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NASA NTRSDate not supplied

NASA Kennedy Space Center Swamp Works 10th Anniversary: Innovative Research & Technology Development Summary

Kennedy Space Center’s (KSC) Swamp Works, provides government and commercial space ventures with the technologies required for working and living on the surfaces of the Moon or other planets and bodies in our solar system. The Swamp Works team establishes rapid, innovative and cost-effective exploration mission solutions through leveraging of partnerships across NASA, industry and academia. Concepts start small and build up fast, with lean development processes and a hands-on approach. Testing is performed in early stages to drive design improvements and progressively increase Technology Readiness Levels (TRL). Swamp Works provides concepts, architecture studies and trades, designs, data, technology development, technology demonstration hardware, flight hardware, testing, flight support and knowledge in support of the development of surface systems. It consists of several teams with associated laboratories and test capabilities. The Granular Mechanics and Regolith Operations (GMRO) Laboratory and the Electrostatics and Surface Physics Laboratory (ESPL) are co-located in the Engineering Development Lab (EDL) facility high bay. The Applied Chemistry Lab (ACL) is in an adjacent facility and other KSC labs are being influenced by the innovation methods pioneered at the Swamp Works. The Swamp Works was founded in January 2013 by a group of scientists and engineers at KSC with the over-arching vision of expanding humanity and civilization into the solar system by the use of space resources via advanced technology. Ultimately, this will create a solar system economy that will improve the human condition due to the abundance of energy and resources. This paper will summarize the projects and technology development that have been performed by the Swamp Works to celebrate its 10th Anniversary of innovation success.

Robotic Mining↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Swamp Works Technology Development 10th Anniversary: 2013-2023

Kennedy Space Center’s (KSC) Swamp Works, provides government and commercial space ventures with the technologies required for working and living on the surfaces of the Moon or other planets and bodies in our solar system. The Swamp Works team establishes efficient, innovative and cost-effective exploration mission solutions through leveraging of partnerships across NASA, industry and academia. Concepts start small and build up momentum, with lean development processes and a hands-on approach. Testing is performed in early stages to drive design improvements and progressively increase Technology Readiness Levels (TRL). Swamp Works provides concepts, architecture studies and trades, designs, data, technology development, technology demonstration hardware, flight hardware, testing, flight support and knowledge in support of the development of surface systems. It consists of several teams with associated laboratories and test capabilities. The Granular Mechanics and Regolith Operations (GMRO) Laboratory and the Electrostatics and Surface Physics Laboratory (ESPL) are co-located in the Engineering Development Lab (EDL) facility high bay. The Applied Chemistry Lab (ACL) is in an adjacent facility and other KSC labs are being influenced by the innovation methods pioneered at the Swamp Works. The Swamp Works was founded in January 2013 by a group of scientists and engineers at KSC with the over-arching vision of expanding humanity and civilization into the solar system by the use of space resources via advanced technology. Ultimately, this will create a solar system economy that will improve the human condition due to the abundance of energy and resources. This presentation will summarize the projects and technology development that have been performed by the Swamp Works to celebrate its 10th Anniversary of innovation success.

Swamp Works↗
NASA NTRS2023

Swamp Works Technology Development 10th Anniversary: 2013-2023 - Innovative Research & Technology Development Summary

