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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 253 records · Page 14

Learning From What Goes Well

NASA’s System Wide Safey (SWS) project under the Aviation Operations and Safety Program (AOSP) of the Aeronautical Research Mission Directorate (ARMD) supports work demonstrating the human contribution to safety (HC2S) and the benefits of learning from all operations including learning from what goes well. Some of this work is being done in collaboration with the Flight Safety Foundation (FSF). The presentation provides the rationale for this work, its expected benefits, and its methodology.

rsilience↗

A model based technique for the design of flight directors

A new technique for designing flight directors is discussed. This technique uses the optimal-control pilot/vehicle model to determine the appropriate control strategy. The dynamics of this control strategy are then incorporated into the director control laws, thereby enabling the pilot to operate at a significantly lower workload. A preliminary design of a control director for maintaining a STOL vehicle on the approach path in the presence of random air turbulence is evaluated. By selecting model parameters in terms of allowable path deviations and pilot workload levels, a set of director laws is achieved which allows improved system performance at reduced workload levels. The pilot acts essentially as a proportional controller with regard to the director signals, and control motions are compatible with those appropriate to status-only displays.

Levison, W. H.↗

The INCO Expert System Project: CLIPS in Shuttle mission control

The INCO (Integrated Communications Officer) Expert System Project (IESP) was undertaken in 1987 by the Mission Operations Directorate (MOD) at NASA's Johnson Space Center (JSC) to explore the use of advanced automation in the mission operations arena. One of MOD's primary responsibilities in the space shuttle program is the manning of the flight control positions in the Mission Control Center (MCC) at JSC. The MCC is the central hub for all ground support activities in support of Space Shuttle missions. Its responsibility extends from the moment of lift-off from the launch pad though the completion of landing. The flight controllers in the MCC are tasked with monitoring the health and status of all on-board systems and payloads, detecting and remedying errors and failures, and modifying flight activity plans accordingly.

Rasmussen, Arthur N.↗

The Advancing State of AF-M315E Technology

The culmination of twenty years of applied research in hydroxyl ammonium nitrate (HAN)-based monopropellants, the NASA Space Technology mission Directorate's (STMD) Green Propellant Infusion Mission (GPIM) will achieve the first on-orbit demonstration of an operational AF-M315E green propellant propulsion system by the end of 2015. Following an contextual overview of the completed flight design of the GPIM propellant storage and feed system, results of first operation of a flight-representative heavyweight 20-N engineering model thruster (to be conducted in mid-2014) are presented with performance comparisons to prior lab model (heavyweight) test articles.

Masse, Robert↗

Overview of Sense and Avoid/Separation Assurance Interoperability (SSI)

The UAS in the NAS project is studying the minimum operational performance standards for unmanned aerial systems (UAS's) detect-and-avoid (DAA) system in order to operate in the National Airspace System. The project is executing a series of fast-time simulation, human-in-the-loop experiments, and flight test in support of this effort. Officials of the Swiss Government (Peter Winter, Director of Aeronautical Systems, and Michel Godinat, Head of the Certification Office) are visiting NASA to become more familiar with the advances being made to integrate UAS into civilian airspace. This briefing will review the activities and results over the past 3 years within the Separation AssuranceSense-and-Avoid Interoperability team.

Santiago, Confesor↗

Independent Orbiter Assessment (IOA): Analysis of the displays and controls subsystem

The results of the Independent Orbiter Assessment (IOA) of the Failure Modes and Effects Analysis (FMEA) and Critical Items List (CIL) are presented. The IOA approach features a top-down analysis of the hardware to determine failure modes, criticality, and potential critical items. To preserve independence, this analysis was accomplished without reliance upon the results contained within the NASA FMEA/CIL documentation. This report documents the independent analysis results corresponding to the Orbiter Displays and Controls (D and C) subsystem hardware. The function of the D and C hardware is to provide the crew with the monitor, command, and control capabilities required for management of all normal and contingency mission and flight operations. The D and C hardware for which failure modes analysis was performed consists of the following: Acceleration Indicator (G-METER); Head Up Display (HUD); Display Driver Unit (DDU); Alpha/Mach Indicator (AMI); Horizontal Situation Indicator (HSI); Attitude Director Indicator (ADI); Propellant Quantity Indicator (PQI); Surface Position Indicator (SPI); Altitude/Vertical Velocity Indicator (AVVI); Caution and Warning Assembly (CWA); Annunciator Control Assembly (ACA); Event Timer (ET); Mission Timer (MT); Interior Lighting; and Exterior Lighting. Each hardware item was evaluated and analyzed for possible failure modes and effects. Criticality was assigned based upon the severity of the effect for each failure mode.

