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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 37 records · Page 2
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS2011

ISS Operations Cost Reductions Through Automation of Real-Time Planning Tasks

In 2008 the Johnson Space Center s Mission Operations Directorate (MOD) management team challenged their organization to find ways to reduce the costs of International Space station (ISS) console operations in the Mission Control Center (MCC). Each MOD organization was asked to identify projects that would help them attain a goal of a 30% reduction in operating costs by 2012. The MOD Operations and Planning organization responded to this challenge by launching several software automation projects that would allow them to greatly improve ISS console operations and reduce staffing and operating costs. These projects to date have allowed the MOD Operations organization to remove one full time (7 x 24 x 365) ISS console position in 2010; with the plan of eliminating two full time ISS console support positions by 2012. This will account for an overall 10 EP reduction in staffing for the Operations and Planning organization. These automation projects focused on utilizing software to automate many administrative and often repetitive tasks involved with processing ISS planning and daily operations information. This information was exchanged between the ground flight control teams in Houston and around the globe, as well as with the ISS astronaut crew. These tasks ranged from managing mission plan changes from around the globe, to uploading and downloading information to and from the ISS crew, to even more complex tasks that required multiple decision points to process the data, track approvals and deliver it to the correct recipient across network and security boundaries. The software solutions leveraged several different technologies including customized web applications and implementation of industry standard web services architecture between several planning tools; as well as a engaging a previously research level technology (TRL 2-3) developed by Ames Research Center (ARC) that utilized an intelligent agent based system to manage and automate file traffic flow, archiving f data, and generating console logs. This technology called OCAMS (OCA (Orbital Communication System) Management System), is now considered TRL level 9 and is in daily use in the Mission Control Center in support of ISS operations. These solutions have not only allowed for improved efficiency on console; but since many of the previously manual data transfers are now automated, many of the human error prone steps have been removed, and the quality of the planning products has improved tremendously. This has also allowed our Planning Flight Controllers more time to focus on the abstract areas of the job, (like the complexities of planning a mission for 6 international crew members with a global planning team), instead of being burdened with the administrative tasks that took significant time each console shift to process. The resulting automation solutions have allowed the Operations and Planning organization to realize significant cost savings for the ISS program through 2020 and many of these solutions could be a viable

Hall, Timothy A.↗
NASA NTRS1972

Cost reduction by integration of the assurance technologies.

It is shown how the cost of applying assurance disciplines to the development of complex systems can be reduced by integrating the mechanics of system engineering and system management into a 'Development Risk Control System'. The essential features of the integration process are examined. A 'Development Risk Management Model' is described, and the use of the model to integrate and thereby reduce the cost of other assurance disciplines is discussed and illustrated.

Ball, L. W.↗
NASA NTRS2018

Enhanced Stationkeeping Maneuver Control Technique for Delta-V Cost Reduction in the Korea Pathfinder Lunar Orbiter

Final document is attached. This paper proposes an enhanced control technique for stationkeeping maneuvers to reduce delta-v costs for the Korea Pathfinder Lunar Orbiter (KPLO). A scheduled circularization control technique exploits patterns in the evolution of the line of apsides and eccentricity to achieve a significant reduction in stationkeeping delta-v costs based on spacecraft requirements. The technique is compared against previous algorithms implemented for maneuver operations of the Lunar Prospector and Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) missions in the USA and KAGUYA in Japan. Through Monte Carlo analysis, the efficacy and robustness of the proposed method are verified, and the technique is shown to meet the operational requirements of KPLO.

Davis, Diane C.↗
NASA NTRS1996

Achieving cost reductions in EOSDIS operations through technology evolution

The earth observing system (EOS) data information system (EOSDIS) mission includes the cost-effective management and distribution of large amounts of data to the earth science community. The effect of the introduction of new information system technologies on the evolution of EOSDIS is considered. One of the steps taken by NASA to enable the introduction of new information system technologies into the EOSDIS is the funding of technology development through prototyping. Recent and ongoing prototyping efforts and their potential impact on the performance and cost-effectiveness of the EOSDIS are discussed. The technology evolution process as it related to the effective operation of EOSDIS is described, and methods are identified for the support of the transfer of relevant technology to EOSDIS components.

Newsome, Penny↗
NASA NTRS1988

Launch vehicle operations cost reduction through artificial intelligence techniques

NASA's Kennedy Space Center has attempted to develop AI methods in order to reduce the cost of launch vehicle ground operations as well as to improve the reliability and safety of such operations. Attention is presently given to cost savings estimates for systems involving launch vehicle firing-room software and hardware real-time diagnostics, as well as the nature of configuration control and the real-time autonomous diagnostics of launch-processing systems by these means. Intelligent launch decisions and intelligent weather forecasting are additional applications of AI being considered.

