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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 NTRS1984

SIRTF: the Next Step

The space infrared telescope facility (SIRTF) is a 1-meter class, long duration, super fluid helium-cooled telescope in Earth orbit, equipped with imaging and spectroscopic instrumentation operating over the wavelength range from 1.8 to 700 microns. The SIRTF will be the most powerful tool available for studying many of the compelling problems in contemporary astrophysics and for further exploration of the infrared sky demonstrated by IRAS. Adaptation of IRAS technology (cryogenics, optics, and pointing and guidance) is discussed.

Gillett, F. C.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Initiation of the next step - The acquisition of a Space Station Program

Attention is given to NASA's Space Station Program acquisition strategy, as well as the internal implementation of the strategy and the nature of NASA's relations with industry. While the acquisition strategy addresses phased procurement, design-to-cost, and advanced development emphasis, internal implementation concerns itself with 'skunk works' activities and the exploitation of the Technical and Management Information System. NASA's relationship to contractors will stress competition, extensive commercial and international involvement, and design/development phase competition flexibility.

Mancuso, T. G.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Alkaline RFC Space Station prototype - 'Next step Space Station'

The regenerative fuel cell, a candidate technology for the Space Station's energy storage system, is described. An advanced development program was initiated to design, manufacture, and integrate a regenerative fuel cell Space Station prototype (RFC SSP). The RFC SSP incorporates long-life fuel cell technology, increased cell area for the fuel cells, and high voltage cell stacks for both units. The RFC SSP's potential for integration with the Space Station's life support and propulsion systems is discussed.

Hackler, I. M.↗
NASA NTRS1987

Comet rendezvous - The next step

Features of a proposed NASA-West Germany Comet Rendezvous Asteroid Flyby mission (CRAF) are summarized. The spacecraft would carry an imaging system, visual and IR mapping spectrometers, an IR radiometer, an instrumented lander probe, ion mass, neutral-gas, secondary-ion mass, superthermal-ion and retarding potential ion mass spectrometers, etc. The spacecraft would fly alongside the nucleus, hover near it, and circle it. The earliest potential encounter would be with Comet Tempel 2 in October 1996, followed by a flyby of the asteroid 46 Hestia. The science goals of the mission are explored, mainly with reference to unanswered questions remaining after the Halley missions.

Neugebauer, Marcia↗
NASA NTRS1987

The Spaceborne Imaging Radar program: SIR-C - The next step toward EOS

The NASA Shuttle Imaging Radar SIR-C experiments will investigate earth surface and environment phenomena to deepen understanding of terra firma, biosphere, hydrosphere, cryosphere, and atmosphere components of the earth system, capitalizing on the observational capabilities of orbiting multiparameter radar sensors alone or in combination with other sensors. The SIR-C sensor encompasses an antenna array, an exciter, receivers, a data-handling network, and the ground SAR processor. It will be possible to steer the antenna beam electronically, so that the radar look angle can be varied.

Evans, Diane↗
NASA NTRS1999

Progress in Sonic-Boom Understanding: Lessons Learned and Next Steps

In January 1988, representatives from NASA, NOAA, academia, and industry gathered at the NASA Langley Research Center to assess the status of understanding of the sonic boom which accompanies supersonic flight. As a result of that meeting, a research program on sonic boom within the NASA High-Speed Research (HSR) Program was implemented. This paper discusses the elements of the sonic-boom program, progress which has been made since 1988, and the current change in direction for the Sonic-Boom Element of the NASA HSR Program.

Darden, Christine M.↗
NASA NTRS2000

We Must Take the Next Steps Towards Safe, Routine Space Travel

This paper presents, in viewgraph form, six in a half generations of airplanes in a century. Some of the topics include: 1) Enterprise goals; 2) Generations of Reusable Launch Vehicles; 3) Space Transportation Across NASA; 4) Three Tiered Implementation Approach for Future Space Transportation Technology; 5) Develop a Comprehensive, Agency Level Space Transportation Plan That Will Enable NASA's Strategic Plan; 6) Timeline for Addressing NASA's Needs; 7) Significant 2nd Generation Technology Drivers; 8) Example Large Scale Ground Demonstrations; and 9) Example Pathfinder Demonstrations. The paper also includes various aircraft designs and propulsion system technology.

