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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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Enclosed is the latest update of NASA Langley Research Center's Space Durability of Materials bibliography. The bibliography lists documents detailing research in the area of materials for space applications conducted by members of the Materials Division.
NASA research to date on materials processing in space (MPS) has revealed that microgravity conditions to a large degree eliminate normal convection, sedimentation, buoyancy, and deformations due to gravity, and permit the exploration of containerless processing. The goals of current NASA MPS work is to augment the fundamental database on MPS and to foster commercial participation in MPS. Techniques being applied by NASA to fulfill the latter goal are described, including technical exchange, industrial guest investigator and joint endeavor agreements, and tangible market incentives. Guidelines for each type of agreement are summarized.
During FY99 the Consortium for Materials Development in Space (CMDS) was reorganized around the following guidelines: industry driven, product focus, an industry led advisory council, focus on University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH) core competencies, linkage to regional investment firms to assist commercialization and to take advantage of space flights. The organizational structure of the CMDS changed considerably during the year. The decision was made to reduce the organization to a Director and an Administrative Assistant. The various research projects, including the employees, were transferred to the appropriate UAH research center or college. In addition, an advisory council was established to provide direction and guidance to the CMDS to ensure a strong commercial focus. The council will (i) review CMDS commercial development plans and provide feedback, (ii) perform an annual evaluation of the Center's progress and present the results of this review to the UAH Vice President for Research, (iii) serve as an avenue of communication between the CMDS and its commercial partners, and (iv) serve as an ambassador and advocate for the CMDS.
Materials research program for application to rocketry and space flight environment
Space exploration has many challenges and materials are critical for many of the systems required to enable robotic or human space exploration. This talk will highlight challenges for materials with an emphasis on thermal protection materials and systems. Solving the materials issues will require thinking about materials in the systems and environments where are they to be used. In many cases the materials must be designed for the application, and the system needs to be designed with the materials in mind. The talk will conclude with some thoughts on the skills needed for materials scientists and engineers working on materials for space.
Discussion of composite materials in erectable space structures, and experimental results on the echo satellites
The behavior of dense liquids near the solidification point under the influence of magnetic fields or near-zero gravity conditions were analyzed within the framework of existing liquid state models and classical field theory. The dynamic body forces which are an effect of the magnetic field on liquids are discussed. It is concluded that both magnetic fields and low gravity conditions produce an increase in the diffusion coefficient which result in an increased growth rate of crystals, and time varying magnetic fields induce eddy currents in the liquid which produce body forces and tend to disrupt convection.
Space radiation environment effects on spacecraft materials and components
A review was made of the processing of ceramic materials in space and of those space environment factors appearing to be useful in the processing of this class of materials. Applicability of these factors to various processing procedures appropriate to ceramics, such as containerless melting, is discussed. Specific applications of these procedures in developing new and improved products and processes are reviewed.
A brief overview of the current Materials Processing in Space Program is given, including a tentative schedule of flight experiments. Some recent results of processing materials (e.g., polymers and eutectic materials) in a microgravity environment are given, along with a discussion on additional proposed flight experiments. Ground-based results and the rationale for flight experimentation will be presented for other materials processes, including crystal growth.
Several topics related to materials development in space are discussed. Physical vapor transport crystal growth, the mass spectroscopic facility, surface coatings and catalyst production by electrodeposition, mass transfer by diffusion, electrooptical organic materials, and high temperature superconductors are among the topics covered.
Analog studies play important role in space materials education. Various aspects of analogies are used in our courses. In this year two main rock types of NASA Lunar Set were used in analog studies in respect of processes and textures with selected industrial material samples. For breccias and basalts on the lunar side, ceramics and steels were found as analogs on the industrial side. Their processing steps were identified on the basis of their textures both in lunar and in industrial groups of materials.
