Nasa's application of npc 250-1 in incentive contracts.
Contract incentives and effect on application of NASA reliability publication NPC 250-1
SEARCH · Engineering Papers
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.
Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.
Contract incentives and effect on application of NASA reliability publication NPC 250-1
Quality program planning criteria for NASA CONTRACTS involving NPC 200-3
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
The normalized polarimetric classifier (NPC) which uses only the relative magnitudes and phases of the polarimetric data is proposed for discrimination of terrain elements. The probability density functions (PDFs) of polarimetric data are assumed to have a complex Gaussian distribution, and the marginal PDF of the normalized polarimetric data is derived by adopting the Euclidean norm as the normalization function. The general form of the distance measure for the NPC is also obtained. It is demonstrated that for polarimetric data with an arbitrary PDF, the distance measure of NPC will be independent of the normalization function selected even when the classifier is mistrained. A complex Gaussian distribution is assumed for the polarimetric data consisting of grass and tree regions. The probability of error for the NPC is compared with those of several other single-feature classifiers. The classification error of NPCs is shown to be independent of the normalization function.
National Perforating Corporation (NPC) is a supplier of perforated metals, plastics, and other materials. In production of screens, walkways, and other products for all industries, NPC sought to determine the safe loading of such perforated metal products. NERAC supplied NPC an informational package which included the identification of a firm that already accomplished test and evaluation of the strengths of perforated materials. Using the information available from that firm saved NPC money and time.
The gross characteristics of an aircraft under study are specified to the subroutines SIZE. The principal quantities specified are both geometric (lengths and areas) and operational (altitude and Mach number). The sequence of computations carried out by SIZE is controlled by the parameter NPC which is passed into SIZE by COMMON. When NPC-0, the computation is initialized. Subsequently, NPC is set to 2 and the program advances through the geometric computations. Geometry models for the fuselage, wing, empennage, cabin pressurization, and nacelle area are examined.
The north polar cap (NPC) on Mars is the major reservoir of atmospheric water (H2O) currently on Mars. The retrieval and monitoring of atmospheric water vapor abundance are crucial for tracking the cycle of water above the NPC. The Compact Reconnaissance Imaging Spectrometer for Mars (CRISM) aboard the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) has provided a wealth of data that extend over 5 + Martian years, covering the time period between 2006 and 2016. CRISM is ideally suited for spring and summer observations of the north polar region (latitudes poleward of 60 °N). The retrievals of water vapor column abundances over this extended period of time were performed over both ice-free and water ice covered surfaces, extending the coverage of the water vapor maps to include the permanent cap, where a maximum value of 90 precipitable micrometers (pr–µm) is retrieved, as compared to 60 pr–µm over ice-free regions in the North Polar Region. Away from summertime maximum, modest interannual variability in the water vapor abundance is observed. Zonal averages over all the observed Martian years combined show a developing water front that shifts northward towards summer, before dissipating over the permanent cap during mid-summer. A prominent feature at latitudes around 75 °N shows large abundances of water vapor, indicating a water vapor annulus encircling the retreating edge of the seasonal polar cap during late spring. Meridional transport of water modeled here show that the annulus may be a result of the convergence of water vapor from both south and north along the retreating edge of the NPC.
Recent advances in planetary entry guidance algorithms are motived by precision landing criteria for human-scale Mars missions and improved in-space computing capabilities. An NPC targeting guidance algorithm, originally developed for the Mars Surveyor Program 2001 Missions, has been modified and extended to permit a fully generalized, flexible, and robust approach to spacecraft aerocapture and EDL guidance design. This paper describes this generalized targeting NPC guidance (NPCG) and how its modifications enable its use in precision targeting for human missions. System modeling, trajectory propagation, and guidance segment definition and design are described. Finally, the NPCG capability and performance is demonstrated using a human-scale Mars entry, descent, and landing mission simulation.
Nasa reliability evaluation program for operational systems set forth in npc 250-1
The aerocapture is a promising technique for the future human interplanetary missions. The Mars Sample Return was initially based on an insertion by aerocapture. A CNES orbiter Mars Premier was developed to demonstrate this concept. Mainly due to budget constraints, the aerocapture was cancelled for the French orbiter. A lot of studies were achieved during the three last years to develop and test different guidance algorithms (APC, EC, TPC, NPC). This work was shared between CNES and NASA, with a fruitful joint working group. To finish this study an evaluation campaign has been performed to test the different algorithms. The objective was to assess the robustness, accuracy, capability to limit the load, and the complexity of each algorithm. A simulation campaign has been specified and performed by CNES, with a similar activity on the NASA side to confirm the CNES results. This evaluation has demonstrated that the numerical guidance principal is not competitive compared to the analytical concepts. All the other algorithms are well adapted to guaranty the success of the aerocapture. The TPC appears to be the more robust, the APC the more accurate, and the EC appears to be a good compromise.