Trahan, W. H.↗

STS-114: Discovery Post Landing Press Briefing

Dean Acosta, NASA Public Affairs Deputy Assistant Administrator hosted this press briefing. Michael Griffin, NASA Administrator; Bill Parsons, Shuttle Program Manager; Michael Leinbach, Shuttle Launch Director; and Bill Ready, Space Operations Associate Administrator were present. The Panel specifically honored the Columbia crew as they praised Commander Eileen Collin's performance in bringing the Discovery and crew safe back to Earth. Re-entry, test flight and next test flight, thermal insulation, heat, vehicle inspection, turn around processing, and ferrying Discovery back to the Kennedy Space Center were topics covered with the News media. Michael Griffin announced the launching of Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter will take place the following morning.

Source record↗

STS-121: Discovery Post Flight Readiness Review Briefing

This post Flight Readiness Review (FRR) briefing begins with NASA Press Secretary Dean Acosta, introducing the panel who consist of: NASA Administrator, Dr. Michael Griffin; Associate Administrator for Space Operations, Bill Gerstenmaier; Space Shuttle Program Manager, Wayne Hale; and NASA Launch director, Mike Leinbach. The discussion begins with Dr. Michael Griffin, who expresses his gladness to be a part of the FRR. Bill Gerstenmaier talks about how they were very thorough about the subjects reviewed and that they wanted to make sure that they were ready to fly. He discusses and presents two slides. The first slide is a description of the LO2 intertank and LH2 ice/frost ramps staging location and the second are the top ten LH2 Ice/Frost Ramp Foam Loss events. Wayne Hale gives his thoughts on the human element that came into play during the FRRs. He talks about the willingness of everyone to speak their mind, instead of giving short comments. He expressed that this element is a huge step forward for NASA. Mike Leinbach reports on the processing of the vehicle and expresses that everything is going well and there is nothing to prohibit the launch. He also gives a good report on Atlantis, in case there is a need to use the vehicle. This FRR briefing ends with a short question and answer period from the press on topics such as debris, foam loss, ice/frost ramp redesign, crew risks, and launch date.

Source record↗

Remotely Piloted Vehicles for Experimental Flight Control Testing

A successful flight test and training campaign of the NASA Flying Controls Testbed was conducted at Naval Outlying Field, Webster Field, MD during 2008. Both the prop and jet-powered versions of the subscale, remotely piloted testbeds were used to test representative experimental flight controllers. These testbeds were developed by the Subsonic Fixed Wing Project s emphasis on new flight test techniques. The Subsonic Fixed Wing Project is under the Fundamental Aeronautics Program of NASA's Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate (ARMD). The purpose of these testbeds is to quickly and inexpensively evaluate advanced concepts and experimental flight controls, with applications to adaptive control, system identification, novel control effectors, correlation of subscale flight tests with wind tunnel results, and autonomous operations. Flight tests and operator training were conducted during four separate series of tests during April, May, June and August 2008. Experimental controllers were engaged and disengaged during fully autonomous flight in the designated test area. Flaps and landing gear were deployed by commands from the ground control station as unanticipated disturbances. The flight tests were performed NASA personnel with support from the Maritime Unmanned Development and Operations (MUDO) team of the Naval Air Warfare Center, Aircraft Division

