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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 1,585 records · Page 88

Study of spectral/radiometric characteristics of the thematic mapper for land use applications

The previous characterization of scan-related low-frequency noise was confirmed and extended through analysis of reflective-band data from another nighttime acquisition. Amplitude and phase relationships of the level shifts were determined for each detector in each of free full frames. Analysis of scan-direction-related signal droop effects in nighttime data from the reflective bands was begun with encouraging initial observations. Also, an effort to characterize high-frequency noise in the reflective bands through Fourier analysis of nighttime data was initiated. Recommendations are made relative to the choice of radiometric calibration constants in the thematic mapper image processing system for the routine processing of TM data. Non-linear (piece-wise linear) calibration curves are recommended.

Malila, W. A.↗

Assessment of the NASA Flight Assurance Review Program

The NASA flight assurance review program to develop minimum standard guidelines for flight assurance reviews was assessed. Documents from NASA centers and NASA headquarters to determine current design review practices and procedures were evaluated. Six reviews were identified for the recommended minimum. The practices and procedures used at the different centers to incorporate the most effective ones into the minimum standard review guidelines were analyzed and guidelines for procedures, personnel and responsibilies, review items/data checklist, and feedback and closeout were defined. The six recommended reviews and the minimum standards guidelines developed for flight assurance reviews are presented. Observations and conclusions for further improving the NASA review and quality assurance process are outlined.

Holmes, J.↗

A development of logistics management models for the Space Transportation System

A new analytic queueing approach was described which relates stockage levels, repair level decisions, and the project network schedule of prelaunch operations directly to the probability distribution of the space transportation system launch delay. Finite source population and limited repair capability were additional factors included in this logistics management model developed specifically for STS maintenance requirements. Data presently available to support logistics decisions were based on a comparability study of heavy aircraft components. A two-phase program is recommended by which NASA would implement an integrated data collection system, assemble logistics data from previous STS flights, revise extant logistics planning and resource requirement parameters using Bayes-Lin techniques, and adjust for uncertainty surrounding logistics systems performance parameters. The implementation of these recommendations can be expected to deliver more cost-effective logistics support.

Carrillo, M. J.↗

Conceptual design study. Science and Applications Space Platform (SASP). Final briefing

The modularity, shape, and size of the recommended platform concept offers a low investment, early option to demonstrate the system; flexibility to conservative growth; adaptability to great variety of multi or dedicated payload groups; and good dispersion and viewing freedom for payloads. Platform configuration effectively supports 80 to 85% of the NASA/OSS and OSTA payloads. The subsystem approaches recommended are based on cost effective distribution of functions.

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Potential utility of future satellite magnetic field data

The requirements for a program of geomagnetic field studies are examined which will satisfy a wide range of user needs in the interim period between now and the time at which data from the Geopotential Research Mission (GRM) becomes available, and the long term needs for NASA's program in this area are considered. An overview of the subject, a justification for the recommended activities in the near term and long term, and a summary of the recommendations reached by the contributors is included.

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Proceedings of a Workshop on Research Needs in Heterogeneous Tropospheric Chemistry

The role of heterogeneous reactions and processes in the troposphere is critically assessed. The results of this assessment, including identification and prioritization of a number of important and scientifically tractable processes, as well as recommendations of ways in which they can be incorporated into the existing NASA tropospheric chemistry program are presented. Also presented is a detailed summary of the considerations that led to the group's recommendations.

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Evaluation of the HARDMAN comparability methodology for manpower, personnel and training

The methodology evaluation and recommendation are part of an effort to improve Hardware versus Manpower (HARDMAN) methodology for projecting manpower, personnel, and training (MPT) to support new acquisition. Several different validity tests are employed to evaluate the methodology. The methodology conforms fairly well with both the MPT user needs and other accepted manpower modeling techniques. Audits of three completed HARDMAN applications reveal only a small number of potential problem areas compared to the total number of issues investigated. The reliability study results conform well with the problem areas uncovered through the audits. The results of the accuracy studies suggest that the manpower life-cycle cost component is only marginally sensitive to changes in other related cost variables. Even with some minor problems, the methodology seem sound and has good near term utility to the Army. Recommendations are provided to firm up the problem areas revealed through the evaluation.

