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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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At least 181 records · Page 10

Advancing Supersonic Retropropulsion Using Mars-Relevant Flight Data: An Overview

Advanced robotic and human missions to Mars require landed masses well in excess of current capabilities. One approach to safely land these large payloads on the Martian surface is to extend the propulsive capability currently required during subsonic descent to supersonic initiation velocities. However, until recently, no rocket engine had ever been fired into an opposing supersonic freestream. In September 2013, SpaceX performed the first supersonic retropropulsion (SRP) maneuver to decelerate the entry of the first stage of their Falcon 9 rocket. Since that flight, SpaceX has continued to perform SRP for the reentry of their vehicle first stage, having completed multiple SRP events in Mars-relevant conditions in July 2017. In FY 2014, NASA and SpaceX formed a three-year public-private partnership centered upon SRP data analysis. These activities focused on flight reconstruction, CFD analysis, a visual and infrared imagery campaign, and Mars EDL design analysis. This paper provides an overview of these activities undertaken to advance the technology readiness of Mars SRP.

Braun, Robert D.↗

NASA's Space Launch System: Progress Report

After more than four decades exploring the space environment from low Earth orbit and developing long-duration spaceflight operational experience with the International Space Station (ISS), NASA is once again preparing to send explorers into deep space. Development, test and manufacturing is now underway on the launch vehicle, the crew spacecraft and the ground processing and launch facilities to support human and robotic missions to the moon, Mars and the outer solar system. The enabling launch vehicle for these ambitious new missions is the Space Launch System (SLS), managed by NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC). Since the program began in 2011, the design has passed Critical Design Review, and extensive development, test and flight hardware has been produced by every major element of the SLS vehicle. Testing continues on engines, boosters, tanks and avionics. While the program has experienced engineering challenges typical of a new development, it continues to make steady progress toward the first SLS mission in roughly two years and a sustained cadence of missions thereafter. This paper will discuss these and other technical and SLS programmatic successes and challenges over the past year and provide a preview of work ahead before first flight.

Cook, Jerry↗

Adaptive Control Allocation for Powered Descent Vehicles

The following work details a study into real-time failure adaptive control allocation method for powered descent vehicle systems. The motivation for this work is to enable future human and robotic missions utilizing a powered descent system to tolerate engine failures in flight without the loss of crew or assets. This study is conducted using a six degree-of-freedom trajectory simulation of a PDV (Powered Descent Vehicle) experiencing either a loss of thrust or an engine stuck full on failure scenario. Sequential least squares in the frequency domain is used on-board to process inertial measurement unit (IMU) data and generate an estimate of the PDV plant model, which is then fed to the guidance and control system. Data used by the sequential least squares method is generated from an in-flight maneuver. The work herein focuses on determining a maneuver that is least impactful to the PDV trajectory and enables a suitable plant model estimate. A 1.5-second-long maneuver with an amplitude of 5 percent throttle is determined to provide suitable data for the sequential least squares method to estimate a plant model. A PDV implementing this method can adapt to a single engine failure and continue to reach its touchdown conditions.

Green, Justin S.↗

Probing Supraglacial Debris on Mars 1: Sources, Thickness, and Stratigraphy

Geomorphic and geophysical evidence supports a debris-covered glacier origin for a suite of landforms at themid-latitudes of Mars, including lobate debris aprons (LDA), lineated valley fill (LVF), and concentric crater fill (CCF). These large reservoirs of ice and their near-surface structure provide a rich record for understanding the planet's climate and history of global volatile exchange over the past billion years. LDA, LVF, and CCF are also potential sites for future robotic and human missions but the accessibility of glacial ice for direct sampling and in situ resource utilization depends largely on the geotechnical properties of the surface debris ("supraglacial debris"), including its thickness, grain sizes, and density structure. The physical properties of this supraglacial debris layer have been poorly constrained. We use images of morphology, digital elevation models, thermal inertia data, and radar sounding data to probe the near surface of LDA, LVF, and CCF in Deuteronilus Mensae in order to place constraints on the sources, grain sizes, thickness, and stratigraphy of supraglacial debris. We find evidence for at least a two-layer stratigraphy. Layered mantle consisting of atmospherically emplaced dust and ice superposes boulder-rich sediment sourced by rockfalls glacially transported downslope. High thermal inertia, boulder-rich termini and debris bands reminiscent of medial moraines are found throughout the study region, supporting a rockfall origin for at least a fraction of the debris exposed at the surface. This supraglacial debris layer would have thickened with time from sublimation of glacial ice and liberation of englacial sediment and dust. At present, the entire supraglacial debris package is a minimum of a few meters in thickness and is likely tens of meters in thickness in many locations, possibly thinning regionally at lower latitudes and locally thinning toward the headwalls. The lack of terracing or interior structures in craters formed within LDA, LVF, and CCF and the absence of near-surface reflectors in SHARAD radar data further suggest that no strong contrasts in

