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At least 109 records · Page 6

Predictive momentum management for a space station measurement and computation requirements

An analysis is made of the effects of errors and uncertainties in the predicting of disturbance torques on the peak momentum buildup on a space station. Models of the disturbance torques acting on a space station in low Earth orbit are presented, to estimate how accurately they can be predicted. An analysis of the torque and momentum buildup about the pitch axis of the Dual Keel space station configuration is formulated, and a derivation of the Average Torque Equilibrium Attitude (ATEA) is presented, for the case of no MRMS (Mobile Remote Manipulation System) motion, Y vehicle axis MRMS motion, and Z vehicle axis MRMS motion. Results showed the peak momentum buildup to be approximately 20000 N-m-s and to be relatively insensitive to errors in the predicting torque models, for Z axis motion of the MRMS was found to vary significantly with model errors, but not exceed a value of approximately 15000 N-m-s for the Y axis MRMS motion with 1 deg attitude hold error. Minimum peak disturbance momentum was found not to occur at the ATEA angle, but at a slightly smaller angle. However, this minimum peak momentum attitude was found to produce significant disturbance momentum at the end of the predicting time interval.

Adams, John Carl↗

Nano-casted Metal Oxide Aerogels as Dual Purpose Structural Components for Space Exploration

NASA missions and space exploration rely on strong, ultra lightweight materials. Such materials are needed for building up past and present space vehicles such as the Sojourner Rover (1997) or the two MERs (2003), but also for a number of components and/or systems including thermal insulators, Solar Sails, Rigid Aeroshells, and Ballutes. The purpose of my internship here at Glenn Research Center is to make dual purpose materials; materials that in addition to being lightweight have electronic, photophysical and magnetic properties and, therefore, act as electronic components and sensors as well as structural components. One type of ultra lightweight material of great interest is aerogels, which have densities ranging from 0.003 g/cc to 0.8 g/cc . However, aerogels are extremely fragile and, as a result, have limited practical applications. Recently, Glenn Research Center has developed a process of nano-casting polymers onto the inorganic network of silica-based aerogels increasing the strength 300 fold while only increasing the density 3 fold. By combining the process of nano-casting polymers with inorganic oxide networks other than silica, we are actively pursuing lightweight dual purpose materials. To date, thirty different inorganic oxide aerogels have been prepared using either standard sol-gel chemistry or a non-alkoxide method involving metal chloride precursors and an epoxide; epichlorohydrin, propylene oxide or trimethylene oxide, as proton scavengers. More importantly, preliminary investigations show that the residual surface hydroxyl groups on each of these inorganic oxide aerogels can be successfully crosslinked with urethane. In addition to characterizing physical and mechanical properties such as density, strength and flexibility, each of these metal oxide aerogels are being characterized for thermal and electronic conductivity and magnetic and optical properties.

Vassilaras, Plousia E.↗

The dual of non-extremal area: differential entropy in higher dimensions

The Ryu-Takayanagi formula relates entanglement entropy in a field theory to the area of extremal surfaces anchored to the boundary of a dual AdS space. It is interesting to ask if there is also an information theoretic interpretation of the areas of non-extremal surfaces that are not necessarily boundary-anchored. In general, the physics outside such surfaces is associated to observers restricted to a time-strip in the dual boundary field theory. When the latter is two-dimensional, it is known that the differential entropy associated to the strip computes the length of the dual bulk curve, and has an interpretation in terms of the information cost in Bell pairs of restoring correlations inaccessible to observers in the strip. A general realization of this formalism in higher dimensions is unknown. We first prove a no-go theorem eliminating candidate expressions for higher dimensional differential entropy based on entropic c-theorems. Then we propose a new formula in terms of an integral of shape derivatives of the entanglement entropy of ball shaped regions. Our proposal stems from the physical requirement that differential entropy must be locally finite and conformally invariant. Demanding cancelation of the well-known UV divergences of entanglement entropy in field theory guides us to our conjecture, which we test for surfaces in AdS 4 . Our results suggest a candidate c-function for field theories in arbitrary dimensions.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

Novel Materials, Processing, and Device Technologies for Space Exploration with Potential Dual-Use Applications