Zimmerman, W.↗

Hybrid vehicle assessment. Phase 1: Petroleum savings analysis

The results of a comprehensive analysis of near term electric hybrid vehicles are presented, with emphasis on their potential to save significant amounts of petroleum on a national scale in the 1990s. Performance requirements and expected annual usage patterns of these vehicles are first modeled. The projected U.S. fleet composition is estimated, and conceptual hybrid vehicle designs are conceived and analyzed for petroleum use when driven in the expected annual patterns. These petroleum consumption estimates are then compared to similar estimates for projected 1990 conventional vehicles having the same performance and driven in the same patterns. Results are presented in the form of three utility functions and comparisons of sevral conceptual designs are made. The Hybrid Vehicle (HV) design and assessment techniques are discussed and a general method is explained for selecting the optimum energy management strategy for any vehicle mission battery combination. Conclusions and recommendations are presented, and development recommendations are identified.

Levin, R.↗

Earth Observing System. Volume 1, Part 2: Science and Mission Requirements. Working Group Report Appendix

The Earth Observing System (EOS) is a planned NASA program, which will carry out multidisciplinary Earth science studies employing a variety of remote sensing techniques in the 1990's, as a prime mission, using the Space Station polar platform. Its primary goal is the generation of long term Earth science data sets of measurements and processes in the areas of agriculture, forestry, geology, hydrology, oceanography, snow and ice, troposphere and upper atmospheric chemistry, radiation and dynamics pertaining to global studies of Earth as a system, emphasizing the interactions and couplings of the atmospbere-ocean-land-cryosphere system. These results will provide the information needed to qualify our understanding of the global hydrological cycle, global biogeochemical cycles and global climate processes. This report provides the science rationale, recommended observational needs, the broad system configuration and a recommended implementation strategy to achieve the stated mission goals. The report is one volume of a proposed five volume set constituting the Phase A report as the Earth Observing System (EOS).

Goddard Space Flight Center↗

Earth Observing System. Science and Mission Requirements, Volume 1, Part 1

The Earth Observing System (EOS) is a planned NASA program, which will carry the multidisciplinary Earth science studies employing a variety of remote sensing techniques in the 1990's, as a prime mission, using the Space Station polar platform. The scientific rationale, recommended observational needs, the broad system configuration and a recommended implementation strategy to achieve the stated mission goals are provided.

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Guidelines for testing and release procedures

Guidelines and procedures are recommended for the testing and release of the types of computer software efforts commonly performed at NASA/Ames Research Center. All recommendations are based on the premise that testing and release activities must be specifically selected for the environment, size, and purpose of each individual software project. Guidelines are presented for building a Test Plan and using formal Test Plan and Test Care Inspections on it. Frequent references are made to NASA/Ames Guidelines for Software Inspections. Guidelines are presented for selecting an Overall Test Approach and for each of the four main phases of testing: (1) Unit Testing of Components, (2) Integration Testing of Components, (3) System Integration Testing, and (4) Acceptance Testing. Tools used for testing are listed, including those available from operating systems used at Ames, specialized tools which can be developed, unit test drivers, stub module generators, and the use of format test reporting schemes.

Molari, R.↗

A model of asynchronous iterative algorithms for solving large, sparse, linear systems

Solving large, sparse, linear systems of equations is one of the fundamental problems in large scale scientific and engineering computation. A model of a general class of asynchronous, iterative solution methods for linear systems is developed. In the model, the system is solved by creating several cooperating tasks that each compute a portion of the solution vector. This model is then analyzed to determine the expected intertask data transfer and task computational complexity as functions of the number of tasks. Based on the analysis, recommendations for task partitioning are made. These recommendations are a function of the sparseness of the linear system, its structure (i.e., randomly sparse or banded), and dimension.

Reed, D. A.↗

Proceedings of a Workshop on Polar Stratospheric Clouds: Their Role in Atmospheric Processes

The potential role of polar stratospheric clouds in atmospheric processes was assessed. The observations of polar stratospheric clouds with the Nimbus 7 SAM II satellite experiment were reviewed and a preliminary analysis of their formation, impact on other remote sensing experiments, and potential impact on climate were presented. The potential effect of polar stratospheric clouds on climate, radiation balance, atmospheric dynamics, stratospheric chemistry and water vapor budget, and cloud microphysics was assessed. Conclusions and recommendations, a synopsis of materials and complementary material to support those conclusions and recommendations are presented.

