component of the forecast wind parallel to the direction of the observed wind is 13 kts. - both indicating that the Suitland forecast underestimates the wind speeds. The Root Mean Square (RMS) vector error is 30.1 kts. The average absolute difference in direction between the forecast and observed wind is 26 degrees and the temperature difference is 3 degree Centigrade. These results indicate that the forecast model as well as the verifying analysis used to develop comparison flight plans in Tasks 1 and 2 is a limiting factor and that the average potential fuel savings or penalty are up to 3.6 percent depending on the direction of flight.

Keitz, J. F.↗

Development and use of the computer software package for planning the 12 GHz broadcasting-satellite service at RARC '83

The 1983 Regional Administrative Radio Conference (RARC '83) had mainly the objective to draw up a plan of detailed frequency assignments and orbital positions for the 12 GHz broadcasting-satellite service (BSS) in ITU Region 2 (the Western Hemisphere) and associated feeder links (earth-to-space) in the 17 GHz band. It was found that for RARC '83 new planning methods and procedures would be needed. The new requirements made it necessary to develop a new generation of planning software. Attention is given to the development of the computer programs to be used at the conference, the package of computer programs, and the use of the computer programs.

Bowen, R. R.↗

International solar-terrestrial physics program: A plan for the core spaceflight missions

This brochure has been prepared by NASA on behalf of the European Space Agency (ESA), the Institute of Space and Astronautical Science (Japan) (ISAS), and the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to describe the scope of the science problems to be investigated and the mission plan for the core International Solar-Terrestrial Physics (ISTP) Program. This information is intended to stimulate discussions and plans for the comprehensive worldwide ISTP Program. The plan for the study of the solar - terrestrial system is included. The Sun, geospace, and Sun-Earth interaction is discussed as is solar dynamics and the origins of solar winds.

Source record↗