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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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160 records · Page 9

Coronal Activity in the R CrA T Association

Brian Patten is the Principal Investigator of the NASA ROSS-ADP project Coronal Activity in the R CrA T Association. For this project we have extracted net counts and variability information for all of the X-ray sources found in 23 archival ROSAT PSPC and HRI images in the region of the R CrA T association. These data have been merged with an extensive database of optical and near-infrared photometry, optical spectroscopy, and parallax data. These data have been used to (1) identify new association members and clarify the membership status of a number of previously suspected members of the association, and (2) derive, for the first time, an accurate coronal luminosity function for the T Tauri members of this T association and make direct comparisons between the coronal luminosity functions for other T associations and those of large clusters. We have used our survey data to assess (a) the importance of the star-formation environment in initial coronal activity levels, (b) the effects of PMS evolution on dynamo activity as a function of mass and age, and (c) the level of contamination by field post-T Tauri stars on association membership surveys.

Patten, Brian M.↗

Implementing EVM Data Analysis Adding Value from a NASA Project Manager's Perspective

Data Analysis is one of the keys to an effective Earned Value Management (EVM) Process. Project Managers (PM) must continually evaluate data in assessing the health of their projects. Good analysis of data can assist PMs in making better decisions in managing projects. To better support our P Ms, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) - Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) recently renewed its emphasis on sound EVM data analysis practices and processes, During this presentation we will discuss the approach that MSFC followed in implementing better data analysis across its Center. We will address our approach to effectively equip and support our projects in applying a sound data analysis process. In addition, the PM for the Space Station Biological Research Project will share her experiences of how effective data analysis can benefit a PM in the decision making process. The PM will discuss how the emphasis on data analysis has helped create a solid method for assessing the project s performance. Using data analysis successfully can be an effective and efficient tool in today s environment with increasing workloads and downsizing workforces

Counts, Stacy↗

Initial Cassini propulsion system in-flight characterization

The Cassini Propulsion Module Subsystem has performed excellently throughout the first four years of mission operations. The PMS is the most complex interplanetary propulsion subsystem ever flown, with separate monopropellant and bipropellant propulsion modules, each replete with many redundant components.

Cassini propulsion performance mission operations ↗

On the relationship between stellar rotation and radius in young clusters

We examine the early angular momentum history of stars in young clusters. We reported based on 197 photometric periods in the Orion Flanking Fields and 83 photometric periods in the NGC 2264, that PMS stars apparently do not conserve stellar angular momentum as they evolve down their connective tracks, but instead evolve at nearly constant angular velocity.

stellar rotation angular momentum clusters stars↗

NASA's Evolutionary Xenon Thruster: The NEXT Ion Propulsion System for Solar System Exploration

This viewgraph presentation reviews NASA s Evolutionary Xenon Thruster (NEXT) Ion Propulsion system. The NEXT project is developing a solar electric ion propulsion system. The NEXT project is advancing the capability of ion propulsion to meet NASA robotic science mission needs. The NEXT system is planned to significantly improve performance over the state of the art electric propulsion systems, such as NASA Solar Electric Propulsion Technology Application Readiness (NSTAR). The status of NEXT development is reviewed, including information on the NEXT Thruster, the power processing unit, the propellant management system (PMS), the digital control interface unit, and the gimbal. Block diagrams NEXT system are presented. Also a review of the lessons learned from the Dawn and NSTAR systems is provided. In summary the NEXT project activities through 2007 have brought next-generation ion propulsion technology to a sufficient maturity level.

Pencil, Eric J.↗

NEXT Single String Integration Test Results

As a critical part of NASA's Evolutionary Xenon Thruster (NEXT) test validation process, a single string integration test was performed on the NEXT ion propulsion system. The objectives of this test were to verify that an integrated system of major NEXT ion propulsion system elements meets project requirements, to demonstrate that the integrated system is functional across the entire power processor and xenon propellant management system input ranges, and to demonstrate to potential users that the NEXT propulsion system is ready for transition to flight. Propulsion system elements included in this system integration test were an engineering model ion thruster, an engineering model propellant management system, an engineering model power processor unit, and a digital control interface unit simulator that acted as a test console. Project requirements that were verified during this system integration test included individual element requirements ; integrated system requirements, and fault handling. This paper will present the results of these tests, which include: integrated ion propulsion system demonstrations of performance, functionality and fault handling; a thruster re-performance acceptance test to establish baseline performance: a risk-reduction PMS-thruster integration test: and propellant management system calibration checks.

