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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
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Internal Architecture of the Common Habitat

The core stage liquid oxygen tank of the Space Launch System can be manufactured as a habitat instead of as a propellant tank, with a common design such that it is equally suitable for use in 0g, 1/6g, 3/8g, 1g, or variable artificial gravity. It is capable of sustaining a crew size of eight for missions up to 1200 days in duration. This Common Habitat can be the central element of a human spaceflight architecture that encompasses the Moon, Mars, and other destinations within the inner solar system. Within this archtiecture, the Common Habitat is specifically used as the core habitation element within a Lunar Base Camp, Mars Base Camp, and the Deep Space Exploration Vehicle. The Common Habitat internal architecture applies a design philosophy to separate crew functions according to deck. The lower deck is reserved for private functions. It includes eight private crew quarters and four waste and hygiene clusters – each with a private waste management compartment, private full body hygiene compartment, and private foyer/clothes changing area. The mid deck is primarily allocated to mission-related functions. It includes an exercise facility, fabrication / maintenance / repair facility, physical science laboratory (physics, geology, and remote sensing: astronomy, heliophysics, planetary science, and Earth science), and life science laboratory (biology and human research). The mid deck also has four external hatches, clocked one every 90 degrees, centered on the vehicle vertical centerline. Each hatch has a 60-inch tall by 40-inch wide opening with the mid deck floor 16 inches below the bottom lip of the hatch opening. The upper deck also includes some mission functions, but is primarily allocated to social functions. It includes a large galley, wardroom with projector and display screen, plant growth chambers, bulk stowage, command and control station, medical facility, hygiene compartment, and vehicle subsystems.

Habitability↗
NASA NTRS1989

A robotically constructed production and supply base on Phobos

PHOBIA Corporation is involved with the design of a man-tenable robotically constructed, bootstrap base on Mars' moon, Phobos. This base will be a pit-stop for future manned missions to Mars and beyond and will be a control facility during the robotic construction of a Martian base. An introduction is given to the concepts and the ground rules followed during the design process. Details of a base design and its location are given along with information about some of the subsystems. Since a major purpose of the base is to supply fuel to spacecraft so they can limit their fuel mass, mining and production systems are discussed. Surface support activities such as docks, anchors, and surface transportation systems are detailed. Several power supplies for the base are investigated and include fuel cells and a nuclear reactor. Tasks for the robots are defined along with descriptions of the robots capable of completing the tasks. Finally, failure modes for the entire PHOBIA Corporation design are presented along with an effects analysis and preventative recommendations.

Source record↗
NASA NTRS2000

Burner Rig Hot Corrosion of Five Ni-Base Alloys Including Mar-M247

The hot corrosion resistance of four new Ni-base superalloys was compared to that of Mar-M247 by testing in a Mach 0.3 burner rig at 900 C for 300 1-hr cycles. While the Al content was held the same as in the Mar-M247, the Cr and Co levels in the four new alloys were decreased while other strengthening elements (Re, Ta) were increased. Surprisingly, despite their lower Cr and Co contents, the hot corrosion behavior of all four new alloys was superior to that of the Mar-M247 alloy. The Mar-M247 alloy began to lose weight almost immediately whereas the other four alloys appeared to undergo an incubation period of 50-150 1-hr cycles. Examination of the cross-sectional microstructures showed regions of rampant corrosion attack (propagation stage) in all five alloys after 300 1-hr cycles . This rampant corrosion morphology was similar for each of the alloys with Ni and Cr sulfides located in an inner subscale region. The morphology of the attack suggests a classic "Type I", or high temperature, hot corrosion attack.

Nesbitt, James A.↗
NASA NTRS2005

Creation and testing of an artificial neural network based carbonate detector for Mars rovers

We have developed an artificial neural network (ANN) based carbonate detector capable of running on current and future rover hardware. The detector can identify calcite in visible/NIR (350-2500 nm) spectra of both laboratory specimens covered by ferric dust and rocks in Mars analogue field environments. The ANN was trained using the Backpropagation algorithm with sigmoid activation neurons. For the training dataset, we chose nine carbonate and eight non-carbonate representative mineral spectra from the USGS spectral library. Using these spectra as seeds, we generated 10,000 variants with up to 2% Gaussian noise in each reflectance measurement. We cross-validated several ANN architectures, training on 9,900 spectra and testing on the remaining 100. The best performing ANN correctly detected, with perfect accuracy, the presence (or absence) of carbonate in spectral data taken on field samples from the Mojave desert and clean, pure marbles from CT. Sensitivity experiments with JSC Mars-1 simulant dust suggest the carbonate detector would perform well in aeolian Martian environments.

