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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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Manned orbital operations economy for space station utilization, discussing laboratory equipment, on-orbit supervision, maintenance and remote communications limitations
A lunar strip mining system is presented which is capable of excavating and transporting 3 million metric tons of ore per year to a central processing plant on the moon's surface. The mining system would grow from a single front-end loader in the first year, to a fleet of ten haulers in the 30th year. Lunar personnel requirements would consist of a single individual, whose primary function would be to perform maintenance. All of the mining equipment would either operate automatically or by remote control from earth. The projected cost for the lunar mining system is approximately $12 to $37 per ton of ore over the life of the mine, an important part of the overall economics of exploiting lunar resources.
An investigation was conducted in the Langley 8-foot transonic pressure tunnel to determine the longitudinal and lateral-directional static stability and control characteristics of a 1/6-scale force model of a remotely piloted research vehicle. The model was equipped with a supercritical wing and employed elevons for pitch and roll control. Test conditions were as follows: Reynolds number of about 6.6 x 10 to the 6th power per meter, variations of sideslip from -6 deg to 6 deg, elevon deflection angle (symmetrically and asymmetrically) from -9 deg to 3 deg, and rudder deflection angle from 0 deg to -10 deg. The model was longitudinally statically stable at angles of attack up to about 7 deg, which is significantly greater than the angle of attack for the cruise condition (approximately 4 deg). In the range of test Mach numbers, the model was directionally stable and had positive effective dihedral, sufficient pitch control, and positive effectiveness of roll and yaw control.
Explosive expansion of tubes into tubesheets has been used for over 20 years in the fabrication and repair of shell and tube heat exchangers. The use of explosives to perform these expansions has offered several distinct advantages over other methods. First, the process is fast and economical and can be performed with minimal training of personnel. Secondly, explosive forming does not cause the deleterious metallurgical effects which often result from other forming operations. In addition, the process can be performed remotely without the need for sophisticated handling equipment. The expansion of tubes into tubesheets is only one of many possible fastening and joining applications for which explosive forming can be used to achieve highly successful results. The explosive forming process and where it has been used are described. In addition, some possible adaptations to other joining applications are identified and discussed.
X-ray spectrum of contaminating element reveals presence. Proposed x-ray fluorescence spectrometer used to detect thin layer of Conoco HD-2 (or equivalent) grease on D6-ac steel. Source-and-detector assembly mounted on remote manipulator with other contamination-detecting equipment and scanned across surface of specimen. Output of detector fed through coaxial cable to standard pulse-height-analyzing equipment and processed further by small computer to obtain x-ray energy spectrum.
The essential features of an experimental network for renewable power system satellite based supervisory, control and data acquisition (SCADA) are communication links, controllers, diagnostic equipment and a hybrid power system. Required components for implementing the network consist of two satellite ground stations, to satellite modems, two 486 PCs, two telephone receivers, two telephone modems, two analog telephone lines, one digital telephone line, a hybrid-power system equipped with controller and a satellite spacecraft. In the technology verification experiment (TVE) conducted by Savannah State University and Florida Solar Energy Center, the renewable energy hybrid system is the Apex-1000 Mini-Hybrid which is equipped with NGC3188 for user interface and remote control and the NGC2010 for monitoring and basic control tasks. This power system is connected to a satellite modem via a smart interface, RS232. Commands are sent to the power system control unit through a control PC designed as PC1. PC1 is thus connected to a satellite model through RS232. A second PC, designated PC2, the diagnostic PC is connected to both satellite modems via separate analog telephone lines for checking modems'health. PC2 is also connected to PC1 via a telephone line. Due to the unavailability of a second ground station for the ACTS, one ground station is used to serve both the sending and receiving functions in this experiment. Signal is sent from the control PC to the Hybrid system at a frequency f(sub 1), different from f(sub 2), the signal from the hybrid system to the control PC. f(sub l) and f(sub 2) are sufficiently separated to avoid interference.
In this paper, we describe the architecture of both the PATS and SAP systems and how these two systems interoperate with each other forming a unified capability for deploying intelligence in hostile environments with the objective of providing actionable situational awareness of individuals. The SAP system works in concert with the UICDS information sharing middleware to provide data fusion from multiple sources. UICDS can then publish the sensor data using the OGC's Web Mapping Service, Web Feature Service, and Sensor Observation Service standards. The system described in the paper is able to integrate a spatially distributed sensor system, operating without the benefit of the Web infrastructure, with a remote monitoring and control system that is equipped to take advantage of SWE.
