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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 NTRS1995

Workshop on Discovery Lessons-Learned

As part of the Discovery Program's continuous improvement effort, a Discovery Program Lessons-Learned workshop was designed to review how well the Discovery Program is moving toward its goal of providing low-cost research opportunities to the planetary science community while ensuring continued U.S. leadership in solar system exploration. The principal focus of the workshop was on the recently completed Announcement of Opportunity (AO) cycle, but the program direction and program management were also open to comment. The objective of the workshop was to identify both the strengths and weaknesses of the process up to this point, with the goal of improving the process for the next AO cycle. The process for initializing the workshop was to solicit comments from the communities involved in the program and to use the feedback as the basis for establishing the workshop agenda. The following four sessions were developed after reviewing and synthesizing both the formal feedback received and informal feedback obtained during discussions with various participants: (1) Science and Return on Investment; (2) Technology vs. Risk; Mission Success and Other Factors; (3) Cost; and (4) AO.AO Process Changes and Program Management.

Saunders, M.↗
NASA NTRS1984

The US re-usable launch system - The Space Shuttle

The NASA Space Shuttle furnishes a range of readily available, and either already planned or yet-to-be-defined services, which already encompass satellite on-orbit servicing, refueling and repair, and satellite retrieval services. A gradual expansion will be made of services that capitalize on the presence of a large crew during commercial and scientific operations, while pursuing the development of automated, standardized procedures for the handling of experiments in order to reduce research costs.

Lee, C. M.↗
NASA NTRS2003

Development of Structural Health Management Technology for Aerospace Vehicles

As part of the overall goal of developing Integrated Vehicle Health Management (IVHM) systems for aerospace vehicles, NASA has focused considerable resources on the development of technologies for Structural Health Management (SHM). The motivations for these efforts are to increase the safety and reliability of aerospace structural systems, while at the same time decreasing operating and maintenance costs. Research and development of SHM technologies has been supported under a variety of programs for both aircraft and spacecraft including the Space Launch Initiative, X-33, Next Generation Launch Technology, and Aviation Safety Program. The major focus of much of the research to date has been on the development and testing of sensor technologies. A wide range of sensor technologies are under consideration including fiber-optic sensors, active and passive acoustic sensors, electromagnetic sensors, wireless sensing systems, MEMS, and nanosensors. Because of their numerous advantages for aerospace applications, most notably being extremely light weight, fiber-optic sensors are one of the leading candidates and have received considerable attention.

Prosser, W. H.↗
NASA NTRS1997

Bleed Hole Flow Phenomena Studied

Boundary-layer bleed is an invaluable tool for controlling the airflow in supersonic aircraft engine inlets. Incoming air is decelerated to subsonic speeds prior to entering the compressor via a series of oblique shocks. The low momentum flow in the boundary layer interacts with these shocks, growing in thickness and, under some conditions, leading to flow separation. To remedy this, bleed holes are strategically located to remove mass from the boundary layer, reducing its thickness and helping to maintain uniform flow to the compressor. The bleed requirements for any inlet design are unique and must be validated by extensive wind tunnel testing to optimize performance and efficiency. To accelerate this process and reduce cost, researchers at the NASA Lewis Research Center initiated an experimental program to study the flow phenomena associated with bleed holes. Knowledge of these flow properties will be incorporated into computational fluid dynamics (CFD) models that will aid engine inlet designers in optimizing bleed configurations before any hardware is fabricated. This ongoing investigation is currently examining two hole geometries, 90 and 20 (both with 5-mm diameters), and various flow features.

Source record↗
NASA NTRS2018

Overview of MSFC Additive Electronics Capabilities

Focus: Marshall seeks to support the Agency in the development of next generation printed electronics technologies for living and working in space, with emphasis on enhanced electronics manufacturing processes and capabilities development on the ground and in-space. Near-Term: Human Habitation Elements and Life Support Systems - pursuing integrated flexible wearable air, water, vital monitoring solutions for next generation printed technologies; Complete startup printing technology demonstrations which prove basic processes and establish ISM (In-Space Manufacturing) infrastructure needed for future applications including metals based manufacturing. Medium Term: Target low-cost research and demonstration activities that support multi-material additive manufacturing, more sophisticated parts production, printed electronics and ISM; Maturation and flight demonstration of printed propulsion system components, with emphasis on infusion into small-spacecraft-based missions. Long-Term: Evolve systems capabilities to be supportive of destination (lunar or Mars) resources and requirements, increase autonomy in systems and utilize in-situ resources towards manufacturing; Support development of self-replicable systems and their infusion into future spacecraft and missions.

MacLeod, Todd C.↗
NASA NTRS1977

Efficient civil helicopters - The payoff of directed research

Studies have been performed to identify the key areas and cost of research that will reduce the cost of operation of helicopters through reduction of energy consumption, increased performance, and reduction of maintenance. The basic analyses were made for a large passenger helicopter, with subsequent studies considering applicability to all sizes. These study results were then applied to the existing and projected U.S./Canada helicopter fleet to compare the cost of research to the dollars saved as a result of that research. These comparisons show that research costs to reduce energy and lower maintenance have payback periods of less than one year, either as higher return to the operator or as lower rental price to the customer.

