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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 307 records · Page 17

Public service user terminus study compendium of terminus equipment

General descriptions and specifications are given for equipments which facilitate satellite and terrestrial communications delivery by acting as interfaces between a human, mechanical, or electrical information generator (or source) and the communication system. Manufactures and suppliers are given as well as the purchase, service, or lease costs of various products listed under the following cateories: voice/telephony/facsimile equipment; data/graphics terminals; full motion and processes video equipment; and multiple access equipment.

Source record↗

Design analysis of levitation facility for space processing applications

Containerless processing facilities for the space laboratory and space shuttle are defined. Materials process examples representative of the most severe requirements for the facility in terms of electrical power, radio frequency equipment, and the use of an auxiliary electron beam heater were used to discuss matters having the greatest effect upon the space shuttle pallet payload interfaces and envelopes. Improved weight, volume, and efficiency estimates for the RF generating equipment were derived. Results are particularly significant because of the reduced requirements for heat rejection from electrical equipment, one of the principal envelope problems for shuttle pallet payloads. It is shown that although experiments on containerless melting of high temperature refractory materials make it desirable to consider the highest peak powers which can be made available on the pallet, total energy requirements are kept relatively low by the very fast processing times typical of containerless experiments and allows consideration of heat rejection capabilities lower than peak power demand if energy storage in system heat capacitances is considered. Batteries are considered to avoid a requirement for fuel cells capable of furnishing this brief peak power demand.

Frost, R. T.↗

ILAW Container Cost Reduction and Optimization Study

This study, performed on behalf of Washington River Protection Solutions (WRPS), examines the potential for making cost savings for the Immobilized Low Active Waste (ILAW) containers over the mission life of the Waste Treatment and Immobilization Plant (WTP). it builds on earlier study assessments 24590-LAW-RPT-M-01-001 Rev 0 ILAW Product Container Specifications Optimization Study and DOE/ORP-2013-02 Rev 0 Decision Analysis of Low-Active Waste Container Finishing Handling System Alternatives. The WTP design and installed equipment has evolved over an extended period ~20 years. Consequently, some of the existing requirements relating the ILAW containers may no longer be applicable under current mission plans where the glass filled containers are placed into the Integrated Disposal Facility (IDF) rather than stacked in an engineered purpose-built ventilated store as originally envisioned. The study team reviewed available WTP project reference documents to establish the functions the container must perform and assign requirements against each of these functions. With the assumptions that some of the existing WTP contract restrictions would not necessarily apply to the subsequent facility operations contract the container requirements were reviewed to identify those which were ‘hard constraints‘, imposed by regulatory requirements. Initially each of these hard constraints were reviewed, evaluated and documented to see if they precluded the use of an alternate less expensive material of construction, carbon steel, to the existing 304 L stainless steel in the current container specification. That review did not generate any fatal flaws for a change in material of construction to carbon steel allowing the study team to examine the impacts of material cost savings, potential changes to the design and requirements and impacts on interfaces of the containers with the existing WTP process equipment from container receipt, transfers, glass filling, cooling and export. In addition, a change in container target fill level was evaluated and qualitative, and quantitative where feasible, impacts to the container fabrication process assessed. Lastly, additional follow on development or testing activities to support the use of carbon steel were assessed and a recommended path forward with a ROM cost and timescale developed.

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗

Ground Software Maintenance Facility (GSMF) system manual

The Ground Software Maintenance Facility (GSMF) is designed to support development and maintenance of spacelab ground support software. THE GSMF consists of a Perkin Elmer 3250 (Host computer) and a MITRA 125s (ATE computer), with appropriate interface devices and software to simulate the Electrical Ground Support Equipment (EGSE). This document is presented in three sections: (1) GSMF Overview; (2) Software Structure; and (3) Fault Isolation Capability. The overview contains information on hardware and software organization along with their corresponding block diagrams. The Software Structure section describes the modes of software structure including source files, link information, and database files. The Fault Isolation section describes the capabilities of the Ground Computer Interface Device, Perkin Elmer host, and MITRA ATE.

Derrig, D.↗

At the intersection of automation and culture

The crash of an automated passenger jet at Nagoya, Japan, in 1995, is used as an example of crew error in using automatic systems. Automation provides pilots with the ability to perform tasks in various ways. National culture is cited as a factor that affects how a pilot and crew interact with each other and equipment.