Soulas, George C.↗

The SEEDS of Planet Formation: Indirect Signatures of Giant Planets in Transitional Disks

Circumstellar disks associated with PMS stars are the site where planetesimals form and grow, and ultimately where planets are produced. A key phase in the evolution of such disks is the phase where clearing of the disk has begun, potentially enabling direct detection of giant planets, but the disk retains sufficient material that indirect signatures that these are young planetary systems are also present. After reviewing what has been learned from studies of the IR spectral energy distribution and (sub )mm-interferometry, I will discuss recent results obtained as part of the Strategic Exploration of Exoplanets and Disks with Subaru (SEEDS).

Grady, Carol↗

Recent Electric Propulsion Development Activities for NASA Science Missions

(The primary source of electric propulsion development throughout NASA is managed by the In-Space Propulsion Technology Project at the NASA Glenn Research Center for the Science Mission Directorate. The objective of the Electric Propulsion project area is to develop near-term electric propulsion technology to enhance or enable science missions while minimizing risk and cost to the end user. Major hardware tasks include developing NASA s Evolutionary Xenon Thruster (NEXT), developing a long-life High Voltage Hall Accelerator (HIVHAC), developing an advanced feed system, and developing cross-platform components. The objective of the NEXT task is to advance next generation ion propulsion technology readiness. The baseline NEXT system consists of a high-performance, 7-kW ion thruster; a high-efficiency, 7-kW power processor unit (PPU); a highly flexible advanced xenon propellant management system (PMS); a lightweight engine gimbal; and key elements of a digital control interface unit (DCIU) including software algorithms. This design approach was selected to provide future NASA science missions with the greatest value in mission performance benefit at a low total development cost. The objective of the HIVHAC task is to advance the Hall thruster technology readiness for science mission applications. The task seeks to increase specific impulse, throttle-ability and lifetime to make Hall propulsion systems applicable to deep space science missions. The primary application focus for the resulting Hall propulsion system would be cost-capped missions, such as competitively selected, Discovery-class missions. The objective of the advanced xenon feed system task is to demonstrate novel manufacturing techniques that will significantly reduce mass, volume, and footprint size of xenon feed systems over conventional feed systems. This task has focused on the development of a flow control module, which consists of a three-channel flow system based on a piezo-electrically actuated valve concept, as well as a pressure control module, which will regulate pressure from the propellant tank. Cross-platform component standardization and simplification are being investigated through the Standard Architecture task to reduce first user costs for implementing electric propulsion systems. Progress on current hardware development, recent test activities and future plans are discussed.

Pencil, Eric J.↗

Imaging Transitional Disks with TMT: Lessons Learned from the SEEDS Survey

TMT studies of the early phases of giant planet formation will build on studies carried out in this decade using 8-meter class telescopes. One such study is the Strategic Exploration of Exoplanets and Disks with Subaru transitional disk survey. We have found a wealth of indirect signatures of giant planet presence, including spiral arms, pericenter offsets of the outer disk from the star, and changes in disk color at the inner edge of the outer disk in intermediate-mass PMS star disks. T Tauri star transitional disks are less flamboyant, but are also dynamically colder: any spiral arms in these diskswill be more tightly wound. Imaging such features at the distance of the nearest star-forming regions requires higher angular resolution than achieved with HiCIAO+ AO188. Imaging such disks with extreme AO systems requires use of laser guide stars, and are infeasible with the extreme AO systems currently commissioning on 8-meter class telescopes. Similarly, the JWST and AFTAWFIRST coronagraphs being considered have inner working angles 0.2, and will occult the inner 28 atomic units of systems at d140pc, a region where both high-contrast imagery and ALMA data indicate that giant planets are located in transitional disks. However, studies of transitional disks associated with solar-mass stars and their planet complement are feasible with TMT using NFIRAOS.

star-forming regions↗

Human Systems Integration (HSI) Framework and Training - Shifting the View of HSI for Better Implementation

The Implementation of Human Systems Integration (HSI) presents challenges within the acquisition community for two reasons. The first is that misconceptions of HSI still exist, with many Program Managers (PMs) and leadership uncertain of the value or where to begin. The second is due to an unbalanced approach to HSI in its own framework. These implementation challenges lead to barriers in the early prevention of mishaps. Understanding HSI practices and how they should be implemented in the Acquisition Product Life Cycle (PLC) has been a challenge across the government, leaving the value of HSI unknown and misunderstood with Program Managers. In the case for many acquisition programs, HSI is not implemented in early design, losing the perspective on human capabilities and limitations, creating impacts on human-centered design. Expectations in human performance are not clearly set and operations are baselined with no margin for changes in technology and processes that will affect system performance. The HSI framework addresses total system performance holistically using collaboration as the primary tool. The goal is to create a system with efficiencies while minimizing risk to the operators, maintainers, and support personnel, as well as any collateral personnel and systems. To accomplish this, HSI should be implemented as part of preemptive measures to minimize potential human error and mishaps during the operation phase. Investigative and assessment tools exist that consider events, issues, and other outside influences of a system that may not fall under the current construct of the HSI domains, leaving gaps in early HSI implementation and affecting the prevention of human errors and mishaps. This presentation will outline what NASA HSI is doing to support Early HSI implementation and Operational Performance shifts that affect human performance.