We highlight results of a broad spectrum of efforts on lower-temperature processing of nanomaterials, novel approaches to energy conversion, and environmentally rugged devices. Solution-processed quantum dots of copper indium chalcogenide semiconductors and multi-walled carbon nanotubes from lower-temperature spray pyrolysis are enabled by novel (precursor) chemistry. Metal-doped zinc oxide (ZnO) nanostructured components of photovoltaic cells have been grown in solution at low temperature on a conductive indium tin oxide substrate. Arrays of ZnO nanorods can be templated and decorated with various semiconductor and metallic nanoparticles. Utilizing ZnO in a more broadly defined energy conversion sense as photocatalysts, unwanted organic waste materials can potentially be re-purposed. Current efforts on charge carrier dynamics in nanoscale electrode architectures used in photoelectrochemical cells for generating solar electricity and fuels are described. The objective is to develop oxide nanowire-based electrode architectures that exhibit improved charge separation, charge collection and allow for efficient light absorption. Investigation of the charge carrier transport and recombination properties of the electrodes will aid in the understanding of how nanowire architectures improve performance of electrodes for dye-sensitized solar cells. Nanomaterials can be incorporated in a number of advanced higher-performance (i.e. mass specific power) photovoltaic arrays. Advanced technologies for the deposition of 4H-silicon carbide are described. The use of novel precursors, advanced processing, and process studies, including modeling are discussed from the perspective of enhancing the performance of this promising material for enabling technologies such as solar electric propulsion. Potential impact(s) of these technologies for a variety of aerospace applications are highlighted throughout. Finally, examples are given of technologies with potential spin-offs for dual-use or terrestrial applications.

thin films↗

Passive stabilization for large space systems

The optimal tuning of multiple tuned-mass dampers for the transient vibration damping of large space structures is investigated. A multidisciplinary approach is used. Structural dynamic techniques are applied to gain physical insight into absorber/structure interaction and to optimize specific cases. Modern control theory and parameter optimization techniques are applied to the general optimization problem. A design procedure for multi-absorber multi-DOF vibration damping problems is presented. Classical dynamic models are extended to investigate the effects of absorber placement, existing structural damping, and absorber cross-coupling on the optimal design synthesis. The control design process for the general optimization problem is formulated as a linear output feedback control problem via the development of a feedback control canonical form. The techniques are applied to sample micro-g and pointing problems on the NASA dual keel space station.

Sesak, J. R.↗

Utah FORGE: Well 56-32 Drilling Data and Logs

This dataset consists of drilling data (Pason data spreadsheets, daily reports, days v. depth, mud logs), Schlumberger logs (FMI, shear anisotropy analysis, memory, sonic, array induction/spectral density/dual spaced neutron/gamma ray/caliper, spectral GR/temperature, and Gardner density correlation), and an end of well report (EOWR) for Utah FORGE well 56-32. This is a vertical well that will be used for seismic monitoring. It was drilled between February 7th and February 21st 2021 to a depth of 9,145 feet. More information about this well can be found at: https://utahforge.com/2021/02/09/drilling-progress-of-well-56-32/ (linked below)

15 GEOTHERMAL ENERGY↗

Pulse-modulated dual-gas control subsystem for space cabin atmosphere

An atmosphere control subsystem (ACS) was developed for use in a closed manned cabin, such as the Space Shuttle Orbiter. This subsystem uses the Perkin Elmer mass spectrometer for continuous measurement of major atmospheric constituents (H2, H2O, N2, O2, and CO2). The O2 and N2 analog signals are used as inputs to the controller, which produces a pulse-frequency-modulated output to operate the N2 gas admission solenoid valve and an on-off signal to operate the O2 valve. The proportional controller characteristic results in improved control accuracy as compared with previously used on-off controllers having significant dead-band. A 60-day evaluation test was performed on the ACS during which operation was measured at various values of control setpoint and simulated cabin leakage.

Jackson, J. K.↗

Space Station multidisciplinary analysis capability - IDEAS2

A computer-aided engineering tool now in use at NASA for systems engineering and integration analysis of the Space Station is described. This tool, called IDEAS2, combines the spacecraft-specific analysis software from NASA IDEAS (truss synthesizer, rigid body controls, plume impingement, orbital lifetime, orbit heat loads, and life support systems) with the interactive graphics, geometric database, solids modeler, structural and thermal analysis capability of the SDRC I-DEAS to obtain an integrated package suitable for Space Station design. This integrated package was applied to a very recent study of growth scenarios of the Space Station dual keel configuration, in which a comparison was made between designs using a combination of photovoltaic solar arrays and solar dynamic collectors, and those using only solar dynamic collectors.

