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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 NTRS2017

[Network Design of the Spaceport Command and Control System]

I helped the Launch Control System (LCS) hardware team sustain the network design of the Spaceport Command and Control System. I wrote the procedure that will be used to satisfy an official hardware test for the hardware carrying data from the Launch Vehicle. I installed hardware and updated design documents in support of the ongoing development of the Spaceport Command and Control System and applied firewall experience I gained during my spring 2017 semester to inspect and create firewall security policies as requested. Finally, I completed several online courses concerning networking fundamentals and Unix operating systems.

Teijeiro, Antonio↗
NASA NTRS2020

Command and Control System Automated Testing

To support the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (NASA) Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and the Orion capsule, designed to take humans back to the moon in 2024, Kennedy Space Center (KSC) has developed the Spaceport Command and Control System (SCCS) to monitor and control the launch. Within SCCS, the Launch Control System (LCS) is designed to allow console engineers to control and monitor the status of the launch and flight hardware, as well as issue commands to ground control systems and launch vehicles. The messaging software of LCS is responsible for handling the various data types that can be sent between the hardware and software components of the LCS. Since this system is interacting with numerous devices, controllers, and viewports in real time, the distribution of data across the system must be fast, but also reliable and accurate. To verify the accuracy and reliability of the system, developers on the project have created a set of tests to be performed that covers all operations allowed by the system. Given the extensive Application Programming Interface(API) provided by the messaging software, these unit tests are rather time-consuming and costly (in terms of man-hours) to perform. Therefore, an automated testing framework is used to perform supplemental tests automatically when updates are made to the code base.

Rebecca McFadden↗
NASA NTRS1994

Implementation of a low-cost, commercial orbit determination system

Traditional satellite and launch control systems have consisted of custom solutions requiring significant development and maintenance costs. These systems have typically been designed to support specific program requirements and are expensive to modify and augment after delivery. The expanding role of space in today's marketplace combined with the increased sophistication and capabilities of modern satellites has created a need for more efficient, lower cost solutions to complete command and control systems. Recent technical advances have resulted in commercial-off-the-shelf products which greatly reduce the complete life-cycle costs associated with satellite launch and control system procurements. System integrators and spacecraft operators have, however, been slow to integrate these commercial based solutions into a comprehensive command and control system. This is due, in part, to a resistance to change and the fact that many available products are unable to effectively communicate with other commercial products. The United States Air Force, responsible for the health and safety of over 84 satellites via its Air Force Satellite Control Network (AFSCN), has embarked on an initiative to prove that commercial products can be used effectively to form a comprehensive command and control system. The initial version of this system is being installed at the Air Force's Center for Research Support (CERES) located at the National Test Facility in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The first stage of this initiative involved the identification of commercial products capable of satisfying each functional element of a command and control system. A significant requirement in this product selection criteria was flexibility and ability to integrate with other available commercial products. This paper discusses the functions and capabilities of the product selected to provide orbit determination functions for this comprehensive command and control system.

Corrigan, Jim↗
NASA NTRS2020

Command and Control System Automated Testing

To support the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (NASA) Space Launch System (SLS) rocket, Kennedy Space Center (KSC) has developed the Spaceport Command and Control System (SCCS) to monitor and control the pre-launch and launch operations. Within SCCS, the Launch Control System (LCS) is designed to allow console engineers to control and monitor the status of the launch and flight hardware, as well as issue commands to ground control systems and launch vehicles. The display software of the LCS is responsible for visualizing the various data that can be received from the hardware and software components of the LCS. Since this system is providing critical information to engineers in the firing room, the visualization of data across the system must be easy to understand, but also reliable and accurate.

Software↗
NASA NTRS2019

Hardware and Software Engineering

The Launch Control System (LCS) is a part of the system used to launch the Space Launch System (SLS). It monitors and control of both vehicle and ground systems for SLS. My internship this spring was focused both on the hardware and software aspects of the command and control system. During my internship I worked in two groups, the Record and Playback Subsystem (RPS) and Kennedy Ground Control Subsystems (KGCS). During my time on RPS, I worked on automating the updating of displays and engineering reports. While on KGCS I worked on creating a power distribution diagram of the Control System Development Lab (CDL) and a new trainer for new interns or employees to gain an understanding of Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs).

