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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

STS-41D Post Flight Press Conference with Highlights

The crew, Commander Henry W. Hartsfield, Jr., Pilot Michael L. Coats, Mission Specialists Judith A. Resnik, Steven A. Hawley, and Richard M. Mullane, and Payload Specialist Charles D. Walker are seen participating a panel discussion. Live footage of the Press Conference begins with a brief introduction of all the crew, followed by highlights of the flight, a selection of slides and still pictures, and ends with a question and answer segment. The highlights consist of the astronauts walk out to the Astro-Van, panoramic views of the Discovery on the launch pad, main engine start, ignition of the solid rocket boosters, liftoff, and separation of the boosters. Images of the opening of the sun shield and the deployment of the three communication satellites (Satellite Business System (SBS-D), SYNCOM IV-2, and TELSTAR) are also seen. The crew is seen working on experiments, dumping the wastewater, eating supper, and sleeping. Concluding the live footage are slides, and stills of various areas around the world, including the Libyan Desert, Angola, Namibia, and Australia. The Press Conference ends with questions from Houston, NASA Headquarter, Kennedy Space Center, and Marshall Space Flight Center.

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STS-93: Columbia/Chandra Crew Press Conference

This videotape consists of six different segments. The first segment is a close-up shot from Near-Earth Asteroid Rendezvous (NEAR) of the asteroid EROS. The second presents close-up shots of the Chandra telescope in the clean room. The third segment is an animated film showing the deployment of the Chandra telescope from the shuttle payload bay, and views of the elliptical orbit patterns that the telescope is planned to take. The fourth segment shows TRW Executive Vice President & General Manager, Systems & Information Technology Group, Donald Winter announcing the delivery of the Chandra Telescope to NASA. The fifth part was announced on the tape as an interview of Carolyn Griner, the Deputy Director of Marshall Space Flight Center, but this is not on the tape. The sixth segment shows views of the fourth United States Microgravity Payload (USMP-4) experiments. After shots of the STS-87 liftoff, the tape has views of the Isothermal Dendrite Growth Experiment (IDGE), views of the payload bay, and some further views of the astronauts working on one of the experiments in the payload.

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Apollo 12 Mission Summary and Splashdown

This NASA Kennedy Space Center (KSC) video release presents footage of the November 14, 1969 Apollo-12 space mission begun from launch complex pad 39-A at Kennedy Space Center, Florida. Charles Conrad, Jr., Richard F. Gordon, Jr., and Alan L. Bean make up the three-man spacecrew. The video includes the astronaut's pre-launch breakfast, President Nixon, his wife, and daughter arriving at Cape Kennedy in time to see the launch, as well as countdown and liftoff. After the launch, President Nixon gives a brief congratulatory speech to the members of launch control at KSC. The video also presents views of the astronauts and spacecraft in space as well as splashdown of the command module on November 24, 1969. The video ends with the recovery, by helicopter and additional personnel, of the spacecrew from the command module floating in the waters of the Atlantic.

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STS-99 Crew Activities Report/Flight Day 1 Highlights

Live footage shows the crew, Commander Kevin R. Kregel, Pilot Dominic L. Pudwill Gorie, and Mission Specialists Janet L. Kavandi, Janice E. Voss, Mamoru Mohri and Gerhard P.J. Thiele, seated in the dining room with the traditional cake. The crew is seen performing various pre-launch activities including suit-up, walk out to the Astro-van, and strap-in into the vehicle. Also seen are the retractions of the orbiter access arm and the gaseous oxygen mint hood, main engine start, booster ignition, liftoff, and separation of the solid rocket boosters. The Red Team (first of the dual shift crew) includes Kregel, Kavandi, and Thiele, who are shown conducting jet thruster firings, activating radar instruments, and deploying the boom (mass).

