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SanSoucie, Michael

Publications and source records attributed to SanSoucie, Michael.

At least 19 records

Electrostatic Levitation for Studies of Additive Manufacturing Materials for Extreme Environments

The electrostatic levitation (ESL) laboratory at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) is a national resource for researchers developing advanced materials for new technologies. Researchers have used MSFC's ESL Laboratory to develop advanced high-temperature materials for aerospace applications, coatings and structural materials for rocket nozzles, improved medical and industrial optics, metallic glasses, ablatives for reentry vehicles, and materials with memory. Modeling of additive manufacturing materials for extreme environments is necessary for the control of their resulting materials properties. Unfortunately, there is very little materials properties data for many additive manufacturing materials, especially of the materials in the liquid state. The MSFC ESL lab is ideal for the study of additive manufacturing materials to be used in extreme environments. The lab can provide density, surface tension, and viscosity of molten materials, emissivity measurements, and even creep strength measurements.

SanSoucie, Michael

Electrostatic Levitation of ZBLAN and Chalcogenide Glasses

Heavy Metal Fluoride Glasses have been studied for approximately 35 years. ZrF4-BaF BaF2-LaF3-AlF3-NaF (ZBLAN) showed the most promise as an optical fiber. It transmits IR out to approximately 5 microns. Applications: fiber amplifiers, lasers and nuclear radiation resistant links. Intrinsic and Extrinsic processes limit light propagation; Intrinsic: band gap absorption, Rayleigh scatter and multiphonon absorption; Extrinsic: impurities such as rare-earth ions and crystallite formation. Theoretical loss coefficient is 0.001 dB/km. This loss has not been achieved to date due to intrinsic and extrinsic processes. ZBLAN fibers obtained from Infrared Focal Systems, Inc. and Bell Laboratories. Fibers were stripped of coating and placed in evacuated quartz ampoules. These fibers were first flown on NASA’s KC135 Reduced Gravity Aircraft. KC135 produces approximately 25 sec. of reduced gravity per parabola. One week of flights led to approximately 200 total parabolas. Fibers were heated to the crystallization temperature during reduced gravity and compared to unit gravity for the same amount of time. Fibers were also flown on board the Conquest sub-orbital rocket. This flight gave approximately 6.5 minutes of reduced gravity.

Tucker, Dennis S.

Simulated Space Environmental Effects on Thin Film Solar Array Components

The Lightweight Integrated Solar Array and Transceiver (LISA-T) experiment consists of thin-film, low mass, low volume solar panels. Given the variety of thin solar cells and cover materials and the lack of environmental protection typically afforded by thick coverglasses, a series of tests were conducted in Marshall Space Flight Center's Space Environmental Effects Facility to evaluate the performance of these materials. Candidate thin polymeric films and nitinol wires used for deployment were also exposed. Simulated space environment exposures were selected based on SSP 30425 rev. B, "Space Station Program Natural Environment Definition for Design" or AIAA Standard S-111A-2014, "Qualification and Quality Requirements for Space Solar Cells." One set of candidate materials were exposed to 5 eV atomic oxygen and concurrent vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) radiation for low Earth orbit simulation. A second set of materials were exposed to 1 MeV electrons. A third set of samples were exposed to 50, 100, 500, and 700 keV energy protons, and a fourth set were exposed to >2,000 hours of near ultraviolet (NUV) radiation. A final set was rapidly thermal cycled between -55 and +125 C. This test series provides data on enhanced power generation, particularly for small satellites with reduced mass and volume resources. Performance versus mass and cost per Watt is discussed.