The intracranial distribution of the cephalic branches of the superior cervical ganglion (scg) was studied in mice using indocarbocyanine dye (DiI) anterograde tracing. Two main branches were traced from the scg. The first branch joined the nerve of the pterygoid canal (the vidian nerve), npc, from which several intracranial sympathetic branches passed to the branches of the trigeminal nerve (tgn), abducent nerve (abn), trochlear nerve (trn), and oculomotor nerve (ocn). Most of the second branch joined the abn, from which sympathetic fibers dispersed in the distal region of the trigeminal ganglion (tgg) to form a plexus close to the ganglion's branches. Branches from this plexus joined the branches of the tgn, trn, and ocn. Several minor branches arising from the second branch of the scg were also observed. One formed a sympathetic plexus around the internal carotid artery (ica); a second formed a sympathetic plexus in the proximal region of tgg, close to its root; and a third branch coursed laterally to reach the ear by passing along the greater petrosal nerve (gpn). All of the intracranial trajectories traced from scg were found to be catecholaminergic, and likely sympathetic, using tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) immunocytochemistry.
The Orion vehicle will be designed to perform several rendezvous missions: rendezvous with the ISS in Low Earth Orbit (LEO), rendezvous with the EDS/Altair in LEO, a contingency rendezvous with the ascent stage of the Altair in Low Lunar Orbit (LLO) and a contingency rendezvous in LLO with the ascent and descent stage in the case of an aborted lunar landing. Therefore, it is not difficult to realize that each of these scenarios imposes different operational, timing, and performance constraints on the GNC system. To this end, a suite of on-board guidance and targeting algorithms have been designed to meet the requirement to perform the rendezvous independent of communications with the ground. This capability is particularly relevant for the lunar missions, some of which may occur on the far side of the moon. This paper will describe these algorithms which are designed to be structured and arranged in such a way so as to be flexible and able to safely perform a wide variety of rendezvous trajectories. The goal of the algorithms is not to merely fly one specific type of canned rendezvous profile. Conversely, it was designed from the start to be general enough such that any type of trajectory profile can be flown.(i.e. a coelliptic profile, a stable orbit rendezvous profile, and a expedited LLO rendezvous profile, etc) all using the same rendezvous suite of algorithms. Each of these profiles makes use of maneuver types which have been designed with dual goals of robustness and performance. They are designed to converge quickly under dispersed conditions and they are designed to perform many of the functions performed on the ground today. The targeting algorithms consist of a phasing maneuver (NC), an altitude adjust maneuver (NH), and plane change maneuver (NPC), a coelliptic maneuver (NSR), a Lambert targeted maneuver, and several multiple-burn targeted maneuvers which combine one of more of these algorithms. The derivation and implementation of each of these algorithms will be discussed in detail, as well and the Rendezvous Targeting "wrapper" which will sequentially tie them all together into a single onboard targeting tool which can produce a final integrated rendezvous trajectory. In a similar fashion, the various guidance modes available for flying out each of these maneuvers will be discussed as well. This paradigm of having the onboard guidance & targeting capability described above is different than the way the Space Shuttle has operated thus far. As a result, a discussion of these differences in terms of operations and ground and crew intervention will also be discussed. However, the general framework of how the mission designers on the ground first perform all mission design and planning functions, and then uplink that burn plan to the vehicle ensures that the ground will be involved to ensure safety and reliability. The only real difference is which of these functions will be done onboard vs. on the ground as done currently. Finally, this paper will describe the performance of each of these algorithms individually as well as the entire suite of algorithms as applied to the Orion ISS and EDS/Altair rendezvous missions in LEO. These algorithms have been incorporated in both a Linear Covariance environment and a Monte Carlo environment and the results of these dispersion analyses will be presented in the paper as well.
The purpose of the Mars Entry, Descent and Landing Systems Analysis (EDL-SA) study was to identify feasible technologies that will enable human exploration of Mars, specifically to deliver large payloads to the Martian surface. This paper focuses on the methods used to guide and control two of the contending technologies, a mid- lift-to-drag (L/D) rigid aeroshell and a hypersonic inflatable aerodynamic decelerator (HIAD), through the entry portion of the trajectory. The Program to Optimize Simulated Trajectories II (POST2) is used to simulate and analyze the trajectories of the contending technologies and guidance and control algorithms. Three guidance algorithms are discussed in this paper: EDL theoretical guidance, Numerical Predictor-Corrector (NPC) guidance and Analytical Predictor-Corrector (APC) guidance. EDL-SA also considered two forms of control: bank angle control, similar to that used by Apollo and the Space Shuttle, and a center-of-gravity (CG) offset control. This paper presents the performance comparison of these guidance algorithms and summarizes the results as they impact the technology recommendations for future study.
The adoption of SiC devices in high power applications enables higher switching speed, which requires lower circuit parasitic inductance to reduce the voltage overshoot. This paper presents the design of a busbar for a 500 kVA three-level active natural clamped converter. The layout of the busbar is discussed in detail based on the analysis of the multiple commutation loops, magnetic cancelling effect, and DC-link capacitor placement. The loop inductance of the designed busbar is verified with simulation, impedance measurements and converter experiment. The results can match with each other and the inductances of small and large loop are 6.5 nH and 17.5 nH respectively, which is significantly lower than the busbars of NPC type converters in other references.