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At least 1,459 records · Page 81

Design study of advanced model support systems for the National Transonic Facility (NTF)

It has long been recognized that the sting (or support system) is a very critical part of the model system. The designer is frequently faced with the tradeoff of minimizing sting size, thereby compromising facility and model safety, against a larger sting and the subsequent problems of sting interference effects. In the NASA Langley Research Center National Transonic Facility (NTF), this problem is accentuated by the severe environment of high pressure/low temperature, designed into the facility to provide the desired high Reynolds number. Compromises in the configuration geometry and/or limiting the test envelope are therefore contrary to the purposes and goals of the NTF and are unacceptable. The results of an investigation aimed at improvements of 25% in both strength and Young's modulus of elasticity as compared to high strength cryogenically acceptable steels currently being used are presented. Various materials or combinations of materials were studied along with different design approaches. Design concepts were developed which included conventional material stings, advanced composites, and hybrid configurations. Candidate configurations are recommended.

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Applications and requirements for real-time simulators in ground-test facilities

This report relates simulator functions and capabilities to the operation of ground test facilities, in general. The potential benefits of having a simulator are described to aid in the selection of desired applications for a specific facility. Configuration options for integrating a simulator into the facility control system are discussed, and a logical approach to configuration selection based on desired applications is presented. The functional and data path requirements to support selected applications and configurations are defined. Finally, practical considerations for implementation (i.e., available hardware and costs) are discussed.

Arpasi, Dale J.↗

Reactivation study for NASA Lewis Research Center's hypersonic tunnel facility

The Hypersonic Tunnel Facility (HTF) at NASA Lewis Research Center's Plum Brook Station is a blowdown, free-jet, nonvitiated propulsion facility capable of Mach 5, 6, and 7 with true temperature, altitude, and air composition simulation. The facility has been in a deactivated status for 13 years. Discussed are the capabilities of HTF, and the results of a deactivation study recently conducted to determine the cost, schedule, and technical effort required to restore HTF to its original design operating capabilities are summarized.

Haas, Jeffrey E.↗

High intensity 5 eV atomic oxygen source and Low Earth Orbit (LEO) simulation facility

An atomic oxygen exposure facility has been developed for studies of material degradation. The goal of these studies is to provide design criteria and information for the manufacture of long life (20 to 30 years) construction materials for use in LEO. The studies that are being undertaken using the facility will provide: absolute reaction cross sections for use in engineering design problems; formulations of reaction mechanisms; and calibration of flight hardware (mass spectrometers, etc.) in order to directly relate experiments performed in LEO to ground based investigations. The facility consists of: (1) a CW laser sustained discharge source of O atoms having a variable energy up to 5 eV and an intensity between 10(15) and 10(17) O atoms s(-1) cm(-2); (2) an atomic beam formation and diagnostics system consisting of various stages of differential pumping, a mass spectrometer detector, and a time of flight analyzer; (3) a spinning rotor viscometer for absolute O atom flux measurements; and (4) provision for using the system for calibration of actual flight instruments. Surface analysis equipment is available for the characterization of material surfaces before and after exposure to O atoms.

Cross, J. B.↗

Ground facility for Large Space Structures dynamics and control verification

NASA Marshall Space Flight Center has developed a facility in which closed loop control of Large Space Structures (LSS) can be demonstrated and verified. The main objective of the facility is to verify LSS control system techniques so that on-orbit performance can be ensured. The facility consists of an LSS test article or payload which is connected to a 3-axis angular pointing mount assembly that provides control torque commands. The angular pointing mount assembly is attached to a base excitation system which will simulate disturbances most likely to occur for Orbiter and DOD payloads. The control computer contains the calibration software, the reference systems, the alignment procedures, the telemetry software, and the control algorithms. The total system is suspended in such a fashion that the LSS test article has the characteristics common to all LSS.