NASA Discipline Space Human Factors↗

Interface Specifications for RAdiation Portal Technology Enhancement & Replacement (RAPTER) Modules

Radiation Portal Monitors (RPMs) were deployed throughout the port and border infrastructure of the United States (U.S.) beginning in 2003 to monitor for the possible presence of uncontrolled radiological and nuclear materials. Since that time, the U.S. Government (USG) has learned much about the operational challenges faced in the field. Principal among the shortcomings has been the lack of flexibility afforded the USG when all Internet Protocol (IP) rights and interfaces of the system are owned by the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM).

98 NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT, SAFEGUARDS, AND PHYSICAL P↗

Spiral approach navigation concepts for VTOL aircraft using a microwave landing system

Spiral approaches adjacent to the active runways of CTOL airports have been proposed as a means of effectively interfacing CTOL and VTOL landing operations. Assuming an airport equipped with a Microwave Landing System (MLS), a VTOL aircraft following a spiral approach path might, depending on the specific trajectory, pass alternatively in and out of the linear coverage of the MLS and thereby suffer degraded navigation performance. The objective of this study was to employ essentially state-of-the-art aided inertial navigation concepts to explore the expected navigation performance operating in the environment just described. Results show that aided inertial concepts utilizing simple body-mounted inertia systems may be adequate for an instrument landing if the MLS azimuth and Distance Measuring Equipment (DME) signal coverages extend to within a few feet of the ground.

Mcgee, L. A.↗

Transfer functions

The vulnerability of electronic equipment to carbon fibers is studied. The effectiveness of interfaces, such as filters, doors, window screens, and cabinets, which affect the concentration, exposure, or deposition of carbon fibers on both (internal and external) sides of the interface is examined. The transfer function of multilayer aluminum mesh, wet and dry, polyurethane foam, and window screen are determined as a function of air velocity. FIlters installed in typical traffic control boxes and air conditioners are also considered.

Taback, I.↗

The management of energy utilization in a spacecraft tracking station and its industrial applications

The mission of a tracking station within the NASA/Jet Propulsion Deep Space Network is characterized by a wide diversity of spacecraft types, communications ranges, and data accuracy requirements. In the present paper, the system architecture, communications techniques, and operators interfaces for a utility controller are described. The control equipment as designed and installed is meant to be a tool to study applications of automated control in the dynamic environment of a tracking station. It allows continuous experimenting with new technology without disruption of the tracking activities.

Reynolds, R.↗

Pull Test Verifies Gap Loading

Thin plastic strip pulled away from gap by force gage to measure pressure applied on gap filler. Force necessary to initiate movement of thin plastic strip is measure of gap tightness. Procedure determines interface pressures or loads where conventional load-measuring equipment cannot be used. Used to check refrigerator-door seals.

Hagen, G. R.↗

Environmental Control Life Support for the Space Station

The preliminary design of the nation's Space Station is presently being developed. The Environmental Control and Life Support System (ECLSS), consisting of regenerative and nonregenerative technologies, has progressed through a series of trade studies including evaluation of the closure and distribution within the evolutionary Space Station configuration. The analysis has included the identification of the time-critical functions, redundancy (backup) management, definition of common subsystem interfaces and quantification of technology options for the process equipment. Each technology has been characterized by its physical characteristics of weight, power, volume, heat rejection, etc. Summaries of the trade study findings for the overall ECLSS in terms of physical characteristics and the impact of selected technologies is presented.

Miller, Craig W.↗

Two-measured variable method for wall interference assessment/correction

An iterative method for wall interference assessment and/or correction is presented for transonic flow conditions in wind tunnels equipped with two component velocity measurements on a single interface. The iterative method does not require modeling of the test article and tunnel wall boundary conditions. Analytical proof for the convergence and stability of the iterative method is shown in the subsonic flow regime. The numerical solutions are given for both 2-D and axisymmetrical cases at transonic speeds with the application of global Mach number correction.

Lo, C. F.↗

Orbital Maneuvering Vehicle (OMV) three-point docking latch

The primary purpose of the OMV is to dock with orbiting payloads and then either transfer them to a different orbit or return them to the Space Shuttle for servicing. Some such missions will involve docking with payloads equipped with a Flight Support System (FSS) type of interface; an example is the Hubble Space Telescope (HST). The design and development of a mechanism to be used for testing this docking concept on the NASA-Marshall test beds is described. The test results to date are also presented.

