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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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NASA NTRS1990

Human exploration mission studies

This paper describes several case studies of human space exploration, considered by the NASA's Office of Exploration in 1988. Special attention is given to the mission scenarios, the critical technology required in these expeditions, and the extraterrestrial power requirements of significant system elements. The cases examined include a manned expedition to Phobos, the inner Martian moon; a human expedition to Mars; the Lunar Observatory; and a lunar outpost to early Mars evolution.

Cataldo, Robert L.↗
NASA NTRS1990

Cargo launch vehicles to low earth orbit

There are two primary space transportation capabilities required to support both base programs and expanded mission requirements: earth-to-orbit (ETO) transportation systems and space transfer vehicle systems. Existing and new ETO vehicles required to support mission requirements, and planned robotic missions, along with currently planned ETO vehicles are provided. Lunar outposts, Mars' outposts, base and expanded model, ETO vehicles, advanced avionics technologies, expert systems, network architecture and operations systems, and technology transfer are discussed.

Austin, Robert E.↗
NASA NTRS1991

Portable Common Execution Environment (PCEE) project review: Peer review

The purpose of the review was to conduct an independent, in-depth analysis of the PCEE project and to provide the results of said review. The review team was tasked with evaluating the potential contribution of the PCEE project to the improvement of the life cycle support of mission and safety critical (MASC) computing components for large, complex, non-stop, distributed systems similar to those planned for such NASA programs as the space station, lunar outpost, and manned missions to Mars. Some conclusions of the review team are as follow: The PCEE project was given high marks for its breath of vision on the overall problem with MASC software; Correlated with the sweeping vision, the Review Team is very skeptical that any research project can successfully attack such a broad range of problems; and several recommendations are made such as to identify the components of the broad solution envisioned, prioritizing them with respect to their impact and the likely ability of the PCEE or others to attack them successfully, and to rewrite its Concept Document differentiating the problem description, objectives, approach, and results so that the project vision becomes assessible to others.

Locke, C. Douglass↗
NASA NTRS1990

Long duration mission support operations concepts

It is suggested that the system operations will be one of the most expensive parts of the Mars mission, and that, in order to reduce their cost, they should be considered during the conceptual phase of the Space Exploration Initiative (SEI) program. System operations of Space Station Freedom, Lunar outpost, and Mars Rover Sample Return are examined in order to develop a similar concept for the manned Mars mission. Factors that have to be taken into account include: (1) psychological stresses caused by long periods of isolation; (2) the effects of boredom; (3) the necessity of onboard training to maintain a high level of crew skills; and (4) the 40-min time delays between issuing and receiving a command, which make real-time flight control inoperative and require long-term decisions to be made by the ground support.

Eggleston, T. W.↗
NASA NTRS1990

The Physical/Chemical Closed-Loop Life Support Research Project

The various elements of the Physical/Chemical Closed-Loop Life Support Research Project (P/C CLLS) are described including both those currently funded and those planned for implementation at ARC and other participating NASA field centers. The plan addresses the entire range of regenerative life support for Space Exploration Initiative mission needs, and focuses initially on achieving technology readiness for the Initial Lunar Outpost by 1995-97. Project elements include water reclamation, air revitalization, solid waste management, thermal and systems control, and systems integration. Current analysis estimates that each occupant of a space habitat will require a total of 32 kg/day of supplies to live and operate comfortably, while an ideal P/C CLLS system capable of 100 percent reclamation of air and water, but excluding recycling of solid wastes or foods, will reduce this requirement to 3.4 kg/day.

Bilardo, Vincent J., Jr.↗
NASA NTRS1990

A proposal for risk sharing in the development of a lunar oxygen plant

The production of lunar oxygen for use in a NASA lunar outpost program could provide a profitable investment for nongovernment development, savings for government, and an initiation of a new resource of capital financing for space industrialization. A joint endeavor to share development risks between government and nongovernment investment is proposed, based on some early assessments of technical and financial feasibility for the project. Successful initial negotiations between government and nongovernment investors can establish the requirements for financing the project with private funds.

Duke, Michael B.↗
NASA NTRS1990

A plan for the development of lunar astronomy

This is a report synthesizing discussions of the Astronomy/Astrophysics Definition Team at the Lunar Science Strategy Workshop for the Exploration and Development of the moon which was held at the NASA Johnson Space Center during August 15-16, 1989. The long-term goal of lunar based astronomy is envisioned as the development of a diverse facility covering all wavelengths of the electromagnetic spectrum. This facility will build on and eventually replace the Great Observatories. The development of optical and infrared interferometry should be a principal activity, optimized by a lunar site. However, lunar observatories should evolve from simple to complex systems and should not and need not make major demands on the limited amount of manpower envisioned for the first 20 years of the lunar outpost.