Motter, Mark A.↗

Green Propellant Infusion Mission Program Development and Technology Maturation

The NASA Space Technology Mission Directorate's (STMD) Green Propellant Infusion Mission (GPIM) Technology Demonstration Mission (TDM) is comprised of a cross-cutting team of domestic spacecraft propulsion and storable green propellant technology experts. This TDM is led by Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp. (BATC), who will use their BCP- 100 spacecraft to carry a propulsion system payload consisting of one 22 N thruster for primary divert (DeltaV) maneuvers and four 1 N thrusters for attitude control, in a flight demonstration of the AF-M315E technology. The GPIM project has technology infusion team members from all three major market sectors: Industry, NASA, and the Department of Defense (DoD). The GPIM project team includes BATC, includes Aerojet Rocketdyne (AR), Air Force Research Laboratory, Aerospace Systems Directorate, Edwards AFB (AFRL), NASA Glenn Research Center (GRC), NASA Kennedy Space Center (KSC), and NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC). STMD programmatic and technology oversight is provided by NASA Marshall Space Flight Center. The GPIM project shall fly an operational AF-M315E green propulsion subsystem on a Ball-built BCP-100 spacecraft.

AF-M315E↗

Bringing the Future Within Reach: Celebrating 75 Years of the NASA John H. Glenn Research Center

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Glenn Research Center in Cleveland, Ohio, has been making the future for 75 years. The center's work with aircraft engines, high-energy fuels, communications technology, electric propulsion, energy conversion and storage, and materials and structures has been, and continues to be, crucial to both the Agency and the region. Glenn has partnered with industry, universities, and other agencies to continually advance technologies that are propelling the nation's aerospace community into the future. Nonetheless these continued accomplishments would not be possible without the legacy of our first three decades of research, which led to over one hundred R&D 100 Awards, three Robert J. Collier Trophies, and an Emmy. Glenn, which is located in Cleveland, Ohio, is 1 of 10 NASA field centers, and 1 of only 3 that stem from an earlier research organization-the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA). Glenn began operation in 1942 as the NACA Aircraft Engine Research Laboratory (AERL). In 1947 the NACA renamed the lab the Flight Propulsion Laboratory to reflect the expansion of the research. In September 1948, following the death of the NACA's Director of Aeronautics, George Lewis, the NACA rededicated the lab as the Lewis Flight Propulsion Laboratory. On 1 October 1958, the lab was incorporated into the new NASA space agency and was renamed the NASA Lewis Research Center. Following John Glenn's return to space on the space shuttle, on 1 March 1999 the center name was changed once again, becoming the NASA John H. Glenn Research Center.

Arrighi, Robert S.↗

Boeing 234 flight control development

The Boeing 234 is the commercially certified derivative of the CH-47 Chinook. The automatic flight control system and flight director with coupler were designed to reduce pilot work-load for missions of approximately six hour duration during VFR, IFR, day and night conditions. The AFCS system for the 234 is essentially the same system as developed for the CH-47D, which has airspeed hold, attitude hold, and maneuver enhancement in all three axes. The system also has the capability to couple to the Sperry Helcis flight director system which provides for enroute navigation and landing approaches. Certification testing was completed, by both the FAA and CAA, to FAR Part 29 for Transport Category Rotorcraft and BCAR Section G: Rotorcraft. The aircraft was certified for civil operation in June 1981.

Morris, J. J.↗

STS-114/Discovery Flight Readiness Review Press Briefing

This press briefing on Flight Readiness Review (FRR) for the STS-114 Discovery flight is shown. Dean Acosta, Deputy Associate Administrator for Public Affairs, introduces the panel. The panel consist of: Michael Griffin, NASA Administrator, William Readdy, Associate Administrator of Space Operations, Bill Parsons, Space Shuttle Program Manager, and Mike Leinbach, NASA Launch Director. Questions from the media includes the following topics: certification, countdown, ice on the external tank, debris, and safety of the Space Shuttle Discovery.