Kennedy Space Center’s (KSC) Swamp Works, provides government and commercial space ventures with the technologies required for working and living on the surfaces of the Moon or other planets and bodies in our solar system. The Swamp Works team establishes rapid, innovative and cost-effective exploration mission solutions through leveraging of partnerships across NASA, industry and academia. Concepts start small and build up efficiently, with lean development processes and a hands-on approach. Testing is performed in early stages to drive design improvements and progressively increase Technology Readiness Levels (TRL). Swamp Works provides concepts, architecture studies and trades, designs, data, technology development, technology demonstration hardware, flight hardware, testing, flight support and knowledge in support of the development of surface systems. It consists of several teams with associated laboratories and test capabilities. The Granular Mechanics and Regolith Operations (GMRO) Laboratory and the Electrostatics and Surface Physics Laboratory (ESPL) are co-located in the Engineering Development Lab (EDL) facility high bay. The Applied Chemistry Lab (ACL) is in an adjacent facility and other KSC labs are being influenced by the innovation methods pioneered at the Swamp Works. The Swamp Works was founded in January 2013 by a group of scientists and engineers at KSC with the over-arching vision of expanding humanity and civilization into the solar system by the use of space resources via advanced technology. Ultimately, this will create a solar system economy that will improve the human condition due to the abundance of energy and resources. This presentation will summarize the projects and technology development that have been performed by the Swamp Works to celebrate its 10th Anniversary of innovation success.

Swamp Works↗
NASA NTRS1997

Space Transportation Systems Using Tethers

The groundwork has been laid for tether space transportation systems. NASA has developed tether technology for space applications since the 1960's. Important recent milestones include retrieval of a tether in space (TSS-1, 1992), successful deployment of a 20-km-long tether in space (SEDS-1, 1993), and operation of an electrodynamic tether with tether current driven in both directions-power and thrust modes (PMG, 1993). Various types of tethers and systems can be used for space transportation. Short electrodynamic tethers can use solar power to 'push' against a planetary magnetic field to achieve propulsion without the expenditure of propellant. The planned Propulsive Small Expendable Deployer System (ProSEDS) experiment will demonstrate electrodynamic tether thrust during its flight in early 2OOO. Utilizing completely different physical principles, long non-conducting tethers can exchange momentum between two masses in orbit to place one body into a transfer orbit for lunar and planetary missions. Recently completed system studies of this concept indicate that it would be a relatively low-cost in-space asset with long-term multimission capability. Both methods of using tethers for space transportation and propulsion are described in the paper.

Johnson, Les↗
NASA NTRS1998

Overview of Future NASA Tether Applications

The groundwork has been laid for tether applications in space. NASA has developed tether technology for space applications since the 1960's. Important recent milestones include retrieval of a tether in space (TSS-1, 1992), successful deployment of a 20-km-long tether in space (SEDS-1, 1993), and operation of an electrodynamic tether with tether current driven in both directions-power and thrust modes (PMG, 1993). Various types of tethers and systems can be used for space transportation. Short electrodynamic tethers can use solar power to 'push' against a planetary magnetic field to achieve propulsion without the expenditure of propellant. The planned Propulsive Small Expendable Deployer System (ProSEDS) experiment will demonstrate electrodynamic tether thrust during its flight in early 2000. Utilizing completely different physical principles, long non-conducting tethers can exchange momentum between two masses in orbit to place one body into a higher orbit or a transfer orbit for lunar and planetary missions. Recently completed system studies of this concept indicate that it would be a relatively low-cost in-space asset with long-term multi-mission capability. Tethers can also be used to support space science by providing a mechanism for precision formation flying and for reaching regions of the upper atmosphere that were previously inaccessible.

Johnson, Les↗
NASA NTRS2000

A Brief Summary of the Geomorphic Evidence for an Active Surface Hydrologic Cycle in Mars' Past

Because Mars is just over half the Earth's diameter (about 6800 km), it does not exhibit global tectonism on a scale comparable to Earth and Venus. But because it is still a large body compared to Mercury and the moon, it has had an atmosphere and climate over the history of the solar system. This is why Mars has been able to retain surfaces produced both through volcanic and climatic processes that are intermediate in age between volcanic surfaces on the moon and Mercury and both types of surfaces on Venus and Earth. For the purposes of this discussion, this has important implications about the origins and evolution of topographic depressions that potentially may have contained lakes. Tectonism is probably the most important process on Earth for producing closed depressions on the continents, and is clearly responsible for maintenance of the ocean basins through geologic time. This is probably also true for depressions in the highland terrains and lowland plains of Venus. On Mars, however, tectonism appears limited to relatively small amounts of regional extension, compression, and vertical motion largely due to crustal loading of the two major volcanic provinces - Tharsis and Elysium Impact craters and large impact basins (including all or parts of the northern plains) are clearly more important sites for potential lake basins on Mars, though they were likely more important on Earth, and Venus as well, during the period of heavy meteorite bombardment throughout the solar system prior to 3.5 Ga. Comparisons of the relative importance of other formative processes on Mars with those on Earth are less obvious, and some may be quite speculative, since our understanding of the early Martian environment is still rather limited. Additional information is contained in the original extended abstract.

