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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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Computerized storage and retrieval of medical information is discussed. Tasks which were performed in support of the project are: (1) flight crew health stabilization computer system, (2) medical data input system, (3) graphic software development, (4) lunar receiving laboratory support, and (5) Statos V printer/plotter software development.
Usually computer-aided design (CAD) refers to programs that analyze circuits conceived by the circuit designer. Among the services such programs should perform are direct network synthesis, analysis, optimization of network parameters, formatting, storage of miscellaneous data, and related calculations. The program should be embedded in a general-purpose conversational language such as BASIC, JOSS, or APL. Such a program is MARTHA, a general-purpose linear-circuit analyzer embedded in APL.
System greatly improves signal-to-noise ratio with little or no loss in picture resolution. By storage of luminance component, which is summed with chrominance component, system performs mathematical integration of basically-repetitive television signals. Integration of signals over interval of their repetition causes little change in original signals and eliminates random noise.
A comparison of the hydrogen and cesium hyperfine frequencies is made using a hydrogen maser calibrated directly against the Flexible Bulb Large Storage Box Hydrogen Maser and a Hewlett-Packard portable high performance cesium clock calibrated indirectly against the USNO Master Clock via a Loran-C link. The portable cesium clock is transported from the USNO to Harvard University in operating condition. This allows the evaluation of the portable clock's performance under transport. Data are presented on the epoch and frequency stability of the portable clock under transport as well as the usefulness of a closure measurement in determining clock drift.
Major fraction of energy requirements for community building is ksupplied by Sun. The 238 flat plate solar collectors are roof mounted on single story structure enclosing gymnasium, locker area, and health care clinic; heat exchanger transfers collected energy to 6,000 gallon storage tank. Final report chronicles project from inception to completion, documenting performance, costs, operating modes, and data acquisition system. Appendix contains manufacturers' product literature and engineering drawings.
The performance, design, development, and test requirements for an optical mass data storage and retrieval system prototype (AMM-13) are established. This system interfaces to other system segments of the NASA End-to-End Data System via the Data Base Management System segment and is designed to have a storage capacity of 10 to the 13th power bits (10 to the 12th power bits on line). The major functions of the system include control, input and output, recording of ingested data, fiche processing/replication and storage and retrieval.
The effects of phenyl ring coupling moieties, of isomeric amine positions relative to the coupling groups, and of insertion of other coupling groups on the mutagenic response of a series of dianilines were investigated using the Ames Salmonella assay. Generally, S-9 metabolic activation from Aroclor-induced rat liver was required for mutagenic expression. The range of mutagenicity of steric isomers of several dianiline series was also investigated. No mutagenicity was found for purified samples of o,o' and m,p' isomers of methylene dianiline (MDA) and diaminobenzophenone, while varying degrees of mutagenicity were found for other isomers. The mutagenicity of "benzylogs" of MDA decreased as the degree of linear separation of the m,m' anilino groups by aromatic rings increased. Methylation and two-year storage increased mutagenic response in certain isomers of MDA. However, high performance liquid chromatography indicated there was no discernible change in m,p'-MDA samples aged under varied conditions over four months. Likewise, no change in mutagenicity was found.
High speed fiber composite rotors suspended by contactless magnetic bearings were produced. European industry has acquired expertise in the study and fabrication of energy storage wheels and magnetic suspension systems for space. Sufficient energy density performance for space viability is being achieved on fully representative hardware. Stress cycle testing to demonstrate life capability and the development of burst containment structures remains to be done and is the next logical step.
Recent NASA and DOD mission models have indicated future needs for orbital cryogenic storage and supply systems. Two thermal control systems which show the greatest promise for improving propellant storage life were evaluated. One system was an open cycle thermodynamic vent type with a refrigeration system for partial hydrogen reliquefaction located at the LH2 tank and a vapor cooled shield for integrated and non-integrated tank designs to reduce boiloff. The other was a closed system with direct refrigeration at the LH2 tank. A reversed Brayton cycle unit was baselined for the propellant processor. It is concluded that: (1) reliquefaction systems are not attractive for minimizing propellant boiloff; (2) open cycle systems may not be economically attractive for long term storage; (3) a number of refrigeration systems are available to assist in the long term storage of cryogenic propellants; and (4) shields can significantly improve the performance of mechanical coolers.
Laser action was achieved in a large-scale pulsed system and meaningful experiments were carried out in the axial flow facility to understand the physics of solar-pumped lasers. Studies of the variation of laser mixture composition were done for mixtures of CO2 and N2O additions. Theoretical analysis and modeling of the system were also performed based on a model including radiative pumping, diffusion and wall deactivation, and vibrational energy transfer between two optically active species. Qualitative agreement between predictions in the parameter variation and the experimental results were obtained with CO and N2O mixtures. Several experimental studies were performed to quantify the properties of carbon monoxide as absorber and storage of energy in the blackbody pumped system.
Information is given in viewgraph form on in-reach and out-reach programs in in-space technology experiments. Information is given on thermal energy storage materials technology, industry/university in-space technology experiments, heat pipe performance, working fluid behavior, a tank pressure control experiment, spacecraft glow, the Mid-Deck Zero-Gravity Dynamics Experiment, and emulsion chamber technology.
