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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 199 records · Page 11
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1981

Planetary exploration sensor systems

Most of the instruments that have been used in planetary exploration have been either spectrometers or imaging devices. Instruments of these types are being developed for the Galileo and VOIR (Venus Orbiting Imaging Radar) missions. Galileo will take advantage of new CCD (charge-coupled device) technology, and VOIR will use techniques of synthetic aperture radar developed for Seasat. For determining the macrostructure of mineral resources, the best approach is believed to involve acoustic imaging, essentially a seismic data processing technique. Determinations of microstructure would require a light microscope and an electron microscope. For determining the nature and form of volatiles, a differential scanning calorimeter could be used. To determine the mineral composition, an electron beam microprobe with X-ray fluorescence and spectroscopy would be used.

Saunders, R. S.↗
NASA NTRS2012

Instrument Design and In Orbit Performance of Planetary L1dars at NASA GSFC

Space lidars provides a unique and powerful tool in earth environment monitoring and planetary exploration. Lidars operate at a much shorter wavelength than radars and can have a much narrower beam and much smaller transmitter and receiver. Lidars carry their own light sources and can continue measurement day and night, and over polar regions, where the passive instruments cannot observe. NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) has developed several space lidars, three of them on planetary missions. These were the Mars Orbiter Laser Altimeter (MOLA) on the Mars Observer and Mars Global Surveyor missions, the Mercury Laser Altimeter (MLA) on the MErcury Surface Space ENvironment, GEochemistry and Ranging (MESSENGER) mission and the Lunar Orbital Laser Altimeter (LOLA) on the Lunar Reconnaissance (LRO) mission. These lidars all use similar technologies but with major improvement from one instrument In the next in size, power, measurement capability and operating environment.

Sun, Xiaoli↗
NASA NTRS2011

Mission Implementation Constraints on Planetary Muon Radiography

Cost: Use heritage hardware, especially use a tested landing system to reduce cost (Phoenix or MSL EDL stage). The sky crane technology delivers higher mass to the surface and enables reaching targets at higher elevation, but at a higher mission cost. Rover vs. Stationary Lander: Rover-mounted instrument enables tomography, but the increased weight of the rover reduces the allowable payload weight. Mass is the critical design constraint for an instrument for a planetary mission. Many factors that are minor factors or do not enter into design considerations for terrestrial operation are important for a planetary application. (Landing site, diurnal temperature variation, instrument portability, shock/vibration)

entry, descent, and landing (EDL)↗
NASA NTRS2018

Spaceborne P-Band MIMO SAR for Planetary Applications

The Space Exploration Synthetic Aperture Radar (SESAR) is an advanced P-band beamforming radar instrument concept to enable a new class of observations suitable to meet Decadal Survey science goals for planetary exploration. The radar operates at full polarimetry and fine (meter scale) resolution, and achieves beam agility through programmable waveform generation and digital beamforming. The radar architecture employs a novel low power, lightweight design approach to meet stringent planetary instrument requirements. This instrument concept has the potential to provide unprecedented surface and near-subsurface measurements applicable to multiple Decadal Survey Science Goals.

Rincon, Rafael↗
NASA NTRS1990

Sensor requirements for Earth and planetary observations

Future generations of Earth and planetary remote sensing instruments will require extensive developments of new long-wave and very long-wave infrared detectors. The upcoming NASA Earth Observing System (EOS) will carry a suite of instruments to monitor a wide range of atmospheric and surface parameters with an unprecedented degree of accuracy for a period of 10 to 15 years. These instruments will observe Earth over a wide spectral range extending from the visible to nearly 17 micrometers with a moderate to high spectral and spacial resolution. In addition to expected improvements in communication bandwidth and both ground and on-board computing power, these new sensor systems will need large two-dimensional detector arrays. Such arrays exist for visible wavelengths and, to a lesser extent, for short wavelength infrared systems. The most dramatic need is for new Long Wavelength Infrared (LWIR) and Very Long Wavelength Infrared (VLWIR) detector technologies that are compatible with area array readout devices and can operate in the temperature range supported by long life, low power refrigerators. A scientific need for radiometric and calibration accuracies approaching 1 percent translates into a requirement for detectors with excellent linearity, stability and insensitivity to operating conditions and space radiation. Current examples of the kind of scientific missions these new thermal IR detectors would enhance in the future include instruments for Earth science such as Orbital Volcanological Observations (OVO), Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS), Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectrometer (MODIS), and Spectroscopy in the Atmosphere using Far Infrared Emission (SAFIRE). Planetary exploration missions such as Cassini also provide examples of instrument concepts that could be enhanced by new IR detector technologies.

