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NASA NTRS1986

Electrical power systems for Mars

Electrical power system options for Mars Manned Modules and Mars Surface Bases were evaluated for both near-term and advanced performance potential. The power system options investigated for the Mission Modules include photovoltaics, solar thermal, nuclear reactor, and isotope power systems. Options discussed for Mars Bases include the above options with the addition of a brief discussion of open loop energy conversion of Mars resources, including utilization of wind, subsurface thermal gradients, and super oxides. Electrical power requirements for Mission Modules were estimated for three basic approaches: as a function of crew size; as a function of electric propulsion; and as a function of transmission of power from an orbiter to the surface of Mars via laser or radio frequency. Mars Base power requirements were assumed to be determined by production facilities that make resources available for follow-on missions leading to the establishment of a permanently manned Base. Requirements include the production of buffer gas and propellant production plants.

Giudici, Robert J.↗

NASA NTRS1986

Studies in geophysics: The Earth's electrical environment

The Earth is electrified. Between the surface and the outer reaches of the atmosphere, there is a global circuit that is maintained by worldwide thunderstorm activity and by upper atmospheric dynamo processes. The highest voltages approach a billion volts and are generated within thunderclouds, where lightning is a visual display of the cloud's electrical nature. The largest currents in the circuit, approaching a million amperes, are associated with the aurora. Because there have been significant advances in understanding many of the component parts of the global electric circuit (lightning, cloud electrification, electrical processes in specific atmospheric regions, and telluric currents), a principal research challenge is to understand how these components interact to shape the global circuit. Increased basic understanding in this field has many potential practical applications, including lightning protection, the design of advanced aircraft and spacecraft, and improvements in weather prediction.

Source record↗

NASA NTRS1987

The ac and dc electric field meters developed for the US Department of Energy

Two space-potential electric field meters developed at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory under the auspices of the U.S. Department of Energy are described. One of the meters was designed to measure dc fields, the other ac fields. Both meters use fiber optics to couple a small measuring probe to a remote readout device, so as to minimize field perturbation due to the presence of the probe. By using coherent detection, it has been possible to produce instruments whose operating range extends from about 10 V/m up to about 2.5 kV/cm, without the need for range switching on the probe. The electrical and mechanical design of both meters are described in detail. Data from laboratory tests are presented, as well as the results of the tests at the National Bureau of Standards and the Electric Power Research Institute's High Voltage Transmission Research Facility.

Kirkham, H.↗

NASA NTRS1986

Electrically conductive, black thermal control coatings for spacecraft application. I - Silicate matrix formulation

The formulation of the graphite silicate paints MH-11 and MH-11Z, which will serve as electrically conductive, heat-resistant thermal control coatings for the Galileo spacecraft's 400 Newton engine plume shield, 10 Newton thruster plume shields, and external shunt radiators, is described, and performance results for these paints are reported. The MH-11 is produced by combining a certain grade of graphite powder with a silicate base to produce a black, inorganic, electrically conductive, room temperature cure thermal control paint having high temperature capability. Zinc oxide is added to the MH-11 formulation to produce the blister resistant painta MH-11Z. The mechanical, chemical, thermal, optical, and radiation characteristics of the coatings are reported. The formulation, mixing, application, and surface preparation of the substrates are described, and a method of determining the electrical resistance of the coatings is demonstrated.

Bauer, J. L.↗

NASA NTRS1987

In situ measurements and radar observations of a severe storm - Electricity, kinematics, and precipitation

Electric field measurements made inside a multicell severe storm in Oklahoma in 1983 with a balloon-borne instrument are presented. The properties of the electric charge regions, such as altitude, thickness, and charge concentrations, are studied. These measurements are analzyed with meteorological measurements of temperature and humidity, and balloon tracking and radar observations. The relation between the electric charge structure and the precipitation and kinematic features of the storm is examined. The data reveal that the cell exhibits a bipolar charge structure with negative charge below positive charge. The average charge concentrations of the two regions are estimated as -1.2 and 0.15 nC/cu m, respectively; the upper positive charge is about 6 km in vertical extent, and the lower negative charge is less than 1 km in vertical extent.

