Engineering Papers⌕ Search

SEARCH · Engineering Papers

Results for “active integrators”

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 1,153 records · Page 64
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS2000

Deformation and Flexibility Equations for Idealized ARIS Umbilicals, Under Planar End-Loading Conditions

The International Space Station (ISS) relies on the Active Rack Isolation System (ARIS) as the central component of an integrated, station-wide strategy to isolate microgravity space-science experiments. ARIS uses electromechanical actuators to isolate an International Standard Payload Rack (ISPR) from disturbances due to the motion of the ISS. Disturbances to microgravity experiments on ARIS-isolated racks are primarily transmitted via the ARIS power and vacuum umbilicals. Recent experimental tests indicate that these umbilicals resonate at frequencies outside the ARIS controller's bandwidth. at levels of potential concern for certain microgravity experiments. Reduction in the umbilical resonant frequencies could help to address this issue. This paper develops equations for the in-plane deflections and flexibilities of an idealized umbilical (thin, flexible, cantilever beam) under end-point, in-plane loading (inclined-force and moment). The effect of gravity is neglected due to the on:orbit application. The analysis assumes an initially straight. cantilevered umbilical with uniform cross-section. which undergoes large deflections with no plastic deformation, such that the umbilical terminus remains in a single quadrant and the umbilical slope changes monotonically. The analysis is applicable to the ARIS power and vacuum umbilicals. under the indicated assumptions.

Hampton, R. David↗
NASA NTRS2010

A Perspective on Computational Human Performance Models as Design Tools

The design of interactive systems, including levels of automation, displays, and controls, is usually based on design guidelines and iterative empirical prototyping. A complementary approach is to use computational human performance models to evaluate designs. An integrated strategy of model-based and empirical test and evaluation activities is particularly attractive as a methodology for verification and validation of human-rated systems for commercial space. This talk will review several computational human performance modeling approaches and their applicability to design of display and control requirements.

Jones, Patricia M.↗
NASA NTRS2011

Cloud Computing Applications in Support of Earth Science Activities at Marshall Space Flight Center

Currently, the NASA Nebula Cloud Computing Platform is available to Agency personnel in a pre-release status as the system undergoes a formal operational readiness review. Over the past year, two projects within the Earth Science Office at NASA Marshall Space Flight Center have been investigating the performance and value of Nebula s "Infrastructure as a Service", or "IaaS" concept and applying cloud computing concepts to advance their respective mission goals. The Short-term Prediction Research and Transition (SPoRT) Center focuses on the transition of unique NASA satellite observations and weather forecasting capabilities for use within the operational forecasting community through partnerships with NOAA s National Weather Service (NWS). SPoRT has evaluated the performance of the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model on virtual machines deployed within Nebula and used Nebula instances to simulate local forecasts in support of regional forecast studies of interest to select NWS forecast offices. In addition to weather forecasting applications, rapidly deployable Nebula virtual machines have supported the processing of high resolution NASA satellite imagery to support disaster assessment following the historic severe weather and tornado outbreak of April 27, 2011. Other modeling and satellite analysis activities are underway in support of NASA s SERVIR program, which integrates satellite observations, ground-based data and forecast models to monitor environmental change and improve disaster response in Central America, the Caribbean, Africa, and the Himalayas. Leveraging SPoRT s experience, SERVIR is working to establish a real-time weather forecasting model for Central America. Other modeling efforts include hydrologic forecasts for Kenya, driven by NASA satellite observations and reanalysis data sets provided by the broader meteorological community. Forecast modeling efforts are supplemented by short-term forecasts of convective initiation, determined by geostationary satellite observations processed on virtual machines powered by Nebula.

Molthan, Andrew L.↗
NASA NTRS2012

NASA's Analog Missions: Driving Exploration Through Innovative Testing

Human exploration beyond low-Earth orbit (LEO) will require a unique collection of advanced, innovative technologies and the precise execution of complex and challenging operational concepts. One tool we in the Analog Missions Project at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) utilize to validate exploration system architecture concepts and conduct technology demonstrations, while gaining a deeper understanding of system-wide technical and operational challenges, is our analog missions. Analog missions are multi-disciplinary activities that test multiple features of future spaceflight missions in an integrated fashion to gain a deeper understanding of system-level interactions and integrated operations. These missions frequently occur in remote and extreme environments that are representative in one or more ways to that of future spaceflight destinations. They allow us to test robotics, vehicle prototypes, habitats, communications systems, in-situ resource utilization, and human performance as it relates to these technologies. And they allow us to validate architectural concepts, conduct technology demonstrations, and gain a deeper understanding of system-wide technical and operational challenges needed to support crewed missions beyond LEO. As NASA develops a capability driven architecture for transporting crew to a variety of space environments, including the moon, near-Earth asteroids (NEA), Mars, and other destinations, it will use its analog missions to gather requirements and develop the technologies that are necessary to ensure successful human exploration beyond LEO. Currently, there are four analog mission platforms: Research and Technology Studies (RATS), NASA s Extreme Environment Mission Operations (NEEMO), In-Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU), and International Space Station (ISS) Test bed for Analog Research (ISTAR).