Chahine, Moustafa T.↗
NASA NTRS2022

The Hyperspectral Microwave Photonic Instrument (HyMPI) - Advancing Our Understanding of the Earth’s Planetary Boundary Layer from Space

This paper presents an overview of the Hyperspectral Microwave Photonic Instrument (HyMPI), a 2021 NASA Instrument Incubation Proposal funded project aimed at developing the very first hyperspectral microwave sensor to augment thermodynamic sounding capability from space, with a focus on the Earth’s Planetary Boundary Layer. This research responds to the recommendation expressed in the 2018 National Academies of Sciences decadal survey to accelerate the readiness of high-priority PBL observables not feasible for cost-effective spaceflight in 2017-2027. This paper provides an overview on HyMPI’s design, configured as the objective instrument concept needed to fly in the future PBL mission and presents preliminary trade studies aim at demonstrating HyMPI’s enhanced thermodynamic sounding skill in the Earth’s Planetary Boundary Layer over conventional microwave sounders from the current Program of Record.

Hyperspectral microwave↗
NASA NTRS2022

The Hyperspectral Microwave Photonic Instrument (HyMPI) -Advancing Our Understanding of the Earth’s Planetary Boundary Layer From Space

This paper presents an overview of the Hyperspectral Microwave Photonic Instrument (HyMPI), a 2021 NASA Instrument Incubation Proposal funded project aimed at developing the very first hyperspectral microwave sensor to augment thermodynamic sounding capability from space, with a focus on the Earth’s Planetary Boundary Layer. This research responds to the recommendation expressed in the 2018 National Academies of Sciences decadal survey to accelerate the readiness of high-priority PBL observables not feasible for cost-effective spaceflight in 2017-2027. This paper provides an overview on HyMPI’s design, configured as the objective instrument concept needed to fly in the future PBL mission and presents preliminary trade studies aim at demonstrating HyMPI’s enhanced thermodynamic sounding skill in the Earth’s Planetary Boundary Layer over conventional microwave sounders from the current Program of Record.

hyperspectral microwave↗
NASA NTRS2018

Beamforming P-Band Synthetic Aperture Radar for Planetary Applications

The Space Exploration Synthetic Aperture Radar (SESAR) is an advanced P-band beamforming radar instrument concept to enable a new class of observations suitable to meet multiple Decadal Survey science goals for planetary exploration. The radar is capable of providing unprecedented surface and near subsurface measurements at full polarimetry and fine (meter scale) resolution, and achieves beam agility through programmable waveform generation and digital beamforming. The radar’s highly flexible modular architecture employs a novel low power, lightweight design approach to meet stringent planetary instrument requirements, all while minimizing cost and development time.

Rincon, Rafael F.↗
NASA NTRS2017

Next Generation P-Band Planetary Synthetic Aperture Radar

The Space Exploration Synthetic Aperture Radar (SESAR) is an advanced P-band beamforming radar instrument concept to enable a new class of observations suitable to meet Decadal Survey science goals for planetary exploration. The radar operates at full polarimetry and fine (meter scale) resolution, and achieves beam agility through programmable waveform generation and digital beamforming. The radar architecture employs a novel low power, lightweight design approach to meet stringent planetary instrument requirements. This instrument concept has the potential to provide unprecedented surface and near- subsurface measurements applicable to multiple Decadal Survey Science Goals.