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Flight Results of the Chandra X-ray Observatory Inertial Upper Stage Space Mission

Under contract to NASA, a specially configured version of the Boeing developed Inertial Upper Stage (IUS) booster was provided by Boeing to deliver NASA's 1.5 billion dollar Chandra X-Ray Observatory satellite into a highly elliptical transfer orbit from a Shuttle provided circular park orbit. Subsequently, the final orbit of the Chandra satellite was to be achieved using the Chandra Integral Propulsion System (IPS) through a series of IPS burns. On 23 July 1999 the Shuttle Columbia (STS-93) was launched with the IUS/Chandra stack in the Shuttle payload bay. Unfortunately, the Shuttle Orbiter was unexpectantly inserted into an off-nominal park orbit due to a Shuttle propulsion anomaly occurring during ascent. Following the IUS/Chandra on-orbit deployment from the Shuttle, at seven hours from liftoff, the flight proven IUS GN&C system successfully injected Chandra into the targeted transfer orbit, in spite of the off-nominal park orbit. This paper describes the IUS GN&C system, discusses the specific IUS GN&C mission data load development, analyses and testing for the Chandra mission, and concludes with a summary of flight results for the IUS part of the Chandra mission.

Tillotson, R.↗

A Multidisciplinary Performance Analysis of a Lifting-Body Single-Stage-to-Orbit Vehicle

Lockheed Martin Skunk Works (LMSW) is currently developing a single-stage-to-orbit reusable launch vehicle called VentureStar(TM) A team at NASA Langley Research Center participated with LMSW in the screening and evaluation of a number of early VentureStar(TM) configurations. The performance analyses that supported these initial studies were conducted to assess the effect of a lifting body shape, linear aerospike engine and metallic thermal protection system (TPS) on the weight and performance of the vehicle. These performance studies were performed in a multidisciplinary fashion that indirectly linked the trajectory optimization with weight estimation and aerothermal analysis tools. This approach was necessary to develop optimized ascent and entry trajectories that met all vehicle design constraints. Significant improvements in ascent performance were achieved when the vehicle flew a lifting trajectory and varied the engine mixture ratio during flight. Also, a considerable reduction in empty weight was possible by adjusting the total oxidizer-to-fuel and liftoff thrust-to-weight ratios. However, the optimal ascent flight profile had to be altered to ensure that the vehicle could be trimmed in pitch using only the flow diverting capability of the aerospike engine. Likewise, the optimal entry trajectory had to be tailored to meet TPS heating rate and transition constraints while satisfying a crossrange requirement.

Tartabini, Paul V.↗

STS-99: Post Flight Presentation

Live footage shows the crewmembers of STS-99, Commander Kevin R. Kregel, Pilot Dominic L. Pudwill Gorie, and Mission Specialists Janet L. Kavandi, Janice E. Voss, Mamoru Mohri, and Gerhard P.J. Thiele, arriving at Kennedy Space Center (KSC) in the T-38 aircraft. Crewmembers are seen speaking to the welcoming crowd at KSC, suiting-up, walking out to the Astro-van, being strapped in the shuttle, and performing various activities while in orbit. Scenes include the astronaut training process, main engine ignition, liftoff, solid rocket booster separation, mast deployment and retraction, and the changing of the mapping tapes. Footage also includes the crewmembers sleeping, eating, exercising, dancing and having fun in zero gravity. The High Definition Television Camera (HDTV) picks up images from the Earth. These images includes Bolivia, Paraguay, Brazil, Bahamas, Mauritania, Saudi Arabia, Mount Fuji, Tokyo Bay, Southern Russia, the Black Sea, Equador, Northern Peru, the Mediterranean Sea, Malta, Sicily and Italy. The crewmembers of STS-99 each took a turn to narrate the scenes and events as they occur.

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International Space Station: Expedition 2000

