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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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Issues in space photovoltaic research and technology

Key issues and opportunities in space photovoltaic research and technology are addressed relative to future NASA mission requirements and drivers. Examples are given of future space missions and/or operational capabilities that are on NASA's planning horizon presenting major tachnology challenges to the use of photovoltaic power generation in space. A brief description of the capabilities ascribed to the competing technologies of nuclear and solar thermal power systems are given. The performance goals that space photovoltaic power systems must meet to remain competitive are described.

Flood, Dennis J.↗

Issues in space photovoltaic research and technology

Key issues and opportunities in space photovoltaic research and technology are addressed relative to future NASA mission requirements and drivers. Examples are given of future space missions and/or operational capabilities that are on NASA's planning horizon, presenting major technology challenges to the use of photovoltaic power generation in space. A brief description of the capabilities ascribed to the competing technologies of nuclear and solar thermal power systems are discussed. The performance goals that space photovoltaic power systems must meet to remain competitive are described.

Flood, Dennis J.↗

Hybrid Tank Technology

Researchers have accomplished great advances in pressure vessel technology by applying high-performance composite materials as an over-wrap to metal-lined pressure vessels. These composite over-wrapped pressure vessels (COPVs) are used in many areas, from air tanks for firefighters and compressed natural gas tanks for automobiles, to pressurant tanks for aerospace launch vehicles and propellant tanks for satellites and deep-space exploration vehicles. NASA and commercial industry are continually striving to find new ways to make high-performance pressure vessels safer and more reliable. While COPVs are much lighter than all-metal pressure vessels, the composite material, typically graphite fibers with an epoxy matrix resin, is vulnerable to impact damage. Carbon fiber is most frequently used for the high-performance COPV applications because of its high strength-to-weight characteristics. Other fibers have been used, but with limitations. For example, fiberglass is inexpensive but much heavier than carbon. Aramid fibers are impact resistant but have less strength than carbon and their performance tends to deteriorate.

Source record↗

Biennial Research and Technology Development Report

Various articles for the Biennial Research and Technology Development Report of the Johnson Space Center include: Automating ISS File Management using Agent-Based Systems Integration; International Space Station Operations; Planning and Monitoring ISS Solar Array Operations; Water Egress and Survival Trainer; Search and Relationship -- Mining of Heterogeneous Flight Control Documents; and Anomaly Monitoring Inductive Software System.

Taylor, Elizabeth↗

Second program on energy research and technologies

The second major energy research and development program is described. Renewable and nonrenewable energy resources are presented which include nuclear technology and future energy sources, like fusion. The current status and outlook for future progress are given.

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NASA Software Assurance's Roles in Research and Technology

This slide presentation reviews the interactions between the scientist and engineers doing research and technology and the software developers and others who are doing software assurance. There is a discussion of the role of the Safety and Mission Assurance (SMA) in developing software to be used for research and technology, and the importance of this role as the technology moves to the higher levels of the technology readiness levels (TRLs). There is also a call to change the way the development of software is developed.

Wetherholt, Martha↗

Marshall Space Flight Center Research and Technology Report 2017

This report features over 60 technology development and scientific research efforts that collectively aim to enable new capabilities in spaceflight, expand the reach of human exploration, and reveal new knowledge about the universe in which we live. These efforts include a wide array of strategic developments: launch propulsion technologies that facilitate more reliable, routine, and cost effective access to space; in-space propulsion developments that provide new solutions to space transportation requirements; autonomous systems designed to increase our utilization of robotics to accomplish critical missions; life support technologies that target our ability to implement closed-loop environmental resource utilization; science instruments that enable terrestrial, solar, planetary and deep space observations and discovery; and manufacturing technologies that will change the way we fabricate everything from rocket engines to in situ generated fuel and consumables.

Research and Technology Report↗

Variable conductance heat pipe technology

Research and development programs in variable conductance heat pipe technology were conducted. The treatment has been comprehensive, involving theoretical and/or experimental studies in hydrostatics, hydrodynamics, heat transfer into and out of the pipe, fluid selection, and materials compatibility, in addition to the principal subject of variable conductance control techniques. Efforts were not limited to analytical work and laboratory experimentation, but extended to the development, fabrication and test of spacecraft hardware, culminating in the successful flight of the Ames Heat Pipe Experiment on the OAO-C spacecraft.

Marcus, B. D.↗

Automated inspection of solder joints for surface mount technology

Researchers at NASA/GSFC evaluated various automated inspection systems (AIS) technologies using test boards with known defects in surface mount solder joints. These boards were complex and included almost every type of surface mount device typical of critical assemblies used for space flight applications: X-ray radiography; X-ray laminography; Ultrasonic Imaging; Optical Imaging; Laser Imaging; and Infrared Inspection. Vendors, representative of the different technologies, inspected the test boards with their particular machine. The results of the evaluation showed limitations of AIS. Furthermore, none of the AIS technologies evaluated proved to meet all of the inspection criteria for use in high-reliability applications. It was found that certain inspection systems could supplement but not replace manual inspection for low-volume, high-reliability, surface mount solder joints.

Savage, Robert M.↗

Space Electrochemical Research and Technology

This document contains the proceedings of NASA's third Space Electrochemical Research and Technology (SERT) Conference, held at the NASA Lewis Research Center on April 9-10, 1991. The objective of the conference was to assess the present status and general thrust of research and development in those areas of electrochemical technology required to enable NASA missions into the next century. The conference provided a forum for the exchange of ideas and opinions of those actively involved in the field, in order to define new opportunities for the application of electrochemical processes in future NASA missions. Papers were presented in three technical areas: the electrochemical interface, the next generation in aerospace batteries and fuel cells, and electrochemistry for nonenergy storage applications. This document contains the abstracts of the papers presented.