P-band↗
NASA NTRS2016

Next Generation P-Band Planetary Synthetic Aperture Radar

The Space Exploration Synthetic Aperture Radar (SESAR) is an advanced P-band beamforming radar instrument concept to enable a new class of observations suitable to meet Decadal Survey science goals for planetary exploration. The radar operates at full polarimetry and fine (meter scale) resolution, and achieves beam agility through programmable waveform generation and digital beamforming. The radar architecture employs a novel low power, lightweight design approach to meet stringent planetary instrument requirements. This instrument concept has the potential to provide unprecedented surface and near- subsurface measurements applicable to multiple DecadalSurvey Science Goals.

Wide band↗
NASA NTRS1992

Dual technique magnetometer experiment for the Cassini Orbiter spacecraft

The dual technique magnetometer to fly on the Cassini Saturn Orbiter Spacecraft is described. The instrument combines two separate techniques of measuring the magnetic field in space using both fluxgate and vector helium devices. In addition, the instrument can be operated in a special scalar mode which is to be used near the planet for highly accurate determination of the interior field of the planet. As well as the planetary field, the instrument will make large contributions to the scientific measurements of the planetary magnetosphere, the highly electrically conducting region of space surrounding Saturn permeated by the Saturnian field, the interaction of Saturn and the interplanetary medium and the interaction of Titan with its space environment.

Southwood, D. J.↗
NASA NTRS2012

Mass Spectrometers in Space!

Exploration of our solar system over several decades has benefitted greatly from the sensitive chemical analyses offered by spaceflight mass spectrometers. When dealing with an unknown environment, the broadband detection capabilities of mass analyzers have proven extremely valuable in determining the composition and thereby the basic nature of space environments, including the outer reaches of Earth s atmosphere, interplanetary space, the Moon, and the planets and their satellites. Numerous mass analyzer types, including quadrupole, monopole, sector, ion trap, and time-of-flight have been incorporated in flight instruments and delivered robotically to a variety of planetary environments. All such instruments went through a rigorous process of application-specific development, often including significant miniaturization, testing, and qualification for the space environment. Upcoming missions to Mars and opportunities for missions to Venus, Europa, Saturn, Titan, asteroids, and comets provide new challenges for flight mass spectrometers that push to state of the art in fundamental analytical technique. The Sample Analysis at Mars (SAM) investigation on the recently-launch Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) rover mission incorporates a quadrupole analyzer to support direct evolved gas as well as gas chromatograph-based analysis of martian rocks and atmosphere, seeking signs of a past or present habitable environment. A next-generation linear ion trap mass spectrometer, using both electron impact and laser ionization, is being incorporated into the Mars Organic Molecule Analyzer (MOMA) instrument, which will be flown to Mars in 2018. These and other mass spectrometers and mission concepts at various stages of development will be described.

Brinckerhoff, William B.↗
NASA NTRS1967

Communications elements research

Planetary entry blackout, instrumentation and data reduction for lunation experiment, spacecraft communications system, and low noise transponder preamplifier

PREAMPLIFIER↗
NASA NTRS1984

High Precision Measurement of Stellar Radial Velocity Variations

A prototype instrument for measurement of stellar radial velocity variations to a precision of a few meters per second is discussed. The instrument will be used to study low amplitude stellar non-radial oscillations, to search for binary systems with large mass ratios, and ultimately to search for extrasolar planetary systems. The instrument uses a stable Fabry-Perot etalon, in reflection, to impose a set of fixed reference absorption lines on the stellar spectrum before it enters the coude spectrograph of the McDonald Observatory 2.7-m telescope. The spectrum is recorded on the Octicon detector, which consists of eight Reticon arrays placed end to end. Radial velocity variations of the star are detected by measuring the shift of the stellar lines with respect the artificial Fabry-Perot lines, and correcting for the known motions in the solar system.