Supraglacial↗

Solar System Exploration Augmented by In-Situ Resource Utilization: Human Mercury and Saturn Exploration

Human and robotic missions to Mercury and Saturn are presented and analyzed. Unique elements of the local planetary environments are discussed and included in the analyses and assessments. Historical studies of space exploration, in-situ resource utilization (ISRU), and industrialization all point to the vastness of natural resources in the solar system. Advanced propulsion benefitted from these resources in many ways. While advanced propulsion systems were proposed in these historical studies, further investigation of nuclear options using high power nuclear thermal and nuclear pulse propulsion as well as advanced chemical propulsion can significantly enhance these scenarios. Updated analyses based on these historical visions will be presented. Nuclear thermal propulsion and ISRU enhanced chemical propulsion landers are assessed for Mercury missions. At Saturn, nuclear pulse propulsion with alternate propellant feed systems and Titan exploration with chemical propulsion options are discussed.

Palaszewski, Bryan A.↗

Tendon-Actuated Lightweight In-Space MANipulator (TALISMAN) Hinge Joint Structural Performance

The Tendon Actuated Lightweight In-Space MANipulator (TALISMAN), invented and initially developed under the Space Technology Mission Directorate Human Robotics Systems program, is a tendon-actuated robot that established a new structural architecture for long-reach space manipulators. The TALISMAN is designed to have significant stiffness and strength in the plane of the tendons or cables, and operations are designed such that all primary loads are applied in that same plane. However, during normal operations it is possible for out-of-plane forces to be applied on the TALISMAN when secondary loads are imparted by a tool or action at the wrist. These secondary loading conditions will induce out-of-plane bending loads in the TALISMAN hinge joints. The TALISMAN hinge joints must be designed for these out-of-plane loads, to ensure no failure of the joint occurs during operations. A series hinge joint out-of-plane stiffness tests were conducted at five different joint angles; at three cable pre-loads from 25-lbf to 100-lbf; up to an equivalent out-of-plane tip load of 27.28-lbf at the end of a 51-in. long distal link. The objective of the tests was to provide an initial set of deflection, cable load, and strain data to inform accurate modeling of the hinge joint out-of-plane stiffness. The test objective was achieved by developing an FEM of the hinge joint able to predict tip displacement to within 10% of values measured in tests. The hinge joint FEM may now be implemented into a full-scale analysis model of the TALISMAN V2.0 to provide predictions of out-of-plane displacement under different load and joint angle conditions.

Matthew K Mahlin↗

Radar Observations from the Haystack Ultrawideband Satellite Imaging Radar in 2019

The NASA Orbital Debris Program Office (ODPO) relies primarily on ground-based radar measurements to characterize the distribution of small debris, down to approximately 3 mm depending upon altitude and the sensor used, in low Earth orbit (LEO). Since the early 1990’s, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Lincoln Laboratory (LL) has been collecting radar measurements for the NASA ODPO under agreements with the U.S. Department of Defense. The Haystack Ultrawideband Satellite Imaging Radar (HUSIR) is the primary ground-based radar sensor used by the ODPO and provides data on orbital debris down to an approximate size of 5.5 mm below 1000km altitude using the NASA size estimation model (SEM). Since orbital debris of this size are a significant risk to both human and robotic missions in LEO, the sensitivity of this radar makes it a high-value sensor. The NASA ODPO radar measurements are conducted on a continual basis for monitoring and enabling modeling of the orbital debris environment over time. HUSIR observations from 2019 are the most recent snapshot of the environment that has been measured and analyzed to date. In recent years, HUSIR measurements indicated relatively stable populations for the orbital debris objects that it is able to detect. In 2019, several interesting events happened on-orbit, including the start of large constellation deployments into LEO, as well as the Indian anti-satellite test with Microsat-R (International Designator 2019-006A, U.S. Strategic Command Space Surveillance Network catalog number 43947). Due to these events, coupled with a general increase in the number of missions and participants launching missions in recent years, continual monitoring is necessary to determine the effects of this increased activity on the orbital debris environment. This paper will explore the results of the 2019 HUSIR radar measurements, including above-average flux measurements at lower LEO altitudes and the evolution of the flux during the time of observations.