Waites, Henry↗

Test flow calibration study of the Langley Arc-Heated Scramjet Test Facility

The test flow at the exits of two square cross-section contoured nozzles with nominal exit Mach numbers of 4.7 and 6 has been studied as calibration data for the NASA-Langley Arc-Heated Scramjet Test Facility over simulated flight conditions from Mach 5.5 (at altitudes from 98,600-128,000 ft) to Mach 7 (at altitudes from 108,000-149,000 ft). Nozzle exit contour maps of measured thermodynamic properties, calculated Mach number, and calculated mass flow are used to determine the mass flow approaching the inlets of various scramjet engines. Good agreement is found between experimentally measured facility total mass flow and facility total mass flow determined by integration of the nozzle exit mass flow contours.

Thomas, Scott R.↗

Reactivation study for NASA Lewis Research Center's Hypersonic Tunnel Facility

The Hypersonic Tunnel Facility (HTF) at NASA Lewis Research Center's Plum Brook Station is a blowdown, free-jet, nonvitiated propulsion facility capable of Mach 5, 6, and 7 with true temperature, altitude, and air composition simulation. The facility has been in a deactivated status for 13 years. Discussed are the capabilities of HTF, and the results of a deactivation study recently conducted to determine the cost, schedule, and technical effort required to restore HTF to its original design operating capabilities are summarized.

Haas, Jeffrey E.↗

The planned Alaska SAR Facility - An overview

The Alaska SAR Facility (ASF) is described in an overview fashion. The facility consists of three major components, a Receiving Ground System, a SAR Processing System and an Analysis and Archiving System; the ASF Program also has a Science Working Team and the requisite management and operations systems. The ASF is now an approved and fully funded activity; detailed requirements and science background are presented for the facility to be implemented for data from the European ERS-1, the Japanese ERS-1 and Radarsat.

Carsey, Frank↗

Performance considerations for the astrometric telescope facility on the phase 1 space station

The Astrometric Telescope Facility (ATF) is an optical telescope facility of extreme astrometric precision whose principle scientific purpose is the detection and study of planetary systems about nearby stars. With the recent change in the space station program to two phases, the suitability of initial operations from the phase 1 station need to be evaluated. This paper presents the results of such an evaluation for the Astrometric Telescope Facility.

Nishioka, Kenji↗

The NASA integrated test facility and its impact on flight research

The Integrated Test Facility (ITF), being built at NASA Ames-Dryden Flight Research Facility, will provide new test capabilities for emerging research aircraft. An overview of the ITF and the challenges being addressed by this unique facility are outlined. The current ITF capabilities, being developed with the X-29 Forward Swept Wing Program, are discussed along with future ITF activities.

Mackall, D. A.↗

High-temperature combustor liner tests in structural component response test facility

Jet engine combustor liners were tested in the structural component response facility at NASA Lewis. In this facility combustor liners were thermally cycled to simulate a flight envelope of takeoff, cruise, and return to idle. Temperatures were measured with both thermocouples and an infrared thermal imaging system. A conventional stacked-ring louvered combustor liner developed a crack at 1603 cycles. This test was discontinued after 1728 cycles because of distortion of the liner. A segmented or float wall combustor liner tested at the same heat flux showed no significant change after 1600 cycles. Changes are being made in the facility to allow higher temperatures.

Moorhead, Paul E.↗

On-orbit technology experiment facility definition

A study was conducted to identify on-orbit integrated facility needs to support in-space technology experiments on the Space Station and associated free flyers. In particular, the first task was to examine the proposed technology development missions (TDMX's) from the model mission set and other proposed experimental facilities, both individually and by theme, to determine how and if the experiments might be combined, what equipment might be shared, what equipment might be used as generic equipment for continued experimentation, and what experiments will conflict with the conduct of other experiments or Space Station operations. Then using these results, to determine on-orbit facility needs to optimize the implementation of technology payloads. Finally, to develop one or more scenarios, design concepts, and outfitting requirements for implementation of onboard technology experiments.

Russell, Richard A.↗

Polymer crystal growth facility concept for Space Station laboratory module

Interest in materials processing in space began to evolve in the late 1950's through low gravity simulation and some experiments on Apollo flights. Encouraged by the early results and considerations of the likely behavior of liquids and solidification process in low-gravity gave the recognition that this environment might be useful for a variety of unique processes. This generated a number of experimental ideas and gave rise to the design and development of facilities that will perform the experiments in space vehicles. These include the evolution of apparatus leading to the development of facilities for processing of materials on Skylab and now for the Space Transportation System (STS). The U.S. module on Space Station (SS) is going to expand this unique laboratory environment with practically no constraint on materials processing activity. This will need technology advancement for the hardware that will be required in this era. This presentation discusses the current concept for the experimental facility which will be housed in the U.S. Laboratory module on the Space Station and will allow the growth of single crystals of polymeric and organic materials using the state-of-the-art growth techniques.