Reagan, Marcum L.↗
NASA NTRS2011

Combining Space-Based and In-Situ Measurements to Track Flooding in Thailand

We describe efforts to integrate in-situ sensing, space-borne sensing, hydrological modeling, active control of sensing, and automatic data product generation to enhance monitoring and management of flooding. In our approach, broad coverage sensors and missions such as MODIS, TRMM, and weather satellite information and in-situ weather and river gauging information are all inputs to track flooding via river basin and sub-basin hydrological models. While these inputs can provide significant information as to the major flooding, targetable space measurements can provide better spatial resolution measurements of flooding extent. In order to leverage such assets we automatically task observations in response to automated analysis indications of major flooding. These new measurements are automatically processed and assimilated with the other flooding data. We describe our ongoing efforts to deploy this system to track major flooding events in Thailand.

Flooding↗
NASA NTRS2013

Scheduling Spitzer: The SIRPASS Story

NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope was launched on August 25, 2003 from Florida's Cape Canaveral Air Force Base. Drifting in a unique Earth-trailing orbit around the Sun, Spitzer sees an optically invisible universe dominated by dust and stars. Since 1997, the Spitzer Integrated Resource Planning and Scheduling System (SIRPASS) has helped produce spacecraft activity plans for the Spitzer Space Telescope. SIRPASS is used by members of the Observatory Planning and Scheduling Team to plan, schedule and sequence the Telescope from data made available to them from the science and engineering community. Because of the volume of data that needs to be scheduled, SIRPASS offers a variety of automated assistants to aid in this task. This paper will describe the functional elements of the SIRPASS software system -- emphasizing the role that automation plays in the system -- and will highlight lessons learned for the software developer from a decade of Spitzer Space Telescope operations experience.

flight systems↗
NASA NTRS2015

CubeSat with Nanostructured Sensing Instrumentation for Planetary Exploration

This report provides a summary of the work performed under NIAC Phase I award NNX15AL86G entitled "CubeSat with Nanostructured Sensing Instrumentation for Planetary Exploration". The objective of this research is to investigate the feasibility of an innovative, low cost, CubeSat based planetary mission concept for in situ "ground truth"analysis of small asteroids and comets. The project includes an instrument study and a mission/spacecraft design study. The instrument study concerns with the development of anew TiO2 nanotube sensor with integrated compound semiconductor nanowires to determine surface composition element via neutron activated analysis (NAA). The mission/spacecraft design study concerns with the development of CubeSat based lander to small asteroids and comets. The Phase I study suggests that our concept is feasible and could provide significant benefit to NASA's future planetary missions. This research was carried out at the University of Southern California and the University of Utah.

Satellites↗
NASA NTRS2009

Evaluation methodology guidance for stack packages

This report provides evaluation methodology guidance based on previous National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) reports and literature surveys for 3D stack packages and assemblies. Two aspects of technology are covered: the package itself (guidance for functional packages) and package assembly manufacturing and reliability. This work was funded by the NASA Electronic Parts and Packaging (NEPP) Program. The objectives of this NEPP project are to: Perform a literature survey of 3D stack technology; perform a literature survey on the evaluation methodology for 3D package and assembly; combine the two aspects to provide evaluation methodology for both aspects with consideration of interactions between package and assembly; generate guidance on the evaluation methodology for 3D stack package integrity prior to and after assembly; provide recommendations on future experimental activities. The qualification and evaluation methodology guidelines will facilitate NASA projects in effectively evaluating the reliability of very dense and newly available high-density 3D stack packages, allowing more processing power in a smaller board footprint and lower system weight.

Gerke, David↗
NASA NTRS2020

Blackbird: Object-Oriented Planning, Simulation, and Sequencing Framework Used by Multiple Missions

Every JPL flight mission relies on activity planning and sequence generation software to perform operations. Most such tools in use at JPL and elsewhere use attribute-based schemas or domain-specific languages (DSLs) to define activities. This reliance poses user training, software maintenance, performance, and other challenges. To solve this problem for future missions, a new software called Blackbird was developed which allows engineers to specify behavior in standard Java. The new code base has over an order of magnitude fewer lines of code than other JPL planning software, since no DSL or schema interpreter is needed. The use of Java for defining activities also allows mission adapters to debug their code in an integrated development environment, seamlessly call external libraries, and set up truly multimission models. These efficiency gains have significantly reduced the amount of development effort required to support the software. This paper discusses Blackbird’s design, principles, and use cases.

