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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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The feasibility and possible advantages of processing materials in a nongravitational field are considered. Areas of investigation include biomedical applications, the processing of inorganic materials, and flight programs and funding.
A report describes investigations of materials processing in low-gravity environment. Ultimately, research could lead to new commercially-applicable materials and processes and to an understanding of constraints imposed by gravity. NASA-supported work is carried out in 46 academic, industrial, and Government laboratories, and covers a number of areas. An overview is given of objective and current state of development for over 100 tasks.
Over 190 reports published in the open literature by workers in the materials processing in space program are listed according to year as well as alphabetically by author. Thirty five reports submitted for publication are also cited. Supported either directly or indirectly by NASA, the research generally pertains to the influence (or lack of influence) of gravity on processes involved in crystal growth, solidification, fluid transport, containerless phenomena, and various separation techniques of interest to the biomedical community. Studies of the possibilities of using the high vacuum in the wake of orbiting vehicles for performing processes involving large heat loads and evolution of gases are also included.
An approach and criteria for evaluating NASA funded experiments and demonstrations which have commercial potential were developed. Methods for insuring quick initial screening of commercial proposals are presented. Recommendations are given for modifying the current evaluation approach. New criteria for evaluating commercially orientated materials processing in space (MPS) proposals are introduced. The process for selection of qualified individuals to evaluate the phases of this approach and criteria is considered and guidelines are set for its implementation.
The possibility of preparing FeBO3 glass-ceramic in space is explored. A transparent glass-ceramic of FeBO3, due to its unique properties could be an excellent material for magneto-optic applications which currently utilize high price materials such as single crystals of Ga-YIG. The unique magneto-optic properties of FeBO3 were found to come from glass-ceramic but not from the glass form. It was anticipated and later confirmed that the FeBO3 glass-ceramics could not be prepared on earth. Phase separation and iron valence reduction, were identified as the two terrestrial manufacturing obstacles. Since the phase separation problem could be overcome by space processing, the preparation of FeBO3 glass-ceramic in space appears attractive.
Major aerospace companies are talking about space factories manufacturing billions of dollars worth of high technology materials per year. On the other hand, a recent National Academy of Sciences study team saw little prospect for space manufacturing because, in their opinion, most of the disturbing effects of gravity in the processes they considered could be overcome on the ground for much less expenditure. This paper presents a current assessment of the problems and promises of the Materials Processing in Space Program and outlines a strategy for developing the first products of commercial value. These early products are expected to serve as paradigms of what can be accomplished by manufacturing in space and should stimulate industry to develop space manufacturing to whatever degree is economically justifiable.
Most compositional characterizations of the minor planets are derived from analysis of visible and near-infrared reflectance spectra. However, such spectra are derived from light which has only interacted with a very thin surface layer. Although regolith processes are assumed to mix all near-surface lithologic units into this layer, it has been proposed that space weathering processes can alter this surface layer to obscure the spectral signature of the bedrock lithology. It has been proposed that these spectral alteration processes are much less pronounced on asteroid surfaces than on the lunar surface, but the possibility of major spectral alteration of asteroidal optical surfaces has been invoked to reconcile S-asteroids with ordinary chondrites. The reflectance spectra of a large subset of the S-asteroid population have been analyzed in a systematic investigation of the mineralogical diversity within the S-class. In this sample, absorption band depth is a strong function of asteroid diameter. The S-asteroid band depths are relatively constant for objects larger than 100 km and increase linearly by factor of two toward smaller sizes (approximately 40 km). Although the S-asteroid surface materials includes a diverse variety of silicate assemblages, ranging from dunites to basalts, all compositional subtypes of the S-asteroids conform to this trend. The A-, R-, and V-type asteroids which are primarily silicate assemblages (as opposed to the metal-silicate mixtures of most S-asteroids) follow a parallel but displaced trend. Some sort of textural or regolith equilibrium appears to have been attained in the optical surfaces of asteroids larger than about 100 km diameter but not on bodies below this size. The relationships between absorption band depth, spectral slope, surface albedo and body size provide an intriguing insight into the nature of the optical surfaces of the S-asteroids and space weathering on these objects.
Space vehicle trajectory optimization using computerized step by step steepest descent to minimum cost, considering cost gradient vs control
The Paton Welding Institute, Kiev, Ukraine, has developed the Universal Hand Tool for processing Metals in the space environment. The Universal is a hand held, 1 kilowatt electron beam welding tool designed to accept attachments to enable welding with and without filler wire, cutting, and coating by vapor deposition. The Marshall Space Flight Center, together with the Paton Institute, designed and developed the International Space Welding Experiment (ISWE) to demonstrate the Universal Welding System during an extravehicular activity on STS-87. ISWE was subsequently demanifested and has not been remanifested at this time. This paper describes the science objectives of ISWE, the safety hazards associated with manual welding in space and the associated resolutions, and the results of ground based development efforts. The Universal was adequate for processing the samples planned for ISWE and was successfully modified to meet shuttle payload constraints. Sample cleanliness and operator training proved to be the primary drivers for the quality of the processed samples.
The development of the Space Station and its application to materials processing are studied. The proposed components and capabilities of the Space Station are described. The advantages the modular Space Station configuration will provide to its users are discussed. The functions of the laboratory module and free flying platforms of the Microgravity and Materials Processing Facility (MMPF) are examined; microgravity science research and the development of commercial materials processing technologies are conducted in the MMPF. The equipment of the Commercial Materials Processing Support Facility and the designs of attached- and free-flying platforms are analyzed.