Baker, M.↗

High-surface-area, dual-function oxygen electrocatalysts for space power applications

The processes of hydration/dehydration and carbonation/decarbonation are investigated as an approach to provide higher surface area mixed metal oxides that are more active electrochemically. These materials are candidates for use as electrocatalysts and electrocatalyst supports for alkaline electrolyzers and fuel cells. For the case of the perovskite, LaCoO3 , higher surface areas were achieved with no change in structure and a more active oxygen electrocatalyst.

Ham, David O.↗

Structural modification utilizing beam elements

A method for analyzing the effects of sophisticated beam-type structural modifications to a structure with a known modal database is presented. The modification technique integrates the dual modal space modification method with the transfer matrix method to perform general beam modifications. Consideration is given to two examples: one demonstrates the performance of the modification scheme when a severe structural change is made, while the other demonstrates a change to a complex structure.

Elliott, K. B.↗

The dynamics of orbital maneuvering: Design and evaluation of a visual display aid for human controllers

An interactive proximity operations planning system, which allows on-site planning of fuel-efficient, multi-burn maneuvers in a potential multi-spacecraft environment was developed and tested. Though this display system most directly assists planning by providing visual feedback to aid visualization of the trajectories and constraints, its most significant features include an inverse dynamics algorithm that removes control nonlinearities facing the operator and a trajectory planning technique that reduces the order of control and creates, through a geometric spread-sheet the illusion of an inertially stable environment. This synthetic environment provides the user with control of relevant static and dynamic properties of way-points during small orbital changes allowing independent solutions to the normally coupled problems of orbital maneuvering. An experiment was carried out in which experienced operators were required to plan a trajectory to retrieve an object accidently separated from a dual-keel space station. The time required to plan these maneuvers was found to be predicted by the direction of the insertion thrust and did not depend on the point of separation from the space station.

Ellis, Stephen R.↗

A Petri net controller for distributed hierarchical systems

The solutions to a wide variety of problems are often best organized as a distributed hierarchical system. These systems can be graphically and mathematically modeled through the use of Petri nets, which can easily represent synchronous, asynchronous, and concurrent operations. This thesis presents a controller implementation based on Petri nets and a design methodology for the interconnection of distributed Petri nets. Two case studies are presented in which the controller operates a physical system, the Center for Intelligent Robotic Systems for Space Exploration Dual Arm Robotic Testbed.

Peck, Joseph E.↗

The transportation depot: An orbiting vehicle support facility

This paper describes the details of an effort to produce conceptual designs for an orbiting platform, called a transportation depot, to handle assembly and processing of lunar, Martian, and related vehicles. High-level requirements for such a facility were established, and several concepts were developed to meet those requirements. By showing that the critical rigid-body momentum characteristics of each concept are similar to those of the dual-keel space station, some insight was gained about the controllability and utility of this type of facility. Finally, several general observations were made that highlight the advantages and disadvantages of particular design features.

Kaszubowski, Martin J.↗

Visual display aid for orbital maneuvering - Experimental evaluation

An interactive proximity operations planning system, which allows on-site planning of fuel-efficient, multiburn maneuvers in a potential multispacecraft environment, has been experimentally evaluated. An experiment has been carried out in which nonastronaut operators with brief initial training were required to plan a trajectory to retrieve an object accidentally separated from a dual-keel Space Station, for a variety of different orbital situations. The experiments have shown that these operators were able to plan workable trajectories, satisfying a number of operational constraints. Fuel use and planning time were strongly correlated, both with the angle at which the object was separated and with the existence of spatial constraints. Planning behavior was found to be strongly operator-dependent. This finding calls for the need for standardizing planning strategies through operator training or the use of semiautomated planning schemes.

Grunwald, Arthur J.↗

Ilmenite as Dual-Use Material

This paper addresses the subject of dual-use space technology transfer of a novel, non-traditional material termed ilmenite, found in a large percentage in the moon rocks brought back by NASA's APOLLO missions. The paper is somewhat premature in the sense that though the material as a mineral has been known for a long time, very little is known about pure single crystal ilmenite and hence few applications have been demonstrated. Yet, in another sense, it is very timely due to the fact that ilmenite promises to be a very interesting competition to silicon, silicon carbide and other compound semiconductors, especially those that are employed in high power, high temperature and large data storage/retrieval applications. It seems to be an excellent example of a small investment-high return situation. While some of the applications of this material - for production of oxygen, for instance - have been well-known, electronic applications have received relatively little attention. One reason for this was the fact that growth of single crystal ilmenite requires precise process conditions and parameters. We believe for the first time these have been determined in the Center for Electronic Materials, Texas A&M University. The work being done at Texas A&M University and Prairie View A&M University (supported by Battelle Pacific Northwest Laboratories and the Center for Space Power) indicates the excellent potential this material has in space as well as in terrestrial applications. To mention a few: as a wide band gap semiconductor it has applications in high temperature, high power situations, especially when heat dissipation is a problem such as may occur in the Space Station; the possibility of this material radiating in the blue region, it has immense applications in optoelectronics; as a material with a high density of highly directional d-bands, it lends itself to novel processing conditions and perhaps even to 'tunability' of physical parameters; as a potential scintillating material, it has possible applications as a sensor in waste management; as an oxygen sensor it has possible applications in automotive electronics; and as a radiation resistant material, it has obvious applications in the space environment. Results - experimental and theoretical - obtained so far in our laboratories will be reported with particular emphasis on the transfer of technology involving this fascinating material.