James Murray↗

Goldstone Orbital Debris Radar: A Historical Review from a Decade of Observations (2007 – 2017)

The NASA Orbital Debris Program Office (ODPO) has utilized the Goldstone bistatic radar since the early1990’s to statistically characterize the low Earth orbit(LEO) sub-centimeter population. The radar provides a unique capability to detect orbital debris population sizes down to an approximate size of 3 mm for altitudes less than 1000 km, and even smaller sizes at lower altitudes. Due to the limited number of hours that are available from this radar each year, it is often used to validate measurements obtained by other radar data sources in the range of orbital debris sizes where the radar systems have an overlap. Additionally, the Goldstone radar provides significantly improved sensitivity than is available from other ground-based radar data sources, which enables it to observe orbital debris populations that, although smaller, still represent a significant risk to both robotic and human missions in LEO. Over the decade of observations from 2007 to2017, a number of significant on-orbit events have occurred including the anti-satellite test againstFengyun-1C, and the accidental collision between Cosmos 2251 and Iridium 33. The orbital debris flux as measured by the Goldstone radar over this important time period is reviewed in this paper, as well as the evolution of the environment over the ensuing years since these events. In addition, the measurements provided by this radar in the years prior to the deployment of large constellations into the environment, as well as the significant increase in missions and mission participants in recent years, is of interest since it provides a baseline for monitoring the effects of these and other changes in the coming years. In 2018, the Goldstone bistatic orbital debris radar pointing geometry changed due to the decommissioning of the nearby receiver antenna, Deep Space Station (DSS) 15, located approximately 500 m from the transmitter antenna. The historical combination of the DSS-14 transmitter and DSS-15receiver enabled all of LEO to be observed using a single pointing due to the close proximity of the two antenna stations and the resulting beam overlap of the bistatic radar geometry. The updated bistatic Goldstone geometry, following the decommissioning of DSS-15,utilizes one of the pair of DSS-25 or DSS-26 antennas that are located approximately 10 km from the transmitter station. The resulting beam overlap with this pointing is such that in LEO, only a small fraction of LEO altitude coverage is observable at one time. Given the operational change of the radar, it is of interest to review the data collected by the original Goldstone bistatic radar over the final decade preceding this change.

Rossina Miller↗

In-Situ Navigation and Timing Services for the Human Mars Landing Site Part 1: System Concept

In [1] and [2], we introduce a new geometric trilateration method that simultaneously performs absolute positioning and relative positioning. The relative position is derived from a “differencing” function of two raw-range measurements between a known reference point and of the target from a navigation satellite, thereby eliminating most of the common errors like atmospheric delays, ephemeris errors, and instrument delays in real-time. In the Mars environment this “error-cancellation” function greatly reduces the need to perform extensive orbit determination (OD) of the navigation satellites like the Earth’s GPS, and only requires occasional tracks from the Earth’s large-aperture deep space antennas to perform OD’s. Leveraging on this scheme, we propose a low-cost, low-maintenance regional navigation satellite system architecture that provides in-situ navigation and timing services for robotic and human missions in the vicinity of a Mars landing site. This architecture is built upon the proposed Mars relay network infrastructure, and a number of notional Mars orbiting and surface missions in the human exploration era of Mars. We assume two areostationary Mars relay orbiters that have continuous line-of-sight visibility with the Mars landing site, a Deep Space Habitat (DSH) in an inclined 48-hour circular orbit, and a surface communication lander that could serve as the reference point. These orbiting and surface infrastructure elements broadcast GPS-like ranging signals and other ephemeris information to the mission users. With one or more additional orbiters in areosynchronous orbits that trace around a figure-8 path, a regional navigation satellite system can be realized that provides in-situ course absolute localization and precision relative localization and timing services to the users in the vicinity of a Mars landing site. This paper describes the system concept of the proposed Mars regional navigation satellite system.

