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At least 1,243 records · Page 69

How Public Private Partnerships Enable NASA Future Space Communication Needs

The NASA Space Communications and Navigation (SCaN) Program is responsible for providing communication and navigation services to scientific and human space exploration missions. SCaN's current Space Network provides radio frequency (RF) relay services to near Earth space missions via Tracking and Data Relay Satellites (TDRS). SCaN plans to offer a new generation of relay services beginning in 2025, including the addition of optical communications capabilities and enhanced RF capabilities. The primary drivers behind the development of these next generation relay network services are to enhance communication and navigation services with significantly reduced development and operational costs. Several approaches being considered for implementation of these services are through government owned capabilities, through commercial service providers, or a combination of the two. One approach receiving a great deal of attention is the use of Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) to develop and provide capabilities or services. Utilizing Public-Private Partnerships allows NASA and commercial entities to share the investment, standards, and risks of developing and testing new or enhanced capabilities which can benefit both NASA and the commercial space communication industry. The capabilities developed under the PPP can then be used to support the growth of the commercial satellite communications industry while simultaneously being introduced into NASA operations to provide service to future NASA missions as part of the NASA Next Generation Architecture. Partnerships formed for this purpose can also serve as the basis for further NASA acquisition activities where government and industry can continue to share the cost, risk, and benefits of space communications capability development and operations. This objective is consistent with the 2010 National Space Policy stated principles: "The United States is committed to encouraging and facilitating the growth of a U.S. commercial space sector that supports U.S. needs, is globally competitive, and advances U.S. leadership in the generation of new markets and innovation-driven entrepreneurship." [1]NASA has conducted several internal studies as well as externally funded studies with industry to define the next generation space communication architecture. NASA has approached the commercial industry through a Request for Information (RFI) to define further the next generation architecture and has conducted numerous internal and external studies. The results are promising and are shaping the approach to utilize Public Private Partnership to achieve NASA's objectives while reducing costs. The commercial satellite industry has begun to deploy high performance, high throughput global satellite constellations which have the potential to provide communication services to NASA Missions. Commercial satellite manufacturers have advanced their processes to rapidly design, build, and deliver, reliable communication satellites using minimum government oversight. In this paper, we will 1) describe the NASA Next Generation Architecture, Concept of Operations (ConOps), and salient characteristics; 2) Discuss the rational of Public-Private Partnerships to achieve NASA’s next generation communication architecture; and 3) Summarize the preliminary analysis performed to date and describe the path forward.

Stegeman, James↗

Modeling and Simulation Plans in Support of Low Cost, Size, Weight, and Power Surveillance Systems for Detecting and Tracking Non-Cooperative Aircraft

RTCA Special Committee (SC) 228 has initiated a second phase for the development of minimum operational performance standards (MOPS) for UAS detect and avoid (DAA) systems. Technologies to enable UAS with less available Size, Weight, and Power (SWaP) will be considered. RTCA SC-228 has established sub-working groups and one of the sub-working groups is focused on aligning modeling and simulations activities across all participating committee members. This briefing will describe NASAs modeling and simulation plans for the development of performance standards for low cost, size, weight, and power (C-SWaP) surveillance systems that detect and track non-cooperative aircraft. The briefing will also describe the simulation platform NASA intends to use to support end-to-end verification and validation for these DAA systems. Lastly, the briefing will highlight the experiment plan for our first simulation study, and provide a high-level description of our future flight test plans. This briefing does not contain any results or data.

surveillance↗

Scenario Development Process at the Vertical Motion Simulator

There has been a significant effort within the simulation community to standardize many aspects of flight simulation. More recently, an effort has begun to develop a formal scenario definition language for aviation. A working group within the AIAA Modeling and Simulation Technical Committee has been created to develop a standard aviation scenario definition language, though much of the initial effort has been tailored to training simulators. Research and development (R&D) simulators, like the Vertical Motion Simulator (VMS), and training simulators have different missions and thus have different scenario requirements. The purpose of this paper is to highlight some of the unique tasks and scenario elements used at the VMS so they may be captured by scenario standardization efforts. The VMS most often performs handling qualities studies and transfer of training studies. Three representative handling qualities simulation studies and two transfer of training simulation studies are described in this paper. Unique scenario elements discussed in this paper included special out-the-window (OTW) targets and environmental conditions, motion system parameters, active inceptor parameters, and configurable vehicle math model parameters.

