Space technology for non-aerospace applications.
Space technology application to enhancing quality of human life on earth, discussing NASA organization and partnerships in industrial and academic communities
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Space technology application to enhancing quality of human life on earth, discussing NASA organization and partnerships in industrial and academic communities
Applications of a codified professional practice that uses visual representations of the thoughts and ideas of a working group are reported in order to improve productivity, problem solving, and innovation. This visual technology process was developed under the auspices of General Foods as part of a multi-year study. The study resulted in the validation of this professional service as a way to use art and design to facilitate productivity and innovation and to define new opportunities. It was also used by NASA for planning Lunar/Mars exploration and by other companies for general business and advanced strategic planning, developing new product concepts, and litigation support. General Foods has continued to use the service for packaging innovation studies.
Brief summary of EDL technology development in STMD, shifting to a focus on how Dragonfly is using EDL technology to mitigate risk.
Application of satellite remote sensing to wide range of areas requires the development or improvement of specialized spaceborne and ground-based equipment and systems. This paper describes some of the important areas for remote sensing and the opportunities that must be met in order to advance technology and capabilities for the exploitation of space to the year 2000.
The results of the medically related activities of the NASA Application Team Program in technology application for the reporting period September 1, 1972, to August 31, 1973 are reported. The accomplishments of the application team during the reporting period are as follows: The team has identified 39 new problems for investigation, has accomplished 7 technology applications, 4 potential technology applications, 2 impacts, has closed 38 old problems, and has a total of 59 problems under active investigation.
Technology is changing at a fast pace. Transistor geometries are getting smaller, voltage thresholds are getting lower, design complexity is exponentially increasing, and user options are expanding. Consequently, reliable insertion of error detection and correction (EDAC) circuitry has become relatively challenging. As a response, a variety of mitigation techniques are being evaluated. They range from weak EDAC circuits that save area and power to strong mitigation strategies that are a great expense to systems. This presentation will focus on radiation induced susceptibilities for a variety of FPGA types and ASIC devices. In addition, the user will be provided information on applicable mitigation strategies per device.
The present conference on state-of-the-art IR systems and components technologies and their applications encompasses developments in IR systems design, production technologies, IR component testing, IR systems evaluations, laboratory and industrial applications, and aerospace ranging sensor and surveillance sensor applications. Attention is given to IR zoom lens telescopes, large zinc sulphide windows for airborne applications, thermal imaging system evaluation, minimum resolvable temperature difference measurement methods, industrial use of IR spectroscopy, platinum silicide sensor imagery, and recent developments in laser rangefinders.
Ion propulsion research and development yields a mature technology that is transferable to a wide range of nonpropulsive applications, including terrestrial and space manufacturing. A xenon ion source was used for an investigation into potential ion-beam applications. The results of cathode tests and discharge-chamber experiments are presented. A series of experiments encompassing a wide range of potential applications is discussed. Two types of processes, sputter deposition, and erosion were studied. Some of the potential applications are thin-film Teflon capacitor fabrication, lubrication applications, ion-beam cleaning and polishing, and surface texturing.
Technology Selection in IT Infrastructure Consolidation initiatives.
Technology has been developed for a class of self-contained, long-duration power sources called beta batteries, which harvest the energy contained in the radioactive emissions from beta decay isotopes. The new battery is a significant improvement over the conventional phosphor/solar cell concept for converting this energy in three ways. First, the thin phosphor is replaced with a thick scintillator that is transparent to its own emissions. By using a scintillator sufficiently thick to completely stop all the beta particles, efficiency is greatly improved. Second, since the energy of the beta particles is absorbed in the scintillator, the semiconductor photodetector is shielded from radiation damage that presently limits the performance and lifetime of traditional phosphor converters. Finally, instead of a thin film of beta-emitting material, the isotopes are incorporated into the entire volume of the thick scintillator crystal allowing more activity to be included in the converter without self-absorption. There is no chemical difference between radioactive and stable strontium beta emitters such as Sr-90, so the beta emitter can be uniformly distributed throughout a strontium based scintillator crystal. When beta emitter material is applied as a foil or thin film to the surface of a solar cell or even to the surface of a scintillator, much of the radiation escapes due to the geometry, and some is absorbed within the layer itself, leading to inefficient harvesting of the energy. In contrast, if the emitting atoms are incorporated within the scintillator, the geometry allows for the capture and efficient conversion of the energy of particles emitted in any direction. Any gamma rays associated with secondary decays or Bremsstrahlung photons may also be absorbed within the scintillator, and converted to lower energy photons, which will in turn be captured by the photocell or photodiode. Some energy will be lost in this two-stage conversion process (high-energy particle to low-energy photons to electric current). The geometric advantage partially offsets this as well, since the absorption depth of high-energy beta radiation is much larger than the depth of a p-n junction. Thus, in a p-n junction device, much of the radiation is absorbed far away from the junction, and the electron- hole pairs are not all effectively collected. In contrast, with a transparent scintillator the radiation can be converted to light in a larger volume, and all of the light can be collected in the active region of the photodiode. Finally, the new device is more practical because it can be used at much higher power levels without unduly shortening its lifetime. While the crystal structure of scintillators is also subject to radiation damage, their performance is far more tolerant of defects than that of semiconductor junctions. This allows the scintillator- based approach to use both higher energy isotopes and larger quantities of the isotopes. It is projected that this technology has the potential to produce a radioisotope battery with up to twice the efficiency of presently used systems.
