Engineering topics

Lovell, R. R.

Publications and source records attributed to Lovell, R. R..

At least 19 records

NASA NTRS1986

Communications satellites in the fiber optics era

Three new satellite technologies, i.e., electronically hopped antenna beams, on-board switching, and laser intersatellite links, will soon be tested on experimental satellites. These technologies will enable future satellites to capture significant amounts of data and voice traffic. Fiber cables on the continents will dominate trunking routes, but satellites functioning as switches will be more flexible and reliable, and will cost less than terrestrial-based switches. When satellite switches and laser intersatellite links are combined, the resulting satellite networks will provide cost-effective, independent voice/data networks in the coming global village. They will augment existing terrestrial networks for thin route and low data rate links.

Lovell, R. R.↗

NASA NTRS1985

NASA's communications programs for interconnectivity

The U.S. 'bent pipe' satellites will be joined in 1989 by the NASA ACTS satellite. The present paper provides a status report on the ACTS satellite program. The ACTS satellite and the mobile satellite systems will conduct flight tests with respect to onboard switching for both wide band and narrow band communications. The ACTS program, with the laser link, and the mobile satellite programs with the large antennas will contribute to the test of four new technologies. Attention is given to the ACTS communication systems, the ACTS spacecraft characteristics, the ACTS modes of operation, RF technologies, interconnectivity technologies, and large antenna technologies.

Lovell, R. R.↗

NASA NTRS1985

NASA'S communications programs - 1985

NASA's communications program was restructured in 1979 to develop selective high risk technology forced on relief of the orbit and frequency congestion and on developing new and affordable service. The central theme of the current technology thrust is one of developing interconnectivity technology and architecture to convert the present era of bent pipe satellite utilization to one using nodal points in space for both space and earth based information gateways and interfaces to terrestrial communication systems.

Lovell, R. R.↗

NASA NTRS1984

A new wave of communication satellites

Satellites provide at present telephone, television, data, and business services on a national, regional, and international scale, and the geostationary arc has become crowded at C-band (6/4 GHz) and Ku-band (14/11 GHz) frequencies. The evolution and the present state of satellite communications are discussed along with details regarding the development of direct broadcast satellites, the position of Canada with respect to satellite communications, Japanese developments, ESA and Eutelsat, aspects of collaboration between France and Germany regarding communications satellites, the United Kingdom, and the Nordic countries.

Lovell, R. R.↗

NASA NTRS1984

Giant step for communication satellite technology

NASA's communications program, which is concerned with advanced communications technology, reflects the need for operational communications satellite capacity beyond the capabilities of current technology and the unwillingness of private industry in the U.S. to undertake making the required long-range, high-risk technology advances. It is pointed out that current satellites will not satisfy the forecasted demand for additional capacity in the 1990s and beyond. Current technology exists primarily up to 18 GHz. Designing a communications satellite at each of the three major uplink/downlink frequency bands (C, Ku, and Ka, 6/4 GHz, 14/11 GHz, and 30/20 GHz, respectively) presents different program management and technical problems. Increasing frequency or power can be done only by intensive sustained research. This is the rationale for NASA to pursue the Advanced Communications Technology Satellite (ACTS) program.

Lovell, R. R.↗

NASA NTRS1983

A figure of merit for competing communications satellite designs

Trends in launch schedules, weights, power, and space segment costs per transponder year for Intelsats and North American domsats (domestic communications satellites) are discussed. The Intelsat system currently services 25,000 point to point telephone links at any one moment, and a $3 billion order has been placed for Intelsat VIs, which feature 36,000 telephone circuits each. The Intelsat VI spacecraft will weigh 1670 kg in orbit, a continuance of the trend to heavier satellites, while the domsats will stay at 650 kg due to launch vehicle limitations. Direct television broadcast satellites are being designed for receive only (R/O) earth stations, with each satellite capable of servicing 50,000 individual ground stations. Competition is growing for C and Ku band satellite transponders for DBS, with costs $350,000 each. No standardized design has yet emerged.

Lovell, R. R.↗

NASA NTRS1982

An experiment to enable commercial mobile satellite service

A Mobile Satellite Experiment (MSAT-X) is described, based on a planned cooperative U.S./Canadian program. The experiment would establish network architecture, develop system and ground-segment technology, and define the technical characteristics needed to help structure the regulatory/institutional framework needed to enable a first-generation commercial satellite service. A satellite of this type would augment terrestrial systems, both cellular and noncellular, in the thin-route/rural areas of the country where service is either unavailable or inadequate. Applications range from wide-area radio/dispatch (e.g., oil exploration and interstate trucking) to extension of the public mobile telephone service. Market estimates are provided and experiment objectives and requirements are delineated. The requirements are being developed in close coordination with the Department of Communications (DOC) of Canada and with industry and potential-user organizations. The paper closes with a development plan and milestone chart.

Lovell, R. R.↗

NASA NTRS1977

ASDAR (aircraft to satellite data relay) flight test report

The aircraft to Satellite Data Relay (ASDAR), an airborne data collection system that gathers meteorological data from existing aircraft instrumentation and relays it to ground user via a geo-synchronous meteorological satellite, is described and the results of the first test flight on a commercial Boeing 747 aircraft are presented. The flight test was successful and verified system performance in the anticipated environment.