Mookherji, Tripty↗

An operations concept for the Space Station based Astrometric Telescope Facility

The Astrometric Telescope Facility (AFT) will be an orbiting observatory which has been proposed to be attached to the NASA Space Station. The primary scientific objectives of the ATF will be to search for extrasolar planetary systems and to study their characteristics. In addition, the ATF will be able to perform other general astrometric observations of stars within the Milky Way Galaxy. Astrometric Telescope Facility operations from the Space Station will be simple and straightforward compared to other orbiting free-flying telescopes. The astrometric approach to planetary detection, which uses repeated measurements of the same set of target stars over many years, is compatible with simple, repetitive operations of the facility. The support provided by the Space Station and anomaly tolerance features of the ATF design also contribute to the simplicity of the operations concept.

Jackson, Robert W.↗

Performance considerations for the astrometric Telescope Facility on the Phase I Space Station

The Astrometric Telescope Facility (ATF) is an optical telescope facility of extreme astrometric precision whose principal scientific purpose is the detection and study of planetary systems about nearby stars. With the recent change in the space station program to two phases, the suitability of initial operations from the phase 1 station need to be evaluated. This paper presents the results of such an evaluation for the Astrometric Telescope Facility.

Nishioka, Kenji↗

Automated Heat-Flux-Calibration Facility

Computer control speeds operation of equipment and processing of measurements. New heat-flux-calibration facility developed at Lewis Research Center. Used for fast-transient heat-transfer testing, durability testing, and calibration of heat-flux gauges. Calibrations performed at constant or transient heat fluxes ranging from 1 to 6 MW/m2 and at temperatures ranging from 80 K to melting temperatures of most materials. Facility developed because there is need to build and calibrate very-small heat-flux gauges for Space Shuttle main engine (SSME).Includes lamp head attached to side of service module, an argon-gas-recirculation module, reflector, heat exchanger, and high-speed positioning system. This type of automated heat-flux calibration facility installed in industrial plants for onsite calibration of heat-flux gauges measuring fluxes of heat in advanced gas-turbine and rocket engines.

Liebert, Curt H.↗

Review of Aeronautical Wind Tunnel Facilities

The nation's aeronautical wind tunnel facilities constitute a valuable technological resource and make a significant contribution to the global supremacy of U.S. aircraft, both civil and military. At the request of NASA, the National Research Council's Aeronautics and Space Engineering Board organized a commitee to review the state of repair, adequacy, and future needs of major aeronautical wind tunnel facilities in meeting national goals. The comittee identified three main areas where actions are needed to sustain the capability of NASA's aeronautical wind tunnel facilities to support the national aeronautical research and development activities: tunnel maintenance and upgrading, productivity enhancement, and accommodation of new requirements (particularly in hypersonics). Each of these areas are addressed and the committee recommendations for appropriate actions presented.

Source record↗

Studies of cryogenic propellant storage and handling for the lunar landing and launch facility (complex 39L)

A brief description of Complex 39L as it is currently conceived is presented. A brief discussion of lunar thermal history is then presented. From this follows a discussion of the current lunar thermal environment which will impact the design of cryogenic storage and handling facilities on the moon. Some previous studies are discussed. A conceptual design of liquid oxygen and hydrogen storage facilities is presented. The essential feature of this facility is that cryogens are to be stored in a number of small tanks which can serve as lander propellant tanks rather than as one large storage vessel. These tanks will be placed under a Fuel Inventory Tent (FIT) for shadow shielding. Methods of dealing with propellant boil-off are discussed. A base case cascade refrigeration system for requirements are such that it seems very feasible to construct a prototype boil-off recovery system in a laboratory environment.

Linsley, Jerald N.↗