Cochran, W. D.↗
NASA NTRS2012

The Transition from Complex Crater to Peak-Ring Basin on the Moon: New Observations from the Lunar Orbiter Laser Altimeter (LOLA) Instrument

Impact craters on planetary bodies transition with increasing size from simple, to complex, to peak-ring basins and finally to multi-ring basins. Important to understanding the relationship between complex craters with central peaks and multi-ring basins is the analysis of protobasins (exhibiting a rim crest and interior ring plus a central peak) and peak-ring basins (exhibiting a rim crest and an interior ring). New data have permitted improved portrayal and classification of these transitional features on the Moon. We used new 128 pixel/degree gridded topographic data from the Lunar Orbiter Laser Altimeter (LOLA) instrument onboard the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, combined with image mosaics, to conduct a survey of craters >50 km in diameter on the Moon and to update the existing catalogs of lunar peak-ring basins and protobasins. Our updated catalog includes 17 peak-ring basins (rim-crest diameters range from 207 km to 582 km, geometric mean = 343 km) and 3 protobasins (137-170 km, geometric mean = 157 km). Several basins inferred to be multi-ring basins in prior studies (Apollo, Moscoviense, Grimaldi, Freundlich-Sharonov, Coulomb-Sarton, and Korolev) are now classified as peak-ring basins due to their similarities with lunar peak-ring basin morphologies and absence of definitive topographic ring structures greater than two in number. We also include in our catalog 23 craters exhibiting small ring-like clusters of peaks (50-205 km, geometric mean = 81 km); one (Humboldt) exhibits a rim-crest diameter and an interior morphology that may be uniquely transitional to the process of forming peak rings. Comparisons of the predictions of models for the formation of peak-ring basins with the characteristics of the new basin catalog for the Moon suggest that formation and modification of an interior melt cavity and nonlinear scaling of impact melt volume with crater diameter provide important controls on the development of peak rings. In particular, a power-law model of growth of an interior melt cavity with increasing crater diameter is consistent with power-law fits to the peak-ring basin data for the Moon and Mercury. We suggest that the relationship between the depth of melting and depth of the transient cavity offers a plausible control on the onset diameter and subsequent development of peak-ring basins and also multi-ring basins, which is consistent with both planetary gravitational acceleration and mean impact velocity being important in determining the onset of basin morphological forms on the terrestrial planets.

Baker, David M. H.↗
NASA NTRS2001

Astrobiology Science and Technology: A Path to Future Discovery

The Astrobiology Program is described. However, science-driven robotic exploration of extreme environments is needed for a new era of planetary exploration requiring biologically relevant instrumentation and extensive, autonomous operations on planetary surfaces. Additional information is contained in the original extended abstract.

Meyer, M. A.↗
NASA NTRS2019

NASA Proof-of-Concept 1-W(sub e) Stirling Convertor Development for Small Radioisotope Power Systems

Low power Stirling convertors are being developed at NASA Glenn Research Center to provide future small spacecraft with electrical power by converting heat from one or more Light Weight Radioisotope Heater Units (LWRHU). An initial design converts multiple watts of heat to one watt of electrical power output using a Stirling convertor. A variety of mission concepts have been studied by NASA and the U. S. Department of Energy that would utilize low power Radioisotope Power Systems (RPS) for probes, landers, rovers, and repeaters. These missions would contain science instruments distributed across planetary surfaces or near objects of interest where solar flux is insufficient for using solar cells. Landers could be used to provide data such as, radiation, temperature, pressure, seismic activity, and other surface measurements for planetary science and to inform future mission planners. The studies propose using fractional versions of the General Purpose Heat Source or multiple LWRHUs to heat power conversion technologies for science instruments and communication. Dynamic power systems are capable of higher conversion efficiencies, which could enable equal power using less fuel or more power using equal fuel, when compared to less efficient static power conversion technologies. Providing spacecraft with more power would decrease duty cycling of basic functions and, therefore, increase the quality and abundance of science data. Efforts to develop the concept have focused on maturation of a 1-We convertor and controller design and performance evaluation of an evacuated metal foil insulation. A proof-of-concept 1-We convertor, controller, and evacuated metal foil insulation package have been fabricated and are undergoing characterization testing. The current status, findings, and path forward for the effort are explained in this paper.

Schifer, Nicholas A.↗