Vertical Motion Simulator↗

Process Improvement in a Radically Changing Organization

This presentation describes how the NASA Glenn Research Center planned and implemented a process improvement effort in response to a radically changing environment. As a result of a presidential decision to redefine the Agency's mission, many ongoing projects were canceled and future workload would be awarded based on relevance to the Exploration Initiative. NASA imposed a new Procedural Requirements standard on all future software development, and the Center needed to redesign its processes from CMM Level 2 objectives to meet the new standard and position itself for CMMI. The intended audience for this presentation is systems/software developers and managers in a large, research-oriented organization that may need to respond to imposed standards while also pursuing CMMI Maturity Level goals. A set of internally developed tools will be presented, including an overall Process Improvement Action Item database, a formal inspection/peer review tool, metrics collection spreadsheet, and other related technologies. The Center also found a need to charter Technical Working Groups (TWGs) to address particular Process Areas. In addition, a Marketing TWG was needed to communicate the process changes to the development community, including an innovative web site portal.

Varga, Denise M.↗

Small Engine Technology (SET) - Task 14 Axisymmetric Engine Simulation Environment

As part of the NPSS (Numerical Propulsion Simulation System) project, NASA Lewis has a goal of developing an U.S. industry standard for an axisymmetric engine simulation environment. In this program, AlliedSignal Engines (AE) contributed to this goal by evaluating the ENG20 software and developing support tools. ENG20 is a NASA developed axisymmetric engine simulation tool. The project was divided into six subtasks which are summarized below: Evaluate the capabilities of the ENG20 code using an existing test case to see how this procedure can capture the component interactions for a full engine. Link AE's compressor and turbine axisymmetric streamline curvature codes (UD0300M and TAPS) with ENG20, which will provide the necessary boundary conditions for an ENG20 engine simulation. Evaluate GE's Global Data System (GDS), attempt to use GDS to do the linking of codes described in Subtask 2 above. Use a turbofan engine test case to evaluate various aspects of the system, including the linkage of UD0300M and TAPS with ENG20 and the GE data storage system. Also, compare the solution results with cycle deck results, axisymmetric solutions (UD0300M and TAPS), and test data to determine the accuracy of the solution. Evaluate the order of accuracy and the convergence time for the solution. Provide a monthly status report and a final formal report documenting AE's evaluation of ENG20. Provide the developed interfaces that link UD0300M and TAPS with ENG20, to NASA. The interface that links UD0300M with ENG20 will be compatible with the industr,, version of UD0300M.

Miller, Max J.↗

New Directions in Space Operations Services in Support of Interplanetary Exploration

To gain access to the necessary operational processes and data in support of NASA's Lunar/Mars Exploration Initiative, new services, adequate levels of computing cycles and access to myriad forms of data must be provided to onboard spacecraft and ground based personnel/systems (earth, lunar and Martian) to enable interplanetary exploration by humans. These systems, cycles and access to vast amounts of development, test and operational data will be required to provide a new level of services not currently available to existing spacecraft, on board crews and other operational personnel. Although current voice, video and data systems in support of current space based operations has been adequate, new highly reliable and autonomous processes and services will be necessary for future space exploration activities. These services will range from the more mundane voice in LEO to voice in interplanetary travel which because of the high latencies will require new voice processes and standards. New services, like component failure predictions based on data mining of significant quantities of data, located at disparate locations, will be required. 3D or holographic representation of onboard components, systems or family members will greatly improve maintenance, operations and service restoration not to mention crew morale. Current operational systems and standards, like the Internet Protocol, will not able to provide the level of service required end to end from an end point on the Martian surface like a scientific instrument to a researcher at a university. Ground operations whether earth, lunar or Martian and in flight operations to the moon and especially to Mars will require significant autonomy that will require access to highly reliable processing capabilities, data storage based on network storage technologies. Significant processing cycles will be needed onboard but could be borrowed from other locations either ground based or onboard other spacecraft. Reliability will be a key factor with onboard and distributed backup processing an absolutely necessary requirement. Current cluster processing/Grid technologies may provide the basis for providing these services. An overview of existing services, future services that will be required and the technologies and standards required to be developed will be presented. The purpose of this paper will be to initiate a technological roadmap, albeit at a high level, of current voice, video, data and network technologies and standards (which show promise for adaptation or evolution) to what technologies and standards need to be redefined, adjusted or areas where new ones require development. The roadmap should begin the differentiation between non manned and manned processes/services where applicable. The paper will be based in part on the activities of the CCSDS Monitor and Control working group which is beginning the process of standardization of the these processes. Another element of the paper will be based on an analysis of current technologies supporting space flight processes and services at JSC, MSFC, GSFC and to a lesser extent at KSC. Work being accomplished in areas such as Grid computing, data mining and network storage at ARC, IBM and the University of Alabama at Huntsville will be researched and analyzed.