Parker, T. J.↗
NASA NTRS2004

Solar Sail Models and Test Measurements Correspondence for Validation Requirements Definition

Solar sails are being developed as a mission-enabling technology in support of future NASA science missions. Current efforts have advanced solar sail technology sufficient to justify a flight validation program. A primary objective of this activity is to test and validate solar sail models that are currently under development so that they may be used with confidence in future science mission development (e.g., scalable to larger sails). Both system and model validation requirements must be defined early in the program to guide design cycles and to ensure that relevant and sufficient test data will be obtained to conduct model validation to the level required. A process of model identification, model input/output documentation, model sensitivity analyses, and test measurement correspondence is required so that decisions can be made to satisfy validation requirements within program constraints.

Ewing, Anthony↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Design and Optimization of Steering Laws for Geocentric Solar Sailing

Solar sail technology has the potential to be a practical method of propulsion for future deep space Cubesats and small satellites. Although in general, deep space, heliocentric flight is the optimal regime for solar sailing, many near-term solar sail flight demonstrations have, or will occur in Earth-centered orbits. This is particularly true for low-cost, smallsat-based solar sail technology demonstration flights, such as the Planetary Society LightSail 1 and 2, and the upcoming NASA Advanced Composite Solar Sail System (ACS3). ACS3 will be the first spaceflight application of NASA’s newest smallsat deployable composite boom technology, and NASA’s first practical solar sail. Launch of ACS3 is currently anticipated for late 2021 or early 2022. In this paper, we will describe the challenges of operating solar sailing spacecraft in low Earth orbits, where, depending on initial orbital altitude and inclination, disturbances due to aerodynamic drag, eclipsing can be of the same order or greater than forces caused by solar radiation pressure. A notional smallsat-class solar sailing vehicle based on the ACS3 solar sail will be used as a reference for trajectory design and optimization studies. As a starting point we will assume initially circular orbits, and a locally optimal steering law designed to maximize the rate of change in semi major axis, similar to that described by McInnes. This will be generalized to orbits with arbitrary initial inclinations and non-zero eccentricities, and to account for atmospheric drag and eclipsing effects. Optimal steering laws for maximizing rate-of-change in orbit inclination and eccentricity will also be explored. Finally, we will examine potential for Earth-centered solar sailing mission applications beyond technology demonstrations, including: continuous observations from inside the Earth’s magnetotail; augmented geostationary capabilities from displaced geostationary orbits; and continuous polar observation for climate science investigations from pole-sitter orbits.

W. Keats Wilkie↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Revisiting the Soyuz-1 Parachute Failure in the Context of Safety in the Modern Era