Hamill, P.↗

The Planetary Observer Program

An overview is presented of NASA's plans for the Planetary Observer Program, whose key element is to control the cost of each mission while establishing a long-term, stable base for the planetary sciences. The SSEC (Solar System Exploration Committee) has endorsed the view that many high science priority inner solar system missions are possible through the use of spacecraft derived from existing earth-orbital spacecraft. It has also recommended the application of space hardware such as that used on the Voyager and Galileo missions, development of both a new modular spacecraft for outer planet, comet, and main-belt asteroid missions (Mariner Mark II Program), and a multi-mission operations system to support future missions after the Venus Radar Mapper (VRM), and Galileo. A set of missions for the SSEC's Core Program has been recommended; they include: the VRM, the Mars Geoscience/Climatology Observer, the Comet Rendezvous/Asteroid Flyby, the Lunar Geoscience Orbiter, the Near-Earth Asteroid Rendezvous, the Venus Atmosphere Probe, the Mars Aeronomy Orbiter, the Mars Surface Probe, and the Comet Intercept Sample Return.

Blume, W. H.↗

Standard methods for telemetry and telecommand channel coding

Recommendations being developed by the NASA-ESA Working Group (NEWG) for Space Data Systems Standardization and the Consultative Committee for Space Data Systems (CCSDS) to standardize spacecraft telemetry and command coding are characterized. The telemetry convolutional codes used by JPL, ESA, and GSFC are found to be similar but incompatible, and it is recommended that a secondary capability for the other two schemes be developed at each facility, with the GSFC scheme as the ultimate standard, a periodic convolutional interleaving procedure for use with the NASA Tracking and Data Relay Satellite, and an optional concatenation of the convolutional code with a Reed-Solomon code to achieve up to 6.8 dB of gain. The telecommand-coding approach adopted by CCSDS is based on the schemes in use at JPL and GSFC.

Macmedan, M. L.↗

Standard format data units - Tools for automatic exchange of space mission data

A set of standard formatting rules for the data sets, and a standard computer-readable language with which to describe the data, are two tools which are used to create the Standard Format Data Unit (SFDU). The NASA/JPL proposal for creation and utilization of SFDUs is presented, and its relationship to recommendations from the Consultative Committee for Space Data Systems (CCSDS) is discussed. Several current and planned implementations of the SFDU concept among major space flight projects are identified. The purpose of creating the concept of an SFDU is to allow members of the science community to share national and global resource data independently of project or program. The feedback from SFDU implementation efforts is considered an essential part of the CCSDS activity. Even though the CCSDS specifically deals with space data systems, the SFDU concept can be applied to practically every data system on an open network. The SFDU is in the early phase of CCSDS standard definition work, and must go through several other phases before being formally recommended as an international standard.

Willett, J. B.↗

Evaluation of heat engine for hybrid vehicle application

The status of ongoing heat-engine developments, including spark-ignition, compression-ignition, internal-combustion, and external-combustion engines is presented. The potential of engine concepts under consideration for hybrid vehicle use is evaluated, using self-imposed criteria for selection. The deficiencies of the engines currently being evaluated in hybrid vehicles are discussed. Focus is on recent research with two-stroke, rotary, and free-piston engines. It is concluded that these engine concepts have the most promising potential for future application in hybrid vehicles. Recommendations are made for analysis and experimentation to evaluate stop-start and transient emission behavior of recommended engine concepts.

Schneider, H. W.↗

The undetected error probability for shortened hamming codes

Hamming or shortened Hamming codes are widely used for error detection in data communications. For example, the CCITT (International Telegraph and Telephone Consultative Committee) recommendation X.25 for packet-switched data networks adopts a distance-4 cyclic Hamming code with 16 parity-check bits for error detection. The natural length of this code is n = 2(15)-1 = 32,767. In practice the length of a data packet is no more than a few thousand bits which is much shorter than the natural length of the code. Consequently, a shortened version of thecode is used. Often the length of a data packet varies, say from a few hundred bits to a few thousand bits, hence the code must be shortened by various degrees. Shortening affects the performance of the code. The error-detection performance of shortened Hamming codes, particularly the codes obtained from the distance-4 Hamming codes adopted by CCITT recommendation X.25, is investigated. A method for computing the probability of an undetected error is presented.

Costello, D. J., Jr.↗