Electrochemistry↗

Space Electrochemical Research and Technology

This document contains the proceedings of NASA's fourth Space Electrochemical Research and Technology (SERT) Conference, held at the NASA Lewis Research Center on April 14-15, 1993. The objective of the conference was to assess the present status and general thrust of research and development in those areas of electrochemical technology required to enable NASA missions into the next century. The conference provided a forum for the exchange of ideas and opinions of those actively involved in the field, in order to define new opportunities for the application of electrochemical processes in future NASA missions. Papers were presented in three technical areas: advanced secondary batteries, fuel cells, and advanced concepts for space power. This document contains the papers presented.

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Advanced Life Support Research and Technology Development Metric: Fiscal Year 2003

This document provides the official calculation of the Advanced Life Support (ALS) Research and Technology Development Metric (the Metric) for Fiscal Year 2003. As such, the values herein are primarily based on Systems Integration, Modeling, and Analysis (SIMA) Element approved software tools or reviewed and approved reference documents. The Metric is one of several measures employed by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to assess the Agency s progress as mandated by the United States Congress and the Office of Management and Budget. Because any measure must have a reference point, whether explicitly defined or implied, the Metric is a comparison between a selected ALS Project life support system and an equivalently detailed life support system using technology from the Environmental Control and Life Support System (ECLSS) for the International Space Station (ISS). More specifically, the Metric is the ratio defined by the equivalent system mass (ESM) of a life support system for a specific mission using the ISS ECLSS technologies divided by the ESM for an equivalent life support system using the best ALS technologies. As defined, the Metric should increase in value as the ALS technologies become lighter, less power intensive, and require less volume. For Fiscal Year 2003, the Advanced Life Support Research and Technology Development Metric value is 1.47 for an Orbiting Research Facility and 1.36 for an Independent Exploration Mission.

Hanford, A. J.↗

Research and technology, 1986

The mission of the NASA Langley Research Center is to increase the knowledge and capability of the United States in a full range of aeronautics disciplines and in selected space disciplines. This mission will be accomplished by: performing innovative research relevant to national needs and Agency goals; transferring technology to users in a timely manner; and providing development support to other United States Government agencies, industry, and the NASA centers. This report contains highlights of the major accomplishments and applications made during the past year. The highlights illustrate both the broad range of the research and technology activities at the NASA Langley Research Center and the contributions of this work toward maintaining United States leadership in aeronautics and space research.

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Research and technology 1987

The mission of the NASA Langley Research Center is to increase the knowledge and capability of the United States in a full range of aeronautics disciplines and in selected space disciplines. This mission will be accomplished by: performing innovative research relevant to national needs and Agency goals; transferring technology to users in a timely manner; and providing development support to other United States Government agencies, industry, and other NASA centers. Contained are highlights of the major accomplishments and applications that were made during the past year. The highlights illustrate both the broad range of the research and technology activities at the NASA Langley Research Center and the contributions of this work toward maintaining United States leadership in aeronautics and space research.

Source record↗

Desert Research and Technology Studies (DRATS) Traverse Planning

Slide 1] The Desert Research and Technology Studies (DRATS) include large scale field tests of manned lunar surface exploration systems; these tests are sponsored by the Director s Office of Integration (DOI) [sic, Directorate Integration Office (DIO)] within the Constellation Program and they include geological exploration objectives along well designed traverses. These traverses are designed by the Traverse Team, an ad hoc group of some 10 geologists form NASA and academia, as well as experts in mission operation who define the operational constraints applicable to specific simulation scenarios. [Slide 2] These DRATS/DOI tests focus on 1) the performance of major surface systems, such as rovers, mobile habitats, communication architecture, navigation tools, earth-moving equipment, unmanned reconnaissance robots etc. under realistic field conditions and 2) the development of operational concepts that integrate all of these systems into a single, optimized operation. The participation of science is currently concentrating on geological sciences, with the objective of developing suitable tools and documentation protocols to sample representative rocks for Earth return, and to generate some conceptual understanding of the ground support structure that will be needed for the real time science-support of a lunar surface crew. [Slide 3] Major surface systems exercised in the June 2008 analog tests at the Moses Lake site, WA. [Upper left] The Chariot Rover (developed at Johnson Space Center) is an unpressurized vehicle driven by fully suited crews. [Upper right] Mobile Habitat provided by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Chariot is the more nimble and mobile vehicle and the idea is to drive the habitat remotely to some rendezvous place where Chariot would catch up - after a lengthy traverse - at the end of the day. [Lower left] The K-10 remotely operated robot (provided by NASA Ames Research Center) conducting scientific/geologic reconnaissance of the prospective traverse region, locating specific sites for more detailed exploration by Chariot and its crew. [Lower right] This earth-moving equipment (provided by NASA KSC) can be attached to Chariot and is envisioned to, for example, level an outpost site or to mine lunar soi

Horz, Friedrich↗

Airframe Systems: Research and Technology Base Program

The author argues that the aeronautics research and technology base has shifted from a discipline focus to a program focus. The program planning is progressing as Level I is complete and Level II plans are under development, while there is significant inter-center planning and coordination taking place. These programs are addressing problems that are important to the nation namely, "the three pillars to success" which are; access to space, global civil aviation and revolutionary technology leaps.

Whitlow, Woodrow, Jr.↗