neural networks↗
NASA NTRS2005

A Global Map of Mars' Crustal Magnetic Field Based on Electron Reflectometry

One of the great surprises of the Mars Global Surveyor mission was the discovery of intensely magnetized crust. Magnetic sources on Mars are at least ten times stronger than their terrestrial counterparts, probably requiring large volumes of coherently magnetized material, very strong remanence, or both. Although much of the attention so far has been placed on the strong crustal fields in the southern highlands, magnetic sources do exist in the younger low-lying plains. The strength and morphology of these sources could yield clues to the thermal and magnetic history of the northern plains. Low altitude (approx. 100 km) Magnetometer (MAG) data obtained during aerobraking have the greatest spatial resolution and sensitivity for identifying crustal magnetic sources from orbit, but those data are sparse and therefore limit the ability to discern morphology. Fully sampled MAG data obtained in the 400-km altitude mapping orbit have been differenced with respect to latitude (Br/Lat) to minimize the influence of induced fields from the solar wind interaction and thus enhance the sensitivity to weak crustal sources. Here we describe independent results from the Electron Reflectometer (ER), which remotely measures the magnetic field intensity at approx. 170 km altitude, and is roughly seven times more sensitive to crustal magnetic sources than measurements of Br from the mapping orbit.

Mitchell, D. L.↗
NASA NTRS1984

A study of the solidification parameters influencing structures and properties in MAR-M246(Hf)

The nickel-base superalloy MAR-246(Hf) was studied to determine the factors affecting basic morphology and fatigue properties. Of particular interest was the degradation of fatigue properties with deviation from the 001 growth orientation. Examination of directionally solidified samples showed a dependence of carbide shape and interdentritic segregation on growth rate. Heat treatment studies focused on the gamma prime structure, determining that it reaches maximum growth after twenty-four hours but its size and stability depends on the temperature of the treatment. Fatigue test specimens were oriented crystallographically in the failed and unfailed regions and found to have rotated their orientation during the testing if they were located a significant distance from 001. This would place increased strain on the crystal and precipitate early failure.

Johnston, M. H.↗
NASA NTRS1988

Living and working on Mars

The maintenance of a permanent base on Mars is discussed, focusing on the utilization of resources from the Martian environment. The availability of water and oxygen on the planet is assessed. The use of an airshell for compressing the atmosphere, the resources which could be extracted from Martian dirt, and the possibility of terraforming, or altering the Martian environment, are examined.

Mckay, Christopher P.↗
NASA NTRS1991

Systems engineering studies of lunar base construction

Many ingenious concepts have been proposed for lunar base construction, but few systematic studies exist which relate time-consistent lunar base construction technologies and the choice of lunar base approach with the long-term SEI objectives - i.e., lunar indigenous base construction and Mars Exploration equipment development. To fill this gap, CSC has taken a two-pronged approach. First, the Center undertook basic geotechnical investigations of lunar soil, fabrication of a scale prototype of a lunar construction crane, a multi-robot construction team laboratory experiment, and a preliminary design of lunar base structures. Second, during Jun. and Jul. 1991 two lunar base construction systems engineering studies were accomplished - a 'near term lunar base' study, and a 'far-term lunar base' study. The goals of these studies were to define the major lunar base construction research problems in consistent technology/construction frameworks, and to define design requirements for construction equipment such as a lunar crane and a regolith mover. The 'near-term lunar base' study examined three different construction concepts for a lunar base comprised of pre-fabricated, pre-tested, Space Station Freedom-type modules, which would be covered with regolith shielding. Concept A used a lunar crane for unloading and transportation; concept B, a winch and cart; and concept C, a walker to move the modules from the landing site to the base site and assemble them. To evaluate the merits of each approach, calculations were made of mass efficiency measure, source mass, reliability, far-term base mass, Mars base mass, and base assembly time. The model thus established was also used to define the requirements for crane speed and regolith mover m(sup 3)/sec rates. A major problem addressed is how to 'mine' the regolith and stack it over the habitats as shielding. To identify when the cost of using indigenous lunar materials to construct the base exceeds the cost of development and delivery of the equipment for processing lunar materials, a study of construction of a candidate sintered regolith 'far term lunar base' was undertaken. A technique was devised for casting slabs of sintered (basaltic) regolith and assembling these into a hemispherical (or geodesic) dome. The major problem occurs with the inner liner. At 14.7 psi and 20 percent oxygen internal atmosphere, the entire structure is in tension, even with the regolith load. Also, another study has indicated that at 14.7 psi major resupply of air will be needed because of leakage, and astronauts may have to engage in extensive pre-breathing and post-breathing for extravehicular activity (EVA) tasks, thus detracting from useful mission work time. An alternative is to operate part of the base at, say, 5 psi and 70 percent oxygen, or to equip the astronauts with hard suits at 8.3 psi or greater. All of these choices directly influence base design and construction techniques.

