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At least 1,675 records · Page 93
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1992

Technical and economic feasibility of integrated video service by satellite

The trends and roles of satellite based video services in the year 2010 time frame are examined based on an overall network and service model for that period. Emphasis is placed on point to point and multipoint service, but broadcast could also be accommodated. An estimate of the video traffic is made and the service and general network requirements are identified. User charges are then estimated based on several usage scenarios. In order to accommodate these traffic needs, a 28 spot beam satellite architecture with on-board processing and signal mixing is suggested.

Price, Kent M.↗
NASA NTRS1991

Is bigger always better? An economic study of U.S. ETO vehicle architectures

This analysis, performed as part of NASA's Space Transportation Infrastructure Study, compares the cost efficiency of two candidate launch vehicle families, used in conjunction with existing expendable launch vehicles and the Shuttle, to accomplish the nation's future space missions through 2030. Missions analyzed include those identified in NASA's Civil Needs Data Base (CNDB) and Space Exploration Initiative (SEI) Option E program, as well as estimates of commercial and U.S. Department of Defense flights. A family of Shuttle-derived In-line vehicles is compared against a family designed around a vehicle optimized for large (250t) payloads. The analysis is performed within the context of an entire space transportation architecture. The goal is to determine which architecture best captures the required missions most cost-effectively. Results indicate that, for the particular mission model analyzed, neither option is clearly superior across the entire payload range. The Shuttle-derived family displays a better evolutionary path for supporting the total mission model (CNDB plus SEI missions). It also reduces earth-to-orbit (ETO) peak funding by 20 percent. The architecture incorporating the Heavy Lift ETO family minimizes SEI program cost and on-orbit operations but is subject to greater schedule risk because of the need for concurrent ETO core and engine development.

Eimers, Dan R.↗
NASA NTRS1991

Non-terrestrial resources of economic importance to earth

The status of research on the importation of energy and nonterrestrial materials is reviewed, and certain specific directions for new research are proposed. New technologies which are to be developed include aerobraking, in situ propellant production, mining and beneficiation of extraterresrrial minerals, nuclear power systems, electromagnetic launch, and solar thermal propulsion. Topics discussed include the system architecture for solar power satellite constellations, the return of nonterrestrial He-3 to earth for use as a clean fusion fuel, and the return to earth of platinum-group metal byproducts from processing of nonterrestrial native ferrous metals.

Lewis, John S.↗
NASA NTRS1992

Technical and economic feasibility of integrated video service by satellite

A feasibility study is presented of utilizing modern satellite technology, or more advanced technology, to create a cost-effective, user-friendly, integrated video service, which can provide videophone, video conference, or other equivalent wideband service on demand. A system is described that permits a user to select a desired audience and establish the required links similar to arranging a teleconference by phone. Attention is given to video standards, video traffic scenarios, satellite system architecture, and user costs.

Price, K. M.↗
NASA NTRS1990

The NASA Plan: To award eight percent of prime and subcontracts to socially and economically disadvantaged businesses

It is NASA's intent to provide small disadvantaged businesses, including women-owned, historically black colleges and universities and minority education institutions the maximum practicable opportunity to receive a fair proportion of NASA prime and subcontracted awards. Annually, NASA will establish socioeconomic procurement goals including small disadvantaged business goals, with a target of reaching the eight percent level by the end of FY 1994. The NASA Associate Administrators, who are responsible for the programs at the various NASA Centers, will be held accountable for full implementation of the socioeconomic procurement plans. Various aspects of this plan, including its history, are discussed.

Source record↗
NASA NTRS1922

Air transport economics

The report presents a determination of air transport costs with and without subsidies.

Warner, Edward P↗
NASA NTRS1924

Structural and Economic Limits to the Dimensions of Airships

In opposition to the advantage of larger dimensions, there is one disadvantage, namely, the weight of the structure increases more rapidly than the buoyancy. It is not possible, however, to determine a general law. In order to formulate one having the merit of simplicity, we will divide the structure into two parts: one subject to tensile and compressive stresses, varying directly as the ascensional or lifting forces; the other subject to varying stresses of the surface areas.

AIRSHIPS -STRUCTURAL STRENGTH↗
NASA NTRS1993

Techno-economic requirements for composite aircraft components

The primary reason for use of composites is to save structural weight. A well designed composite aircraft structure will usually save 25-30 percent of a well designed metal structure. The weight savings then translates into improved performance of the aircraft in measures of greater payload, increased flying range or improved efficiency - less use of fuel. Composite materials offer technical advantages. Key technical advantages that composites offer are high stiffness, tailored strength capability, fatigue resistance, and corrosion resistance. Low thermal expansion properties produce dimensionally stable structures over a wide range of temperature. Specialty resin 'char' forming characteristics in a fire environment offer potential fire barrier application and safer aircraft. The materials and processes of composite fabrication offer the potential for lower cost structures in the near future. The application of composite materials to aircraft are discussed.