The Soyuz‑1 accident remains one of the most consequential parachute related failures in human spaceflight history and provides enduring lessons for modern Entry, Descent, and Landing (EDL) system design. Occurring during the height of the Cold War and the Space Race, the mission unfolded under extraordinary political and schedule pressure as the Soviet Union sought to maintain its early leadership in space achievements following the death of chief designer Sergei Korolev. Despite unresolved propulsion, electrical, and parachute system deficiencies, Soyuz‑1 proceeded to launch and immediately encountered critical inflight anomalies, including a failed solar panel deployment, attitude control issues, and communication dropouts. Upon reentry, a malfunction in the parachute system, driven by a primary main canopy that failed to deploy, and subsequent entanglement of the reserve main canopy with the primary drogue parachute, resulted in insufficient deceleration and the fatal crash of cosmonaut Vladimir Komarov. Subsequent investigations revealed deep rooted cultural and organizational issues within the Soviet space program, including inadequate testing, suppression of dissent, undocumented last minute design changes, and the absence of integrated parachute system verification. More than 200 design flaws were identified after the accident, and firsthand accounts, including those from Yuri Gagarin, highlighted widespread concern prior to launch. Over time, the Soviet program implemented substantial reforms: systematic design corrections, rigorous process documentation, and an extensive series of drop tests that ultimately transformed the Soyuz system into one of the world’s most reliable human-rated return vehicles. This paper examines the technical architecture of the Soyuz‑1 parachute system, reconstructs the likely deployment sequence and failure mechanism, and analyzes the cultural contributors that shaped the accident. The study draws parallels to modern spacecraft parachute development, emphasizing the critical importance of integrated system testing, transparent engineering culture, and continuous hardware surveillance. These lessons remain directly relevant to today’s NASA and Commercial Crew Programs (CCP), where the Government continues to refine its understanding of aggregate risk and strengthen overall astronaut safety in the face of increasingly complex parachute systems.

Aaron L Morris↗
DOE OSTI2021

Net Zero Energy Model for Wastewater Treatment Plants

The primary objective of this study is to achieve net-zero energy (NZE) wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) by utilizing energy efficiency opportunities (EEO), combined heat and power (CHP) systems, and other renewable energy (RE) sources, e.g., solar, water, and wind powers. Herein, this study discusses an innovative energy solution for WWTPs in the United States, and one of the WWTPs with a flow capacity of 1.5 million gallons per day (MGD) was selected as a case study. An optimization tool, Hybrid Optimization of Multiple Energy Resources (HOMER) software, is used in this study to find the best energy system configuration to run the system. An energy audit for one WWTP was conducted in early 2020 and the report is used to do this study. The proposed EEOs were able to reduce WWTP energy consumption by about 11%. The excess anaerobic digester gas was utilized in a CHP system to cover about 42% of the facility’s consumption. Also, 3% of the utility energy consumption can be claimed by microturbines in the aeration tanks. Another two renewable energy systems, solar photovoltaic (PV) with 29% and water turbines with 15%, contribute to covering 100% of the WWTP energy consumption and achieving an NZE WWTP.

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY↗
NASA NTRS2004

Integrated Antenna/Solar Array Cell (IA/SAC) System for Flexible Access Communications

Present satellite communications systems normally use separate solar cells and antennas. Since solar cells generally account for the largest surface area of the spacecraft, co-locating the antenna and solar cells on the same substrate opens the possibility for a number of data-rate-enhancing communications link architecture that would have minimal impact on spacecraft weight and size. The idea of integrating printed planar antenna and solar array cells on the same surface has been reported in the literature. The early work merely attempted to demonstrate the feasibility by placing commercial solar cells besides a patch antenna. Recently, Integrating multiple antenna elements and solar cell arrays on the same surface was reported for both space and terrestrial applications. The application of photovoltaic solar cell in a planar antenna structure where the radiating patch antenna is replaced by a Si solar cell has been demonstrated in wireless communication systems (C. Bendel, J. Kirchhof and N. Henze, 3rd Would Photovotaic Congress, Osaka, Japan, May 2003). Based on a hybrid approach, a 6x1 slot array with circularly polarized crossdipole elements co-located on the same surface of the solar cells array has been demonstrated (S. Vaccaro, J. R. Mosig and P. de Maagt, IEEE Trans. Ant. and Propag., Vol. 5 1, No. 8, Aug. 2003). Amorphous silicon solar cells with about 5-10% efficiency were used in these demonstrations. This paper describes recent effort to integrate advanced solar cells with printed planar antennas. Compared to prior art, the proposed WSAC concept is unique in the following ways: 1) Active antenna element will be used to achieve dynamic beam steering; 2) High efficiency (30%) GaAs multi-junction solar cells will be used instead of Si, which has an efficiency of about 15%; 3) Antenna and solar cells are integrated on a common GaAs substrate; and 4) Higher data rate capability. The IA/SAC is designed to operate at X-band (8-12 GH) and higher frequencies Higher operating frequencies enable greater bandwidth and thus higher data transfer rates. The first phase of the effort involves the development of GaAs solar cell MIMs (Monolithically Integrated Module) with a single patch antenna on the opposite side of the substrate. Subsequent work will involve the integration of MIMs and antennas on the same side of the substrate. Results from the phase one efforts will be presented.

