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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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All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS2011

On-Line Tool for the Assessment of Radiation in Space - Deep Space Mission Enhancements

The On-Line Tool for the Assessment of Radiation in Space (OLTARIS, https://oltaris.nasa.gov) is a web-based set of tools and models that allows engineers and scientists to assess the effects of space radiation on spacecraft, habitats, rovers, and spacesuits. The site is intended to be a design tool for those studying the effects of space radiation for current and future missions as well as a research tool for those developing advanced material and shielding concepts. The tools and models are built around the HZETRN radiation transport code and are primarily focused on human- and electronic-related responses. The focus of this paper is to highlight new capabilities that have been added to support deep space (outside Low Earth Orbit) missions. Specifically, the electron, proton, and heavy ion design environments for the Europa mission have been incorporated along with an efficient coupled electron-photon transport capability to enable the analysis of complicated geometries and slabs exposed to these environments. In addition, a neutron albedo lunar surface environment was also added, that will be of value for the analysis of surface habitats. These updates will be discussed in terms of their implementation and on how OLTARIS can be used by instrument vendors, mission designers, and researchers to analyze their specific requirements.12

Sandridge, Chris a.↗
NASA NTRS2020

Results of the Deep Space Atomic Clock Deep Space Navigation Analog Experiment

The timing and frequency stability provided by the Deep Space Atomic Clock (DSAC) is almost comparable with the Deep Space Network’s ground clocks, and will enable one-way radiometric measurements with accuracy equivalent to cur- rent two-way tracking data. A demonstration unit of the clock was launched into low Earth orbit on June 25, 2019, for the purpose of validating DSAC’s perfor- mance in the space environment. GPS data collected throughout the mission was utilized not only for precise clock estimation, but also as a proxy for deep space tracking data to conduct the Deep Space Navigation Analog Experiment. Through careful processing of GPS Doppler data and limited modeling fidelity representa- tive of deep space navigation capabilities, the analog orbit solutions are compared to higher-fidelity solutions, demonstrating DSAC’s viability as a navigation instru- ment in conditions typical for a low altitude Mars orbiter.

Stuart, Jeffrey↗
NASA NTRS1981

Radio frequency interference protection of communications between the Deep Space Network and deep space flight projects

The increasing density of electrical and electronic circuits in Deep Space Station systems for computation, control, and numerous related functions has combined with the extension of system performance requirements calling for higher speed circuitry along with broader bandwidths. This has progressively increased the number of potential sources of radio frequency interference inside the stations. Also, the extension of spectrum usage both in power and frequency as well as the greater density of usage at all frequencies for national and international satellite communications, space research, Earth resource operations and defense, and particularly the huge expansion of airborne electronic warfare and electronic countermeasures operations in the Mojave area have greatly increased the potential number and severity of radio frequency interference incidents. The various facets of this problem and the efforts to eliminate or minimize the impact of interference on Deep Space Network support of deep space flight projects are described.

Johnston, D. W. H.↗
NASA NTRS2001

Experiences in riding a technology roller coaster to deep space

Deep Space 1(DS1) was the first mission of NASA's New Millennium program and was chartered to flight test twelve high-risk, enabling technologies important for future space and Earth science programs on both a fast schedule and a low budget.

DS1 new advanced technologies high-risk low budget↗
NASA NTRS2022

Enabling a Larger Deep Space Mission Suite: A Deep Space Network Queuing Antenna for Demand Access

The advent of deep space small spacecraft, as exemplified by the Mars Cubesat One (MarCO), Lunar Trailblazer, Janus, the Escape and Plasma Acceleration and Dynamics Explorers (EscaPADE), and the thirteen Artemis 1 missions, opens the possibility that a much larger number of deep space spacecraft may be launched over the next 10 years and beyond. While scientifically exciting, the prospect of a (much) larger mission suite raises significant challenges for the current approach to ground stations and mission operations. We have been investigating an integrated approach for ground stations and missions operations to enable new modes of operation while maintaining the capabilities of the current operational techniques. This integrated approach is built around three core capabilities: (1) A queuing antenna that enables monitoring the status of a much larger number of spacecraft, and allows spacecraft to transmit requests for telemetry with NASA’s Deep Space Network (DSN); (2) a flexible scheduling system that expands the current DSN scheduling services to enable allocating time on DSN antennas in near real-time; and (3) a cloud-based ground data system that can be spun up and down according to how tracks are assigned by the flexible scheduling system. We shall show that an 18 meter DSN queuing antenna equipped with cyrogenic receivers would enable use of the DSN Demand Access Service for small spacecraft throughout the inner Solar System, thus providing service to a large mission suite. We first discuss the architecture of the queuing antenna and its supporting systems, including, for instance, the service required to generate the schedule for the queueing antenna (which dictates how it slews to monitor multiple spacecraft in a day of operations). Next, we describe the signaling scheme used to encode a request, which is inherited from the already operational DSN Beacon Tone Service, and describe two alternative ways to detect the incoming tone at the ground station, one based on maximum likelihood estimation (MLE), and another one based on Fast-Fourier Transfer (FFT) processing. We then use these results to estimate the maximum range at which a request can be reliably detected as a function of the spacecraft and ground station communication capabilities. Finally, the last part of this part of this paper briefly describes the prototyping effort undertaken at Morehead State University (MSU) and JPL to demonstrate the viability of this new DSN demand access. In particular, we describe the suite of tests conducted using MSU’s 21 meter ground station to validate its use a queuing antenna.

