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Results for “Interplanetary flight”

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 NTRS1963

Electric propulsion

Benefits of electric propulsion systems for lunar and interplanetary flight

LUNAR FLIGHT↗
NASA NTRS1966

The pioneer spacecraft

Design history, spacecraft configuration, and experiments of Pioneer space probe in interplanetary flight

INTERPLANETARY FLIGHT↗
NASA NTRS1966

On entering an alien atmosphere.

Energy dissipation and other problems for alien planetary atmospheric entry at high speeds of interplanetary flight

ATMOSPHERIC ENTRY↗
NASA NTRS2025

Generalized Reference Targeting for Spaceflight

For spaceflight programs to achieve some of the aggressive exploration initiatives such as visiting and landing on other celestial bodies, rendezvousing with other orbiting vehicles, and ultimately returning crew safely to Earth, an assortment of targeting algorithms to compute the necessary burns to strategically maneuver a spacecraft to a variety of destinations are required. Numerous examples exist, but rather than creating and implementing multiple targeting solutions, is it possible to have a general targeting model that can accommodate a variety of applications? Originally motivated for mission design and analysis purposes, this paper outlines a generalized reference targeting algorithm for spaceflight that may also have applications in on-orbit flight software. It accommodates arbitrary flight dynamics and both impulsive and finite burns for either absolute or relative targeting applications. It also allows for an arbitrary number of targeting design parameters such as multiple discrete correction burns or finite thrust parameters to satisfy numerous combinations of targeting constraints that can have fixed or variable time epochs. Given a reference trajectory, this targeting technique provides a general framework to quickly solve an assortment of targeting problems that may be well-defined, over-determined, or under-determined while naturally producing metrics providing insight into the controllability for a given problem formulation. Due to the derivation, speed, and accuracy of the algorithm, it lends to supporting rapid linear covariance analysis and robust trajectory design applications for a variety of flight phases such as rendezvous and docking, cislunar transfer, interplanetary flight, orbit maintenance, de-orbit, and powered descent and landing.

Targeting↗
NASA NTRS2006

Immune Response in Microgravity: Genetic Basis and Countermeasure Development Implications

Impairment of the immunity in astronauts and cosmonauts even in shortterm flights is a recognized risk. Longterm orbital space missions and anticipated interplanetary flights increase the concern for more pronounced effects on the immune system with potential clinical consequences. Studies in true and modeled microgravity (MG) have demonstrated that MG directly affects numerous lymphocyte functions. The purpose of this study was to screen for genes involved in lymphocytes response to modeled microgravity (MMG) that could explain the functional and structural changes observed earlier. The microgravity-induced changes in gene expression were analyzed by microarray DNA chip technology. CD3and IL2activated Tcells were cultured in 1g (static) and modeled microgravity (NASA Rotating Wall Vessel bioreactor) conditions for 24 hours. Total RNA was extracted using the RNeasy isolation kit (Qiagen, Valencia, CA). Microarray experiments were performed utilizing Affymetrix Gene Chips (U133A), allowing testing for 18,400 human genes. To decrease the biological variation and aid in detecting microgravity-associated changes, experiments were performed in triplicate using cells obtained from three different donors. Exposure to modeled microgravity resulted in alteration of 89 genes, 10 of which were upregulated and 79 down-regulated. Altered genes were categorized by their function, structural role and by association with metabolic and regulatory pathways. A large proportion was found to be involved in fundamental cellular processes: signal transduction, DNA repair, apoptosis, and multiple metabolic pathways. There was a group of genes directly related to immune and inflammatory responses (IL7R, granulysin, proteasome activator subunit 2, peroxiredoxin 4, HLADRA, lymphocyte antigen 75, IL18R and DOCK2 genes). Among these genes only one (IL7R) was upregulated, the rest were downregulated. The upregulation of the IL7 receptor gene was confirmed by RT PCR. Three genes with altered expression were identified in the apoptosis related group (Granzyme B, APO2 ligand and Beta3endonexin). All of them were downregulated. Gene expression changes in MG might appear pivotal in identifying potential molecular targets for countermeasure development. (Supported by NRA OLMSA02 and NSCORT NAG54072 grants).

Risin, Diana↗