Direct observation of fluid flow, bubble movement and solidification during controlled melting and solidification of succinonitrile were conducted in the glovebox facility of the International Space Station (ISS). The samples were processed in the Pore Formation and Mobility Investigation (PFMI) apparatus in the glovebox facility (GBX) on board the ISS. Experimental processing parameters of temperature gradient and translation speed, as well as camera settings, were remotely monitored and manipulated from the ground Telescience Center (TSC) at the Marshall Space Flight Center. Real time visualization of the controlled directional melt back and resolidification reveals a number of microgravity dependent phenomena otherwise masked by Earth s gravity. These and some initial analysis of the observed events is presented.
One of the major initial tasks of the Space Systems Integration and Operations Research Applications (SIORA) Program was the application of automation and robotics technology to all aspects of the Shuttle tile processing and inspection system. The SIORA Program selected a nonlinear systems engineering methodology which emphasizes a team approach for defining, developing, and evaluating new concepts and technologies for the operational system. This is achieved by utilizing rapid prototyping testbeds whereby the concepts and technologies can be iteratively tested and evaluated by the team. The present methodology has clear advantages for the design of large complex systems as well as for the upgrading and evolution of existing systems.
This investigation was to determine whether a Black Brant VC (BBVC) sounding rocket equipped with the Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) rate control system (RCS) would produce g-levels which are satisfactory for space processing. Accelerations measured by the Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) low-g accelerometer system (LGAS) were compared with accelerations calculated from measured payload RCS gyro data during a low-g flight of BBVC NAS 21.015 at White Sands Missile Range, N.M., on October 4, 1974. Accelerations of up to 0.0002 g existed at the LGAS accelerometers from 70 through 420 sec (5.8 min), with the exception of a spike at 101 sec of 0.0004 g which occurred when the RCS was activated the second time. Accelerations of 0.0001 g existed from 140 through 400 sec (4.3 min). Accelerations of 0.0002 g along the roll axis up to 150 sec and of 0.0015 g in the lateral plane at about 135 sec are being investigated by GSFC. They may be associated with leaking thruster valves or a leak in one of the heat pipe experiments. The vehicle rate buildup each time after the RCS nulls out are also being investigated by GSFC. This rate caused most of the 0.0001 g acceleration experienced after 150 sec into the flight. Aerodynamic drag produced no significant accelerations after about 80 sec. The principal conclusion was that the BBVC with the GSFC RCS produces g-levels satisfactory for space processing.
Bruce Buckingham, NASA Public Affairs, introduces Scott Higgenbotham, STS-114 Payload Manager. Higgenbotham gives a power point presentation on the hardware that is going to fly in the Discovery Mission to the International Space Station. He presents a layout of the hardware which includes The Logistics Flight 1 (LF1) launch package configuration Multipurpose Logistics Module (MPLM), External Stowage Platform-2 (ESP-2) and the Lightweight Mission Peculiar Equipment Support Structure Carrier (LMC). He explains these payloads in detail. The LF-1 team is also shown in the International Space Station Processing Facility. This presentation ends with a brief question and answer period.
Priorities and achievements of the Kennedy Space Center (KSF) Instrumentation Laboratories in improving operational safety and decreasing processing costs associated with the Shuttle vehicle are addressed. Technologies that have been or are in the process of technology transfer are reviewed, and routes by which commercial concerns can obtain licenses to other KSF Instrumentation Laboratory technologies are discussed.
The unique ultra-vacuum environment of low-earth orbit space is to be utilized for vacuum processing of advanced semiconductor and superconductor materials through epitaxial thin-film growth. The quality of semiconductor single crystal (epitaxial) thin-films can be significantly enhanced in the space ultra-vacuum through the reduction of impurities. This will be accomplished by the development of the free-flying Wake Shield Facility presently being built by the Space Vacuum Epitaxy Center in conjunction with industry and NASA under a low-cost, short time commercial approach to space hardware development.
The concept of using Parallel Distributed Processing (PDP) to enhance automated experiment monitoring and control is explored. Recent very large scale integration (VLSI) advances have made such applications an achievable goal. The PDP machine has demonstrated the ability to automatically organize stored information, handle unfamiliar and contradictory input data and perform the actions necessary. The PDP machine has demonstrated that it can perform inference and knowledge operations with greater speed and flexibility and at lower cost than traditional architectures. In applications where the rule set governing an expert system's decisions is difficult to formulate, PDP can be used to extract rules by associating the information an expert receives with the actions taken.
Lasers are useful for performing operations such as joining, machining, built-up freeform fabrication, shock processing, and surface treatments. These attributes are attractive for the supportability of longer-term missions in space due to the multi-functionality of a single tool and the variety of materials that can be processed. However, current laser technology also has drawbacks for space-based applications, specifically size, power efficiency, lack of robustness, and problems processing highly reflective materials. A review of recent laser developments will be used to show how these issues may be reduced and indicate where further improvement is necessary to realize a laser-based materials processing capability in space. The broad utility of laser beams in synthesizing various classes of engineering materials will be illustrated using state-of-the art processing maps for select lightweight alloys typically found on spacecraft. With the advent of recent breakthroughs in diode-pumped solid-state lasers and fiber optic technologies, the potential to perform multiple processing techniques is increasing significantly. Lasers with suitable wavelengths and beam properties have tremendous potential for supporting future space missions to the moon, Mars and beyond.