Byrne, G. J.↗

NASA NTRS1987

Manned spacecraft electrical power systems

A brief history of the development of electrical power systems from the earliest manned space flights illustrates a natural trend toward a growth of electrical power requirements and operational lifetimes with each succeeding space program. A review of the design philosophy and development experience associated with the Space Shuttle Orbiter electrical power system is presented, beginning with the state of technology at the conclusion of the Apollo Program. A discussion of prototype, verification, and qualification hardware is included, and several design improvements following the first Orbiter flight are described. The problems encountered, the scientific and engineering approaches used to meet the technological challenges, and the results obtained are stressed. Major technology barriers and their solutions are discussed, and a brief Orbiter flight experience summary of early Space Shuttle missions is included. A description of projected Space Station power requirements and candidate system concepts which could satisfy these anticipated needs is presented. Significant challenges different from Space Shuttle, innovative concepts and ideas, and station growth considerations are discussed. The Phase B Advanced Development hardware program is summarized and a status of Phase B preliminary tradeoff studies is presented.

Simon, William E.↗

NASA NTRS1986

Numerical simulations of auroral plasma processes. I - Ion beams and conics. II - Electric fields

The characteristics of ion beams and conics as seen in two-dimensional numerical simulations in which the plasmas are driven by current sheets of a finite thickness are described. It is shown that the most energetic ions in the simulations have pitch angles near 90 deg, implying a large perpendicular acceleration of the ions. Large perpendicular electric fields, similar to those measured in electrostatic shocks, are mainly confined near the edges of the current sheets, where E-perpendicular is much larger than E-parallel. Double layers with E-perpendicular about equal to, and spatially separated from, E-parallel form in the interior of wide current sheets. Such double layers have upward electric fields in the region of the upward current. Downward electric fields develop outside the current sheet.

Singh, Nagendra↗

NASA NTRS1987

Geosynchronous earth orbit base propulsion - Electric propulsion options

Electric propulsion and chemical propulsion requirements for a geosynchronous earth orbit (GEO) base were analyzed. The base is resupplied from the Space Station's low earth orbit. Orbit-transfer Delta-Vs, nodal-regression Delta-Vs and orbit-maintenance Delta-Vs were considered. For resupplying the base, a cryogenic oxygen/hydrogen (O2/H2) orbital transfer vehicle (OTV) is currently-baselined. Comparisons of several electric propulsion options with the O2/H2 OTV were conducted. Propulsion requirements for missions related to the GEO base were also analyzed. Payload data for the GEO missions were drawn from current mission data bases. Detailed electric propulsion module designs are presented. Mission analyses and propulsion analyses for the GEO-delivered payloads are included.

Palaszewski, B.↗

NASA NTRS1986

Electrically conductive, black thermal control coatings for space craft application. II - Silicone matrix formulation

Five black electrically conductive thermal-control coatings have been formulated and tested for application on the Galileo spacecraft. The coatings consisted of organic and inorganic systems applied on titanium and aluminum surfaces. The coatings were tested under simulated space environment conditions. Coated specimens were subjected to thermal radiation and convective and conductive heating from -196 to 538 C. Mechanical, physical, thermal, electrical, and optical characteristics, formulation, mixing, application, surface preparation of substrates, and a method of determining electrical resistance are presented for the silicone matrix formulation designated as GF-580.

Hribar, V. F.↗

NASA NTRS1987

Application of solar electric propulsion to future planetary missions

Application of solar electric propulsion (SEP) to several near term planetary missions has been investigated and is described in this paper. The missions under consideration include a comet rendezvous-asteroid flyby mission (CRAF), an orbiter mission to Saturn (CASSINI) and a comet nucleus sample return mission (CNSR). Advances in both thruster and solar array technology indicate that these missions could benefit by use of a moderate size solar electric propulsion system. The trajectory scenarios considered in this paper include a solar electric earth gravity assist (SEEGA) mode for all three missions and a SEP rendezvous mode for both the CRAF and CNSR missions. In addition an all SEP propulsion mode and a hybrid SEP-chemical propulsion mode is described for the CNSR mission.

Sauer, Carl G., Jr.↗

NASA NTRS1988

Mounting Thin Samples For Electrical Measurements

New method for mounting thin sample for electrical measurements involves use of vacuum chuck to hold a ceramic mounting plate, which holds sample. Contacts on mounting plate establish electrical connection to sample. Used to make electrical measurements over temperature range from 77 to 1,000 K and does not introduce distortions into magnetic field during Hall measurements.

Matus, L. G.↗

NASA NTRS1987

Parallel electric fields from ionospheric winds

The possible production of electric fields parallel to the magnetic field by dynamo winds in the E region is examined, using a jet stream wind model. Current return paths through the F region above the stream are examined as well as return paths through the conjugate ionosphere. The Wulf geometry with horizontal winds moving in opposite directions one above the other is also examined. Parallel electric fields are found to depend strongly on the width of current sheets at the edges of the jet stream. If these are narrow enough, appreciable parallel electric fields are produced.