Bradford, Robert N.↗

Standard Codes for Telemetry and Telecommand

Different systems communicate and development costs reduced. Report discusses efforts to standardize telemetry and telecommand codes of various space programs. Used to detect and correct bit errors in communication channels with low signal-to-noise ratios, codes proliferated in recent years. Each coding/decoding system developed to solve specific problem, but some systems are similar and exhibit similar performance.

Macmedan, M. L.↗

Nb SRF cavities applied to searches for beyond the standard model physics

The SRF technology developed for accelerators can be successfully applied to new applications, including quantum computing, dark matter searches and beyond the standard model physics. The ultra-high quality factor of SRF cavities can al-low to achieve unprecedented sensitivity in fields outside of the usual accelerator applications, for examples fundamental and beyond the standard model physics. Applications of SRF cavities for gravitational waves searches are also being investigated. The SQMS Physics and Sensing thrust is working on this effort as it strives to combine SRF cavities with QIS, with a focus on BSM and fundamental physics. Using Nb SRF cavities, we run a proof of principle search for the dark photon dark matter candidate at fixed frequency demonstrating the deepest sensitivity to wavelike dark mater [1]. The Dark SRF experiment uses two 1.3GHz SRF cavities to conduct a light shining through wall (LSW) experiment to attempt producing and detecting dark photons in the laboratory. The results of this first superconducting LSW search were recently published [2] and we are now working on the second phase of the experiment, which will be run in a dilution refrigerator using 2.6GHz SRF cavities. In addition to the limits we have achieved, we will also present the experiments we are currently developing, such as the heterodyne axion DM search [3, 4], the SERAPH series of experiments, and gravitational waves searches based on SRF cavities as proposed in [5-8].

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Impact Fracture and Fragmentation of Glass via the 3D Combined Finite-Discrete Element Method

A driving technical concern for the automobile industry is their assurance that developed windshield products meet Federal safety standards. Besides conducting innumerable glass breakage experiments, product developers also have the option of utilizing numerical approaches that can provide further insight into glass impact breakage, fracture, and fragmentation. The combined finite-discrete element method (FDEM) is one such tool and was used in this study to investigate 3D impact glass fracture processes. To enable this analysis, a generalized traction-separation model, which defines the constitutive relationship between the traction and separation in FDEM cohesive zone models, was introduced. The mechanical responses of a laminated glass and a glass plate under impact were then analyzed. For laminated glass, an impact fracture process was investigated and results were compared against corresponding experiments. Correspondingly, two glass plate impact fracture patterns, i.e., concentric fractures and radial fractures, were simulated. The results show that for both cases, FDEM simulated fracture processes and fracture patterns are in good agreement with the experimental observations. The work demonstrates that FDEM is an effective tool for modeling of fracture and fragmentation in glass.

42 ENGINEERING↗

Defining Navigation Requirements for Future Precision Lander Missions

Human mission concepts for both the Moon and Mars require landing precision capabilities beyond the current state of art. The Safe and Precise Landing Integrated Capabilities Evolution (SPLICE) project leverages previous work at NASA to develop multimission precision landing and hazard avoidance (PL&HA) technologies to meet the advanced landing requirements. SPLICE aims to develop guidance, navigation and control (GN&C) capabilities for both Moon and Mars lander missions. The approach the project is using to identify a standard suite begins with developing a PL&HA requirements matrix to inform technology investments. The approach to develop a multi-mission navigation requirements matrix includes identifying representative concepts of operations for both robotic and human missions. It also identifies navigation sensor options with estimated performance parameters. This paper summarizes the concepts of operations and sensors considered to develop the SPLICE PL&HA requirements matrix. A description of the analysis used to determine candidate optimal sensor suites and initial results are provided.

Dwyer Cianciolo, Alicia↗

Machine-Learning for Safety Critical Airborne Applications Part II: Case Study

The exceptional progress in the field of Artificial Intelligence (AI) systems, enabled by Machine Learning (ML) technology in recent years provides historic opportunities for the aviation industry. Current certification standards for avionics were developed prior to the ML renaissance and have several fundamental incompatibilities with the ML technology. WG-114 is working hard to release a new standard as soon as possible but for now there is no recognized means of compliance for ML based systems even of low criticality. In this talk, we present the custom ML workflow that can be used comply with all objectives of the current certification standards for a low-criticality (DAL D and C) ML-based system. To illustrate the practical application of the custom ML workflow we present a case study of a system based on a Deep Neural Network (DNN) intended to detect and identify airport runway signs. We present the system design, data generation, training, and verification in detail and describe how the design assurance objectives can be met for a DAL D and DAL C systems.