Sykes, M. V.↗
NASA NTRS1990

Space Congress, 27th, Cocoa Beach, FL, Apr. 24-27, 1990, Proceedings

The present symposium on aeronautics and space encompasses DOD research and development, science payloads, small microgravity carriers, the Space Station, technology payloads and robotics, commercial initiatives, STS derivatives, space exploration, and DOD space operations. Specific issues addressed include the use of AI to meet space requirements, the Astronauts Laboratory Smart Structures/Skins Program, the Advanced Liquid Feed Experiment, an overview of the Spacelab program, the Autonomous Microgravity Industrial Carrier Initiative, and the Space Station requirements and transportation options for a lunar outpost. Also addressed are a sensor-data display for telerobotic systems, the Pegasus and Taurus launch vehicles, evolutionary transportation concepts, the upgrade of the Space Shuttle avionics, space education, orbiting security sentinels, and technologies for improving launch-vehicle responsiveness.

Source record↗
NASA NTRS1991

System concepts for a large UV/optical/IR telescope on the moon

To assess the systems and technological requirements for constructing lunar telescopes in conjunction with the buildup of a lunar base for scientific exploration and as a waypoint for travel to Mars, the NASA Marshall Space Flight Center conducted concept studies of a 16-m-aperture large lunar telescope (LLT) and a 4-m-aperture precursor telescope, both operating in the UV/visible/IR spectral region. The feasibility of constructing a large telescope on the lunar surface is assessed, and its systems and subsystems are analyzed. Telescope site selection, environmental effects, and launch and assembly scenarios are also evaluated. It is argued that key technical drivers for the LLT must be tested in situ by precursor telescopes to evaluate such areas as the operations and long-term reliability of active optics, radiation protection of instruments, lunar dust mitigation, and thermal shielding of the telescope systems. For a manned lunar outpost or an LLT to become a reality, a low-cost dependable transportation system must be developed.

Nein, Max E.↗
NASA NTRS1992

A space transportation system for early lunar exploration

This paper presents a Lunar Transportation System (LTS) based on existing technology and liberal use of existing or planned national and international space infrastructure. The objective of the studies described herein was to define a LTS capable of delivering and servicing a manned lunar outpost shortly after the turn of the century. Alternative approaches examined used derivatives of elements from the planned National Launch System or existing international assets to reduce development and launch costs. This study incorporates many design features determined by contracted NASA efforts to reduce nonrecurring and recurring costs for a LTS.

Andrews, Dana G.↗
NASA NTRS1991

Neuroscience discipline science plan

Over the past two decades, NASA's efforts in the neurosciences have developed into a program of research directed at understanding the acute changes that occur in the neurovestibular and sensorimotor systems during short-duration space missions. However, the proposed extended-duration flights of up to 28 days on the Shuttle orbiter and 6 months on Space Station Freedom, a lunar outpost, and Mars missions of perhaps 1-3 years in space, make it imperative that NASA's Life Sciences Division begin to concentrate research in the neurosciences on the chronic effects of exposure to microgravity on the nervous system. Major areas of research will be directed at understanding (1) central processing, (2) motor systems, (3) cognitive/spatial orientation, and (4) sensory receptors. The purpose of the Discipline Science Plan is to provide a conceptual strategy for NASA's Life Sciences Division research and development activities in the comprehensive area of neurosciences. It covers the significant research areas critical to NASA's programmatic requirements for the Extended-Duration Orbiter, Space Station Freedom, and exploration mission science activities. These science activities include ground-based and flight; basic, applied, and operational; and animal and human research and development. This document summarizes the current status of the program, outlines available knowledge, establishes goals and objectives, identifies science priorities, and defines critical questions in the subdiscipline areas of nervous system function. It contains a general plan that will be used by NASA Headquarters Program Offices and the field centers to review and plan basic, applied, and operational intramural and extramural research and development activities in this area.

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NASA NTRS1992

Space transfer concepts and analysis for exploration missions

The current technical effort is part of the third phase of a broad-scoped and systematic study of space transfer concepts for human lunar and Mars missions. The study addressed the technical issues relating to the First Lunar Outpost (FLO) habitation vehicle with emphasis on the structure, power, life support system, and radiation environment for a baseline habitat with specific alternatives for the baseline.