Live footage of the International Space Station (ISS) presents an inside look at the groundwork and assembly of the ISS. Footage includes both animation and live shots of a Space Shuttle liftoff. Phil West, Engineer; Dr. Catherine Clark, Chief Scientist ISS; and Joe Edwards, Astronaut, narrate the video. The first topic of discussion is People and Communications. Good communication is a key component in our ISS endeavor. Dr. Catherine Clark uses two soup cans attached by a string to demonstrate communication. Bill Nye the Science Guy talks briefly about science aboard the ISS. Charlie Spencer, Manager of Space Station Simulators, talks about communication aboard the ISS. The second topic of discussion is Engineering. Bonnie Dunbar, Astronaut at Johnson Space Flight Center, gives a tour of the Japanese Experiment Module (JEM). She takes us inside Node 2 and the U.S. Lab Destiny. She also shows where protein crystal growth experiments are performed. Audio terminal units are used for communication in the JEM. A demonstration of solar arrays and how they are tested is shown. Alan Bell, Project Manager MRMDF (Mobile Remote Manipulator Development Facility), describes the robot arm that is used on the ISS and how it maneuvers the Space Station. The third topic of discussion is Science and Technology. Dr. Catherine Clark, using a balloon attached to a weight, drops the apparatus to the ground to demonstrate Microgravity. The bursting of the balloon is observed. Sherri Dunnette, Imaging Technologist, describes the various cameras that are used in space. The types of still cameras used are: 1) 35 mm, 2) medium format cameras, 3) large format cameras, 4) video cameras, and 5) the DV camera. Kumar Krishen, Chief Technologist ISS, explains inframetrics, infrared vision cameras and how they perform. The Short Arm Centrifuge is shown by Dr. Millard Reske, Senior Life Scientist, to subject astronauts to forces greater than 1-g. Reske is interested in the physiological effects of the eyes and the muscular system after their exposure to forces greater than 1-g.

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STS-29: Pre-Launch Preparations/Launch and Landing

Live footage shows the crewmembers of STS-29, Commander Michael L. Coats, Pilot John E. Blaha, and Mission Specialists James P. Bagian, James F. Buchli, and Robert C. Springer, seated in the White Room with the traditional cake. The crew is seen performing various pre-launch activities including suit-up, and walk out to the Astro-van. This early morning launch shows countdown, main engine start, liftoff, booster separation, and various isolated footage of the launch from different cameras. Also presented are footage of the approach, gear touchdown, rollout at Edwards Air Force Base, and various isolated views of the landing.

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Apollo 11: The Twentieth Year

Live footage shows the Apollo 11 crew, Commander Neil A. Armstrong, Lunar Module Pilot Edwin E. Aldrin, Jr., and Command Module Pilot Michael Collins, preparing for their mission. The crewmembers are seen getting their medical examinations, suiting up, and walking out to the Astro-van. Scenes include a brief view of the Launch Control Center (LCC), ignition, liftoff, and shell and engine skirt separation. The most important images are those of the moon landing and astronauts walk on the moon. Also shown are the parachute landing of the shuttle and the celebration of the world.

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STS-35/Astro-1: Launch T-20 Through Orbit with Replays (Tape 2 of 2)

Live footage shows the Launch Control Center (LCC) communicating with the STS-35 Space Shuttle. Scenes include various playback launch views of STS-35. Also shown are panoramic views of the Shuttle on the launch pad, main engine start, ignition, liftoff and booster separation and various Long Range Tracker views.

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STS-35: Mission Highlights Resource Tape

Live footage shows the crewmembers of STS-35, Commander Vance D. Brand, Pilot Guy S. Gardner, Mission Specialists Jeffrey A. Hoffman, John M. Lounge, and Robert A. Parker, and Payload Specialists Samuel T. Durrance, and Ronald A. Parise, participating in the traditional breakfast prior to launch. The crew is seen suiting up, and walking out to the Astro-Van for their 1 a.m. launch. Also shown are some beautiful panoramic shots of the shuttle on the launch pad, main engine start, ignition, liftoff, and various shots of the Launch Control Center (LCC). The crew is also shown during flight performing some routine functions such as operating the trash compactor, eating, and getting into and out of their sleeping quarters. The crew is seen taking part in a conversation with the Secretary of State, and the Foreign Minister of the Soviet Union. Footage also includes the landing of Columbia, its rollout on the runway, and its crew as they depart from the vehicle.