Palmer, Ray↗
NASA NTRS1994

Intelligent robotics can boost America's economic growth

A case is made for strategic investment in intelligent robotics as a part of the solution to the problem of improved global competitiveness for U.S. manufacturing, a critical industrial sector. Similar cases are made for strategic investments in intelligent robotics for field applications, construction, and service industries such as health care. The scope of the country's problems and needs is beyond the capability of the private sector alone, government alone, or academia alone to solve independently of the others. National cooperative programs in intelligent robotics are needed with the private sector supplying leadership direction and aerospace and non-aerospace industries conducting the development. Some necessary elements of such programs are outlined. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center (JSC) can be key players in such national cooperative programs in intelligent robotics for several reasons: (1) human space exploration missions require supervised intelligent robotics as enabling tools and, hence must develop supervised intelligent robotic systems; (2) intelligent robotic technology is being developed for space applications at JSC (but has a strong crosscutting or generic flavor) that is advancing the state of the art and is producing both skilled personnel and adaptable developmental infrastructure such as integrated testbeds; and (3) a NASA JSC Technology Investment Program in Robotics has been proposed based on commercial partnerships and collaborations for precompetitive, dual-use developments.

Erickson, Jon D.↗
NASA NTRS1994

Acquiring and disseminating unpublished economic and social development materials in Africa: The case of the National Institute of Development Research and Documentation University of Botswana

Generally in Africa, the identification and acquisition of both published and unpublished documents can be an extremely difficult task due, among other factors, to the unsatisfactory state of the publishing industry and the poor state of bibliographic control. This paper analyzes the various problems involved in the acquisition of documents in Africa and illustrates them with the author's personal experience as an acquisitions librarian working on an information project which necessitated travel to about 15 African countries.

Kwafo-Akoto, Kate↗
NASA NTRS1994

Economical ground data delivery

Data delivery in the Deep Space Network (DSN) involves transmission of a small amount of constant, high-priority traffic and a large amount of bursty, low priority data. The bursty traffic may be initially buffered and then metered back slowly as bandwidth becomes available. Today both types of data are transmitted over dedicated leased circuits. The authors investigated the potential of saving money by designing a hybrid communications architecture that uses leased circuits for high-priority network communications and dial-up circuits for low-priority traffic. Such an architecture may significantly reduce costs and provide an emergency backup. The architecture presented here may also be applied to any ground station-to-customer network within the range of a common carrier. The authors compare estimated costs for various scenarios and suggest security safeguards that should be considered.

Markley, Richard W.↗
NASA NTRS1995

Advanced Subsonic Airplane Design and Economic Studies

A study was made to examine the effect of advanced technology engines on the performance of subsonic airplanes and provide a vision of the potential which these advanced engines offered. The year 2005 was selected as the entry-into-service (EIS) date for engine/airframe combination. A set of four airplane classes (passenger and design range combinations) that were envisioned to span the needs for the 2005 EIS period were defined. The airframes for all classes were designed and sized using 2005 EIS advanced technology. Two airplanes were designed and sized for each class: one using current technology (1995) engines to provide a baseline, and one using advanced technology (2005) engines. The resulting engine/airframe combinations were compared and evaluated on the basis on sensitivity to basic engine performance parameters (e.g. SFC and engine weight) as well as DOC+I. The advanced technology engines provided significant reductions in fuel burn, weight, and wing area. Average values were as follows: reduction in fuel burn = 18%, reduction in wing area = 7%, and reduction in TOGW = 9%. Average DOC+I reduction was 3.5% using the pricing model based on payload-range index and 5% using the pricing model based on airframe weight. Noise and emissions were not considered.

Liebeck, Robert H.↗
NASA NTRS1999

In-Situ Resource Utilization for Economical Space Missions

This paper presents some recent developments in the technologies of ISRU with the specific intention of cost reductions in space missions. Recognizing that a certain level of technology maturation is necessary before the mission designers will seriously consider any technology, the hypothesis is made that the overall cost-index is inversely proportional to the TRL. Also recognizing that the cost is directly proportional to the mass at launch, the cost-index is identified as the ratio of the launch mass to the TRL. Whether this cost-index is the true measure of the overall mission cost is arguable; however, the relative costs of comparable technologies can be readily assessed by applying identical rules of such an evaluation. As one example of this approach, Mars Sample Return (MSR) is studied, and nine competing technologies are evaluated for the key Mars Ascent Vehicle (MAV). It is found that the technology of oxygen production through the dissociation of atmospheric carbon dioxide can be a key technology. In addition to reporting upon this technology briefly, one innovative application that significantly enhances the science capabilities of a rover is discussed.