Lee, Charles↗

Simultaneous Two-Way Doppler and Ranging for Multiple Spacecraft at Mars: Flight Radio Tracking System Design and Performance Simulations

Mars exploration requires multiple orbiters and surface infrastructures on Mars. Location determination is essential to support various human and robotic activities on the Mars surface and in orbits. Robust communication coverage is required for data transmission between assets on Mars surface and orbiters in addition to the communication between orbiters and Earth. We proposed a notional Mars Regional Navigation Satellite System (MRNSS) that provides continuous or near-continuous in-situ navigation and timing services for the robotic and human missions in the vicinity of a Mars landing site. For such a system, the Earth’s deep space stations have to perform orbit determination (OD) for the Mars orbiters so that their locations are known to a reasonable degree of accuracy. This provides the surface and orbiting user vehicles the ability to estimate their locations using the orbiter-vehicle range measurements. Two important inputs for accurate OD are 2-way Doppler and ranging measurements derived from the transmitted and received radio signals. We also introduced a new flight-ground collaborative architecture that provides simultaneous Doppler and ranging measurements for multiple spacecraft in the Mars vicinity, using an example of the Mars landing site Utopia Planitia and four Mars orbiters, all communicating with Earth via twoway communications in the X-band frequency range. One key component of this architecture is that each spacecraft uses a smart frequency sweeping algorithm that acquires and tracks the uplink signals with high Doppler and Doppler rate residuals. In this paper, we simulate the Doppler and Doppler rate profiles of the Mars orbiters of the MRNSS and assessed the acquisition and tracking performances.

Divsalar, Dariush↗

Radar Observations from the Haystack Ultrawideband Satellite Imaging Radar in 2019

The NASA Orbital Debris Program Office (ODPO) relies primarily on ground-based radar measurements to characterize the distribution of small debris, down to approximately 3 mm depending upon altitude and the sensor used, in low Earth orbit (LEO). Since the early 1990’s, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Lincoln Laboratory (LL) has been collecting radar measurements for the NASA ODPO under agreements with the U.S. Department of Defense. The Haystack Ultrawideband Satellite Imaging Radar (HUSIR) is the primary ground-based radar sensor used by the ODPO and provides data on orbital debris down to an approximate size of 5.5 mm below 1000km altitude using the NASA size estimation model (SEM). Since orbital debris of this size are a significant risk to both human and robotic missions in LEO, the sensitivity of this radar makes it a high-value sensor. The NASA ODPO radar measurements are conducted on a continual basis for monitoring and enabling modeling of the orbital debris environment over time. HUSIR observations from 2019 are the most recent snapshot of the environment that has been measured and analyzed to date. In recent years, HUSIR measurements indicated relatively stable populations for the orbital debris objects that it is able to detect. In 2019, several interesting events happened on-orbit, including the start of large constellation deployments into LEO, as well as the Indian anti-satellite test with Microsat-R (International Designator 2019-006A, U.S. Strategic Command Space Surveillance Network catalog number 43947). Due to these events, coupled with a general increase in the number of missions and participants launching missions in recent years, continual monitoring is necessary to determine the effects of this increased activity on the orbital debris environment. This paper will explore the results of the 2019 HUSIR radar measurements, including above-average flux measurements at lower LEO altitudes and the evolution of the flux during the time of observations.