Davis, Tom C., Jr.↗
NASA NTRS1987

Cost reductions in nickel-hydrogen battery

Significant progress was made toward the development of a commercially marketable hydrogen nickel oxide battery. The costs projected for this battery are remarkably low when one considers where the learning curve is for commercialization of this system. Further developmental efforts on this project are warranted as the H2/NiO battery is already cost competitive with other battery systems.

Beauchamp, Richard L.↗
NASA NTRS1976

Spacelab cost reduction alternatives study. Volume 1: Executive summary

Alternative approaches to payload operations planning and control and flight crew training are defined for spacelab payloads with the goal of: lowering FY77 and FY 78 costs for new starts; lowering costs to achieve Spacelab operational capability; and minimizing the cost per Spacelab flight. These alternatives attempt to minimize duplication of hardware, software, and personnel, and the investment in supporting facility and equipment. Of particular importance is the possible reduction of equipment, software, and manpower resources such as comtational systems, trainers, and simulators.

Source record↗
NASA NTRS1989

The common engine concept for ALS application - A cost reduction approach

Future launch systems require the application of propulsion systems which have been designed and developed to meet mission model needs while providing high degrees of reliability and cost effectiveness. Vehicle configurations which utilize different propellant combinations for booster and core stages can benefit from a common engine approach where a single engine design can be configured to operate on either set of propellants and thus serve as either a booster or core engine. Engine design concepts and mission application for a vehicle employing a common engine are discussed. Engine program cost estimates were made and cost savings, over the design and development of two unique engines, estimated.

Bair, E. K.↗
NASA NTRS1978

Extensive cost reduction studies: Composite empennage component - L-1011 commercial airliner

A series of cover skin laminate studies was conducted. The baseline laminate design is composed of 34 plies with doublers interwoven. This is costly to produce, since the broad goods tape dispersing machine must stop frequently while the doubler plies are inserted by hand during the layup sequence. The use of graphite cloth was investigated for the cover skin. Attention is also given to low resin content prepreg, the selection of optimum tape width, an increase in gap/overlap tolerances, the use of large reusable vacuum bags with mechanical edge seals for production, an integrated laminating center machine, automated hat stiffener processing, a secondary bond assembly process, and a single-stage cure process.

Van Hamersveld, J.↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Bio-stasis: A Strategy for Survivability and Payload Cost Reduction in Long-duration Space Missions

As humans proceed with long-term space voyages, involving flights with lasting duration of months or years, “adaptation to space” will eventually lead to hard realities resultant physiological and psychological conditions must be realistically estimated and considered before it occurs. It is obvious that humans in their lifespan cannot adopt to spaceflight environment by reversible modification of their complex biochemical reactions and physiological functions without jeopardizing sustainable homeostasis shaped by multiple generations during evolution. In this case Nature offers an evolutionary proven alternative strategy- a coordinative adjustment of metabolism in order to survive. Incorporation of this metabolic adjustment strategy along with the relevant life support system into space flight architecture would protect humans during long term space flight from many irreversible physiological alterations and may dramatically reduce overall cost of space missions. In addition to the harmful space radiation and prolonged weightlessness, incorporation of this strategy may also benefit by solving other major medical unknowns in interplanetary flight such as isolation and psychological stress which still remains a risk. It is one of the priorities of NASA and other space agencies to figure out not only how to keep long-distance travelers alive and in good cognitive health but also how to return them to normal life on Earth with a minimum rehabilitation period after prolonged exposure to space. Presently re-adaptation of astronauts to Earth conditions and recovery from spaceflight exposure may take many months and years and, in some cases, require medical intervention. Therefore, recognizing physiological adjustment of the energy-regulating system as a viable life support strategy for human space exploration beyond LEO is essential.

Bio-stasis;↗
NASA NTRS1975

Spacelab cost reduction alternatives study. Volume 3: Crew training task analysis

The on-orbit phase of flight was analyzed to identify the functions that had to be performed to meet flight objectives. The functions identified were combined into a top-level functional flow diagram (3.0 On-Orbit Operations). Each function, in turn, was analyzed to determine the major activities necessary to perform the function. The activities and activity sequences were presented in second level functional flow diagrams. Each major activity was further analyzed to define the operator tasks that are performed to accomplish that activity. Training analysis worksheets were used to document the analysis of each function down to the task level and provide training requirements data for each task. For Vol. 1, see N76-24315.

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