Lawler, Christopher↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

High-Altitude ADS-B Flight Tests on a NASA ER-2 Research Airplane

Researchers at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Armstrong Flight Research Center (Edwards, California); the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA); and Regulus Group, LLC (Atlantic City, New Jersey) collaborated for the flight-test demonstration of an Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) system equipped on a high-altitude Earth Resources-2 (ER-2) research airplane. The unique ER-2 airplane is a NASA-owned and operated airborne science version of the United States Air Force / Lockheed Martin Aeronautics (Bethesda, Maryland) U-2S airplane. The FAA has mandated that by the year 2020, aircraft operating within certain sections of the United States National Airspace system be equipped with ADS-B Out technology; the research presented in this paper is the first to show how the NASA ADS-B architecture satisfies the mandate for a unique high-altitude aircraft. An exceptional military aircraft design, security protocols, and the performance envelope of the ER-2 airplane made the avionics integration remarkably challenging. The design required the ADS-B avionics to survive the harsh flight environment of the ER-2 airplane. The most prominent challenge was the functional integration of modern civilian avionics into federated military legacy avionics. Flight-test objectives were to certify an ADS-B Out (1090ES) passive surveillance integrated with a Traffic Alert and Collision Avoidance System (TCAS) I active surveillance system on an ER-2 platform for high-altitude cruise operations. In April 2022, NASA conducted three flights at Edwards Air Force Base (Edwards, California) - each greater than one-hour flight reaching altitudes above 60,000 ft.

ADS-B↗
NASA NTRS2023

Pathfinding for Airspace with Autonomous Vehicles (PAAV) Tabletop 4 Report

NASA's Pathfinding for Airspace with Autonomous Vehicles (PAAV) sub-project investigates procedures and technologies to facilitate seamless integration of future UAS operations into the NAS. The Tabletop 4 activity solicited subject matter expertise to identify solutions to the potential challenges expected when the remote pilot-to-vehicle ratio scales from 1:1 to m:N, where one or more ground-based pilots control multiple uncrewed aircraft. This report details the method and results of the PAAV Tabletop 4 activity.

multi-vehicle operations↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Space Launch System Artemis I Ascent Loads Reconstruction Summary

On November 16, 2022, NASA successfully launched the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and Orion spacecraft for the first SLS mission, Artemis 1. This first flight was outfitted with Developmental Flight Instrumentation (DFI) such as accelerometers, pressure sensors, and strain gauges. The DFI supports many post-flight activities, one of which is the ascent loads reconstruction effort. The integrated vehicle ascent loads spans both boost phase and Core phase and often produces the largest loads experienced by the vehicle during flight. One of the primary goals of the ascent loads reconstruction is to evaluate applicable Coupled Loads Analysis (CLA) design math models, assumptions, and analysis methodologies. To achieve this goal, all significant ascent subevents have been reconstructed through the use of flight data, reconstructed inputs, and existing CLA simulations. Resulting responses have been compared to available flight measurements. Additionally, reconstructed subevent loads were combined and compared to appropriate flight data and pre-flight predictions.

SLS↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Implementing an Objectives-Driven, Risk-Informed, and Case-Assured Approach to Safety and Mission Success at NASA

NASA is developing a “Standard for Assurance of Space Flight Safety and Mission Success” that implements an objectives-driven, risk-informed, and case-assured approach to safety and mission success (S&MS) for NASA space flight programs and projects. The standard aligns with the philosophy of risk leadership that has recently been established in NASA policy to assure acceptable levels of flight crew safety and mission success risk. It is consistent with existing NASA risk management requirements and is compatible with NASA program management and systems engineering requirements. The methodology described in the standard is presented in terms of an S&MS assurance framework that is designed to allow substantial flexibility in the specific means by which programs and projects achieve acceptable mission S&MS risk. Such flexibility is necessary to accommodate the increasingly broad range of acquisition strategies employed by NASA, including commercial transportation services, as well as to accommodate the increasingly rapid evolution of space flight-related technologies and practices. A key feature of the S&MS assurance framework is the specification of S&MS success criteria for each life-cycle review (LCR). The S&MS assurance case is structured around these criteria, the satisfaction of which indicates that the program/project is adhering to the S&MS risk posture. This enables the evolving S&MS assurance case to be used as a fundamental program/project submittal at each LCR, where its inherent structure of argument, supported by evidence, directly supports the evaluation of the program/project with respect to the S&MS success criteria, and by extension, the S&MS risk posture. As such, the S&MS assurance case is integral to program/project systems engineering, risk management, and S&MS oversight activities, and provides the principal basis for S&MS risk acceptance by the Decision Authority throughout the program/project life cycle.

