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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

The Space Station air revitalization subsystem design concept

The current status of the Space Station (SS) Environmental Control and Life Support System (ECLSS) Air Revitalization Subsystem (ARS) design is outlined. ARS performance requirements are provided, along with subsystem options for each ARS function and selected evaluations of the relative merits of each subsystem. Detailed computer models that have been developed to analyze individual subsystem performance capabilities are also discussed. A summary of ARS subsystem level testing planned and completed by NASA Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) is given.

Ray, C. D.↗

Developments in Nano-Satellite Structural Subsystem Design at NASA-GSFC

The NASA-GSFC Nano-satellite Technology Development Program will enable flying constellations of tens to hundreds of nano-satellites for future NASA Space and Earth Science missions. Advanced technology components must be developed to make these future spacecraft compact, lightweight, low-power, low-cost, and survivable to a radiation environment over a two-year mission lifetime. This paper describes the efforts underway to develop lightweight, low cost, and multi-functional structures, serviceable designs, and robust mechanisms. As designs shrink, the integration of various subsystems becomes a vital necessity. This paper also addresses structurally integrated electrical power, attitude control, and thermal systems. These innovations bring associated fabrication, integration, and test challenges. Candidate structural materials and processes are examined and the merits of each are discussed. Design and fabrication processes include flat stock composite construction, cast aluminum-beryllium alloy, and an injection molded fiber-reinforced plastic. A viable constellation deployment scenario is described as well as a Phase-A Nano-satellite Pathfinder study.

Rossoni, Peter↗

The electrical power subsystem design for the high energy solar physics spacecraft concepts

This paper discusses the Electrical Power Subsystem (EPS) requirements, architecture, design description, performance analysis, and heritage of the components for two spacecraft concepts for the High Energy Solar Physics (HESP) Mission. It summarizes the mission requirements and the spacecraft subsystems and instrument power requirements, and it describes the EPS architecture for both options. A trade study performed on the selection of the solar cells - body mounted versus deployed panels - and the optimum number of panels is also presented. Solar cell manufacturing losses, array manufacturing losses, and the radiation and temperature effects on the GaAs/Ge and Si solar cells were considered part of the trade study and are included in this paper. Solar cell characteristics, cell circuit description, and the solar array area design are presented, as is battery sizing analysis performed based on the power requirements during launch and initial spacecraft operations. This paper discusses Earth occultation periods and the battery power requirements during this period as well as shunt control, battery conditioning, and bus regulation schemes. Design margins, redundancy philosophy, and predicted on-orbit battery and solar cell performance are summarized. Finally, the heritage of the components and technology risk assessment are provided.

Kulkarni, Milind↗

Subsystem design package for Mod 2 site data acquisition system: Solar heating and cooling

The Mod II Site Data Acquisition Subsystem (SDAS) is designed to collect data from sensors located on residential or commercial buildings using a solar heating and/or cooling system. The SDAS takes the data obtained from sensors located on the solar heating and/or cooling system, processes the data into a suitable format, stores the data for a period of time, and provides the capability for both telephone retrieval by the Central Data Processing System (CDPS) and manual retrieval of the data for transfer to the central site. The unit is designed so it will not degrade the operation of the solar heating/cooling system which it is monitoring.

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Spacecraft active thermal control subsystem design and operation considerations

Future spacecraft missions will be characterized by high electrical power requiring active thermal control subsystems for acquisition, transport, and rejection of waste heat. These systems will be designed to operate with minimum maintenance for up to 10 years, with widely varying externally-imposed environments, as well as the spacecraft waste heat rejection loads. This paper presents the design considerations and idealized performance analysis of a typical thermal control subsystem with emphasis on the temperature control aspects during off-design operation. The selected thermal management subsystem is a cooling loop for a 75-kWe fuel cell subsystem, consisting of a fuel cell heat exchanger, thermal storage, pumps, and radiator. Both pumped-liquid transport and two-phase (liquid/vapor) transport options are presented with examination of similarities and differences of the control requirements for these representative thermal control options.