Myers, W. Neill↗

Pegasus (trademark) launch operations and the PegaStar integrated spacecraft bus

The Pegasus air launched space booster, which successfully flew its maiden flight on 5 Apr. 1990, provides the international satellite community with a flexible cost effective means for delivering small payloads into low Earth orbit. The vehicle's simple, robust design and horizontal integration methods ensure maximum reliability and significantly reduce launch base infrastructure requirements. The vehicle's air launched approach and ability to launch over open ocean regions provide unmatched flexibility in launch location and approach used to ensure range safety. The PegaStar integrated spacecraft bus, which complements the Pegasus launch system, can provide a turnkey means for delivering instrument and sensor packages into low Earth orbit and providing extended (5 to 10 year) on orbit operational support. Pegasus and PegaStar are described, including payload interfaces, delivery capability; integration methods, facility and ground support equipment requirements; and typical launch operations.

Mosier, Marty↗

Spacelab Life Sciences 1, development towards successive life sciences flights

A general review is presented of flight data and related hardware developments for Spacelab Life Sciences (SLS) 1 with an eye toward applying this knowledge to projected flight planning. Specific attention is given to the Research Animal Holding Facility (RAHF), the General Purpose Work Station (GPWS), the Small Mass Measuring Instrument (SMMI), and the Animal Enclosure Module (AEM). Preflight and in-flight testing methods are detailed including biocompatibility tests, parametric engineering sensitivity analyses, measurements of environmental parameters, and studies of operational interfaces. Particulate containment is demonstrated for some of the equipment, and successful use of the GPWS, RAHF, AEM, and SMMI are reported. The in-flight data are useful for developing more advanced hardware such as the AEM for SLS flight 2 and the modified RAHF for SLS flight 3.

Dalton, B. P.↗

Cost effective data system design approach for EOS AM-1

The question of how to design a cost-effective data system for a space-based application with a high aggregate data rate is addressed. The steps used by the EOS AM-1 design team are defined. A summary of the design as of January 1993 is outlined. The AM-1 Science Data system is comprised of one subsystem that ingests, formats, and routes data - the Science Formatting Equipment (SFE), and another that records the data. Key interfaces are the interfaces to the high rate science instruments, the real-time transmitters, and the internal interface between the SFR and the Solid State Recorder. A cost-effective design approach for the AM-1 data system must take into account impacts on ground systems, data processing facilities, availability of data for real-time users, and future spacecraft designs.

Westmeyer, Paul A.↗

High temperature superconducting infrared imaging satellite

A low earth orbiting platform for an infrared (IR) sensor payload is examined based on the requirements of a Naval Research Laboratory statement of work. The experiment payload is a 1.5-meter square by 0.5-meter high cubic structure equipped with the imaging system, radiators, and spacecraft mounting interface. The orbit is circular at 509 km (275 nmi) altitude and 70 deg. inclination. The spacecraft is three-axis stabilized with pointing accuracy of plus or minus 0.5 deg. in each axis. The experiment payload requires two 15-minute sensing periods over two contiguous orbit periods for 30 minutes of sensing time per day. The spacecraft design is presented for launch via a Delta 2 rocket. Subsystem designs include attitude control, propulsion, electric power, telemetry, tracking and command, thermal design, structure, and cost analysis.

Angus, B.↗

Ring Bus Architecture for a Solid-State Recorder

A document concisely describes a ring bus architecture for a proposed solid-state recorder (SSR) that would serve as buffer of data to be transmitted from a spacecraft to Earth. This architecture would afford fault tolerance needed for reliable operation in an anticipated high-radiation environment in which traditional SSRs cannot operate reliably. Features of the architecture include one or more controller boards and multiple memory boards interconnected in a ringlike topology. The interconnections would be high-speed serial links complying with the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) standard 1393 (which pertains to a spaceborne fiber-optic data bus). Accordingly, each controller and memory board would be equipped with an IEEE-1393-compliant ring-bus-interface unit. The ringlike topology and the multiplicity of memory boards (and, optionally, of controller boards) would afford the redundancy needed for fault tolerance. Each board would be a fault-containment region. The IEEE 1393 links could be routed so that the SSR would continue to function even in the event of multiple failures. This architecture would also support scalability over a wide range. In a fully redundant configuration, it could accommodate between 1 and 125 memory boards.

Walker, W. John↗