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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
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NASA NTRS2012

NASA Tech Briefs, August 2012

Topics covered include: Mars Science Laboratory Drill; Ultra-Compact Motor Controller; A Reversible Thermally Driven Pump for Use in a Sub-Kelvin Magnetic Refrigerator; Shape Memory Composite Hybrid Hinge; Binding Causes of Printed Wiring Assemblies with Card-Loks; Coring Sample Acquisition Tool; Joining and Assembly of Bulk Metallic Glass Composites Through Capacitive Discharge; 670-GHz Schottky Diode-Based Subharmonic Mixer with CPW Circuits and 70-GHz IF; Self-Nulling Lock-in Detection Electronics for Capacitance Probe Electrometer; Discontinuous Mode Power Supply; Optimal Dynamic Sub-Threshold Technique for Extreme Low Power Consumption for VLSI; Hardware for Accelerating N-Modular Redundant Systems for High-Reliability Computing; Blocking Filters with Enhanced Throughput for X-Ray Microcalorimetry; High-Thermal-Conductivity Fabrics; Imidazolium-Based Polymeric Materials as Alkaline Anion-Exchange Fuel Cell Membranes; Electrospun Nanofiber Coating of Fiber Materials: A Composite Toughening Approach; Experimental Modeling of Sterilization Effects for Atmospheric Entry Heating on Microorganisms; Saliva Preservative for Diagnostic Purposes; Hands-Free Transcranial Color Doppler Probe; Aerosol and Surface Parameter Retrievals for a Multi-Angle, Multiband Spectrometer LogScope; TraceContract; AIRS Maps from Space Processing Software; POSTMAN: Point of Sail Tacking for Maritime Autonomous Navigation; Space Operations Learning Center; OVERSMART Reporting Tool for Flow Computations Over Large Grid Systems; Large Eddy Simulation (LES) of Particle-Laden Temporal Mixing Layers; Projection of Stabilized Aerial Imagery Onto Digital Elevation Maps for Geo-Rectified and Jitter-Free Viewing; Iterative Transform Phase Diversity: An Image-Based Object and Wavefront Recovery; 3D Drop Size Distribution Extrapolation Algorithm Using a Single Disdrometer; Social Networking Adapted for Distributed Scientific Collaboration; General Methodology for Designing Spacecraft Trajectories; Hemispherical Field-of-View Above-Water Surface Imager for Submarines; and Quantum-Well Infrared Photodetector (QWIP) Focal Plane Assembly.

Source record↗
NASA NTRS2013

Space Communication and Navigation SDR Testbed, Overview and Opportunity for Experiments

NASA has developed an experimental flight payload (referred to as the Space Communication and Navigation (SCAN) Test Bed) to investigate software defined radio (SDR) communications, networking, and navigation technologies, operationally in the space environment. The payload consists of three software defined radios each compliant to NASAs Space Telecommunications Radio System Architecture, a common software interface description standard for software defined radios. The software defined radios are new technology developments underway by NASA and industry partners launched in 2012. The payload is externally mounted to the International Space Station truss to conduct experiments representative of future mission capability. Experiment operations include in-flight reconfiguration of the SDR waveform functions and payload networking software. The flight system will communicate with NASAs orbiting satellite relay network, the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System at both S-band and Ka-band and to any Earth-based compatible S-band ground station. The system is available for experiments by industry, academia, and other government agencies to participate in the SDR technology assessments and standards advancements.

Reinhart, Richard C.↗
NASA NTRS2013

Highly Automated Arrival Management and Control System Suitable for Early NextGen

This is a presentation of previously published work conducted in the development of the Terminal Area Precision Scheduling and Spacing (TAPSS) system. Included are concept and technical descriptions of the TAPSS system and results from human in the loop simulations conducted at Ames Research Center. The Terminal Area Precision Scheduling and Spacing system has demonstrated through research and extensive high-fidelity simulation studies to have benefits in airport arrival throughput, supporting efficient arrival descents, and enabling mixed aircraft navigation capability operations during periods of high congestion. NASA is currently porting the TAPSS system into the FAA TBFM and STARS system prototypes to ensure its ability to operate in the FAA automation Infrastructure. NASA ATM Demonstration Project is using the the TAPSS technologies to provide the ground-based automation tools to enable airborne Interval Management (IM) capabilities. NASA and the FAA have initiated a Research Transition Team to enable potential TAPSS and IM Technology Transfer.

Swenson, Harry N.↗
NASA NTRS2013

Space Communication and Navigation Testbed Communications Technology for Exploration

NASA developed and launched an experimental flight payload (referred to as the Space Communication and Navigation Test Bed) to investigate software defined radio, networking, and navigation technologies, operationally in the space environment. The payload consists of three software defined radios each compliant to NASAs Space Telecommunications Radio System Architecture, a common software interface description standard for software defined radios. The software defined radios are new technology developed by NASA and industry partners. The payload is externally mounted to the International Space Station truss and available to NASA, industry, and university partners to conduct experiments representative of future mission capability. Experiment operations include in-flight reconfiguration of the SDR waveform functions and payload networking software. The flight system communicates with NASAs orbiting satellite relay network, the Tracking, Data Relay Satellite System at both S-band and Ka-band and to any Earth-based compatible S-band ground station.

