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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 1,675 records · Page 93

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NASA NTRS1988

A Study of Space Station Contamination Effects

A workshop was held with the specific objective of reviewing the state-of-knowledge regarding Space Station contamination, the extent to which the various categories of contamination can be predicted, and the extent to which the predicted levels would interfere with onboard scientific investigations or space station functions. The papers presented at the workshop are compiled and address the following topics: natural environment, plasma electromagnetic environment, optical environment, particulate environment, spacecraft contamination, surface physics processes, laboratory experiments and vented chemicals/contaminants.

Torr, M. R.↗

NASA NTRS1988

Effects of meteoroids and space debris on the particulate environment for space station

A large orbiting platform such as Space Station will be subjected to numerous impacts by meteoroids and space debris fragments. These hypervelocity impacts will produce clouds of ejected structural material in the vicinity of the Station. The development of a preliminary model for impact-generated ejecta production which combines the fluxes of meteoroids and space debris fragments with a description of the number of ejecta particles produced by hypervelocity impacts is reported. Modeling results give mean ejecta densities from 30 to 100 percent of the present particulate background limitation of 1 particle 5 microns and larger per orbit per 1 x 10(-5) sr field-of-view as seen by a 1-m-diameter aperture telescope in the 1990's time frame. Projected increases in the space debris flux raise this density to 300 percent of this limitation after 2010. The model is also applied to estimate the vulnerability of metallic claddings on composite structural members to penetration by hypervelocity projectiles, thereby exposing the substrate to atomic oxygen. The estimated annual number of penetrations is from 4 to 8 per square meter of cross-sectional area in the mid 1990's, increasing to more than 40 penetrations per square meter after 2010.

Seebaugh, W. R.↗

NASA NTRS1988

Some operational aspects of a rotating advanced-technology space station for the year 2025

The study of an Advanced Technology Space Station which would utilize the capabilities of subsystems projected for the time frame of the years 2000 to 2025 is discussed. The study includes tradeoffs of nuclear versus solar dynamic power systems that produce power outputs of 2.5 megawatts and analyses of the dynamics of the spacecraft of which portions are rotated for artificial gravity. The design considerations for the support of a manned Mars mission from low Earth orbit are addressed. The studies extend to on-board manufacturing, internal gas composition effects, and locomotion and material transfer under artificial gravity forces. The report concludes with an assessment of technology requirements for the Advanced Technology Space Station.

Queijo, M. J.↗

NASA NTRS1988

A plan for time-phased incorporation of automation and robotics on the US space station

A plan for the incorporation of Automation and Robotics technology on the Space Station is presented. The time phased introduction of twenty two selected candidates is set forth in accordance with a technology development forecast. Twenty candidates were chosed primarily for their potential to relieve the crew of mundane or dangerous operations and maintenance burdens, thus freeing crew time for mission duties and enhancing safety. Two candidates were chosen based on a potential for increasing the productivity of laboratory experiments and thus directly enhancing the scientific value of the Space Station. A technology assessment for each candidate investigates present state of the art, development timelines including space qualification considerations, and potential for technology transfer to earth applications. Each candidate is evaluated using a crew workload model driven by crew size, number of pressurized U.S. modules and external payloads, which makes it possible to assess the impact of automation during a growth scenario. Costs for each increment of implementation are estimated and accumulated.

Purves, R. B.↗

NASA NTRS1988

A space station onboard scheduling assistant

One of the goals for the Space Station is to achieve greater autonomy, and have less reliance on ground commanding than previous space missions. This means that the crew will have to take an active role in scheduling and rescheduling their activities onboard, perhaps working from preliminary schedules generated on the ground. Scheduling is a time intensive task, whether performed manually or automatically, so the best approach to solving onboard scheduling problems may involve crew members working with an interactive software scheduling package. A project is described which investigates a system that uses knowledge based techniques for the rescheduling of experiments within the Materials Technology Laboratory of the Space Station. Particular attention is paid to: (1) methods for rapid response rescheduling to accommodate unplanned changes in resource availability, (2) the nature of the interface to the crew, (3) the representation of the many types of data within the knowledge base, and (4) the possibility of applying rule-based and constraint-based reasoning methods to onboard activity scheduling.

Brindle, A. F.↗

NASA NTRS1988

Centaur operations at the space station: Cost and transportation analysis

A study was conducted to expand on the results of an initial study entitled Centaur Operations at the Space Station. The previous study developed technology demonstration missions (TDMs) that utilized the Centaur G-prime upper stage to advance OTV technologies required for accomodations and operations at the Space Station. An initial evaluation was performed of the cost to NASA for TDM implementation. Due to the potential for commercial communication satellite operation utilizing the TDM hardware, an evaluation of the Centaur's transportation potential was also performed.

Source record↗

NASA NTRS1988

Definition of common support equipment and space station interface requirements for IOC model technology experiments

A study was conducted to identify the common support equipment and Space Station interface requirements for the IOC (initial operating capabilities) model technology experiments. In particular, each principal investigator for the proposed model technology experiment was contacted and visited for technical understanding and support for the generation of the detailed technical backup data required for completion of this study. Based on the data generated, a strong case can be made for a dedicated technology experiment command and control work station consisting of a command keyboard, cathode ray tube, data processing and storage, and an alert/annunciator panel located in the pressurized laboratory.