Operators of the Deep Space Network (DSN) attend to numerous tasks with the overall goal of providing continuous support for the world's deep space missions. This high-stakes operations environment requires operators to understand the state of the Deep Space Network and predict what will happen next. Under the Follow-the-Sun initiative which requires remote operations of the highly complex telecommunications equipment, operators will need to remain aware of the state of the entire network rather than just their own facility, and transitioning fluidly between periods of low activity and periods of high demand. I designed a micro-display for operators to see, at a glance, the state of a Deep Space Network support including its subsystems. Using in-depth user-centered and participatory design techniques to identify information requirements, I designed what I called a Postage Stamp (NTR-49720) for individual operators to be able to maintain awareness of their own assigned supports. However, under Follow the Sun, operators must remain aware of all supports. The area occupied by the Postage Stamp must shrink to allow operators to see the state of the entire system, e.g., via a Big Board posted prominently in the operations room. Micro-displays are tools for mental model re-alignment, helping operators to keep their mental models of how the system works and behaves aligned with the changing state of the complex system. Data-driven micro-displays such as the Postage Stamp and Mini-Stamp display information about the system in a consistent way. Like a traffic light, the format of the micro-display never changes: the operator always knows where to look to find a specific piece of information. The Mini-Stamp always looks like the Mini-Stamp, and all of its data fields always lie in the same place on the micro-display. Real-time data flows through the Mini-Stamp to provide information to the operator.
The goal of this tutorial is to provide a comprehensive and accessible guide for detecting aquatic vegetation within the Kankakee River using Earth Observation data as well as pairing these observations with environmental trends monitoring. By offering step-by-step instructions and insights into the latest remote sensing technologies, this tutorial aims to equip readers with the knowledge and tools necessary to identify and track aquatic vegetation within a river extent of their choice.
Using a color-television display system and interactive graphics equipment on-line to an IBM 360/44 computer, investigators at the Manned Spacecraft Center have developed a variety of interactive displays which aid in analyzing remote sensor data. This paper describes how such interactive displays are used to: (1) analyze data from a multispectral scanner, (2) develop automatic pattern recognition systems based on multispectral scanner measurements, and (3) analyze data from nonimaging sensors such as the infrared radiometer and microwave scatterometer.
This paper discusses the benefits of real-time high resolution GOES satellite imagery, radar, and other meteorological input transmitted to a remote field site where this type of meteorological support is normally not available. Information describing the equipment used to maintain the data flow between NASA-LaRC and the remote site is given. Operational examples demonstrate the usefulness of real-time data in both pre-flight planning and during the actual missions. It is shown that the availability of current high resolution GOES images and the ability to animate and enhance these images allowed near-real-time guidance of an aircraft-based field mission.
A simple conceptual experiment is used to illustrate (1) the fundamentals of performing an experiment, including the theoretical concept, the experiment design, the performance of the experiment, and the recording of observations; (2) the increasing challenges posed by performance of the same experiment in a location remote from the experimenter, such as additional planning and equipment and their associated cost increases; and (3) the significant growth of difficulties to be overcome when the simple experiment is performed in a highly restrictive environment, such as a spacecraft in orbit, with someone else remotely operating the experiment. It is shown that performing an experiment in the remote, hostile environment of space will pose difficulties equaling or exceeding those of the experiment itself, entailing mastery of a widening range of disciplines.
This internship provided an opportunity for an intern to work with NASA's Ground Support Equipment (GSE) for the Spaceport Command and Control System (SCCS) at Kennedy Space Center as a remote display developer, under NASA mentor Kurt Leucht. The main focus was on creating remote displays for the hypergolic and high pressure helium subsystem team to help control the filling of the respective tanks. As a remote display developer for the GSE hypergolic and high pressure helium subsystem team the intern was responsible for creating and testing graphical remote displays to be used in the Launch Control Center (LCC) on the Firing Room's computer monitors. To become more familiar with the subsystem, the individual attended multiple project meetings and acquired their specific requirements regarding what needed to be included in the remote displays. After receiving the requirements, the next step was to create a display that had both visual appeal and logical order using the Display Editor, on the Virtual Machine (VM). In doing so, all Compact Unique Identifiers (CUI), which are associated with specific components within the subsystem, will need to be included in each respective display for the system to run properly. Then, once the display was created it needed to be tested to ensure that the display runs as intended by using the Test Driver, also found on the VM. This Test Driver is a specific application that checks to make sure all the CUIs in the display are running properly and returning the correct form of information. After creating and locally testing the display it will need to go through further testing and evaluation before deemed suitable for actual use. By the end of the semester long experience at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, the individual should have gained great knowledge and experience in various areas of display development and testing. They were able to demonstrate this new knowledge obtained by creating multiple successful remote displays that will one day be used by the hypergolic and high pressure helium subsystem team in one of the LCC's firing rooms to fill the new Orion spacecraft.