Lee, Ricard Q.↗
NASA NTRS1992

Telescience Testbed Program: A study of software for SIRTF instrument control

As a continued element in the Telescience Testbed Program (TTP), the University of Arizona Steward Observatory and the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department (ECE) jointly developed a testbed to evaluate the Operations and Science Instrument System (OASIS) software package for remote control of an instrument for the Space Infrared Telescope Facility (SIRTF). SIRTF is a cryogenically-cooled telescope with three focal plane instruments that will be the infrared element of NASA's Great Observatory series. The anticipated launch date for SIRTF is currently 2001. Because of the complexity of the SIRTF mission, it was not expected that the OASIS package would be suitable for instrument control in the flight situation, however, its possible use as a common interface during the early development and ground test phases of the project was considered. The OASIS package, developed at the University of Colorado for control of the Solar Mesosphere Explorer (SME) satellite, serves as an interface between the operator and the remote instrument which is connected via a network. OASIS provides a rudimentary windowing system as well as support for standard spacecraft communications protocols. The experiment performed all of the functions required of the MIPS simulation program. Remote control of the instrument was demonstrated but found to be inappropriate for SIRTF at this time for the following reasons: (1) programming interface is too difficult; (2) significant computer resources were required to run OASIS; (3) the communications interface is too complicated; (4) response time was slow; and (5) quicklook of image data was not possible.

Young, Erick T.↗
NASA NTRS2004

Developing Architectures and Technologies for an Evolvable NASA Space Communication Infrastructure

Space communications architecture concepts play a key role in the development and deployment of NASA's future exploration and science missions. Once a mission is deployed, the communication link to the user needs to provide maximum information delivery and flexibility to handle the expected large and complex data sets and to enable direct interaction with the spacecraft and experiments. In human and robotic missions, communication systems need to offer maximum reliability with robust two-way links for software uploads and virtual interactions. Identifying the capabilities to cost effectively meet the demanding space communication needs of 21st century missions, proper formulation of the requirements for these missions, and identifying the early technology developments that will be needed can only be resolved with architecture design. This paper will describe the development of evolvable space communication architecture models and the technologies needed to support Earth sensor web and collaborative observation formation missions; robotic scientific missions for detailed investigation of planets, moons, and small bodies in the solar system; human missions for exploration of the Moon, Mars, Ganymede, Callisto, and asteroids; human settlements in space, on the Moon, and on Mars; and great in-space observatories for observing other star systems and the universe. The resulting architectures will enable the reliable, multipoint, high data rate capabilities needed on demand to provide continuous, maximum coverage of areas of concentrated activities, such as in the vicinity of outposts in-space, on the Moon or on Mars.

Bhasin, Kul↗
NASA NTRS1982

Computer simulation of inner magnetospheric dynamics for the magnetic storm of July 29, 1977

The Rice University convection model is applied to the early main phase of the July 29, 1977 magnetic storm through a computer implementation that self-consistently calculates electric fields, currents, and plasma distributions and velocities in the inner magnetosphere/ionosphere system. On the basis of solar wind parameters and AL index as inputs, the model predicts the injection of plasma sheet plasma to form a substantial storm time ring current whose total predicted strength agrees with the observed Dst index. The possibility that the magnetic field may be sufficiently inflated to make 60 deg field lines extend to the outer magnetosphere is examined. In the model, distortion of the plasma sheet inner edge by magnetospheric compression associated with the sudden commencement temporarily disrupts the normal Birkeland current pattern. Normal Birkeland currents and shielding reassert themselves in about an hour.