Russell, Richard A.↗

NASA NTRS1988

The space station assembly phase: System design trade-offs for the flight telerobotic servicer

The effects of a recent study aimed at identifying key issues and trade-offs associated with using a Flight Telerobotic Servicer (FTS) to aid in Space Station assembly-phase tasks is described. The use of automation and robotic (A and R) technologies for large space systems often involves a substitution of automation capabilities for human EVA or IVA activities. A methodology is presented that incorporates assessment of candidate assembly-phase tasks, telerobotic performance capabilities, development costs, and effects of operational constaints. Changes in the region of cost-effectiveness are examined under a variety of system design assumptions. A discussion of issues is presented with focus on three roles the FTS might serve: as a research-oriented test bed to learn more about space usage of telerobotics; as a research based test bed having an experimental demonstration orientation with limited assembly and servicing applications; or as an operational system to augment EVA and to aid construction of the Space Station and to reduce the program (schedule) risk by increasing the flexibility of mission operations.

Smith, Jeffrey H.↗

NASA NTRS1986

Space Station viewing requirements

Concern based on historical precedent led to early investment of resources to identify Space Station viewing requirements in order that they could be transferred to module window designs, cupolas, indirect viewing methods (e.g., closed circuit television), and implemented in cost models tracking overall station configuration weight and cost. Previous space history and earth based analogs were used to identify needs and requirements relevant to long term missions.

Mount, Frances E.↗

NASA NTRS1987

Toluene stability Space Station Rankine power system

A dynamic test loop is designed to evaluate the thermal stability of an organic Rankine cycle working fluid, toluene, for potential application to the Space Station power conversion unit. Samples of the noncondensible gases and the liquid toluene were taken periodically during the 3410 hour test at 750 F peak temperature. The results obtained from the toluene stability loop verify that toluene degradation will not lead to a loss of performance over the 30-year Space Station mission life requirement. The identity of the degradation products and the low rates of formation were as expected from toluene capsule test data.

Havens, V. N.↗

NASA NTRS1987

Radiator selection for Space Station Solar Dynamic Power Systems

A study was conducted to define the best radiator for heat rejection of the Space Station Solar Dynamic Power System. Included in the study were radiators for both the Organic Rankine Cycle and Closed Brayton Cycle heat engines. A number of potential approaches were considered for the Organic Rankine Cycle and a constructable radiator was chosen. Detailed optimizations of this concept were conducted resulting in a baseline for inclusion into the ORC Preliminary Design. A number of approaches were also considered for the CBC radiator. For this application a deployed pumped liquid radiator was selected which was also refined resulting in a baseline for the CBC preliminary design. This paper reports the results and methodology of these studies and describes the preliminary designs of the Space Station Solar Dynamic Power System radiators for both of the candidate heat engine cycles.

Fleming, Mike↗

NASA NTRS1987

An integrated approach to space station power system autonomous control

Space Station electrical power management must be accomplished autonomously in order to decrease both airborne and ground support costs. Attention is presently given to the augmentation of terrestrial utility algorithmic decision aids for power dispatching for space station use, using expert systems to direct power demand analyses and the integration of results into operational decisions. Functions to be thus managed encompass power scheduling, energy allocation, failure cause diagnoses, goal proposal and plan preparation, consequence evaluation, and execution plan selection. The operating states of the system are normal, preventive, emergency, and restorative.

Dolce, James L.↗

NASA NTRS1987

Space Station ground data management system

KSC is planning a Space Station Ground Data Management System (GDMS) for support of functional interface verification, integration and test of Space Station modules and elements. This computer system, planned for initial operational support in 1992, currently is entering a definition and prototyping stage. This paper provides an overview of the GDMS system concept. It synopsizes system functional capabilities, and discusses software and hardware architectural approaches currently under evaluation. It identifies programmatic constraints and their influence upon the concept, as well as specific technical issues planned for study or evaluation via prototyping.

Heuser, Jan↗

NASA NTRS1987

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↗

NASA NTRS1987

International Space Station operations: New dimensions - October 13, 1987

One of the principal goals of the participants in the International Space Station program is to provide a management support structure which is equitable and fair to all participants, responsive to the needs of users, responsible to other partners, and mutually supportive to the participation of other partners. Shared-utilization, shared-cost, and shared-operations policies considerations are discussed. Special attention is given to the methodology for identifying costs and benefits of this program, in which each partner should be provided with benefits in proportion to his contribution, and no partner would be forced to share in cost the inefficiencies introduced by other partners. The Space Station hierarchy of operations functions are identified, and the recommended framework planning and control hierarchy is presented.

Paules, Granville E.↗

NASA NTRS1987

Geostationary earth observations - Platform operations from the Space Station

The ground, launch, and servicing operations associated with the deployment of a geostationary earth observation platform from the Space Station are discussed. The main features of a configuration developed for the next generation geostationary observation platform and its flight operations are reviewed. The total operational cost of the platform from initial launch, assembly, and test of the Space Station, and the geo insertion is estimated at $240M, with a subsequent servicing mission costing $123M.

Barberis, Neil↗

NASA NTRS1987

NASA and the Space Station - Current Status

In the baseline configuration of the Space Station, NASA engineers have provided for a range of modifications that will enlarge the capabilities available to future users. An extensive definition and design study has been completed which is supplemented by a critical evaluation of the Space Station configuration; a three-year technology-development effort has also drawn to a close which examined operational factors and restructured program management responsibilities. Costs have been estimated on the basis of the revised configuration in order to insure full consistency for program funding plans.

Moser, Thomas L.↗

NASA NTRS1987

Space Station services and design features for users

The operational design features and services planned for the NASA Space Station will furnish, in addition to novel opportunities and facilities, lower costs through interface standardization and automation and faster access by means of computer-aided integration and control processes. By furnishing a basis for large-scale space exploitation, the Space Station will possess industrial production and operational services capabilities that may be used by the private sector for commercial ventures; it could also ultimately support lunar and planetary exploration spacecraft assembly and launch facilities.

Kurzhals, Peter R.↗