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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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NASA NTRS1998

AAH Cage Out-Link and In-Link Antenna Characterization

This final report encapsulates the accomplishments of the third year of work on an Advanced Biotelemetry System (ABTS). Overall MU/ABTS project objectives are to provide a biotelemetry system that can collect data from and send commands to an implanted biotransceiver. This system will provide for studies of rodent development in space. The system must be capable of operating in a metal animal cage environment. An important goal is the development of a small, "smart", micropower, implantable biotransceiver with eight-channel data output and single channel command input capabilities with the flexibility for easy customization for a variety of physiologic investigations. The NASA Ames/Marquette University Joint Research work has been devoted to the system design of such a new state of the art biotelemetry system, having multiple physiologic inputs, and bi-directional data transfer capabilities. This work has provided a successful prototype system that connects, by two-way radio links, an addressable biotelemetry system that provides communication between an animal biotelemeter prototype and a personal computer. The operational features of the prototype system are: (1) two-way PCM communication with implanted biotelemeter; (2) microcontroller based biotelemeter; (3) out-link: wideband FSK (60 kBaud); (4) in-link: OOK (2.4 kbaud); (5) septum antenna arrays (In/Out-Links); and (6) personal computer data interface. The important requirement of this third year's work, to demonstrate two-way communication with transmit and receive antennas inside the metal animal cage, has been successfully accomplished. The advances discussed in this report demonstrate that the AAH cage antenna system can provide Out-link and In-link capability for the ABTS bi-directional telemetry system, and can serve as a benchmark for project status. Additions and enhancements to the most recent (April 1997) prototype cage and antenna have been implemented. The implementation, testing, and documentation was accomplished at the Biotelemetry Laboratory at Marquette University with Out-Link (slot) antenna design assistance was provided.

Jeutter, Dean C.↗

NASA NTRS1978

Collapsible corrugated horn antenna

A horn antenna that is readily collapsible while not in use is described. A number of different sized annular metal rings are arranged in a sequence such that each ring is larger than the one that precedes it in the sequence. A number of thin flexible electrically conductive members attach successive metal rings together physically and connect them together electrically. Each flexible conductive member is attached to make electrical contact between the outside surface of a metal ring and the inside surface of an adjacent metal ring in the sequence.

Barthlome, D. E.↗

NASA NTRS1980

Advanced synthetic aperture radar for remote sensing

A program initiated by NASA was formed to address some key earth resources synthetic aperture radar (SAR) needs. Major steps in the SAR system development are summarized, and the objective of the advanced SAR (ASAR) program is defined. The program rationale and specific objectives are discussed, including system calibration, wide-band technique evaluation, a system resolution of 10 m or better at 45 deg, and an airborne system to cover four bands within 1 to 10 GHz. The ASAR conceptual system design, consisting of a modulator, transmitter, antenna, receiver, calibrator, and data system modules is also presented, and ASAR capability expansions are discussed. The program, scheduled for 1983, will provide a data source which is not available to applications investigations at this time, and will produce design approaches that are flexible and multimission to the maximum extent for application to a Shuttle or a freeflyer system.

Krishen, K.↗

NASA NTRS1984

Space Telescope Control System science user operations

The Space Telescope science users will have a flexible and efficient means of accessing the capabilities provided by the ST Pointing Control System, particularly with respect to managing the overal acquisition and pointing functions. To permit user control of these system functions - such as vehicle scanning, tracking, offset pointing, high gain antenna pointing, solar array pointing and momentum management - a set of special instructions called 'constructs' is used in conjuction with command data packets. This paper discusses the user-vehicle interface and introduces typical operational scenarios.