Kumar, A. A.↗

Evaluation of Thermo-Mechanical Stability of COTS Dual-Axis MEMS Accelerometers for Space Applications

Microelectromechanical systems in MEMS is one of the fastest growing technologies in microelectronics, and is of great interest for military and aerospace applications. Accelerometers are the earliest and most developed representatives of MEMS. First demonstrated in 1979, micromachined accelerometers were used in automobile industry for air bag crash- sensing applications since 1990. In 1999, N4EMS accelerometers were used in NASA-JPL Mars Microprobe. The most developed accelerometers for airbag crash- sensing are rated for a full range of +/- 50 G. The range of sensitivity for accelerometers required for military or aerospace applications is much larger, varying from 20,000 G (to measure acceleration during gun and ballistic munition launches), and to 10(exp -6) G, when used as guidance sensors (to measure attitude and position of a spacecraft). The presence of moving parts on the surface of chip is specific to MEMS, and particularly, to accelerometers. This characteristic brings new reliability issues to micromachined accelerometers, including cyclic fatigue cracking of polysilicon cantilevers and springs, mechanical stresses that are caused by packaging and contamination in the internal cavity of the package. Studies of fatigue cracks initiation and growth in polysilicon showed that the fatigue damage may influence MEMS device performance, and the presence of water vapor significantly enhances crack initiation and growth. Environmentally induced failures, particularly, failures due to thermal cycling and mechanical shock are considered as one of major reliability concerns in MEMS. These environmental conditions are also critical for space applications of the parts. For example, the Mars pathfinder mission had experienced 80 mechanical shock events during the pyrotechnic separation processes.

Sharma, Ashok K.↗

Drop Size Distribution - Based Separation of Stratiform and Convective Rain

For applications in hydrology and meteorology, it is often desirable to separate regions of stratiform and convective rain from meteorological radar observations, both from ground-based polarimetric radars and from space-based dual frequency radars. In a previous study by Bringi et al. (2009), dual frequency profiler and dual polarization radar (C-POL) observations in Darwin, Australia, had shown that stratiform and convective rain could be separated in the log10(Nw) versus Do domain, where Do is the mean volume diameter and Nw is the scaling parameter which is proportional to the ratio of water content to the mass weighted mean diameter. Note, Nw and Do are two of the main drop size distribution (DSD) parameters. In a later study, Thurai et al (2010) confirmed that both the dual-frequency profiler based stratiform-convective rain separation and the C-POL radar based separation were consistent with each other. In this paper, we test this separation method using DSD measurements from a ground based 2D video disdrometer (2DVD), along with simultaneous observations from a collocated, vertically-pointing, X-band profiling radar (XPR). The measurements were made in Huntsville, Alabama. One-minute DSDs from 2DVD are used as input to an appropriate gamma fitting procedure to determine Nw and Do. The fitted parameters - after averaging over 3-minutes - are plotted against each other and compared with a predefined separation line. An index is used to determine how far the points lie from the separation line (as described in Thurai et al. 2010). Negative index values indicate stratiform rain and positive index indicate convective rain, and, moreover, points which lie somewhat close to the separation line are considered 'mixed' or 'transition' type precipitation. The XPR observations are used to evaluate/test the 2DVD data-based classification. A 'bright-band' detection algorithm was used to classify each vertical reflectivity profile as either stratiform or convective, depending on whether or not a clearly-defined melting layer is present at an expected height, and if present, maximum reflectivity within the melting layer as well as the corresponding height are determined. We will present results of quantitative comparisons between the XPR observations-based classifications and the simultaneous 2DVD data-based classifications. Time series comparisons will be presented for thirteen events in Huntsville.

Thurai, Merhala↗