Sadunas, J. A.↗

Space shuttle low pressure auxiliary propulsion subsystem design definition: Design handbook

A detailed description of recommended low pressure auxiliary propulsion subsystems (APS) for a space shuttle orbiter and booster is presented. The APS designs are the product of a study to identify and evaluate APS concepts, and to perform in-depth design and performance analyses for the most attractive of these. Selected APS baselines use the main engine propellant tanks as low pressure gas accumulators. For the orbiter, propellants from separate liquid tanks are used for main engine tank resupply. Resupply propellants are first circulated through tubular, passive heat exchangers, where they are vaporized and superheated prior to injection into the main engine tanks. Warm propellant vapors from the main engine tanks are mixed with additional liquid propellants in a downstream liquid/vapor mixer and supplied to the engines at constant temperature and pressure (constant density). The booster APS requires no separate propellant storage, since propellant residuals, trapped in the main engine tanks following boost, are sufficient to meet APS propellant demands.

Bruns, A. E.↗

Lessons Learned from the Node 1 Sample Delivery Subsystem Design

This paper will provide an overview of the International Space Station (ISS) Environmental Control and Life Support (ECLS) design of the Node 1 Sample Delivery Subsystem (SDS) and it will document some of the lessons that have been learned to date for this part of the subsystem.

Williams, David E.↗

Counterflowing Jet Subsystem Design

A counterflowing jet design (a spacecraft and trans-atmospheric subsystem) employs centrally located, supersonic cold gas jets on the face of the vehicle, ejecting into the oncoming free stream. Depending on the supersonic free-stream conditions and the ejected mass flow rate of the counterflowing jets, the bow shock of the vehicle is moved upstream, further away from the vehicle. This results in an increasing shock standoff distance of the bow shock with a progressively weaker shock. At a critical jet mass flow rate, the bow shock becomes so weak that it is transformed into a series of compression waves spread out in a much wider region, thus significantly modifying the flow that wets the outer surfaces, with an attendant reduction in wave and skin friction drag and aerothermal loads.

Farr, Rebecca↗

Autonomous power subsystem design for an Outer Planet Spacecraft.

This paper describes the overall design of the Thermoelectric Outer Planet Spacecraft (TOPS) power subsystem. It discusses the implementation of spacecraft requirements into a fault-tolerant design in which an on-board self-test and repair computer is utilized to provide autonomous operation. Development of a protected bus concept is discussed whereby electrical power supplied to essential spacecraft loads is maintained in the event of major on-board power blackouts. Particular attention is given to describing the interfaces and operation of the power subsystem with the spacecraft control computer subsystem. Autonomous power management operations are discussed where the on-board computer adjusts the spacecraft load demand to provide maximum utilization of source power for a given mission mode.

Andrews, R. E.↗

Subsystem design package for Solar II collector

The requirements for the design and performance of the Solar 2 Collector Subsystem developed for use in solar heating of single family residences and mobile homes are presented. Installation drawings are included.

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The 30-centimeter ion thrust subsystem design manual

The principal characteristics of the 30-centimeter ion propulsion thrust subsystem technology that was developed to satisfy the propulsion needs of future planetary and early orbital missions are described. Functional requirements and descriptions, interface and performance requirements, and physical characteristics of the hardware are described at the thrust subsystem, BIMOD engine system, and component level.

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Thermal Control Subsystem Design for the Avionics of a Space Station Payload

A case study of the thermal control subsystem development for a space based payload is presented from the concept stage through preliminary design. This payload, the Space Acceleration Measurement System 2 (SAMS-2), will measure the acceleration environment at select locations within the International Space Station. Its thermal control subsystem must maintain component temperatures within an acceptable range over a 10 year life span, while restricting accessible surfaces to touch temperature limits and insuring fail safe conditions in the event of loss of cooling. In addition to these primary design objectives, system level requirements and constraints are imposed on the payload, many of which are driven by multidisciplinary issues. Blending these issues into the overall system design required concurrent design sessions with the project team, iterative conceptual design layouts, thermal analysis and modeling, and hardware testing. Multiple tradeoff studies were also performed to investigate the many options which surfaced during the development cycle.

Moran, Matthew E.↗

Shuttle Orbiter Active Thermal Control Subsystem design and flight experience

The paper examines the design of the Space Shuttle Orbiter Active Thermal Control Subsystem (ATCS) constructed for providing the vehicle and payload cooling during all phases of a mission and during ground turnaround operations. The operation of the Shuttle ATCS and some of the problems encountered during the first 39 flights of the Shuttle program are described, with special attention given to the major problems encountered with the degradation of the Freon flow rate on the Orbiter Columbia, the Flash Evaporator Subsystem mission anomalies which occurred on STS-26 and STS-34, and problems encountered with the Ammonia Boiler Subsystem. The causes and the resolutions of these problems are discussed.

Bond, Timothy A.↗