Dougherty, H. J.↗

NASA NTRS2011

Link Analysis in the Mission Planning Lab

The legacy communications link analysis software currently used at Wallops Flight Facility involves processes that are different for command destruct, radar, and telemetry. There is a clear advantage to developing an easy-to-use tool that combines all the processes in one application. Link Analysis in the Mission Planning Lab (MPL) uses custom software and algorithms integrated with Analytical Graphics Inc. Satellite Toolkit (AGI STK). The MPL link analysis tool uses pre/post-mission data to conduct a dynamic link analysis between ground assets and the launch vehicle. Just as the legacy methods do, the MPL link analysis tool calculates signal strength and signal- to-noise according to the accepted processes for command destruct, radar, and telemetry assets. Graphs and other custom data are generated rapidly in formats for reports and presentations. STK is used for analysis as well as to depict plume angles and antenna gain patterns in 3D. The MPL has developed two interfaces with the STK software (see figure). The first interface is an HTML utility, which was developed in Visual Basic to enhance analysis for plume modeling and to offer a more user friendly, flexible tool. A graphical user interface (GUI) written in MATLAB (see figure upper right-hand corner) is also used to quickly depict link budget information for multiple ground assets. This new method yields a dramatic decrease in the time it takes to provide launch managers with the required link budgets to make critical pre-mission decisions. The software code used for these two custom utilities is a product of NASA's MPL.

McCarthy, Jessica A.↗

NASA NTRS1983

The mobile Sousy-Doppler radar: Technical design and first results

A mobile VHF Doppler system was developed. The electronic part is installed in a 20 ft container and tested using a special log periodic aerial to illuminate the 300 m dish. The system was extended by designing a mobile phased antenna array with finally 576 Yagi elements. The grouping of the single Yagis, the system of transmission lines, the phase shifters, the power splitters and the T/R switch are described. Results from the first two campaigns and a survey of future programs demonstrating the flexibility of this mobile system are summarized.

Czechowsky, P.↗

NASA NTRS1993

Diffraction Analysis Of Reflector Antennas

POMESH is computer program capable of predicting performance of reflector antennas. Calculates both farfield patterns and gains by use of physical-optics approximation of equivalent surface currents. Intended for relatively small reflectors. Useful in situations in which surfaces described by irregular data that must be interpolated and in which surface derivatives not known. Flexible and robust. Also calculates near fields and useful for subreflector computations. Written in FORTRAN 77.

Hodges, Richard E.↗

NASA NTRS1987

A TREETOPS simulation of the Hubble Space Telescope-High Gain Antenna interaction

Virtually any project dealing with the control of a Large Space Structure (LSS) will involve some level of verification by digital computer simulation. While the Hubble Space Telescope might not normally be included in a discussion of LSS, it is presented to highlight a recently developed simulation and analysis program named TREETOPS. TREETOPS provides digital simulation, linearization, and control system interaction of flexible, multibody spacecraft which admit to a point-connected tree topology. The HST application of TREETOPS is intended to familiarize the LSS community with TREETOPS by presenting a user perspective of its key features.

Sharkey, John P.↗

NASA NTRS1986

Compensation of reflector surface distortions using conjugate field matching

The feasibility of compensating for reflector surface distortions has been investigated. The performance characteristics (gain, sidelobe level, null location, beamwidth, etc.) of space communication reflector antenna systems degrade as the reflector surface distorts due to thermal effects from a varying solar flux. The technique reported here will maintain the design radiation performance independently of thermal effects on the reflector surface. With the advent of monolithic microwave integrated circuits (MMIC), a greater flexibility in array-fed reflector system design can be achieved. MMIC arrays provides independent control of amplitude and phase for each of many radiating elements of the feed array. The conjugate field matching technique provide a basis for obtaining the required element excitations under surface distortion for maintaining the design radiation performance. It is assumed that the surface characteristics (x, y, z, first derivatives, and second derivatives) under distortion are known.

Acosta, R. J.↗

NASA NTRS1985

The Galileo attitude and articulation control system - A radiation-hard, high precision, state-of-the-art control system

The Galileo mission and spacecraft, consisting of a Jupiter-orbiter and an atmospheric entry probe, are discussed. Components will include: magnetometers and plasma-wave antennas on a boom, high-gain antenna, probe vehicle, two different bus electronics packages, and a radioisotope thermoelectric generator. Instruments, investigators and objectives are tabulated for both probe science and orbiter science investigations. Requirements in the design of the attitude and articulation control system are very stringent because of the complex dynamics, flexible body effects, the need for autonomy, and the severe radiation environment in the Jupiter nighborhood. Galileo was intended to be ready for launch via Space Shuttle in May of 1986.