Reinhart, Richard↗
NASA NTRS2014

Spacecraft Trajectory Analysis and Mission Planning Simulation (STAMPS) Software

STAMPS simulates either three- or six-degree-of-freedom cases for all spacecraft flight phases using translated HAL flight software or generic GN&C models. Single or multiple trajectories can be simulated for use in optimization and dispersion analysis. It includes math models for the vehicle and environment, and currently features a "C" version of shuttle onboard flight software. The STAMPS software is used for mission planning and analysis within ascent/descent, rendezvous, proximity operations, and navigation flight design areas.

Puckett, Nancy↗
NASA NTRS2016

MONTE's Client-Based Trajectory Propagation Architecture

The Mission Analysis, Operations, and Navigation Toolkit Environment (MONTE) is JPL's (Jet Propulsion Laboratory's) signature astrodynamic computing platform. It supports all phases of space mission development, from early stage mission design and analysis through flight navigation services. MONTE employs a client-based trajectory propagation architecture where accelerations are calculated in the main MONTE library and the integrator exists on the periphery as a client. This paper outlines this approach to a trajectory propagation system and provides a concrete set of examples showing its utility.

Smith, Jonathan↗
NASA NTRS2019

Navigating MarCO, the first interplanetary CubeSats

The NASA’s Mars Cube One (MarCO) probes are twin 6U CubeSats that were launched into space on May 5, 2018. The MarCOs shared a launch vehicle with NASA’s InSight mission, separating from the Atlas V Centaur upper stage after InSight. The MarCOs were injected into an Earth-Mars transfer trajectory and were independently navigated to the proximity of Mars. On 26 November, 2018 the MarCO probes flew by Mars as the InSight lander descended to the surface, providing real-time relay of InSight UHF data back to the Earth. This paper describes the approaches used to design the MarCOs’ trajectories and to navigate them to Mars, presenting the challenges of navigating and operating CubeSats in deep space, and the technological firsts achieved by the MarCO mission.

Young, Brian↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

The NASA Solar Cruiser Mission - Solar Sail Propulsion Enabling Heliophysics Missions

Solar Cruiser is a Small Satellite Technology Demonstration Mission (TDM) to mature solar sail propulsion technology to enable near-term, high-priority breakthrough science missions as defined in the Solar and Space Physics Decadal Survey. Solar sails have the potential to provide high ΔV for many types of missions. Solar sails are large, mirror-like structures made of a lightweight material that reflects sunlight to propel the spacecraft. The continuous solar photon pressure provides thrust with no need for the heavy, expendable propellants used by conventional chemical and electric propulsion systems. Solar Cruiser will demonstrate a “sailcraft” platform with pointing control and attitude stability comparable to traditional platforms, upon which a new class of Heliophysics missions may fly. It will show sailcraft operation (acceleration, navigation, station keeping, heliocentric plane change) scalability of sail technologies such as the boom, membrane, and deployer to enable more demanding missions, such as high inclination solar imaging. Solar Cruiser will launch as a secondary payload with NASA’s Interstellar Mapping and Acceleration Probe (IMAP) in early 2025. The sailcraft will separate from the launch vehicle on a near-L1 trajectory (Sun-Earth Lagrangian Point 1; sunward of L1 along the Sun-Earth Line) and complete its primary mission in 11 months or less.

Solar Sail↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

NASA Small Spacecraft Technology Program

NASA's Small Spacecraft Technology Program will discuss the objectives, accomplishments, and current status of the Cislunar Autonomous Positioning System Technology Operations and Navigation Experiment (CAPSTONE) mission using the backdrop of CAPSTONE's instance in NASA's Eyes. Tools developed for use by mission planners and small spacecraft designers will be presented by NASA's Small Spacecraft System Virtual Institute.

Elwood F Agasid↗
NASA NTRS1984

Simulation and analysis of differential GPS

NASA is conducting a research program to evaluate differential Global Positioning System (GPS) concepts for civil helicopter navigation. It is pointed out that the civil helicopter community will probably be an early user of GPS because of the unique mission operations in areas where precise navigation aids are not available. However, many of these applications involve accuracy requirements which cannot be satisfied by conventional GPS. Such applications include remote area search and rescue, offshore oil platform approach, remote area precision landing, and other precise navigation operations. Differential GPS provides a promising approach for meeting very demanding accuracy requirements. The considered procedure eliminates some of the common bias errors experienced by conventional GPS. This is done by making use of a second GPS receiver. A simulation process is developed as a tool for analyzing various scenarios of GPS-referenced civil aircraft navigation.