Risk Posture↗
NASA NTRS2024

The Roman Space Telescope Observatory Build, Test and Verification Status

The Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope (“Roman”) was prioritized by the 2010 Decadal Survey in Astronomy and Astrophysics and is NASA’s next astrophysics flagship observatory. Launching no earlier than 2026, it will conduct several wide field and time domain surveys, as well as conduct an exoplanet census. Roman’s large field of view, agile survey capabilities, and excellent stability enable these objectives, yet present unique engineering and test challenges. The Roman Observatory comprises a Spacecraft and the Integrated Payload Assembly (IPA), the latter of which includes the Optical Telescope Assembly (OTA), the primary science Wide Field Instrument, a technology demonstration Coronagraph Instrument, and the Instrument Carrier, which meters the OTA to each instrument. The Spacecraft supports the IPA and includes the Bus, Solar Array Sun Shield, Outer Barrel Assembly, and Deployable Aperture Cover. It provides all required power, command handling, attitude control, communications, data storage, and stable thermal control functions as well as shading and straylight protection across the entire field of regard. This paper presents the Observatory as it begins integration and test, as well as describes key test and verification activities.

Infrared Missions↗
NASA NTRS2011

Fundamental Aeronautics Program: Overview of Project Work in Supersonic Cruise Efficiency

The Supersonics Project, part of NASA?s Fundamental Aeronautics Program, contains a number of technical challenge areas which include sonic boom community response, airport noise, high altitude emissions, cruise efficiency, light weight durable engines/airframes, and integrated multi-discipline system design. This presentation provides an overview of the current (2011) activities in the supersonic cruise efficiency technical challenge, and is focused specifically on propulsion technologies. The intent is to develop and validate high-performance supersonic inlet and nozzle technologies. Additional work is planned for design and analysis tools for highly-integrated low-noise, low-boom applications. If successful, the payoffs include improved technologies and tools for optimized propulsion systems, propulsion technologies for a minimized sonic boom signature, and a balanced approach to meeting efficiency and community noise goals. In this propulsion area, the work is divided into advanced supersonic inlet concepts, advanced supersonic nozzle concepts, low fidelity computational tool development, high fidelity computational tools, and improved sensors and measurement capability. The current work in each area is summarized.

Castner, Raymond↗
NASA NTRS2012

Fundamental Aeronautics Program: Overview of Propulsion Work in the Supersonic Cruise Efficiency Technical Challenge

The Supersonics Project, part of NASA's Fundamental Aeronautics Program, contains a number of technical challenge areas which include sonic boom community response, airport noise, high altitude emissions, cruise efficiency, light weight durable engines/airframes, and integrated multi-discipline system design. This presentation provides an overview of the current (2012) activities in the supersonic cruise efficiency technical challenge, and is focused specifically on propulsion technologies. The intent is to develop and validate high-performance supersonic inlet and nozzle technologies. Additional work is planned for design and analysis tools for highly-integrated low-noise, low-boom applications. If successful, the payoffs include improved technologies and tools for optimized propulsion systems, propulsion technologies for a minimized sonic boom signature, and a balanced approach to meeting efficiency and community noise goals. In this propulsion area, the work is divided into advanced supersonic inlet concepts, advanced supersonic nozzle concepts, low fidelity computational tool development, high fidelity computational tools, and improved sensors and measurement capability. The current work in each area is summarized.

Castner, Ray↗
NASA NTRS2010

Enhancements to the NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) Space Environment Simulator (SES) Facility to Support Cryogenic Testing of the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) Integrated Science Instrument Module (ISIM)

NASA is the mission lead for the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), the next of the "Great Observatories", scheduled for launch in 2014. It is directly responsible for the integration and test of the Integrated Science Instrument Module (ISIM), which includes a composite truss structure provided by NASA, and four science instruments sponsored and provided by NASA, the European Space Agency (ESA), the Canadian Space Agency (CSA), and the European Consortium (EC). Three of the four instruments are passively cooled and designed to operate at temperatures in the 36K to 40K range, and the fourth instrument is actively cooled to approximately 6K. The ISIM will undergo several performance tests at various levels of integration in the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center's (GSFC) Space Environment Simulator (SES), GSFC's largest thermal vacuum chamber. These activities range from Cryo-cycling the bare flight composite structure to thermal balance and performance testing of the full ISIM module. This paper describes the enhancements made to the SES chamber in order to support all cryogenic thermal vacuum testing of the ISIM. Upgrades discussed include: design and fabrication of a very large, removable and reconfigurable helium shroud; a new valve box permitting independent flow control of gaseous helium (GHe) to up to ten zones; and development of in-situ 3-dimensional photogrammetry capability in a cryogenic environment. Also presented will be select results from several facility tests already conducted to verify the chamber capabilities and optimize operational procedures, including the Helium Shroud -03 Configuration Acceptance Test, and the Helium Shroud -01 Configuration Chamber Certification Test.

Cleveland, Paul↗