Lyles, G. M.↗
NASA NTRS2001

Odyssey Comet Nucleus Orbiter: The Next Step in Cometary Exploration

Cometary nuclei are the most primitive bodies in the solar system, containing a cosmo-chemical record of the primordial solar nebula. Flyby missions to comets, such as those that encountered Comet Halley in 1986, provide a glimpse at this record. However, to study a cometary nucleus in detail requires a rendezvous mission, i.e., a nucleus orbiter. Only an orbiter provides the ability to map the entire nucleus surface at high resolution, to study the complex chemistry in the cometary coma and its variation with time, and to determine the mass and bulk density of the nucleus, key parameters in understanding how small bodies first formed in the solar nebula. A nucleus orbiter also provides the opportunity to sense the nucleus surface in preparation for more ambitious landing and sample return missions in the future. Additional information is contained in the original extended abstract.

Weissman, P. R.↗
NASA NTRS2009

The Urban Environmental Monitoring/100 Cities Project: Legacy of the First Phase and Next Steps

The Urban Environmental Monitoring (UEM) project, now known as the 100 Cities Project, at Arizona State University (ASU) is a baseline effort to collect and analyze remotely sensed data for 100 urban centers worldwide. Our overarching goal is to use remote sensing technology to better understand the consequences of rapid urbanization through advanced biophysical measurements, classification methods, and modeling, which can then be used to inform public policy and planning. Urbanization represents one of the most significant alterations that humankind has made to the surface of the earth. In the early 20th century, there were less than 20 cities in the world with populations exceeding 1 million; today, there are more than 400. The consequences of urbanization include the transformation of land surfaces from undisturbed natural environments to land that supports different forms of human activity, including agriculture, residential, commercial, industrial, and infrastructure such as roads and other types of transportation. Each of these land transformations has impacted, to varying degrees, the local climatology, hydrology, geology, and biota that predate human settlement. It is essential that we document, to the best of our ability, the nature of land transformations and the consequences to the existing environment. The focus in the UEM project since its inception has been on rapid urbanization. Rapid urbanization is occurring in hundreds of cities worldwide as population increases and people migrate from rural communities to urban centers in search of employment and a better quality of life. The unintended consequences of rapid urbanization have the potential to cause serious harm to the environment, to human life, and to the resulting built environment because rapid development constrains and rushes decision making. Such rapid decision making can result in poor planning, ineffective policies, and decisions that harm the environment and the quality of human life. Slower, more thought-out, decision making could result in more favorable outcomes. The harm to the environment includes poor air quality, soil erosion, polluted rivers and aquifers, and loss of wildlife habitat. Human life is then threatened because of increased potential for disease spreading, human conflict, environmental hazards, and diminished quality of life. The built environment is potentially threatened when cities are built in areas that can be impacted by events such as hurricanes, tsunamis, earthquakes, fires, and landslides. Our goals include assessing the threat of such events on cities and the people living there.

Stefanov, William L.↗
NASA NTRS2008

Taking the Next Steps: The Ares I Crew Launch Vehicle and Ares V Cargo Launch Vehicle

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)'s Constellation Program is depending on the Ares Projects Office (APO) to deliver the crew and cargo launch capabilities needed to send human explorers to the Moon, Mars, and beyond. The APO continues to make progress toward design, component testing, and early flight testing of the Ares I crew launch vehicle, as well as early design work for the Ares V cargo launch vehicle. Ares I and Ares V will form the core space launch capabilities that the United States needs to continue its pioneering tradition as a spacefaring nation (Figure 1). This paper will discuss design, fabrication, and testing progress toward building these new launch vehicles.