James Murray↗

Phasing in COTS EEE parts in NASA

A number of activities within NASA and the space community, as well as growing technology needs and supply chain changes have accelerated the need to expand the use of COTS parts within NASA. While the use of COTS has been formally institutionalized and deemed acceptable for Class D space missions and those with greater tolerance for risk, there is still a lack of understanding of how to most effectively use COTS in such high risk-tolerance missions, and no apparent path towards broad use in missions with much less tolerance for risk. However, the reality is that the fundamental limitations of technology associated with the military specification system combined with the need to fly newer technologies in upcoming flagship robotic missions and human space flight missions will ultimately demand a more expansive use of COTS. The infinite nature of COTS gives rise to numerous challenges in the selection, acceptance, testing, and usage of COTS when reliable operation is essential. This presentation will highlight some of the current artifacts of a NASA Engineering and Safety Center (NESC) study on the use of COTS parts, as well as many of the historical through current facts about parts assurance within Agency to provide a path forward for reliable use of COTS for a range of space applications and risk postures.

EEE parts↗

Overview of NASA's RESOURCE (Resource Exploration and Science of OUR Cosmic Environment) Project

The RESOURCE(Resource Exploration and Science of OUR Cosmic Environment) project is supported by NASA’s SSERVI (Solar System Exploration Research Virtual Institute) and is led by Principal Investigator (PI) Dr. Jennifer L. Heldmann and Deputy PIs Dr. Matthew Deans and Dr. Alexander Sehlke at NASA Ames Research Center. RESOURCE is focused on enabling In Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU) near the sites of robotic and/or human missions to enable sustainable and affordable exploration of the Moon and near-Earth objects (NEOs). This year RESOURCE has supported the development of a summary of the current state of knowledge regarding lunar polar volatiles as well as a comprehensive catalog and analysis of NEOs. RESOURCE is developing advanced mission capabilities to enable rapid, collaborative operations for lunar resource exploration missions. Hardware testing has been conducted to evaluate potential contaminants released during lunar polar regolith heating. Volatiles and particulates are the two sources of contamination that will affect the requirements of a water cleanup system, and RESOURCE research has identified the requirement for filtration prior to electrolysis for ISRU. RESOURCE also supports development of next-generation planetary drilling systems with integrated instrumentation within the drill. RESOURCE is also deeply committed to sustained efforts to engage educators, students, and broadening participation among under represented groups, and has partnered with Howard University in Washington, DC to foster minoritized students’ interest in STEAMD (science, technology, engineering, arts, math, design) careers through direct and virtual experiences with NASA Subject Matter Experts.

Jennifer L Heldmann↗

Phasing COTS Part Into Low-Risk-Tolerant Missions

A number of activities within NASA and the space community, as well as growing technology needs and supply chain changes have accelerated the need to expand the use of COTS parts within NASA. While the use of COTS has been formally institutionalized and deemed acceptable for Class D space missions and those with greater tolerance for risk, there is still a lack of understanding of how to most effectively use COTS in such high risk-tolerance missions, and no apparent path towards broad use in missions with much less tolerance for risk. However, the reality is that the fundamental limitations of technology associated with the military specification system combined with the need to fly newer technologies in upcoming flagship robotic missions and human space flight missions will ultimately demand a more expansive use of COTS. The infinite nature of COTS gives rise to numerous challenges in the selection, acceptance, testing, and usage of COTS when reliable operation is essential. This presentation will highlight some of the results of a NASA Engineering and Safety Center (NESC) study on the use of COTS parts, as well as many of the historical through current facts about parts assurance within Agency to provide a path forward for reliable use of COTS for a range of space applications and risk postures. In addition this presentation will dispel the myth that expanded use of COTS parts causes a new set of radiation threats to missions.

COTS↗

Phasing COTS Part Into Low-Risk-Tolerant Missions

A number of activities within NASA and the space community, as well as growing technology needs and supply chain changes have accelerated the need to expand the use of COTS parts within NASA. While the use of COTS has been formally institutionalized and deemed acceptable for Class D space missions and those with greater tolerance for risk, there is still a lack of understanding of how to most effectively use COTS in such high risk-tolerance missions, and no apparent path towards broad use in missions with much less tolerance for risk. However, the reality is that the fundamental limitations of technology associated with the military specification system combined with the need to fly newer technologies in upcoming flagship robotic missions and human space flight missions will ultimately demand a more expansive use of COTS. The infinite nature of COTS gives rise to numerous challenges in the selection, acceptance, testing, and usage of COTS when reliable operation is essential. This presentation will highlight some of the results of a NASA Engineering and Safety Center (NESC) study on the use of COTS parts, as well as many of the historical through current facts about parts assurance within Agency to provide a path forward for reliable use of COTS for a range of space applications and risk postures. In addition this presentation will dispel the myth that expanded use of COTS parts causes a new set of radiation threats to missions.