The current status of remote sensing techniques developed for the screwworm eradication program of the Mexican-American Screwworm Eradication Commission was reported. A review of the type of data and equipment used in the program is presented. Future applications of remote sensing techniques are considered.
Application of satellite remote sensing to wide range of areas requires the development or improvement of specialized spaceborne and ground-based equipment and systems. This paper describes some of the important areas for remote sensing and the opportunities that must be met in order to advance technology and capabilities for the exploitation of space to the year 2000.
This vendor equipment list was developed with NASA funding by the Dallas Remote Imaging Group (DRIG) and the Maryland Pilot Earth Science and Technology Education Network (MAPS-NET) project as a reference guide to low-cost ground station equipment for direct readout, the capability to acquire information directly from environmental satellites. Products were tested with the following standards in mind: ease of use; user friendliness and completeness of manual and instructions; total system cost for computer, geostationary operational environmental satellites (GOES), and automatic picture transmission (APT) capability under $4000; and vendor stability in the industry.
It is well-established that sampling and sample processing can easily introduce contamination into dissolved trace element samples if precautions are not taken. However, work in remote locations sometimes precludes bringing bulky clean lab equipment into the field and likewise may make timely transport of samples to the lab for processing impossible. Straightforward syringe filtration methods are described here for collecting small quantities (15 mL) of 0.45- and 0.02-microm filtered river water in an uncontaminated manner. These filtration methods take advantage of recent advances in analytical capabilities that require only small amounts of waterfor analysis of a suite of dissolved trace elements. Filter clogging and solute rejection artifacts appear to be minimal, although some adsorption of metals and organics does affect the first approximately 10 mL of water passing through the filters. Overall the methods are clean, easy to use, and provide reproducible representations of the dissolved and colloidal fractions of trace elements in river waters. Furthermore, sample processing materials can be prepared well in advance in a clean lab and transported cleanly and compactly to the field. Application of these methods is illustrated with data from remote locations in the Rocky Mountains and along the Yukon River. Evidence from field flow fractionation suggests that the 0.02-microm filters may provide a practical cutoff to distinguish metals associated with small inorganic and organic complexes from those associated with silicate and oxide colloids.
This internship provided an opportunity for an intern to work with NASA's Ground Support Equipment (GSE) for the Spaceport Command and Control System (SCCS) at Kennedy Space Center as a remote display developer, under NASA technical mentor Kurt Leucht. The main focus was on creating remote displays and applications for the hypergolic and high pressure helium subsystem team to help control the filling of the respective tanks. As a remote display and application developer for the GSE hypergolic and high pressure helium subsystem team the intern was responsible for creating and testing graphical remote displays and applications to be used in the Launch Control Center (LCC) on the Firing Room's computers. To become more familiar with the subsystem, the individual attended multiple project meetings and acquired their specific requirements regarding what needed to be included in the software. After receiving the requirements for the displays, the next step was to create displays that had both visual appeal and logical order using the Display Editor, on the Virtual Machine (VM). In doing so, all Compact Unique Identifiers (CUI), which are associated with specific components within the subsystem, were need to be included in each respective display for the system to run properly. Then, once the display was created it was to be tested to ensure that the display runs as intended by using the Test Driver, also found on the VM. This Test Driver is a specific application that checks to make sure all the CUIs in the display are running properly and returning the correct form of information. After creating and locally testing the display it needed to go through further testing and evaluation before deemed suitable for actual use. For the remote applications the intern was responsible for creating a project that focused on channelizing each component included in each display. The core of the application code was created by setting up spreadsheets and having an auto test generator, generate the complete code structure. This application code was then loaded and ran on a testing environment set to ensure the code runs as anticipated. By the end of the semester-long experience at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, the individual should have gained great knowledge and experience in various areas of both display and application development and testing. They were able to demonstrate this new knowledge obtained by creating multiple successful remote displays that will one day be used by the hypergolic and high pressure helium subsystem team in the LCC's firing rooms to service the new Orion spacecraft. The completed display channelization application will be used to receive verification from NASA quality engineers.