Cook, Stephen A.↗
NASA NTRS2003

Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO): The Next Step in Mars Exploration

This slide presentation reviews the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO), and the science strategy that motivates the exploration of Mars. The MRO is one of several missions that are planned to enhance our understanding of the planet. Included in this presentation is a review of the schedule for the MRO, the science objectives of the mission, the payloads that ae planned for MRO, and the hoped for science that will be attained from them. A review of the mission, from launch to the primary science relay is reviewed and an overview of the orbiter is shown. The presentation details the payloads, and the expected data from the instruments.

water↗
NASA NTRS2011

Concurrent Engineering Working Group White Paper Distributed Collaborative Design: The Next Step in Aerospace Concurrent Engineering

As aerospace missions grow larger and more technically complex in the face of ever tighter budgets, it will become increasingly important to use concurrent engineering methods in the development of early conceptual designs because of their ability to facilitate rapid assessments and trades of performance, cost and schedule. To successfully accomplish these complex missions with limited funding, it is essential to effectively leverage the strengths of individuals and teams across government, industry, academia, and international agencies by increased cooperation between organizations. As a result, the existing concurrent engineering teams will need to increasingly engage in distributed collaborative concurrent design. The purpose of this white paper is to identify a near-term vision for the future of distributed collaborative concurrent engineering design for aerospace missions as well as discuss the challenges to achieving that vision. The white paper also documents the advantages of creating a working group to investigate how to engage the expertise of different teams in joint design sessions while enabling organizations to maintain their organizations competitive advantage.

Hihn, Jairus↗
NASA NTRS2011

Evaluation of an Electrostatic Dust Removal System with Potential Application in Next-Step Fusion Devices

The ability to manage inventories of carbon, tritium, and high-Z elements in fusion plasmas depends on means for effective dust removal. A dust conveyor, based on a moving electrostatic potential well, was tested with particles of tungsten, carbon, glass and sand. A digital microscope imaged a representative portion of the conveyor, and dust particle size and volume distributions were derived before and after operation. About 10 cu mm volume of carbon and tungsten particles were moved in under 5 seconds. The highest driving amplitude tested of 3 kV was the most effective. The optimal driving frequency was 210 Hz (maximum tested) for tungsten particles, decreasing to below 60 Hz for the larger sand particles. Measurements of particle size and volume distributions after 10 and 100 cycles show the breaking apart of agglomerated carbon, and the change in particle distribution over short timescales 1 s).

Friesen, F. Q. L.↗
NASA NTRS2011

Next Steps in the Evolution of Human Spaceflight Training

Train before you fly has always been a watchword at NASA, and consequently, NASA has been conducting training for human spaceflight missions for longer than it has been involved in the actual conduct of human spaceflight missions. Throughout that time, NASA s approach to human spaceflight training has continuously evolved to keep pace with the technology of the modern world, but the approach to training itself has not changed significantly. Today, there are more tools and technologies that enable learning than ever before. This paper intends to review the challenges of human spaceflight training and how modern technology and an updated approach could improve that training. The Spaceflight Training Management Office (DA7) within the Mission Operations Directorate (MOD) has been investigating the current training of instructors, flight controllers and astronauts in order to identify where a new approach to training and training management may be necessary to improve the efficacy of the training provided. Through this investigation, the DA7 team has identified potential areas of improvement within International Space Station (ISS) training in a wide range of areas, including the delivery of training, the structure of the training program, the concept of what is considered training, and the management of that training. The ISS is an operational program with an established training paradigm. As such, the implementation of these concepts will be met with several challenges that may prevent or preclude them from being adopted. These challenges include demonstrating return-on-investment (ROI) and overcoming cultural or technological obstacles. This report will delve into the possible improvement areas for training, the future training concepts that are being considered, and the challenges associated with implementation. The paper will include concepts for utilization of Web 2.0 technologies, electronic learning, digital media, and other technologies in the development, management, and conduct of human spaceflight training.

Balmain, Clint↗