An analytical model was developed which quantifies effects on organic composite matrix materials of high energy electrons and of UV as well as interactions between the two radiations. Literature data on polyethylene were used to construct a degradation kinetics scheme corresponding to an Earth orbit at L=3. Analysis of the model showed that steady state concentrations of radicals put limits on accelerated test conditions. These conclusions were validated by an experimental study on polymethylmethacrylate using UV laser excitation. Relationships for balancing electron and UV radiations to equal acceleration factors are derived. Pulse radiolysis using an electron-beam along with time-resolved spectroscopy is shown to be able to separate primary form secondary reactions. Implications of these reactions to changes in engineering material properties are indicated. The use of mechanistic studies is discussed in the context of general test strategies for evaluating materials for space applications.
Debris particles extracted from a small sampling region on the leading edge of the Long Duration Exposure Facility (LDEF) spacecraft have been examined by analytical transmission electron microscopy and the elemental frequency observed by energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometry and compared with upper atmosphere (Earth) particle elemental frequency and the average elemental compositions of interplanetary dust particles. A much broader elemental distribution was observed for the exposed spacecraft surface debris milieu. Numerous metal microfragment analyses, particularly aluminum and stainless steel, were compared with scanning electron microscope observations-of impact crater features, and the corresponding elemental spectra on selected LDEF aluminium tray clamps and stainless steel bolts. The compositions and melt features for these impact craters and ejecta have been shown to be consistent with microcrystalline debris fragments in the case of aluminum, and these observations suggest an ever changing debris milieu on exposed surfaces for space craft and space system materials.
Several NASA missions suffered failures and anomalies due to problems in applying space mechanisms technology to specific projects. Research shows that engineers often lack either adequate knowledge of mechanism design or sufficient understanding of how mechanisms affect sensitive systems. The Space Mechanisms Project conducted a Lessons Learned study and published a Space Mechanisms Handbook to help space industry engineers avoid recurring design, qualification, and application problems. The Space Mechanisms Handbook written at the NASA Glenn Research Center details the state-of-the-art in space mechanisms design as of 1998. NASA's objective in developing this Space Mechanisms Handbook was to provide readily accessible information on such areas as space mechanisms design, mechanical component availability and use, testing and qualification of mechanical systems, and a listing of worldwide space mechanisms experts and testing facilities in the United States. This handbook has been expanded into a two-volume CD-ROM set in an Adobe Acrobat format. In addition to the handbook, the CD's include (1) the two volume Space Mechanisms Lessons Learned Study, (2) proceedings from all the NASA hosted Aerospace Mechanisms Symposia held through the year 2000, (3) the Space Materials Handbook, (4) the Lubrication Handbook for the Space Industry, (5) the Structural & Mechanical Systems Long-Life Assurance Design Guidelines, (6) the Space Environments and Effects Source-Book, (7) the Spacecraft Deployable Appendages manual, (8) the Fastener Design Manual, (9) A Manual for Pyrotechnic Design, Development and Qualification, (10) the Report on Alternative Devices to Pyrotechnics on Spacecraft, and (11) Gearing (a manual). In addition, numerous other papers on tribology and lubrication are included.This technical summary of the project provides information on how to obtain the handbook and related information.
An international review of materials processing in space is provided, taking into account the NASA materials processing in space program, European activities in the field of microgravity research, and Japanese material processing tests in space. The subjects considered are related to materials processing in a microgravity environment, industrial and university applications and involvement, and challenges and prospectives of microgravity research in space. Attention is given to a review of the containerless processing technologies and facilities, glass research in space, bubble behavior in molten glass in a temperature gradient, semiconductor crystal growth and segregation problems on earth and space, seeded crystal growth of pseudobinary systems with large liquidus-solidus separation, avenues and incentives for commercial use of a low-gravity environment, and the Universities Space Research Association and its role in the materials processing in space program.
Design synthesis in a multidimensional space with automated material selection
The status of the Consortium for Materials Development in Space (CMDS) is reviewed. Individual projects are outlined and the status of Get Away Special (GAS) 105 is summarized.