Source record↗

Role of Meteorology in Flights of a Solar-Powered Airplane

In the summer of 2001, the Helios prototype solar-powered uninhabited aerial vehicle (UAV) [a lightweight, remotely piloted airplane] was deployed to the Pacific Missile Range Facility (PMRF), at Kauai, Hawaii, in an attempt to fly to altitudes above 100,000 ft (30.48 km). The goal of flying a UAV to such high altitudes has been designated a level-I milestone of the NASA Environmental Research Aircraft and Sensor Technology (ERAST) program. In support of this goal, meteorologists from NASA Dryden Flight Research Center were sent to PMRF, as part of the flight crew, to provide current and forecast weather information to the pilots, mission directors, and planners. Information of this kind is needed to optimize flight conditions for peak aircraft performance and to enable avoidance of weather conditions that could adversely affect safety. In general, the primary weather data of concern for ground and flight operations are wind speeds (see Figure 1). Because of its long wing span [247 ft (.75 m)] and low weight [1,500 to 1,600 lb (about 680 to 726 kg)], the Helios airplane is sensitive to wind speeds exceeding 7 kn (3.6 m/s) at the surface. Also, clouds are of concern because they can block sunlight needed to energize an array of solar photovoltaic cells that provide power to the airplane. Vertical wind shear is very closely monitored in order to prevent damage or loss of control due to turbulence.

Donohue, Casey↗

Software Innovation in a Mission Critical Environment

Operating in mission-critical environments requires trusted solutions, and the preference for "tried and true" approaches presents a potential barrier to infusing innovation into mission-critical systems. This presentation explores opportunities to overcome this barrier in the software domain. It outlines specific areas of innovation in software development achieved by the Johnson Space Center (JSC) Engineering Directorate in support of NASA's major human spaceflight programs, including International Space Station, Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle (Orion), and Commercial Crew Programs. Software engineering teams at JSC work with hardware developers, mission planners, and system operators to integrate flight vehicles, habitats, robotics, and other spacecraft elements for genuinely mission critical applications. The innovations described, including the use of NASA Core Flight Software and its associated software tool chain, can lead to software that is more affordable, more reliable, better modelled, more flexible, more easily maintained, better tested, and enabling of automation.

Fredrickson, Steven↗

Urban Air Mobility (UAM) Working Groups

The NASA Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate (ARMD) is bringing together public, private, and academic organizations to collaborate with NASA in Urban Air Mobility (UAM) working groups. The primary purpose of the working groups is to accelerate the development of safe, high-volume UAM flight operations in the existing and anticipated future national airspace system. In coordination with the Grand Challenge series, industry developments and other ARMD efforts, these working groups will contribute to the enablement of UAM markets. Working group activities will seek to align the community on concepts to enable UAM, including communicating industry demonstrations and R&D priorities. The collaborative efforts will facilitate the identification of critical parameters and standards necessary to develop the framework and approach for safety, certification, airspace, aircraft concepts, technologies, and architectures. The realization of the UAM vision will be possible only though the efforts and contributions of multiple stakeholders, each possessing the necessary authority, expertise, and/or resources to fulfill a critical role in UAM's development, approval, and implementation. The applicable participants will become integral to the UAM working groups and will provide a platform for those stakeholders to collaborate and impact the overall ecosystem.

Kopardekar, Parimal H.↗

Automation effects in a multiloop manual control system

An experimental and analytical study was undertaken to investigate human interaction with a simple multiloop manual control system in which the human's activity was systematically varied by changing the level of automation. The system simulated was the longitudinal dynamics of a hovering helicopter. The automation-systems-stabilized vehicle responses from attitude to velocity to position and also provided for display automation in the form of a flight director. The control-loop structure resulting from the task definition can be considered a simple stereotype of a hierarchical control system. The experimental study was complemented by an analytical modeling effort which utilized simple crossover models of the human operator. It was shown that such models can be extended to the description of multiloop tasks involving preview and precognitive human operator behavior. The existence of time optimal manual control behavior was established for these tasks and the role which internal models may play in establishing human-machine performance was discussed.

Hess, R. A.↗

Funding and Strategic Alignment Guidance for Infusing Small Business Innovation Research Technology into NASA Programs Associated with the Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate

This report is intended to help NASA program and project managers incorporate Small Business Innovation Research/Small Business Technology Transfer (SBIR/STTR) technologies that have gone through Phase II of the SBIR program into NASA Aeronautics and Mission Directorate (ARMD) programs. Other Government and commercial program managers can also find this information useful.

safety system↗