Wolf, R. A.↗
NASA NTRS1983

Discovery of 9.3 s X-ray pulsations from 2S 1553-542 and a determination of the orbit

X-ray pulsations with a period of 9.3 s from the transient galactic X-ray source 2S 1553-542 were detected. The data were obtained with SAS 3 during the only known outburst of the source in 1975 June. Pulse-timing analyses of the data, which span an interval of 20 days, show that there were large changes in the pulse period that are readily attributable to binary orbital motion. The inferred orbital period is 30.6 + or - 2.2 days and the X-ray mass function is 5.0 + or - 2.1 solar masses. These orbital parameters, the transient nature of the source, and the probable lack of an early-type giant companion star, lead to the tentative conclusion that 2S 1553-542 is a Be/X-ray binary system.

Kelley, R. L.↗
NASA NTRS1986

The space station power system

The manned space station is the next major NASA program. It presents many challenges to the power system designers. The power system in turn is a major driver on the overall configuration. In this paper, the major requirements and guidelines that affect the station configuration and the power system are explained. The evolution of the space station power system from the NASA program development-feasibility phase through the current preliminary design phase is described. Several early station concepts, both fanciful and feasible, are described and linked to the present concept. The recently completed Phase B trade study selections of photovoltaic system technologies are described in detail. A summary of the present solar dynamic and power management and distribution systems is also given for completeness.

Baraona, C. R.↗
NASA NTRS1997

2 kWe Solar Dynamic Ground Test Demonstration Project: Fabrication and Test Report - Volume 3

The Solar Dynamic Ground Test Demonstration (SDGTD) project has successfully designed and fabricated a complete solar-powered closed Brayton electrical power generation system and tested it in a relevant thermal vacuum facility at NASA Lewis Research Center (LeRC). In addition to completing technical objectives, the project was completed 3-l/2 months early, and under budget.

Alexander, Dennis↗
NASA NTRS2002

Oceans, Ice Shells, and Life on Europa

The four large satellites of Jupiter are famous for their planet-like diversity and complexity, but none more so than ice-covered Europa. Since the provocative Voyager images of Europa in 1979, evidence has been mounting that a vast liquid water ocean may lurk beneath the moon's icy surface. Europa has since been the target of increasing and sometimes reckless speculation regarding the possibility that giant squid and other creatures may be swimming its purported cold, dark ocean. No wonder Europa tops everyone's list for future exploration in the outer solar system (after the very first reconnaissance of Pluto and the Kuiper belt, of course). Europa may be the smallest of the Galilean moons (so-called because they were discovered by Galileo Galilei in the early 17th century) but more than makes up for its diminutive size with a crazed, alien landscape. The surface is covered with ridges hundreds of meters high, domes tens of kilometers across, and large areas of broken and disrupted crust called chaos. Some of the geologic features seen on Europa resemble ice rafts floating in polar seas here on Earth-reinforcing the idea that an ice shell is floating over an ocean on this Moon-size satellite. However, such features do not prove that an ocean exists or ever did. Warm ice is unusually soft and will flow under its own weight. If the ice shell is thick enough, the warm bottom of the shell will flow, as do terrestrial glaciers. This could produce all the observed surface features on Europa through a variety of processes, the most important of which is convection. (Convection is the vertical overturn of a layer due to heating or density differences-think of porridge or sauce boiling on the stove.) Rising blobs from the base of the crust would then create the oval domes dotting Europa's surface. The strongest evidence for a hidden ocean beneath Europa's surface comes from the Galileo spacecraft's onboard magnetometer, which detected fluctuations in Jupiter's magnetic field consistent with a conductor inside Europa. The most likely conductor: a somewhat salty ocean.

Schenk, Paul↗