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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.

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At least 1,261 records · Page 70
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1987

Space research - At a crossroads

Efforts which must be expended if U.S. space research is to regain vitality in the next few years are discussed. Small-scale programs are the cornerstone for big science projects, giving both researchers and students a chance to practice the development of space missions and hardware and identify promising goals for larger projects. Small projects can be carried aloft by balloons, sounding rockets, the Shuttle and ELVs. It is recommended that NASA continue the development of remote sensing systems, and join with other government agencies to fund space-based materials science, space biology and medical research. Increased international cooperation in space projects is necessary for affording moderate to large scale missions, for political reasons, and to maximize available space resources. Finally, the establishment and funding of long-range goals in space, particularly the development of the infrastructure and technologies for the exploration and colonization of the planets, must be viewed as the normal outgrowth of the capabilities being developed for LEO operations.

Mcdonald, Frank B.↗
NASA NTRS1988

Research and technology of the Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center

Johnson Space Center accomplishments in new and advanced concepts during 1987 are highlighted. Included are research projects funded by the Office of Aeronautics and Space Technology, Solar System Exploration and Life Sciences research funded by the Office of Space Sciences and Applications, and advanced Programs tasks funded by the Office of Space Flight. Summary sections describing the role of the Johnson Space Center in each program are followed by descriptions of significant projects. Descriptions are suitable for external consumption, free of technical jargon, and illustrated to increase ease of comprehension.

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NASA NTRS1988

Mars mission research center

The Mars Mission Research Center is one of nine University Space Engineering Research Centers established by NASA to broaden the nation's engineering capability to meet the critical needs of the civilian space program. It has the goal of focusing on research and training technologies for planetary exploration with particular emphasis on Mars. The research combines: (1) composite materials and fabrication, (2) light weight structures and controls, and (3) hypersonic aerodynamics and propulsion in a cross disciplined program directed towards the development of the space transportation system for planetary travel.

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NASA NTRS1992

Advantages of ground-to-space laser power beaming

NASA's current research activities to evaluate laser power beaming systems are reviewed. Applications of such systems are considered, including communications satellites, radar and direct broadcast satellites, space transfer vehicles lunar base operations and exploration, and optical technologies. The current laser power beaming program within the NASA Headquarters Office of Aeronautics and Space Technology is addressed.

Rather, John D. G.↗
NASA NTRS1990

NASA Mission: The Universe

This booklet is mainly a recruitment tool for the various NASA Centers. This well illustrated booklet briefly describes NASA's mission and career opportunities on the NASA team. NASA field installations and their missions are briefly noted. NASA's four chief program offices are briefly described. They are: (1) Aeronautics, Exploration, and Space Technology; (2) Space Flight; (3) Space Operations; and (4) Space Science and Applications.

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NASA NTRS1993

A magnetic suspension system with a large angular range

The paper describes a small-scale laboratory system, called the Large-Angle Magnetic Suspension Test Fixture (LAMSTF), constructed at NASA Langley Research Center in order to explore and develop technology required for the magnetic suspension of objects over large ranges of orientation. The LAMSTF hardware comprises five electromagnets in a circular arrangement, each driven from a separate bipolar power amplifier. The suspended element is a cylindrical axially magnetized permanent magnet core, within an aluminum tube. The element, which is 'levitated' by repulsive forces, is stabilized in five degrees-of-freedom, with rotation about the cylinder axis not controlled. The controller accommodates the changes in magnetic coupling between the electromagnets and the suspended element by real-time adaptation of a decoupling matrix. The paper presents performance measurements demonstrating that the major design objective of the 360 deg rotation was accomplished.

Britcher, Colin P.↗
NASA NTRS1991

MARS Mission research center

The Mars Mission Research Center (M2RC) is one of nine University Space Engineering Research Centers established by NASA in June 1988. It is a cooperative effort between NCSU and A&T in Greensboro. The goal of the Center is to focus on research and educational technologies for planetary exploration with particular emphasis on Mars. The research combines Mission Analysis and Design, Hypersonic Aerodynamics and Propulsion, Structures and Controls, Composite Materials, and Fabrication Methods in a cross-disciplined program directed towards the development of space transportation systems for lunar and planetary travel. The activities of the students and faculty in the M2RC for the period 1 Jul. 1990 to 30 Jun. 1991 are described.

