Search NASASearch

Engineering topics

Grimes, James M.

Publications and source records attributed to Grimes, James M..

Auto Draw from Excel Input Files

The design process often involves the use of Excel files during project development. To facilitate communications of the information in the Excel files, drawings are often generated. During the design process, the Excel files are updated often to reflect new input. The problem is that the drawings often lag the updates, often leading to confusion of the current state of the design. The use of this program allows visualization of complex data in a format that is more easily understandable than pages of numbers. Because the graphical output can be updated automatically, the manual labor of diagram drawing can be eliminated. The more frequent update of system diagrams can reduce confusion and reduce errors and is likely to uncover symmetric problems earlier in the design cycle, thus reducing rework and redesign.

Strauss, Karl F.

The Deep Space 4/Champollion Comet Rendezvous and Lander Technology Demonstration Mission

The Deep Space 4/Champollion mission is designed to test and validate technologies for landing on and anchoring to small bodies, and sample collection and transfer, in preparation for future sample return missions from comets, asteroids, and satellites. in addition, DS-4 will test technologies for advanced, multi-engine solar electric propulsion (SEP) systems, inflatable-rigidizable solar arrays, autonomous navigation and precision guidance for landing, autonomous hazard detection and avoidance, and advanced integrated avionics and packaging concepts. Deep Space-4/Champollion consists of two spacecraft: an orbiter/carrier vehicle which includes the multi-engine SEP stage, and a lander, called Champollion, which will descend to the surface of the 46P/Tempel 1 cometary nucleus. The spacecraft will launch in April, 2003 and land on the comet in September, 2006 Deep Space 4/Champollion is a joint project between NASA and CNES, the French space agency.

Smythe, William D.