Domino, E. J.↗

NASA NTRS1977

Process for preparing liquid metal electrical contact device

The parts of an electrical contact device are treated by sputter etching to remove the parent metal oxide. Prior to exposure of the electrodes to any oxygen, a sacrificial metal is sputter deposited on the parts. Preferably this sacrificial metal is one that oxidizes slowly and is readily dissolved by the liquid metal. The sacrificial metal may then be removed from unwanted areas. The remainder of the ring and the probe to be wet by the liquid metal are submerged in the liquid metal or the liquid metal is flushed over these areas, preferably while they are being slightly abraded, unitl all the sacrificial material on these portions is wet by the liquid metal. In doing so the liquid metal dissolves the sacrificial metal and permanently wets the parent metal. Preferred materials used in the process and for the electrodes of electrical contact devices are high purity (99.0%) nickel or AISI type 304 stainless steel for the electrical contact devices, gallium as the liquid metal, and gold as the sacrificial material.

Lovell, R. R.↗

NASA NTRS1977

Proceedings of the Spacecraft Charging Technology Conference

Over 50 papers from the spacecraft charging conference are included on subjects such as: (1) geosynchronous plasma environment, (2) spacecraft modeling, (3) spacecraft materials characterization, (4) spacecraft materials development, and (5) satellite design and test.

Pike, C. P.↗

NASA NTRS1977

Preliminary report on the CTS transient event counter performance through the 1976 spring eclipse season

The transient event counter is described, defining its operational characteristics, and presenting the preliminary results obtained through the first 90 days of operation including the Spring 1976 eclipse season. The results show that the CTS was charged to the point where discharges have occurred. The discharge induced transients have not caused any anomalous events in spacecraft operation. The data indicate that discharges can occur at any time during the day without preference to any local time quadrant. The number of discharges occurring in the 1 sec sample interval are greater than anticipated.

Stevens, N. J.↗

NASA NTRS1977

Provisional specification for satellite time in a geomagnetic environment

Satellites in geosynchronous orbit were experiencing operational anomalies. These anomalies are believed to be due to the environment charging the spacecraft surfaces to a point where discharges occur. In designing future satellites for long term operation at geosynchronous altitude, it is important that designers have a specification that will give the total time per year, the particle flux density and particle energies that their satellites can be expected to encounter in these substorm environmental conditions. The limited data currently available on the environmental conditions are used to generate the provisional specification given in this report.

Stevens, N. J.↗

NASA NTRS1976

Provisional specification for satellite time in a geomagnetic substorm environment

Satellites in geosynchronous orbit have been experiencing operational anomalies. These anomalies are believed to be due to the environment charging the spacecraft surfaces to a point where discharges occur. In designing future satellites for long term operation at geosynchronous altitude, it is important that designers have a specification that will give the total time per year, the particle flux density, and particle energies that their satellites can be expected to encounter in these substorm environmental conditions. The limited data currently available on the environmental conditions was used to generate the provisional specification given.

Stevens, N. J.↗

NASA NTRS1976

Spacecraft charging investigation - A joint research and technology program

A jointly planned U.S. Air Force-NASA program has been established to investigate the spacecraft charging phenomenon that has caused electronic anomalies in satellites in geosynchronous orbits. The objectives of this program are to provide design criteria, techniques, and test methods to insure control of absolute and differential charging of spacecraft surfaces. These objectives will be updated continuously over the next four years as data become available from the combined contractual and in-house programs. The geosynchronous altitude environment will be defined, ground and flight tests will be conducted, and materials and charge control techniques will be developed as required. The ultimate output of the program will be a spacecraft charging design criteria and test specification document. The program will be coordinated by a spacecraft charging program review group which has both Air Force and NASA representation.

Lovell, R. R.↗

NASA NTRS1975

Spacecraft charging investigation for the CTS project

Results to date are presented for a program of analytical and experimental investigations to assess the impact of discharge pulses from spacecraft surfaces in the joint Canadian-American Communications Technology Satellite (CTS). All insulator surfaces tested experienced visible discharges when subjected to an electron beam with energy greater than 10 keV. Discharge rate was found to be a function of current flux. The deployable solar array sample experienced discharges under bombardment from the cell or kapton side. There was no measurable cell performance degradation due to the discharges.

Stevens, N. J.↗

NASA NTRS1974

Very high voltage latching relay

Relay consists of high voltage reed switch actuated by rotating permanent magnet mounted on stepper motor shaft, with actuation assembly isolated from high voltage circuit. Unit can be modified for use as double pole or double pole double throw latching relay and can be used in either air or vacuum.

Lovell, R. R.↗

NASA NTRS1972

Choice of an ion engine for the Communications Technology Satellite.

The purpose of the spacecraft is to space qualify a number of components for the next generation of communications satellites. The state of development of ion thrusters has reached a point where at least three types of engine may be considered for integration on spacecraft. The proposed methods of stationkeeping require that the thruster operate with a duty cycle of somewhat less than 12 hours in a 24 hour period. Several possible mounting positions for the thrusters were considered during the conceptual design phase. It is concluded that an experimental ion thruster subsystem may be incorporated in the communication satellite and used to demonstrate, at a minimum, north-south stationkeeping of the spacecraft in synchronous orbit.

Payne, W. F.↗

NASA NTRS1972

The liquid metal slip ring experiment for the communications technology satellite

The experiment is designed to demonstrate liquid metal slip ring (LMSR) performance in a space environment. An evaluation was made of the features of the LMSR where improvement in performance over conventional slip rings was expected. The primary measurements to be made in the experiment will allow a determination of the slip ring electrical resistance, between ring insulation and ring cleanliness.

Lovell, R. R.↗