Woodcock, Gordon R.↗
NASA NTRS1991

White paper on science operations

Major changes are taking place in the way astronomy gets done. There are continuing advances in observational capabilities across the frequency spectrum, involving both ground-based and space-based facilities. There is also very rapid evolution of relevant computing and data management technologies. However, although the new technologies are filtering in to the astronomy community, and astronomers are looking at their computing needs in new ways, there is little coordination or coherent policy. Furthermore, although there is great awareness of the evolving technologies in the arena of operations, much of the existing operations infrastructure is ill-suited to take advantage of them. Astronomy, especially space astronomy, has often been at the cutting edge of computer use in data reduction and image analysis, but has been somewhat removed from advanced applications in operations, which have tended to be implemented by industry rather than by the end-user scientists. The purpose of this paper is threefold. First, we briefly review the background and general status of astronomy-related computing. Second, we make recommendations in three areas: data analysis; operations (directed primarily to NASA-related activities); and issues of management and policy, believing that these must be addressed to enable technological progress and to proceed through the next decade. Finally, we recommend specific NASA-related work as part of the Astrotech-21 plans, to enable better science operations in the operations of the Great Observatories and in the lunar outpost era.

Schreier, Ethan J.↗
NASA NTRS1990

Propulsion needs for lunar/Mars missions

Viewgraphs on propulsion needs for lunar/Mars missions are presented. Topics covered include: lunar mission profile; lunar transfer vehicle/lunar excursion vehicle; launch vehicles for lunar missions; lunar outpost; Mars transfer operations; Mars mission vehicle in low earth orbit (LEO); mission vehicle commonality; mass comparison for reference missions; advanced propulsion; propulsion option size comparison; Mars transfer vehicle (MTV) propulsion option weights for mission favorable opportunities; propulsion options comparison; Mars transportation architecture options; tanker options for fully reusable systems; NTR 900 Isp staged tanks and engines; fully reusable cryogenic aerobraked system; NEP operated from high orbit; and nuclear safe orbit considerations.

Woodcock, Gordon R.↗
NASA NTRS1992

Proceedings of the Lunar Materials Technology Symposium

The meeting was organized around a possible lunar outpost scenario, featuring industrial technologies, systems, and components applicable to the extraction, processing, and fabrication of local materials. Acknowledged space resources experts as well as investigators from outside the field whose knowledge could be applied to space development activities were brought together. Presentations came from a variety of specialists in fields such as minerals processing, environmental control, and communications. The sessions of the symposium were divided into the following areas: resource characterization, energy management, materials processing, environment control, and automation and communications.

Source record↗
NASA NTRS1992

Tool for simulating space exploration initiative (SEI) operations as a means of obtaining intelligent systems requirements

The Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center Automation and Robotics Division has developed a simulation tool for use in evaluating the feasibility and effectiveness of proposed candidate mission concepts, such as the First Lunar Outpost design reference missions. The tool helps in defining requirements for such missions at the beginning of the definition activities and can be applied iteratively thereafter on a short cycle basis as changes are made to the mission definition. The simulation is applicable to the amount and capabilities of automation and robotics; number and skills of crew; amount of engineering work, science, and in-space materials utilization to be accomplished; impact of provision for maintenance and repair; and flight schedules and manifests. The simulation accounts for supply and demand of resources to accomplish tasks and accounts for elapsed time in carrying out mission processes and tasks.

Erickson, Jon D.↗
NASA NTRS1993

Common Lunar Lander vehicle propulsion system conceptual design

The Common Lunar Lander (CLL) is a concept for a small, unpiloted vehicle which would provide a low-cost capability to land any of a variety of payloads in the 200 kg class at any point on the surface of the moon. Initiated as a precursor mission for the First Lunar Outpost, it also has considerable potential for use by the scientific community at large. A series of studies has been conducted at the NASA Johnson Space Center to define initial requirements and to initiate the design process. This paper describes the propulsion subsystem design as it existed at the CLL System Design Review. The propulsion subsystem design is described in detail along with the planned operations concept, including the unique concept of using pulsing of main engines for thrust modulation. Design options and trades considered and the verification process philosophy which was being planned for the program are discussed.

Hyatt, C. D.↗
NASA NTRS1993

Lunar lander and return propulsion system trade study - Methodology with results

A trade study was initiated at the NASA/Johnson Space Center in May of 1992 to develop and evaluate main propulsion system alternative configurations for the First Lunar Outpost (FLO) lander and return vehicles. This paper outlines the trade methodology utilized in the FLO vehicle study. Emphasis is placed on the trade attributes, selection criteria, and evaluation process established to perform the comprehensive analysis required to rank the diverse alternative vehicle configurations considered. The use of sensitivity analyses to determine the relative importance of each attribute and selection criteria on the trade results is also presented. Lastly, the paper discusses FLO vehicle configuration recommendations and general vehicle design conclusions which can be drawn from the trade study results.

Moreland, Robert J.↗