Stephenson, R. Rhoads↗

NASA NTRS2013

The Deep Space Network in the Common Platform Era: A Prototype Implementation at DSS-13

To enhance NASA's Deep Space Network (DSN), an effort is underway to improve network performance and simplify its operation and maintenance. This endeavor, known as the "Common Platform," has both short- and long-term objectives. The long-term work has not begun yet; however, the activity to realize the short-term goals has started. There are three goals for the long-term objective: 1. Convert the DSN into a digital network where signals are digitized at the output of the down converters at the antennas and are distributed via a digital IF switch to the processing platforms. 2. Employ a set of common hardware for signal processing applications, e.g., telemetry, tracking, radio science and Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI). 3. Minimize in-house developments in favor of purchasing commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) equipment. The short-term goal is to develop a prototype of the above at NASA's experimental station known as DSS-13. This station consists of a 34m beam waveguide antenna with cryogenically cooled amplifiers capable of handling deep space research frequencies at S-, X-, and Ka-bands. Without the effort at DSS-13, the implementation of the long-term goal can potentially be risky because embarking on the modification of an operational network without prior preparations can, among other things, result in unwanted service interruptions. Not only are there technical challenges to address, full network implementation of the Common Platform concept includes significant cost uncertainties. Therefore, a limited implementation at DSS-13 will contribute to risk reduction. The benefits of employing common platforms for the DSN are lower cost and improved operations resulting from ease of maintenance and reduced number of spare parts. Increased flexibility for the user is another potential benefit. This paper will present the plans for DSS-13 implementation. It will discuss key issues such as the Common Platform architecture, choice of COTS equipment, and the standard for radio frequency (RF) to digital interface.

Space Communications and Navigation (SCaN)↗

NASA NTRS1990

Minimizing distortion in truss structures via Tabu search

The shape control of large flexible space structures is of great interest to structural designers. A related problem is to seek ways to minimize the need for active controls by careful design and construction of the space structure. A tetrahedral truss structure that is used to support a precision segmented reflector or antenna surface is considered. The structure has a hexagonal platform and is characterized by the number of rings of members in the truss. For simplicity it is assumed that a flat truss geometry exists. Hence, all structural members and ball joints are required to have the same nominal length and diameter, respectively. Inaccuracies in the length of member or diameters of joints may produce unacceptable levels of surface distortion and internal forces. In the case of a truss structure supporting an antenna, surface distortions may cause unacceptable gain loss or pointing errors. The focus is solely on surface distortion, however, internal forces may be treated in a similar manner. To test the Tabu search code for DSQRMS the appropriate influence matrices are used for a flat, two-ring tetrahedral reflector truss generated by Green and Haftka (1989). In this example there are 102 members (NMEMB) and 31 ball joints (NJOINT) of the same nominal length, respectively. Hence, all the members may be interchanged and all the joints may be interchanged. In addition, 19 positions on the surface of the truss (NNODES) were used to measure error influences. After a variety of experiments a set of good parameters was choosen for Tabu search. The sample size at each iteration is 10*NMEMB and the short term memory size is 40. In addition four pruning rules were used to accelerate the search..

Kincaid, Rex K.↗

NASA NTRS1976

Furlable antenna

An improved furlable antenna particularly suited for use in a celestial space environment is described. The antenna is characterized by an actuator comprising an elastomeric member of an annular configuration, an annular array of uniformly spaced antenna ribs rigidly affixed at the base ends to an actuator which enables it to be supported for pivotal displacement from a deployed configuration. The ribs are radially extended from the actuator to a furled configuration. The ribs are extended parallel to the axis of the actuator with flexible reflecting web affixed to the ribs, with angularly spaced bearing blocks.

Barnett, M. A.↗

NASA NTRS1986

Communications satellites in the fiber optics era

Three new satellite technologies, i.e., electronically hopped antenna beams, on-board switching, and laser intersatellite links, will soon be tested on experimental satellites. These technologies will enable future satellites to capture significant amounts of data and voice traffic. Fiber cables on the continents will dominate trunking routes, but satellites functioning as switches will be more flexible and reliable, and will cost less than terrestrial-based switches. When satellite switches and laser intersatellite links are combined, the resulting satellite networks will provide cost-effective, independent voice/data networks in the coming global village. They will augment existing terrestrial networks for thin route and low data rate links.