Anthony T Thomas↗

Improvements to the Powder Processing of near-Final Shape alnico Magnets

Alnico permanent magnets (PMs), a recent PM system of interest as an attractive rare earth-free PM alternative, have advantageous high operating temperature and magnetic saturation with the potential for utilization in electric machines, e.g. interior-PM motors found in electric vehicles, if current directional solidification methods can be replaced by a true mass production approach. Recently, two unique alnico compositions, termed Full-Co and Co-lean, with improved coercivity, were gas atomized, compression molded, and vacuum sintered (4h at 1240°C) to high densities of 97.8% and 99.3%, respectively. However, the Co-lean remained fine grained isotropic magnets and the Full-Co grains were not textured, lowering magnetic strength in spite of attempts to grow large textured grains by a stress-biased solid state grain alignment method to convert them to high energy anisotropic magnets. It was hypothesized that oxidation during de-binding in air left many prior particle boundary oxides within the sintered microstructure that hindered grain growth and texturing during the stress-biased texturing procedure and prevented the desired abnormal grain growth (AGG). Here we explored a vacuum de-binding step that was linked (in-place) to vacuum sintering and found that the Co-lean exhibited faster uniform grain growth that doubled the average grain size (40 μm to 80 μm). Linked vacuum de-binding and sintering of Full-Co produced some AGG after only 1 h of 1240°C sintering. A new direction for promoting AGG (and stress-biased texturing) in alnico is being explored that utilizes a fundamental analysis of systems with second phase particles that either inhibit or boost grain growth. This effort explores the influence of vacuum de-binding linked to a series of lower sintering temperatures at a fixed time (4h) to see if oxide particle size and volume fraction can be changed to promote AGG conditions in alnico. Surprising qualitative results indicate that AGG may be promoted for vacuum sintering at less than 1200°C.

Rinko, Emily↗

Development of dual phase soft magnetic laminate for advanced electric machines

The development of dual phase soft magnetic laminate for advanced electric machines at General Electric is summarized, including alloy development, properties, manufacturing trials, prototype experience, potential applications, and future material development. Dual phase soft magnetic laminates provide the flexibility to tune magnetic/non-magnetic state at the desired locations, using solution nitriding treatment with protective mask/coating. This enabling material technology benefits electric machine performance by reducing flux leakage in the laminates. It also decouples the electromagnetic and mechanical design, which opens up the design space for advanced electric machines. Magnetic and mechanical properties of dual phase laminates were compared to commercial FeSi and FeCo soft magnetic laminates. Driven by the market needs for high power density and high-speed electric machines, a synchronous reluctance (SynRel) machine without PMs using dual phase soft magnetic laminates was assessed in machine electromagnetic performance as well as rotor stress analysis by finite element simulation. Successful prototype build and testing further retired manufacturing risks and advanced the technology maturity level. Future material development with higher mechanical strength, higher saturation magnetization, higher permeability, and lower loss are highly desired for ground and air transportation electrification.

Rallabandi, Vandana↗

Flare Statistics for Young Stars from a Convolutional Neural Network Analysis of TESS Data

All-sky photometric time-series missions have allowed for the monitoring of thousands of young (t age < 800 Myr) stars in order to understand the evolution of stellar activity. In this work, we developed a convolutional neural network (CNN), stella, specifically trained to find flares in Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) short-cadence data. We applied the network to 3200 young stars in order to evaluate flare rates as a function of age and spectral type. The CNN takes a few seconds to identify flares on a single light curve. We also measured rotation periods for 1500 of our targets and find that flares of all amplitudes are present across all spot phases, suggesting high spot coverage across the entire surface. Additionally, flare rates and amplitudes decrease for stars t age > 50 Myr across all temperatures T eff ≥ 4000 K, while stars from 2300 ≤ T eff < 4000 K show no evolution across 800 Myr. Stars of T eff ≤ 4000 K also show higher flare rates and amplitudes across all ages. We investigate the effects of high flare rates on photoevaporative atmospheric mass loss for young planets. In the presence of flares, planets lose 4%–7% more atmosphere over the first 1 Gyr. stella is an open-source Python toolkit hosted on GitHub and PyPI.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