Mattle, Emily↗
NASA NTRS2016

Investigation of Secondary Neutron Production in Large Space Vehicles for Deep Space

Future NASA missions will focus on deep space and Mars surface operations with large structures necessary for transportation of crew and cargo. In addition to the challenges of manufacturing these large structures, there are added challenges from the space radiation environment and its impacts on the crew, electronics, and vehicle materials. Primary radiation from the sun (solar particle events) and from outside the solar system (galactic cosmic rays) interact with materials of the vehicle and the elements inside the vehicle. These interactions lead to the primary radiation being absorbed or producing secondary radiation (primarily neutrons). With all vehicles, the high-energy primary radiation is of most concern. However, with larger vehicles, there is more opportunity for secondary radiation production, which can be significant enough to cause concern. In a previous paper, we embarked upon our first steps toward studying neutron production from large vehicles by validating our radiation transport codes for neutron environments against flight data. The following paper will extend the previous work to focus on the deep space environment and the resulting neutron flux from large vehicles in this deep space environment.

Rojdev, Kristina↗
NASA NTRS2019

NASA's Space Launch System: Deep Space Access for CubeSats

NASA is embarking on a new generation of missions to the Moon, known as the Artemis program. The Agency’s new super heavy-lift launch vehicle, the Space Launch System (SLS), is a critical enabling capability for these efforts, which will serve as a proving ground for future crewed expeditions to Mars. SLS is designed to return astronauts to the Moon in the Orion spacecraft and to launch more mass and provide more volume for critical payloads than commercially available vehicles, giving NASA a unique asset for deep space exploration. When performance margin and volume is available, as it is on the first flight, Artemis I (previously Exploration Mission-1), SLS can offer CubeSats access to deep space, beyond Earth’s orbit. The Artemis I flight has 13 6U (14 kg) CubeSats manifested, and the Program is currently accepting proposals for 6U and 12U payloads for the Artemis II flight through the agency’s CubeSat Launch Initiative (CSLI) program. Proposals from U.S.-based payload developers to fly on Artemis II will be accepted through CSLI until November 4, 2019. When ridesharing on SLS deep space missions, CubeSats must demonstrate they will not interfere with primary mission objectives. The 13 Artemis I CubeSats that hail from industry, academia, NASA and its international partners represent an array of exciting deep space science investigations and technology demonstrations that may help inform future Artemis missions. The initial SLS Block 1 vehicle for the Artemis I flight is fully manufactured; several elements are complete and have been delivered to the Exploration Ground Systems (EGS) Program at Kennedy Space Center (KSC), which has responsibility for integrating and launching the SLS and Orion stack. Completed elements of the Artemis I vehicle include the Orion Stage Adapter (OSA), which houses the 13 Artemis I CubeSats. With the Artemis I flight hardware and software nearing completion, work is in progress for the second Block 1 launcher, designated for the crewed Artemis II flight. Hardware is being manufactured for every element of the Artemis II vehicle. In this paper, the author will review the status of the Artemis I vehicle and the payloads manifested for the initial flight. Information on the Secondary Payload Deployment System (SPDS) that the SLS Program provides to payload developers will also be included.

Creech, Stephen D.↗
NASA NTRS1982

The Deep Space Network. An instrument for radio navigation of deep space probes

The Deep Space Network (DSN) network configurations used to generate the navigation observables and the basic process of deep space spacecraft navigation, from data generation through flight path determination and correction are described. Special emphasis is placed on the DSN Systems which generate the navigation data: the DSN Tracking and VLBI Systems. In addition, auxiliary navigational support functions are described.

Renzetti, N. A.↗
NASA NTRS1999

The Future of the Deep Space Network: Technology Development for K2-Band Deep Space Communications

Projections indicate that in the future the number of NASA's robotic deep space missions is likely to increase significantly. A launch rate of up to 4-6 launches per year is projected with up to 25 simultaneous missions active [I]. Future high resolution mapping missions to other planetary bodies as well as other experiments are likely to require increased downlink capacity. These future deep space communications requirements will, according to baseline loading analysis, exceed the capacity of NASA's Deep Space Network in its present form. There are essentially two approaches for increasing the channel capacity of the Deep Space Network. Given the near-optimum performance of the network at the two deep space communications bands, S-Band (uplink 2.025-2.120 GHz, downlink 2.2-2.3 GHz), and X-Band (uplink 7.145-7.19 GHz, downlink 8.48.5 GHz), additional improvements bring only marginal return for the investment. Thus the only way to increase channel capacity is simply to construct more antennas, receivers, transmitters and other hardware. This approach is relatively low-risk but involves increasing both the number of assets in the network and operational costs.

Bhanji, Alaudin M.↗