COTS↗

What Machines Need to Learn to Support Human Problem-Solving

In the development of intelligent systems that interact with humans, there is often confusion between how the system functions with respect to the humans it interacts with and how it interfaces with those humans. The former is a much deeper challenge than the latter it requires a system-level understanding of evolving human roles as well as an understanding of what humans need to know (and when) in order to perform their tasks. This talk will focus on some of the challenges in getting this right as well as on the type of research and development that results in successful human-autonomy teaming. Brief Bio: Dr. Alonso Vera is Chief of the Human Systems Integration Division at NASA Ames Research Center. His expertise is in human-computer interaction, information systems, artificial intelligence, and computational human performance modeling. He has led the design, development and deployment of mission software systems across NASA robotic and human space flight missions, including Mars Exploration Rovers, Phoenix Mars Lander, ISS, Constellation, and Exploration Systems. Dr. Vera received a Bachelor of Science with First Class Honors from McGill University in 1985 and a Ph.D. from Cornell University in 1991. He went on to a Post-Doctoral Fellowship in the School of Computer Science at Carnegie Mellon University from 1990-93.

intelligent systems↗

ISECG Mission Scenarios and Their Role in Informing Next Steps for Human Exploration Beyond Low Earth Orbit

The International Space Exploration Coordination Group (ISECG) was established in response to The Global Exploration Strategy (GES): The Framework for Coordination developed by fourteen space agencies* and released in May 2007. This GES Framework Document recognizes that preparing for human space exploration is a stepwise process, starting with basic knowledge and culminating in a sustained human presence in deep space. ISECG has developed several optional global exploration mission scenarios enabling the phased transition from human operations in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) and utilization of the International Space Station (ISS) to human missions beyond LEO leading ultimately to human missions to cis-lunar space, the Moon, Near Earth Asteroids, Mars and its environs. Mission scenarios provide the opportunity for judging various exploration approaches in a manner consistent with agreed international goals and strategies. Each ISECG notional mission scenario reflects a series of coordinated human and robotic exploration missions over a 25-year horizon. Mission scenarios are intended to provide insights into next steps for agency investments, following on the success of the ISS. They also provide a framework for advancing the definition of Design Reference Missions (DRMs) and the concepts for capabilities contained within. Each of the human missions contained in the scenarios has been characterized by a DRM which is a top level definition of mission sequence and the capabilities needed to execute that mission. While DRMs are generally destination focused, they will comprise capabilities which are reused or evolved from capabilities used at other destinations. In this way, an evolutionary approach to developing a robust set of capabilities to sustainably explore our solar system is defined. Agencies also recognize that jointly planning for our next steps, building on the accomplishments of ISS, is important to ensuring the robustness and sustainability of any human exploration plan. Developing a shared long-term vision is important, but agencies recognize this is an evolutionary process and requires consideration of many strategic factors. Strategic factors such as the implications of an emerging commercial space industry in LEO, the opportunity provided by extending ISS lifetime to at least 2020, and the importance of defining a plan which is sustainable in light of inevitable domestic policy shifts are timely for agency consideration.

Culbert, Christopher J.↗

Integration of Planetary Protection Activities

Research and activities under this grant have focused on a systematic examination and analysis of critical questions likely to impact planetary protection (PP) controls and implementation for Mars sample return missions (MSR). Four areas in the non-scientific and social realms were selected for special attention because of their importance to future mission planning and concern about critical timing or possible economic impacts on MSR mission implementation. These include: (1) questions of legal uncertainty and the decision making process, (2) public perception of risks associated with sample return, (3) risk communication and Education/Public Outreach , and (4) planetary protection implications of alternative mission architectures, for both robotic and human sample return missions. In its entirety, NAG 2-986 has encompassed three categories of activity: (1) research and analysis (Race), (2) subcontracted research (MacGregor/Decision Research), and (3) consulting services.

Race, Margaret S.↗