Denaro, R. P.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Application of differential GPS to civil helicopter terminal guidance

NASA is conducting a research program to evaluate differential Global Positioning System (GPS) concepts for civil helicopter navigation. It is pointed out that the civil helicopter community will probably be an early user of GPS because of the unique mission operations in areas where precise navigation aids are not available. Applications with very demanding accuracy requirements are related to remote area search and rescue, offshore oil platform approach, remote area precision landing, and other precise navigation operations. Differential GPS appears to provide a solution for meeting the accuracy requirements involved in the considered operations. The present investigation is concerned with results obtained in three areas studied in connection with the conducted research program. Attention is given to mission-tailored satellite selection, a satellite selection algorithm concept, satellite selection algorithm simulation results, and differential GPS ground station design.

Denaro, R. P.↗
NASA NTRS1974

Navigation and guidance requirements for commercial VTOL operations

The NASA Langley Research Center (LaRC) has undertaken a research program to develop the navigation, guidance, control, and flight management technology base needed by Government and industry in establishing systems design concepts and operating procedures for VTOL short-haul transportation systems in the 1980s time period. The VALT (VTOL Automatic Landing Technology) Program encompasses the investigation of operating systems and piloting techniques associated with VTOL operations under all-weather conditions from downtown vertiports; the definition of terminal air traffic and airspace requirements; and the development of avionics including navigation, guidance, controls, and displays for automated takeoff, cruise, and landing operations. The program includes requirements analyses, design studies, systems development, ground simulation, and flight validation efforts.

Hoffman, W. C.↗
NASA NTRS1978

Operational requirements for flight control and navigation systems for short haul transport aircraft

To provide a background for evaluating advanced STOL systems concepts, a number of short haul and STOL airline operations in the United States and one operation in Canada were studied. A study of flight director operational procedures for an advanced STOL research airplane, the Augmented Wing Jet STOL Research Airplane, was conducted using the STOLAND simulation facility located at the Ames Changes to the advanced digital flight control system (STOLAND) installed in the Augmentor Wing Airplane are proposed to improve the mode sequencing to simplify pilot procedures and reduce pilot workload.

Morrison, J. A.↗
NASA NTRS1973

Lunar Roving Vehicle Navigation System Performance Review

The design and operation of the lunar roving vehicle (LRV) navigation system are briefly described. The basis for the premission LRV navigation error analysis is explained and an example included. The real time mission support operations philosophy is presented. The LRV navigation system operation and accuracy during the lunar missions are evaluated.

Smith, Earnest C.↗
NASA NTRS1978

Retransmission of hydrometric data in Canada

The author has identified the following significant results. The LANDSAT program has demonstrated that polar orbiting satellites can be used to relay hydrologic data from any part of Canada to a user without difficulty and at low cost. These data can be used for many operational purposes, the most important of which were identified as follows: hydroelectric power plant operation; water supply for municipalities, industries, and irrigation; navigation; flood forecasting; operation of flood control structures and systems; and recreation.

Halliday, R. A.↗
NASA NTRS1983

Navigation of the Space Shuttle

Navigational systems and operations for the Space Shuttle are described. All navigational instrumentation is controlled from within the pressurized main cabin. Measurements of the state vector and the attitude are made with an inertial measurement unit (IMU), which uses data initialized at the moment of take-off. Orbital location is calculated in approximations using the initial propulsion conditions, models of the gravity field, and aerodynamic drag forces. Updates are periodically received from ground tracking stations. IMU continues attitude information, and additional references are made with an automated startracker device. Information can also be gathered by optical alignment, and future systems will include radar tracking in an approach mode. Deorbit is accompanied by IMU altitude measurements as well as calculations of altitude based on drag measurements. Barometric measurements begin at about 80,000 ft altitude. Signals are received from TACAN beginning at 145,000 ft, and the microwave scanning beam landing system is started at 20,000 ft. Various radionavigation systems are also employed in all flight phases.

Edwards, A., Jr.↗
NASA NTRS2008

Orbit Determination Processes for the Navigation of the Cassini-Huygens Mission

Deep space navigation, particularly the Orbit Determination (OD) operations of Cassini at Saturn, cannot easily be automated due to the complex dynamical environment in which the spacecraft flies; however several sub-processes are automated. The Cassini OD operations are often faced with unique challenges that require more than routine procedures. The OD Team is staffed appropriately to meet the demanding schedules and allow some level of flexibility. This paper will discuss how the OD processes are developed and the seven-member OD team is scheduled to support efficient and accurate Cassini navigation operations. Also discussed will be the requirements of the radio-metric Doppler and range tracking data acquired via the Deep Space Network and the optical navigation images of the satellites to support the daily OD operations. Furthermore, the reliability of the OD solutions, which is ensured within the framework of the OD processes, will be explained.

Antreasian, P.G.↗