Hardware↗
NASA NTRS2007

Simulation Environment for Orion Launch Abort System Control Design Studies

The development and use of an interactive environment to perform control system design and analysis of the proposed Crew Exploration Vehicle Launch Abort System is described. The environment, built using a commercial dynamic systems design package, includes use of an open-source configuration control software tool and a collaborative wiki to coordinate between the simulation developers, control law developers and users. A method for switching between multiple candidate control laws and vehicle configurations is described. Aerodynamic models, especially in a development program, change rapidly, so a means for automating the implementation of new aerodynamic models is described.

McMinn, J. Dana↗
NASA NTRS2008

Generating Safety-Critical PLC Code From a High-Level Application Software Specification

The benefits of automatic-application code generation are widely accepted within the software engineering community. These benefits include raised abstraction level of application programming, shorter product development time, lower maintenance costs, and increased code quality and consistency. Surprisingly, code generation concepts have not yet found wide acceptance and use in the field of programmable logic controller (PLC) software development. Software engineers at Kennedy Space Center recognized the need for PLC code generation while developing the new ground checkout and launch processing system, called the Launch Control System (LCS). Engineers developed a process and a prototype software tool that automatically translates a high-level representation or specification of application software into ladder logic that executes on a PLC. All the computer hardware in the LCS is planned to be commercial off the shelf (COTS), including industrial controllers or PLCs that are connected to the sensors and end items out in the field. Most of the software in LCS is also planned to be COTS, with only small adapter software modules that must be developed in order to interface between the various COTS software products. A domain-specific language (DSL) is a programming language designed to perform tasks and to solve problems in a particular domain, such as ground processing of launch vehicles. The LCS engineers created a DSL for developing test sequences of ground checkout and launch operations of future launch vehicle and spacecraft elements, and they are developing a tabular specification format that uses the DSL keywords and functions familiar to the ground and flight system users. The tabular specification format, or tabular spec, allows most ground and flight system users to document how the application software is intended to function and requires little or no software programming knowledge or experience. A small sample from a prototype tabular spec application is shown.

Source record↗
NASA NTRS2020

Control System Software Development: Fall 2020 Internship Final Report

The Launch Control System (LCS) is an integral part of the Space Launch System (SLS) as it responds and sends instructions to both the vehicle and ground systems. This semester, the focus has been on the development of assurance tests for the Graphical User Interface (GUI) software components of the LCS. This will help ensure that the system software functions as intended. This paper describes the goals, procedures, and results of this process as well as lessons learned that may be useful for future interns working on similar projects.

software↗
NASA NTRS2010

Usage of Fault Detection Isolation & Recovery (FDIR) in Constellation (CxP) Launch Operations

This paper will explore the usage of Fault Detection Isolation & Recovery (FDIR) in the Constellation Exploration Program (CxP), in particular Launch Operations at Kennedy Space Center (KSC). NASA's Exploration Technology Development Program (ETDP) is currently funding a project that is developing a prototype FDIR to demonstrate the feasibility of incorporating FDIR into the CxP Ground Operations Launch Control System (LCS). An architecture that supports multiple FDIR tools has been formulated that will support integration into the CxP Ground Operation's Launch Control System (LCS). In addition, tools have been selected that provide fault detection, fault isolation, and anomaly detection along with integration between Flight and Ground elements.

Ferrell, Rob↗
NASA NTRS2018

Customer Avionics Interface Development and Analysis (CAIDA): Software Developer for Avionics Systems

The Customer Avionics Interface Development and Analysis (CAIDA) supports the testing of the Launch Control System (LCS), NASA's command and control system for the Space Launch System (SLS), Orion Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle (MPCV), and ground support equipment. The objective of the semester-long internship was to support day-to-day operations of CAIDA and help prepare for verification and validation of CAIDA software.

Mitchell, Sherry L.↗
NASA NTRS2017

Launch Control Network Engineer

The Spaceport Command and Control System (SCCS) is being built at the Kennedy Space Center in order to successfully launch NASA’s revolutionary vehicle that allows humans to explore further into space than ever before. During my internship, I worked with the Network, Firewall, and Hardware teams that are all contributing to the huge SCCS network project effort. I learned the SCCS network design and the several concepts that are running in the background. I also updated and designed documentation for physical networks that are part of SCCS. This includes being able to assist and build physical installations as well as configurations. I worked with the network design for vehicle telemetry interfaces to the Launch Control System (LCS); this allows the interface to interact with other systems at other NASA locations. This network design includes the Space Launch System (SLS), Interim Cryogenic Propulsion Stage (ICPS), and the Orion Multipurpose Crew Vehicle (MPCV). I worked on the network design and implementation in the Customer Avionics Interface Development and Analysis (CAIDA) lab.

Medeiros, Samantha↗