Lovell, R. R.↗

NASA NTRS1986

Static shape control for flexible structures

An integrated methodology is described for defining static shape control laws for large flexible structures. The techniques include modeling, identifying and estimating the control laws of distributed systems characterized in terms of infinite dimensional state and parameter spaces. The models are expressed as interconnected elliptic partial differential equations governing a range of static loads, with the capability of analyzing electromagnetic fields around antenna systems. A second-order analysis is carried out for statistical errors, and model parameters are determined by maximizing an appropriate defined likelihood functional which adjusts the model to observational data. The parameter estimates are derived from the conditional mean of the observational data, resulting in a least squares superposition of shape functions obtained from the structural model.

Rodriguez, G.↗

NASA NTRS1988

Plasma instabilities stimulated by HF transmitters in space

Diffuse incoherent signal returns are often observed on Alouette and ISIS topside ionograms in addition to coherent echoes of electromagnetic and electrostatic waves. These diffuse signals, which at times can be the dominant features on topside ionograms, have been attributed to sounder-induced temperature anisotropies which drive the Harris instability. Previous theoretical investigations were based on the electrostatic approximation to the dispersion equation. The present paper will present calculations indicating that when the electromagnetic terms are retained in the dispersion equation and when the sounder-stimulated perpendicular electron temperature approaches 1 keV, then the whistler mode can have a temporal growth rate larger than the electrostatic electron cyclotron harmonic wave mode central to the diffuse resonance problem. Present sounders lack the power and antenna lengths to generate whistler mode waves in this manner. In addition, such waves would have large group velocities and would quickly leave the vicinity of the sounder. Experiments to investigate the wave growth, propagation, and damping of such stimulated waves are planned for the 1990s using a highly flexible sounder on the Space Shuttle and a receiver on a subsatellite.

Benson, Robert F.↗

NASA NTRS1990

Microwave beam powered Mars airplane

The feasibility of an unmanned Mars airplane that receives its primary power from an RF (microwave) beam located on the Martian surface has been analyzed. An onboard rechargeable electrochemical storage system is to be used for special maneuvers, and possible range extension when the airplane is out of the line-of-sight of the microwave source antenna is included as a back-up to the microwave system. The weight of the onboard microwave beam receiving system, relative to other power systems, and the ability to recharge the onboard energy storage system in flight result in a payload capability independent of range and significant mission flexibility. Such an airplane, its onboard power system, its methods of utilization, and the transmitting station requirements to support various Martian exploration operations are presented. The status of microwave beam technology is given, in addition to the technology advances required for the microwave-beam-powered Mars airplane. The concept is thought to be feasible, but advances in microwave technology are required. It is concluded that the payload capability gives the Mars airplane significant operational flexibility and utilization.

Faymon, Karl A.↗

NASA NTRS2008

Making Complex Electrically Conductive Patterns on Cloth

A method for automated fabrication of flexible, electrically conductive patterns on cloth substrates has been demonstrated. Products developed using this method, or related prior methods, are instances of a technology known as 'e-textiles,' in which electrically conductive patterns ar formed in, and on, textiles. For many applications, including high-speed digital circuits, antennas, and radio frequency (RF) circuits, an e-textile method should be capable of providing high surface conductivity, tight tolerances for control of characteristic impedances, and geometrically complex conductive patterns. Unlike prior methods, the present method satisfies all three of these criteria. Typical patterns can include such circuit structures as RF transmission lines, antennas, filters, and other conductive patterns equivalent to those of conventional printed circuits. The present method overcomes the limitations of the prior methods for forming the equivalent of printed circuits on cloth. A typical fabrication process according to the present method involves selecting the appropriate conductive and non-conductive fabric layers to build the e-textile circuit. The present method uses commercially available woven conductive cloth with established surface conductivity specifications. Dielectric constant, loss tangent, and thickness are some of the parameters to be considered for the non-conductive fabric layers. The circuit design of the conductive woven fabric is secured onto a non-conductive fabric layer using sewing, embroidery, and/or adhesive means. The portion of the conductive fabric that is not part of the circuit is next cut from the desired circuit using an automated machine such as a printed-circuit-board milling machine or a laser cutting machine. Fiducials can be used to align the circuit and the cutting machine. Multilayer circuits can be built starting with the inner layer and using conductive thread to make electrical connections between layers.

Chu, Andrew↗