Finckenor, Miria

Simulated Space Environmental Effects on Thin Film Solar Array Components

The Lightweight Integrated Solar Array and Transceiver (LISA-T) experiment consists of thin-film, low mass, low volume solar panels. Given the variety of thin solar cells and cover materials and the lack of environmental protection afforded by typical thick coverglasses, a series of tests were conducted in Marshall Space Flight Center's Space Environmental Effects Facility to evaluate the performance of these materials. Candidate thin polymeric films and nitinol wires used for deployment were also exposed. Simulated space environment exposures were selected based on SSP 30425 rev. B, "Space Station Program Natural Environment Definition for Design" or AIAA Standard S-111A-2014, "Qualification and Quality Requirements for Space Solar Cells." One set of candidate materials were exposed to 5 eV atomic oxygen and concurrent vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) radiation for low Earth orbit simulation. A second set of materials were exposed to 1 MeV electrons. A third set of samples were exposed to 50, 500, and 750 keV energy protons, and a fourth set were exposed to >2,000 hours of ultraviolet radiation. A final set was rapidly thermal cycled between -50 and +120 C. This test series provides data on enhanced power generation, particularly for small satellites with reduced mass and volume resources. Performance versus mass and cost per Watt is discussed.

Finckenor, Miria

Simulated Space Environmental Effects on Thin Film Solar Array Components

The Lightweight Integrated Solar Array and Transceiver (LISA-T) experiment consists of thin-film, low mass, low volume solar panels. Given the variety of thin solar cells and cover materials and the lack of environmental protection typically afforded by thick coverglasses, a series of tests were conducted in Marshall Space Flight Center's Space Environmental Effects Facility to evaluate the performance of these materials. Candidate thin polymeric films and nitinol wires used for deployment were also exposed. Simulated space environment exposures were selected based on SSP 30425 rev. B, "Space Station Program Natural Environment Definition for Design" or AIAA Standard S-111A-2014, "Qualification and Quality Requirements for Space Solar Cells." One set of candidate materials were exposed to 5 eV atomic oxygen and concurrent vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) radiation for low Earth orbit simulation. A second set of materials were exposed to 1 MeV electrons. A third set of samples were exposed to 50, 100, 500, and 700 keV energy protons, and a fourth set were exposed to >2,000 hours of near ultraviolet (NUV) radiation. A final set was rapidly thermal cycled between -55 and +125degC. This test series provides data on enhanced power generation, particularly for small satellites with reduced mass and volume resources. Performance versus mass and cost per Watt is discussed.

Finckenor, Miria

The Lightweight Integrated Solar Array and Transceiver (LISA-T): Second Generation Advancements and the Future of SmallSat Power Generation

This paper describes the second generation advancements of the Lightweight Integrated Solar Array and Transceiver (LISA-T) currently being developed at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center. LISA-T is a launch stowed, orbit deployed array on which thin-film photovoltaic and antenna elements are embedded. Inherently, small satellites are limited in surface area, volume, and mass allocation; driving competition between power, communications, and GN&C (guidance navigation and control) subsystems. This restricts payload capability and limits the value of these low-cost satellites. LISA-T is addressing this issue, deploying large-area arrays from a reduced volume and mass envelope - greatly enhancing power generation and communications capabilities of small spacecraft. A matrix of options are in development, including planar (pointed) and omnidirectional (non-pointed) arrays. The former is seeking the highest performance possible while the latter is seeking GN&C simplicity. In both cases, power generation ranges from tens of watts to several hundred with an expected specific power >250W/kg and a stowed power density >200kW/m(sub 3). Options for leveraging both high performance, 'typical cost' triple junction thin-film solar cells as well as moderate performance, low cost cells are being developed. Alongside, both UHF (ultra high frequency) and S-band antennas are being integrated into the array to move their space claim away from the spacecraft and open the door for omnidirectional communications and electronically steered phase arrays.

Carr, John A.

Advancements of the Lightweight Integrated Solar Array and Transceiver (LISA-T) Small Spacecraft System

This paper describes recent advancements of the Lightweight Integrated Solar Array and Transceiver (LISA-T) currently being developed at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center. The LISA-T array comprises a launch stowed, orbit deployed structure on which thin-film photovoltaic (PV) and antenna devices are embedded. The system provides significant electrical power generation at low weights, high stowage efficiency, and without the need for solar tracking. Leveraging high-volume terrestrial-market PVs also gives the potential for lower array costs. LISA-T is addressing the power starvation epidemic currently seen by many small-scale satellites while also enabling the application of deployable antenna arrays. Herein, an overview of the system and its applications are presented alongside sub-system development progress and environmental testing plans/initial results.

Russell, Tiffany