Wiesner, W.↗
NASA NTRS1978

Research of low cost wind generator rotors

A feasibility program determined that it would be possible to significantly reduce the cost of manufacturing wind generator rotors by making them of cast urethane. Several high modulus urethanes which were structurally tested were developed. A section of rotor was also cast and tested showing the excellent aerodynamic surface which results. A design analysis indicated that a cost reduction of almost ten to one can be achieved with a small weight increase to achieve the same structural integrity as expected of current rotor systems.

Fertis, D. G.↗
NASA NTRS2009

Synthetic and Biomass Alternate Fueling in Aviation

While transportation fueling can accommodate a broad range of alternate fuels, aviation fueling needs are specific, such as the fuel not freezing at altitude or become too viscous to flow properly or of low bulk energy density that shortens range. The fuel must also be compatible with legacy aircraft, some of which are more than 50 years old. Worldwide, the aviation industry alone uses some 85-95 billion gallons of hydrocarbon-based fossil fuel each year, which is about 10% of the transportation industry. US civil aviation alone consumes nearly 14 billion gallons. The enormity of the problem becomes overwhelming, and the aviation industry is taking alternate fueling issues very seriously. Biofuels (algae, cyanobacteria, halophytes, weeds that use wastelands, wastewater and seatwater), when properly sourced, have the capacity to be drop-in fuel replacements for petroleum fuels. As such, biojet from such sources solves the aviation CO2 emissions issue without the downsides of 'conventional' biofuels, such as competing with food and fresh water resources. Of the many current fundamental problems, the major biofuel problem is cost. Both research and development and creative engineering are required to reduce these biofuels costs. Research is also ongoing in several 'improvement' areas including refining/processing and biologics with greater disease resistance, greater bio-oil productivity, reduced water/nutrient requirements, etc. The authors' current research is aimed at aiding industry efforts in several areas. They are considering different modeling approaches, growth media and refining approaches, different biologic feedstocks, methods of sequestering carbon in the processes, fuel certification for aviation use and, overall, ensuring that biofuels are feasible from all aspects - operability, capacity, carbon cycle and financial. The authors are also providing common discussion grounds/opportunities for the various parties, disciplines and concerned organization to share both issues and potential ways for moving forward, and overall, trying to educate those concerned about the innate limitations of 'conventional' biofuels and the solutions provided by non-traditional feedstocks that used waste lands/water or saline/salt water have an immense capacity potential.

Hendricks, R. C.↗
NASA NTRS2007

Phoenix Missile Hypersonic Testbed (PMHT): Project Concept Overview

An over view of research into a low cost hypersonic research flight test capability to increase the amount of hypersonic flight data to help bridge the large developmental gap between ground testing/analysis and major flight demonstrator Xplanes is provided. The major objectives included: develop an air launched missile booster research testbed; accurately deliver research payloads through programmable guidance to hypersonic test conditions; low cost; a high flight rate minimum of two flights per year and utilize surplus air launched missiles and NASA aircraft.

Jones, Thomas P.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Flat-plate module efficiency versus cost tradeoffs

The Five Year Research Plan energy cost methodology and in depth analyses based on the extensive data that are relevant to PV systems are used to facilitate the accomplishment of the $0.15/kWh energy cost goal. An equation is given for the five year energy cost methodology. The allocation guidelines are designed to be consistent with flat solar array (FSA) milestones for module cost, module efficiency, and the programmatic goal for energy cost. They are research targets that appear to be achievable, given prior accomplishments and planned activities in the areas of low cost silicon purification, low cost sheet material, high efficiency cell processing, low cost, long life encapsulants, and automated fabrication method. Extensive sensitivity analysis work has been performed that shows that these guidelines represent an efficient way to meet the intent of the DOE program.

Aster, R. W.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Crop area estimation based on remotely-sensed data with an accurate but costly subsample

Research activities conducted under the auspices of National Aeronautics and Space Administration Cooperative Agreement NCC 9-9 are discussed. During this contract period research efforts are concentrated in two primary areas. The first are is an investigation of the use of measurement error models as alternatives to least squares regression estimators of crop production or timber biomass. The secondary primary area of investigation is on the estimation of the mixing proportion of two-component mixture models. This report lists publications, technical reports, submitted manuscripts, and oral presentation generated by these research efforts. Possible areas of future research are mentioned.

Gunst, R. F.↗
NASA NTRS1974

The ASSESS program documenting and evaluating low cost techniques for conducting research in the flight environment

The Airborne Science Office (ASO) of the Ames Research Center has for 10 years operated an airborne scientific research program in infrared astronomy and other disciplines. The Lear Jet, CV-990, and C-141 flying laboratories are flown by ASO crews, while the major responsibility for defining, developing, and operating the experimental equipment is placed on individual researchers, who have included scientists from many countries. The ASSESS (Airborne Science/Shuttle Experiment Systems Simulation) program consists of two phases: Phase A documents the present management and operational practices of the ASO, and Phase B consists of airborne research missions constrained (for example, by crew confinement) to simulate certain aspects of experimental operations on Shuttle/Spacelab missions. Various parallels between the Airborne Science Program and Spacelab are pointed out and their applications to Spacelab planning are discussed.

Weaver, L. B.↗