Cognitive function at simulated altitude was investigated in a repeated-measures within-subject study of performance by seven volunteers in a hypobaric chamber, in which atmospheric pressure was systematically lowered over a period of 40 d to finally reach a pressure equivalent to 8845 m, the approximate height of Mount Everest. The automated performance test system employed compact computer design; automated test administrations, data storage, and retrieval; psychometric properties of stability and reliability; and factorial richness. Significant impairments of cognitive function were seen for three of the five tests in the battery; on two tests, grammatical reasoning and pattern comparison, every subject showed a substantial decrement.
The need for a more flexible and efficient data file management system for mission planning in the Mission Operations Laboratory (EO) at MSFC has spawned the development of Silvabase. Silvabase is a new data file structure based on a B+ tree data structure. This data organization allows for efficient forward and backward sequential reads, random searches, and appends to existing data. It also provides random insertions and deletions with reasonable efficiency, utilization of storage space well but not at the expense of speed, and performance of these functions on a large volume of data. Mission planners required that some data be keyed and manipulated in ways not found in a commercial product. Mission planning software is currently being converted to use Silvabase in the Spacelab and Space Station Mission Planning Systems. Silvabase runs on a Digital Equipment Corporation's popular VAX/VMS computers in VAX Fortran. Silvabase has unique features involving time histories and intervals such as in operations research. Because of its flexibility and unique capabilities, Silvabase could be used in almost any government or commercial application that requires efficient reads, searches, and appends in medium to large amounts of almost any kind of data.
The advancement of high-speed axial-flow multistage compressors is impeded by a lack of detailed flow-field information. Recent development in compressor flow modeling and numerical simulation have the potential to provide needed information in a timely manner. The development of a computer program is described to solve the viscous form of the average-passage equation system for multistage turbomachinery. Programming issues such as in-core versus out-of-core data storage and CPU utilization (parallelization, vectorization, and chaining) are addressed. Code performance is evaluated through the simulation of the first four stages of a five-stage, high-speed, axial-flow compressor. The second part addresses the flow physics which can be obtained from the numerical simulation. In particular, an examination of the endwall flow structure is made, and its impact on blockage distribution assessed.
A real-time multiple-function digital controller system was developed for the Active Flexible Wing (AFW) Program. The digital controller system (DCS) allowed simultaneous execution of two control laws: flutter suppression and either roll trim or a rolling maneuver load control. The DCS operated within, but independently of, a slower host operating system environment, at regulated speeds up to 200 Hz. It also coordinated the acquisition, storage, and transfer of data for near real-time controller performance evaluation and both open- and closed-loop plant estimation. It synchronized the operation of four different processing units, allowing flexibility in the number, form, functionality, and order of control laws, and variability in selection of sensors and actuators employed. Most importantly, the DCS allowed for the successful demonstration of active flutter suppression to conditions approximately 26 percent (in dynamic pressure) above the open-loop boundary in cases when the model was fixed in roll and up to 23 percent when it was free to roll. Aggressive roll maneuvers with load control were achieved above the flutter boundary.
This viewgraph presentation provides an overview of material science and technology in the area of propulsion energetics. The authors note that conventional propulsion systems are near peak performance and further refinements in manufacturing, engineering design and materials will only provide incremental increases in performance. Energetic propulsion technologies could potential solve the problems of energy storage density and energy-to-thrust conversion efficiency. Topics considered include: the limits of thermal propulsion systems, the need for energetic propulsion research, emerging energetic propulsion technologies, materials research needed for advanced propulsion, and potential research opportunities.
This paper presents the data management issues associated with a large center like the NCCS and how these issues are addressed. More specifically, the focus of this paper is on the recent transition from a legacy UniTree (Legato) system to a SAM-QFS (Sun) system. Therefore, this paper will describe the motivations, from both a hardware and software perspective, for migrating from one system to another. Coupled with the migration from UniTree into SAM-QFS, the complete mass storage environment was upgraded to provide high availability, redundancy, and enhanced performance. This paper will describe the resulting solution and lessons learned throughout the migration process.
A Multilayer Insulation (MLI) and Broad Area Cooling (BAC) shield thermal control system shows promise for long-duration storage of cryogenic propellant. The NASA Cryogenic Propellant Storage and Transfer (CPST) project is investigating the thermal and structural performance of this tank-applied integrated system. The MLI/BAC Shield Acoustic and Thermal Test was performed to evaluate the MLI/BAC shield's structural performance by subjecting it to worst-case launch acoustic loads. Identical thermal tests using Liquid Nitrogen (LN2) were performed before and after the acoustic test. The data from these tests was compared to determine if any degradation occurred in the thermal performance of the system as a result of exposure to the acoustic loads. The thermal test series consisted of two primary components: a passive boil-off test to evaluate the MLI performance and an active cooling test to evaluate the integrated MLI/BAC shield system with chilled vapor circulating through the BAC shield tubes. The acoustic test used loads closely matching the worst-case envelope of all launch vehicles currently under consideration for CPST. Acoustic test results yielded reasonable responses for the given load. The thermal test matrix was completed prior to the acoustic test and successfully repeated after the acoustic test. Data was compared and yielded near identical results, indicating that the MLI/BAC shield configuration tested in this series is an option for structurally implementing this thermal control system concept.