Morgenthaler, George W.↗
NASA NTRS1990

The case for human exploration of Mars

The results of a workshop on the feasibility and logic of a manned Mars mission and base are discussed. Criteria for evaluating the merit of proposed Mars expeditions are presented, and the precursor mission requirements of various proposed scenarios are considered. Science objectives and how various mission scenarios would serve them are addressed. Issues of launch, assembly, transportation, and Mars base infrastructure are examined. Advanced propulsion concepts for use in a Mars mission are discussed, and international cooperation in a Mars mission is addressed. The relevance of the workshop to the crisis of education in America is considered.

Stoker, Carol R.↗
NASA NTRS1972

An experimental investigation of base heating on typical Mars entry body shapes.

Hypersonic experiments on wire supported high angle blunt cones were conducted to determine the base heating characteristics. Heating distributions were obtained for several base configurations with variations in free stream Reynolds Number and gas composition. The dependence of the heating in the base region on angle of attack was also investigated. It was found that gas composition effects can be accounted for by comparison at equal Reynolds Number. Angle of attack effects can result in either increasing or decreasing base heating depending upon the location in the base region.

Zappa, O. L.↗
NASA NTRS1999

Long Range Navigation for Mars Rovers Using Sensor-Based Path Planning and Visual Localisation

The Mars Pathfinder mission illustrated the benefits of including a mobile robotic explorer on a planetary mission. However, for future Mars rover missions, significantly increased autonomy in navigation is required in order to meet demanding mission criteria. To address these requirements, we have developed new path planning and localisation capabilities that allow a rover to navigate robustly to a distant landmark. These algorithms have been implemented on the JPL Rocky 7 prototype microrover and have been tested extensively in the JPL MarsYard, as well as in natural terrain.

Laubach, Sharon L.↗
NASA NTRS1995

The JPL Mars gravity field, Mars50c, based upon Viking and Mariner 9 Doppler tracking data

This report summarizes the current JPL efforts of generating a Mars gravity field from Viking 1 and 2 and Mariner 9 Doppler tracking data. The Mars 50c solution is a complete gravity field to degree and order 50 with solutions as well for the gravitational mass of Mars, Phobos, and Deimos. The constants and models used to obtain the solution are given and the method for determining the gravity field is presented. The gravity field is compared to the best current gravity GMM1 of Goddard Space Flight Center.

Konopliv, Alexander S.↗
NASA NTRS2007

Compositional Constraints on Hematite-Rich Spherule (Blueberry) Formation at Meridiani Planum, Mars

Meridiani Planum was chosen as the landing site for the Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity partially based on Mars Global Surveyor Thermal Emission Spectrometer data indicating an abundance of hematite. Hematite often forms through processes that involve water, so the site was a promising one to determine whether conditions on Mars were ever suitable for life. Opportunity struck pay dirt; it s Miniature Thermal Emission Spectrometer (Mini-TES) and Mossbauer Spectrometer (MB) confirmed the presence of hematite in sulfate-rich sedimentary beds and in lag deposits. Meridiani Planum rocks contain three main components: silicate phases, sulfate and possibly chloride salts, and ferric oxide phases such as hematite. Primary igneous phases are at low abundance despite the basaltic origin of the protoliths. Jarosite, an alkali ferric sulfate, was identified by Mossbauer. Some of the hematite is contained in the spherules, and some resides in finer grains in outcrops. Mossbauer and Mini-TES data indicate that hematite is a dominant constituent of the spherules. Panoramic Camera (Pancam) and Microscopic Imager (MI) images of spherule interiors show that hematite is present throughout. The exact composition of the spherules is unknown. Mini-TES only identifies a hematite signature in the spherules; any other constituents have an upper limit of 5-10% .The MB data are consistent with the spherules being composed of only hematite.

Schneider, A. L.↗
NASA NTRS1992

Spacecraft navigation at Mars using earth-based and in situ radio tracking techniques

A survey of earth-based and in situ radiometric data types and results from a number of studies investigating potential radio navigation performance for spacecraft approaching/orbiting Mars and for landed spacecraft and rovers on the surface of Mars are presented. The performance of Doppler, ranging and interferometry earth-based data types involving single or multiple spacecraft is addressed. This evaluation is conducted with that of in situ data types, such as Doppler and ranging measurements between two spacecraft near Mars, or between a spacecraft and one or more surface radio beacons.

Thurman, S. W.↗
NASA NTRS2000

Internet Based Operations for the Mars Polar Lander Mission

The Mars Polar Lander (MPL) mission is the first planetary mission to use Internet-based distributed ground operations where scientists and engineers collaborate in daily mission operations from multiple geographically distributed locations via the Internet.

Mission↗