Johann Schumann↗

Sustainable Development in Algeria’s Urban Areas: Population Growth and Land Consumption

We analyzed the urban development sustainability in five major urban areas of Algeria by the standard of the UN Sustainability Development Goal indicator SDG 11.3.1, which focuses on the ratio of land consumption rate to population growth rate. We utilized the annual global artificial impervious area (GAIA) dataset to characterize land-use and population data from the two censuses carried out by the National Office of Statistics (ONS) for 2008 and 2018. We discuss the prevailing relationship between urban land consumption rate and population growth rate at the smallest territorial and population census unit scale. We confirm that the indicator SDG 11.3.1 is nonlinear and that while, for example, the wilaya of Tlemcen as a whole appears to be on a sustainable path, twenty-one of its communes are not. We found that overall, and for most of its communes, the wilaya of Oran seems to have an urban land use commensurable to its population growth, but in the wilaya of Algiers, out of fifty-seven communes, only fourteen have a tendency towards sustain-able development. However, the latter wilaya hosts the country’s capital and includes government buildings that are uninhabited but are accounted for as land consumed, and as such, the relationship between urban land consumption and population growth is biased. The wilaya of Annaba showed large discrepancies in terms of land use and population growth rates, and the evolution of these quantities is not homogenous across communes and not sustainable. In the Saharan wilaya of Ghardaia, the development is not homogeneous in all communes, with smaller communes undergoing buildup increases of more than 150% over the decade. Finally, in all communes where population growth exceeded urban land growth, there will be overcrowding, an aspect neither the SDG 11.3.1 nor the impervious surface per capita indicator captures. This result, in addition to other limitations, makes SDG 11.3.1 incomplete for the determination of the sustainable development in urban areas.

Algeria↗

X-57 Mod III Wing Ground Vibration Test

The X-57 “Maxwell” all-electric experimental aircraft was an electric propulsion demonstrator developed by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration to inform airworthiness standards for electrified aircraft. The development of the X-57 aircraft was separated into configuration modifications culminating in a distributed electric propulsion flight demonstrator named Modification IV (a.k.a., Mod IV). One of these configurations, the X-57 Mod III aircraft, involved flight-testing of a long, slender, high-aspect-ratio wing with two electric motors located at the wingtips. The X-57 Mod III wing ground vibration test was performed in the Flight Loads Laboratory at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Armstrong Flight Research Center to measure the structural dynamics properties of the newly developed wing, and to confirm airworthiness of the Mod III/IV aircraft. This paper describes the testing performed to acquire the modal data and the subsequent results from the test.

Samson Truong↗

High Q SRF cavity-based searches for beyond the standard model physics

The SRF technology developed for accelerators can be successfully applied to new applications, including quantum computing, dark matter searches and beyond the standard model physics. The ultra-high quality factor of SRF cavities can enable unprecedented sensitivity in fields outside of the usual accelerator applications, for examples fundamental and beyond the standard model physics. Applications of SRF cavities for gravitational waves searches are also being investigated. The SQMS Physics and Sensing thrust is working on this effort as it strives to combine SRF cavities with QIS, with a focus on BSM and fundamental physics.

Berlin, A.↗

The Systems Engineering Process for Human Support Technology Development

Systems engineering is designing and optimizing systems. This paper reviews the systems engineering process and indicates how it can be applied in the development of advanced human support systems. Systems engineering develops the performance requirements, subsystem specifications, and detailed designs needed to construct a desired system. Systems design is difficult, requiring both art and science and balancing human and technical considerations. The essential systems engineering activity is trading off and compromising between competing objectives such as performance and cost, schedule and risk. Systems engineering is not a complete independent process. It usually supports a system development project. This review emphasizes the NASA project management process as described in NASA Procedural Requirement (NPR) 7120.5B. The process is a top down phased approach that includes the most fundamental activities of systems engineering - requirements definition, systems analysis, and design. NPR 7120.5B also requires projects to perform the engineering analyses needed to ensure that the system will operate correctly with regard to reliability, safety, risk, cost, and human factors. We review the system development project process, the standard systems engineering design methodology, and some of the specialized systems analysis techniques. We will discuss how they could apply to advanced human support systems development. The purpose of advanced systems development is not directly to supply human space flight hardware, but rather to provide superior candidate systems that will be selected for implementation by future missions. The most direct application of systems engineering is in guiding the development of prototype and flight experiment hardware. However, anticipatory systems engineering of possible future flight systems would be useful in identifying the most promising development projects.

Jones, Harry↗

The Small Explorer Data System - A data system based on standard interfaces

The Small Explorer Data System was developed by NASA Goddard Space Flight Center using a 'standard interfaces' approach. Standard interfaces make it adaptable to a wide variety of missions. The paper describes the Small Explorer Data System with particular emphasis on the standard interfaces incorporated in both the hardware and software.

Smith, Brian S.↗