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NASA NTRS1998

Propulsion Options for Primary Thrust and Attitude Control of Microspacecraft

Order of magnitude decreases in the size of scientific satellites and spacecraft could provide concurrent decreases in mission costs because of lower launch and fabrication costs. Although many subsystems are amenable to dramatic size reductions, miniaturization of the propulsion subsystems is not straightforward. There are a range of requirements for both primary and attitude control propulsion, dictated by mission requirements, satellite size, and power restrictions. Many of the established propulsion technologies can not currently be applied to microspacecraft. Because of this, micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) fabrication technology is being explored as a path for miniaturization.

deGroot, W. A.↗
NASA NTRS1997

A Web-Based System for Monitoring and Controlling Multidisciplinary Design Projects

In today's competitive environment, both industry and government agencies are under enormous pressure to reduce the time and cost of multidisciplinary design projects. A number of frameworks have been introduced to assist in this process by facilitating the integration of and communication among diverse disciplinary codes. An examination of current frameworks reveals weaknesses in various areas such as sequencing, displaying, monitoring, and controlling the design process. The objective of this research is to explore how Web technology, in conjunction with an existing framework, can improve these areas of weakness. This paper describes a system that executes a sequence of programs, monitors and controls the design process through a Web-based interface, and visualizes intermediate and final results through the use of Java(Tm) applets. A small sample problem, which includes nine processes with two analysis programs that are coupled to an optimizer, is used to demonstrate the feasibility of this approach.

Salas, Andrea O.↗
NASA NTRS1999

Toward a More Flexible Web-Based Framework for Multidisciplinary Design

In today's competitive environment, both industry and government agencies are under pressure to reduce the time and cost of multidisciplinary design projects. New tools have been introduced to assist in this process by facilitating the integration of and communication among diverse disciplinary codes. One such tool, a framework for multidisciplinary design, is defined as a hardware-software architecture that enables integration, execution, and communication among diverse disciplinary processes. An examination of current frameworks reveals weaknesses in various areas, such as sequencing, monitoring, controlling, and displaying the design process. The objective of this research is to explore how Web technology can improve these areas of weakness and lead toward a more flexible framework. This article describes a Web-based system that optimizes and controls the execution sequence of design processes in addition to monitoring the project status and displaying the design results.

Rogers, J. L.↗
NASA NTRS1999

An Overview of NASA's Current In-Situ Consumable Production (ISCP) Development Activities and Goals

Utilization of extraterrestrial resources, or In-Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU), is viewed as an enabling technology for the exploration and commercial exploitation of our solar system. It is fundamental to any program of extended human presence and operation on other extraterrestrial bodies that we learn how to utilize the indigenous resources. The chief benefits of ISRU are that it can reduce the mass, cost, and risk of robotic and human exploration while providing capabilities that the enable commercial development of space. A key subset of ISRU which has significant cost and risk reduction benefits for robotic and human exploration, and which requires a minimum of infrastructure, is In-Situ Consumable Production (ISCP). ISCP involves acquiring, manufacturing, and storing propellants for planetary ascent or Earth return vehicles, gases and water for crew and life support, and fuel cell reagents for power generation by using resources available at the site of exploration. Since propellant mass typically makes up 60 to 80% of the ascent or Earth return vehicle mass, In-Situ Propellant Production (ISPP) on the Lunar or Mars surface can significantly reduce the overall mass for the return vehicle needed to be brought from Earth. Systems analyses of human Mars missions have indicated that solely producing propellants on the surface of Mars by processing atmospheric carbon dioxide can reduce the initial mission mass required in low Earth orbit by approximately 20% as compared to carrying all required propellant to the Mars surface from Earth. An even greater leverage can occur for Mars missions when in-situ water can be processed.

Sanders, G. B.↗
NASA NTRS1999

An Overview of NASA's current In-Situ Consumable Production (ISCP) Development Activities and Goals

Utilization of extraterrestrial resources, or In-Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU), is viewed as an enabling technology for the exploration and commercial exploitation of our solar system. It is fundamental to any program of extended human presence and operation on other extraterrestrial bodies that we learn how to utilize the indigenous resources. The chief benefits of ISRU are that it can reduce the mass, cost, and risk of robotic and human exploration while providing capabilities that the enable commercial development of space. A key subset of ISRU which has significant cost and risk reduction benefits for robotic and human exploration, and which requires a minimum of infrastructure, is In-Situ Consumable Production (ISCP). ISCP involves acquiring, manufacturing, and storing propellants for planetary ascent or Earth return vehicles, gases and water for crew and life support, and fuel cell reagents for power generation by using resources available at the site of exploration. Since propellant mass typically makes up 60 to 80% of the ascent or Earth return vehicle mass, In-Situ Propellant Production (ISPP) on the Lunar or Mars surface can significantly reduce the overall mass for the return vehicle needed to be brought from Earth. Systems analyses of human Mars missions have indicated that solely producing propellants on the surface of Mars by processing atmospheric carbon dioxide can reduce the initial mission mass required in low Earth orbit by approximately 20% as compared to carrying all required propellant to the Mars surface from Earth. An even greater leverage can occur for Mars missions when in-situ water can be processed.