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STS-30: Mission Highlights Reel

Live footage shows the crewmember of STS-30, Commander David M. Walker, Pilot Ronald J. Grabe, and Mission Specialists Norman E. Thagard, Mary L. Cleave, and Mark C. Lee, participating in the traditional breakfast, suiting up and walking out to the Astro-van. Scenes include the retraction of the orbiter access arm, main engine start, ignition, and liftoff. The crew is also shown doing in-flight procedures such as experiments and equipment changes. The landing of Atlantis at Edwards Air Force Base is also seen.

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STS-36: Breakfast / Suit-Up / C-7 Ex / Launch and Landing at Edwards

Live footage shows the crew members of STS-36, Commander John O. Creighton, Pilot John H. Casper, and Mission Specialists Richard M. Mullane, David C. Hilmers, and Pierre J. Thuot, having the traditional breakfast, suiting up, and walking out to the Astro-Van. Scenes include panoramic views of the shuttle on the pad, main engine start, ignition, liftoff, and booster separation. The landing of Atlantis at Edwards Air Force Base is also seen. Several playback views from different cameras of both the launch and landing are also presented.

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X-33 Ascent Flight Controller Design by Trajectory Linearization: A Singular Perturbational Approach

The flight control of X-33 poses a challenge to conventional gain-scheduled flight controllers due to its large attitude maneuvers from liftoff to orbit and reentry. In addition, a wide range of uncertainties in vehicle handling qualities and disturbances must be accommodated by the attitude control system. Nonlinear tracking and decoupling control by trajectory linearization can be viewed as the ideal gain-scheduling controller designed at every point on the flight trajectory. Therefore it provides robust stability and performance at all stages of flight without interpolation of controller gains and eliminates costly controller redesigns due to minor airframe alteration or mission reconfiguration. In this paper, a prototype trajectory linearization design for an X-33 ascent flight controller is presented along with 3-DOF and 6-DOF simulation results. It is noted that the 6-DOF results were obtained from the 3-DOF design with only a few hours of tuning, which demonstrates the inherent robustness of the design technique. It is this "plug-and-play" feature that is much needed by NASA for the development, test and routine operations of the RLV'S. Plans for further research are also presented, and refined 6-DOF simulation results will be presented in the final version of the paper.

Zhu, J. Jim↗

Atlas/Centaur-SOHO Pre-Launch News Conference

Live coverage of a pre-launch news conference on the Atlas/Centaur SOHO mission is presented. George Diller, NASA Public Affairs, introduces the panel. Floyd Curington, NASA Launch Manager, Kennedy Space Center, presents countdown activities. Pat Symons, Launch Vehicle Manager, NASA Lewis Research Center, analyzes the time duration from liftoff to spacecraft separation. Fabrizio Felici, SOHO Mission Director European Space Agency (ESA), explains the important features of SOHO, which includes a payload of 650 kilos and 12 major instruments with multisensors. Ken Sizemore, International Solar Terrestrial Physics (ISTP) Project Manager Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), talks about the successful international collaboration between the ESA and NASA. Joel Tumbiolo, Launch Weather Officer United States Air Force (USAF, presented the weather forecast. SOHO was launched aboard an Atlas II rocket on November 23, 1995. The news conference ends with a brief question and answer period.

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INTELSAT V-A (F-10) Launch

Footage shows panoramic views of the Atlas launch vehicle on the launch complex. Also shown are ignition, liftoff, several different launch replays from different cameras, and views of the complex after launch.

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Design and Testing of Demonstration Unit for Maintaining Zero Cryogenic Propellant Boiloff

Launching of cryogenic propellants into earth orbit and beyond is very expensive. Each additional pound of payload delivered to low earth orbit requires approximately 35 pounds of additional weight at liftoff. There is therefore a critical need to minimize boiloff in spacecraft long term missions/systems. Various methods have been used to date, including superinsulation and thermodynamic vents to reduce boiloff. A system was designed and tested as described herein that will totally eliminate boiloff. This system is based on a closed-loop, two-stage pulse tube refrigerator with a net refrigeration of four watts at 15k for the recovery of hydrogen propellant. It is designed to operate at 30 Hz which is an order of magnitude higher than other typical pulse tube refrigerators. This high frequency allows the use of a much smaller, lighter weight compressor, This paper describes the system design, fabrication and test results.

Dean, W. G.↗