Ramohalli, Kumar↗
NASA NTRS1999

Improving Conceptual Design for Launch Vehicles. The Bimese Concept: A Study of Mission and Economic Options

This report summarizes key activities conducted in the third and final year of the cooperative agreement NCC1-229 entitled "Improving Conceptual Design for Launch Vehicles." This project has been funded by the Vehicle Analysis Branch at NASA's Langley Research Center in Hampton, VA. Work has been performed by the Space Systems Design Lab (SSDL) at the Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA. Accomplishments during the first and second years of this project have been previously reported in annual progress reports. This report will focus on the third and final year of the three year activity.

Olds, John R.↗
NASA NTRS1997

Cryptoblemes: A New Discovery with Major Economic Implications and Profound Changes to the Geologic Paradigm

Cryptoblemes are subtle impact shock signatures imprinted by cosmic debris on the crustal surfaces of lunar planetary bodes. These signatures constitute a complex cumulative overprinting of topographic, structural geophysical, and tectonic patterns that have a conspicuous radial centric multiringed symmetry. The geometry and distribution of cryptoblemes on Earth is comparable to the size and density of impact features on lunar planetary surfaces. Analysis of satellite imagery, sea-floor sonar, side-looking radar and aerial photographs of specific sites reveals new criteria for the identification and confirmation of impact-shock signatures. These criteria include joint and foliation patterns with asbestiform minerals, ribbon-quartz, spheroidal weathering, domal exfoliation, pencil shale, and shock spheres, which may originate from hydrocavitation of water-saturated sedimentary rocks. Cryptoblemes may also be associated with breccia pipes, sinkholes, buttes, mesas, and bogs, high-Rn anomalies, nodular concentrations, and earthquake epicenters. Major implications of cryptobleme identification include exploratory targeting of hydrocarbon and mineral deposits and the explanation of their origins. Analysis of known mineral deposits, structural traps and sedimentary basins show a direct correlation with cryptobleme patterns. Significant geologic paradigm shifts related to cryptoblemes include mountain building processes, structural orogenies, induced volcanism, earthquake origins, hydrocarbon diagenesis, formation mineral deposits, continental rifting, and plate movements, magnetic overprinting and local regional, and global geologic extinction and speciation patterns. Two figures provide a comparison between a multiring impact overprint in water and multiring cryptobleme in the U.S. basin range. (Additional information is contained in the original document).

Windolph, J., Jr.↗
NASA NTRS2000

Space Elevators: Building a Permanent Bridge for Space Exploration and Economic Development

A space elevator is a physical connection from the surface of the Earth to a geo-stationary orbit above the Earth approximately 35,786 km in altitude. Its center of mass is at the geo-stationary point such that it has a 24-hour orbit, and stays over the same point above the equator as the Earth rotates on its axis. The structure is utilized as a transportation and utility system for moving payloads, power, and gases between the surface of the Earth and space. It makes the physical connection from Earth to space in the same way a bridge connects two cities across a body of' water. The space elevator may be an important concept for the future development of space in the latter part of the 21th century. It has the potential to provide mass-transportation to space in the same way highways, railroads, power lines, and pipelines provide mass-transportation across the Earth's surface. The low energy requirements for moving payloads up and down the elevator make it one of only a few concepts that has the potential of lowering the cost to orbit to less than $10 per kilogram. This paper will summarize the findings from a 1999 NASA workshop on Space Elevators held at the NASA Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC). The workshop was sponsored by the Advanced Projects Office in the Flight Projects Directorate at MSFC, and was organized in cooperation with the Advanced Space Transportation Program at MSFC and the Advanced Concepts Office in the Office of Space Flight at NASA Headquarters. New concepts will be examined for space elevator construction and a number of issues will be discussed that has helped to bring the space elevator concept out of the realm of science fiction and into the realm of possibility. In conclusion, it appears that the space elevator concept may well he possible in the latter part of the 21st century if proper planning and technology development is emphasized to resolve key issues in the development of this advanced space infrastructure concept.

Smitherman, David V., Jr.↗
NASA NTRS2001

A Study of the Economic Benefit Potential of Intermodal Transports

A conceptual study was conducted to determine the benefit potential of an Intermodal Transport in which quick change payload modules are used to reduce the cost of air travel by increasing daily utilization. Three basic concepts varying the degree of modularity were investigated for a 122,000 pounds payload 3,000 NM range regional wide body transport. The profit potential for operating as a passenger transport during the day and as a freighter at night was assessed. Assuming current levels of profitability, Intermodal operations could offer an operating cost reduction potential up to 20%. Enabling technology needs are identified as very quiet aircraft for expanded night operations, distributed load carrying quick disconnect latching, and configuration dependent safety issues. Recommendations are made to explore if additional benefits are possible from alternative mission and usage modules.

Nelson, J. M.↗