Sanders, G. B.↗
NASA NTRS2000

SUMI: The Solar Ultraviolet Magnetograph Investigation

A major focus of solar physics is the measurement of the temporal and spatial variability of solar magnetic fields from the photosphere into the lower corona, together with the study of how their behavior produces the dynamic phenomena in this region such as flares and Coronal Mass Injection (CMEs). Considerable success has been achieved in the characterization of the full vector field in the photosphere, where P, the ratio of the gas pressure to the magnetic pressure, is greater than or equal to 1. At higher levels in the atmosphere where beta is less than 1, the magnetic field (through the Lorentz force) controls the structure and dynamics of the solar atmosphere, and rapid changes in structure with release of energy become possible. However, observations of the field at these higher levels have proven to be difficult, placing a serious limitation on our understanding of the physical processes occurring there. This poster will discuss the Solar Ultraviolet Magnetograph Investigation (SUMI), a hardware development study for an instrument capable of measuring the polarization in ultraviolet lines of C IV and Mg II formed in the transition region and upper chromosphere. We are currently developing optical technologies necessary to build an instrument that will achieve a major advance in performance over that of earlier attempts (e.g., SMM/UVSP). Initially configured as a sounding rocket payload, such a UV magnetograph would allow us to make exploratory measurements extending the observation of solar magnetic fields into new and dynamic regimes. This work is supported by NASA through the SEC Program in Solar Physics and the program for Technology Development for Explorer Missions and Sofia.

Davis, John M.↗
NASA NTRS1997

NASA University Research Centers Technical Advances in Education, Aeronautics, Space, Autonomy, Earth and Environment

This first volume of the Autonomous Control Engineering (ACE) Center Press Series on NASA University Research Center's (URC's) Advanced Technologies on Space Exploration and National Service constitute a report on the research papers and presentations delivered by NASA Installations and industry and Report of the NASA's fourteen URC's held at the First National Conference in Albuquerque, New Mexico from February 16-19, 1997.

Jamshidi, M.↗
NASA NTRS2001

An Active Substrate Driver for Enabling Mixed-Voltage SOI Systems-On-A-Chip

The current trend for space application systems is towards fully integrated systems-on-a-chip. To facilitate this drive, high-voltage transistors must reside on the same substrate as low-voltage transistors. These systems must also be radiation tolerant, particularly for space missions such as the Europa Lander and Titan Explorer. SOI CMOS technology offers high levels of radiation hardness. As a result, a high-voltage lateral MOSFET has been developed in a partially-depleted (PD) SOI technology. Utilizing high voltages causes a parasitic transistor to have non-negligible effects on a circuit. Several circuit architectures have been used to compensate for the radiation induced threshold voltage shift of the parasitic back-channel transistor. However, a new architecture for high-voltage systems must be employed to bias the substrate to voltage levels insuring all parasitic transistors remain off. An active substrate driver has been developed to accomplish task. Additional information is contained in the original extended abstract.

Jackson, S. A.↗
NASA NTRS2000

International Space Station Research Plan: Assembly Sequence

These viewgraphs discuss the International Space Station's Research Plan. The goals for the International Space Station Utilization are to provide a state-of-the-art research facility on which to study gravity's effects on physical, chemical, and biological systems. It is also an advanced testbed for technology and human exploration as well as a commercial platform for space research and development.

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NASA NTRS2002

NASA Technical Standards Program and Implications for Lessons Learned and Technical Standard Integration

The National Aeronautics and Space Agency consists of fourteen Facilities throughout the United States. They are organized to support the Agency's principal Enterprises: (1) Space Science, (2) Earth Science, (3) Aerospace Technology, (4) Human Exploration and Development of Space, and (5) Biological and Physical Research. Technical Standards are important to the activities of each Enterprise and have been an integral part in the development and operation of NASA Programs and Projects since the Agency was established in 1959. However, for years each Center was responsible for its own standards development and selection of non-NASA technical standards that met the needs of Programs and Projects for which they were responsible. There were few Agencywide applicable Technical Standards, mainly those in area of safety. Department of Defense Standards and Specifications were the foundation and main source for Technical Standards used by the Agency. This process existed until about 1997 when NASA embarked on a Program to convert NASA's Center-developed Technical Standards into Agencywide endorsed NASA Preferred Technical Standards. In addition, action was taken regarding the formal adoption of non-NASA Technical Standards (DOD, SAE, ASTM, ASME, IEEE, etc.) as NASA Preferred Technical Standards.

Gill, Paul S.↗
NASA NTRS2003

Lyophilization for Water Recovery From Solid Waste

This abstract describes the development of a solid waste treatment system designed for a near term human exploration mission. The technology being developed is an energy- efficient lyophilization technique that recovers water from spacecraft solid waste. In the lyophilization process water in an aqueous waste is frozen and then sublimed, resulting in the separation of the waste into a dried solid material and liquid water. This technology is ideally suited to applications where water recovery rates approaching 100% are desirable but production of CO, is not. Water contained within solid wastes accounts for approximately 3% of the total water balance. If 100% closure of the water loop is desired the water contained within this waste would need to be recovered. To facilitate operation in microgravity thermoelectric heat pumps have be used in place of traditional fluid cycle heat pumps. A mathematical model of a thermoelectric lyophilizer has been developed and used to generate energy use and processing rate parameters. The results of laboratory investigations and discussions with ALS program management have been used to iteratively arrive at a prototype design. This design address operational limitations which were identified in the laboratory studies and handling and health concerns raised by ALS program management. The current prototype design is capable of integration into the ISS Waste Collection System.

Flynn, Michael↗