Aerospace technology that is being developed for space and aeronautical applications has great potential for providing technical advances for terrestrial power systems. Some recent accomplishments arising from activities being pursued at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Centers is described in this paper. Possible terrestrial applications of the new aerospace technology are also discussed.
Aerospace technology that is being developed for space and aeronautical applications has great potential for providing technical advances for terrestrial power systems. Some recent accomplishments arising from activities being pursued at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Centers is described in this paper. Possible terrestrial applications of the new aerospace technology are also discussed.
Over the past six decades, satellite remote sensing technology has contributed to the transformation of using earth science not only to advance science, but to improve quality of life. With satellite missions launched almost every year, new types of earth science data are being incorporated into science, models and decision-making systems in a broad array of organizations. A challenge for space agencies has been ensuring that satellite missions serve both the scientific community and the applied community of decision makers without the missions becoming unfocused and overly expensive. By understanding and considering the needs of the environmental data and applied research user community early on in the mission-design process, agencies can ensure that satellites meet the needs of multiple constituencies. This paper describes the mission development process in the European Space Agency and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and compares and contrasts the successes of and challenges faced by these agencies in balancing science and applications within their missions.
Ultra-wideband (UWB), also known as impulse or carrier-free radio technology, is one promising new technology. In February 2002, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) approved the deployment of this technology. It is increasingly recognized that UWB technology holds great potential to provide significant benefits in many terrestrial and space applications such as precise positioning/tracking and high data rate mobile wireless communications. This talk presents an introduction to UWB technology and some applications on space exploration. UWB is characterized by several uniquely attractive features, such as low impact on other RF systems due to its extremely low power spectral densities, immunity to interference from narrow band RF systems due to its ultra-wide bandwidth, multipath immunity to fading due to ample multipath diversity, capable of precise positioning due to fine time resolution, capable of high data rate multi-channel performance. The related FCC regulations, IEEE standardization efforts and industry activities also will be addressed in this talk. For space applications, some projects currently under development at NASA Johnson Space Center will be introduced. These include the UWB integrated communication and tracking system for Lunar/Mars rover and astronauts, UWB-RFID ISS inventory tracking, and UWB-TDOA close-in high resolution tracking for potential applications on robonaut.
Since September 2001 NASA s In-Space Propulsion Technology (ISPT) program has been developing technologies for lowering the cost of planetary science missions. Recently completed is the high-temperature Advanced Material Bipropellant Rocket (AMBR) engine providing higher performance for lower cost. Two other cost saving technologies nearing completion are the NEXT ion thruster and the Aerocapture technology project. Also under development are several technologies for low cost sample return missions. These include a low cost Hall effect thruster (HIVHAC) which will be completed in 2011, light weight propellant tanks, and a Multi-Mission Earth Entry Vehicle (MMEEV). This paper will discuss the status of the technology development, the cost savings or performance benefits, and applicability of these in-space propulsion technologies to NASA s future Discovery, and New Frontiers missions, as well as their relevance for sample return missions.
This paper describes reversed engineered biological peristaltics through the insightful evolution of MEMS technology. While the emphasis on pump applications is in the miniaturization of spacecraft bus and payload, terrestrial applications are evident.
A brief summary of a comprehensive state of the art survey is presented. The survey includes five broadly applicable technology areas: flight path management, aircraft control systems, crew station & human factors, integration & interfacing technology, and fundamental technology. In addition the survey included military technologies which have a technology transfer potential to the five broadly applicable technology areas.
The purpose of the K-12 workshop is to stimulate a cross pollination of inter-center activity and introduce the regional centers to curing edge K-1 activities. The format of the workshop consists of project presentations, working groups, and working group reports, all contained in a three day period. The agenda is aggressive and demanding. The K-12 Education Project is a multi-center activity managed by the Information Infrastructure Technology and Applications (IITA)/K-12 Project Office at the NASA Ames Research Center (ARC). this workshop is conducted in support of executing the K-12 Education element of the IITA Project The IITA/K-12 Project funds activities that use the National Information Infrastructure (NII) (e.g., the Internet) to foster reform and restructuring in mathematics, science, computing, engineering, and technical education.