Nakada, M. P.↗

NASA NTRS1988

Spontaneous formation of electric current sheets and the origin of solar flares

It is demonstrated that the continuous boundary motion of a sheared magnetic field in a tenuous plasma with an infinite electrical conductivity can induce the formation of multiple electric current sheets in the interior plasma. In response to specific footpoint displacements, the quadrupolar magnetic field considered is shown to require the formation of multiple electric current sheets as it achieves a force-free state. Some of the current sheets are found to be of finite length, running along separatrix lines of force which separate lobes of magnetic flux. It is suggested that current sheets in the form of infinitely thin magnetic shear layers may be unstable to resistive tearing, a process which may have application to solar flares.

Low, B. C.↗

NASA NTRS1987

The electric field alignment of ice particles in thunderstorms

Electrical and aerodynamic torques on atmospheric ice particles are calculaed in order to assess the degree of alignment of these particles with the electric fields in thunderstorms. In such clouds fields of many tens of kilovolts per meter are commonly measured, and values of 100 to 200 kV/m are not rare. For E = 100 kV/m the calculations indicate that electric field alignment occurs for crystals with major dimensions up to maximum values in the range from 200 microns to 1 mm, depending upon crystal type. Columns are aligned more easily than platelike crystals, except for dendrites which, by virtue of their smaller assumed density, have smaller fall velocities thereby experiencing weaker aerodynamic torques. Thus a substantial degree of alignment is expected for E = 100 kV/m. For E = 10 kV/m only much smaller crystals will be aligned, probably only ones with major dimensions of less than 50 microns or so.

Weinheimer, Andrew J.↗

NASA NTRS1987

Electrical properties of polyimides containing a near-surface deposit of silver

Films containing a surface or near-surface deposit of palladium, gold or copper metal as well as tin, cobalt, copper, or lithium oxides have been prepared by dissolving appropriate metal salts into poly(amide-acid)/N,N-dimethylacetamide solutions and curing the solvent cast films to temperatures up to 300 C. This preparation technique has been extended to evaluate the thermal, spectroscopic, and electrical characteristics of condensation polyimide films modified with silver nitrate. A near-surface deposit of metallic silver results but the reflective surface has high electrical resistivity (sheet resistivity) due to a polymer coating or overlayer above the metal. Details pertaining to the silver nitrate modified condensation polyimides are presented. Also, the applicability of the structural model and electrical model previously proposed for the cobalt oxide system are assessed.

Rancourt, J. D.↗

NASA NTRS1987

Advanced electric propulsion for interplanetary missions

Three specific mission applications of advanced electric propulsion systems are discussed and include: the Comet Rendevous Asteroid Flyby (CRAF) science mission, a cargo ferry vehicle for lunar base construction and resupply and a manned mars spacecraft for initial surface exploration. In all three cases electric propulsion is shown to greatly enhance these missions either by increasing payload, lowering the initial spacecraft mass or a combination of the two. Trip times for all but the lunar ferry application are shown to be comparable to using chemical propulsion. The present status and future development goals of the electric propulsion engine technologies to support these mission applications are also discussed.

Aston, Graeme↗

NASA NTRS1989

Review Of Fiber-Optic Electric-Field Sensors

Tutorial paper reviews state of art in fiber-optic sensors of alternating electric fields. Because such sensors are made entirely of dielectric materials, they are relatively transparent to incident electric fields; they do not distort fields significantly. Paper presents equations that express relationships among stress, strain, and electric field in piezoactive plastic and equations for phase shift in terms of photoelastic coefficients and strains in optical fiber.

De Paula, Ramon P.↗

NASA NTRS1989

Development of parallel algorithms for electrical power management in space applications

The application of parallel techniques for electrical power system analysis is discussed. The Newton-Raphson method of load flow analysis was used along with the decomposition-coordination technique to perform load flow analysis. The decomposition-coordination technique enables tasks to be performed in parallel by partitioning the electrical power system into independent local problems. Each independent local problem represents a portion of the total electrical power system on which a loan flow analysis can be performed. The load flow analysis is performed on these partitioned elements by using the Newton-Raphson load flow method. These independent local problems will produce results for voltage and power which can then be passed to the coordinator portion of the solution procedure. The coordinator problem uses the results of the local problems to determine if any correction is needed on the local problems. The coordinator problem is also solved by an iterative method much like the local problem. The iterative method for the coordination problem will also be the Newton-Raphson method. Therefore, each iteration at the coordination level will result in new values for the local problems. The local problems will have to be solved again along with the coordinator problem until some convergence conditions are met.

Berry, Frederick C.↗