Search NASA⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search NASA

Results for “ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL”

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.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 361 records · Page 20

International Space Station (ISS) Environmental Control and Life Support (ECLS) System Overview of Events 2023

Nov 20th, 2023 marks the 25th anniversary of the beginning of construction of the International Space Station (ISS). The ECLS system is constantly changing to meet the needs of current missions and future exploration. The ISS has become the laboratory that was always envisioned, allowing for an ever-growing class of exploration level technologies that will propel the stage forward as humanity advances beyond Low Earth Orbit (LEO). This paper will review the past year, and look towards the future for each U.S. ECLS subsystem. The impacts, challenges, and successes related to the intermingling of incumbent and cutting edge technologies are summarily discussed in this paper.

Steven F Balistreri, Jr↗

International Space Station (ISS) Environmental Control and Life Support (ECLS) System Overview of Events 2023

Nov 20th, 2023 marks the 25th anniversary of the beginning of construction of the International Space Station (ISS). The ECLS system is constantly changing to meet the needs of current missions and future exploration. The ISS has become the laboratory that was always envisioned, allowing for an ever-growing class of exploration level technologies that will propel the stage forward as humanity advances beyond Low Earth Orbit (LEO). This paper will review the past year, and look towards the future for each U.S. ECLS subsystem. The impacts, challenges, and successes related to the intermingling of incumbent and cutting edge technologies are summarily discussed in this paper.

Kristina Robinson↗

Permanent presence - Making it work; Proceedings of the Twenty-second Goddard Memorial Symposium, Greenbelt, MD, March 15, 16, 1984

Among the topics discussed are: electrophoresis operations in space for pharmaceutical processing; Space Station program operations; and Space Station platform configurations. Consideration is also given to: the human role in future space systems; EVA operations; spherical shell applications; and a container material for alloy processing in near-zero gravity. Among additional topics discussed are: Space Station platform thermal control; environmental control and life support for an evolving capability manned Space Station; and the commercial prospects of the Space Station.

Bekey, I.↗

Single launch lunar habitat derived from an NSTS external tank

A concept for using the spent external tank from a National Space Transportation System (NSTS) to derive a lunar habitat is described. The external tank is carried into low Earth orbit where the oxygen tank-intertank subassembly is separated from the hydrogen tank, berthed to Space Station Freedom and the subassembly outfitted as a 12-person lunar habitat using extravehicular activity (EVA) and intravehicular activity (IVA). A single launch of the NSTS orbiter can place the external tank in LEO, provide orbiter astronauts for disassembly of the external tank, and transport the required subsystem hardware for outfitting the lunar habitat. An estimate of the astronauts' EVA and IVA is provided. The liquid oxygen intertank modifications utilize existing structures and openings for man access without compromising the structural integrity of the tank. The modifications include installation of living quarters, instrumentation, and an airlock. Feasibility studies of the following additional systems include micrometeoroid and radiation protection, thermal control, environmental control and life support, and propulsion. The converted lunar habitat is designed for unmanned transport and autonomous soft landing on the lunar surface without need for site preparation. Lunar regolith is used to fill the micrometeoroid shield volume for radiation protection using a conveyer. The lunar habitat concept is considered to be feasible by the year 2000 with the concurrent development of a space transfer vehicle and a lunar lander for crew changeover and resupply.

King, Charles B.↗

Saturn V Stage I (S-IC) Overview

Objectives include: a) Become familiar with the Saturn V Stage I (S-IC) major structural components: Forward Skirt, Oxidizer Tank, Intertank, Fuel Tank, and Thrust Structure. b) Gain a general understanding of the Stage I subsystems: Fuel, Oxidizer, Instrumentation, Flight Control, Environmental Control, Electrical, Control Pressure, and Ordinance.

Interbartolo, Michael↗

Test control.

Environmental test control methods for improving quality and reducing costs, noting standardized specifications and information collection for administration

Dundas, H. R.↗

Visual Attention Allocation Between Robotic Arm and Environmental Process Control: Validating the STOM Task Switching Model

Fifty six participants time shared a spacecraft environmental control system task with a realistic space robotic arm control task in either a manual or highly automated version. The former could suffer minor failures, whose diagnosis and repair were supported by a decision aid. At the end of the experiment this decision aid unexpectedly failed. We measured visual attention allocation and switching between the two tasks, in each of the eight conditions formed by manual-automated arm X expected-unexpected failure X monitoring- failure management. We also used our multi-attribute task switching model, based on task attributes of priority interest, difficulty and salience that were self-rated by participants, to predict allocation. An un-weighted model based on attributes of difficulty, interest and salience accounted for 96 percent of the task allocation variance across the 8 different conditions. Task difficulty served as an attractor, with more difficult tasks increasing the tendency to stay on task.

STOM attention allocation model validation↗

Environmental factors controlling fluxes of dimethyl sulfide in a New Hampshire fen

The major environmental factors controlling fluxes of dimethyl sulfide (DMS) in a Sphagnum-dominated peatland were investigated in a poor fen in New Hampshire. DMS emissions from the surface of the peatland varied greatly over 24 hours and seasonally. Maximum DMS emissions occurred in summer with minima in the late fall. Temperature was the major environmental factor controlling these variabilities. There was also some evidence that the changes in water table height might have contributed to the seasonable variability in DMS emission. The influence of the water table was greater during periods of elevated temperature. DMS and MSH were the most abundant dissolved volatile sulfur compound (VSC) in the surface of the water table. Concentrations of dissolved VSC's varied with time and space throughout the fen. Dissolved MDS, MSH, and OCS in the surface of the water table were supersaturated with respect to their concentrations in the atmosphere suggesting that the peat surface was a source of VSC's in the peatland. VCS in peatlands seemed to be produced primarily by microbial processes in the anoxic surface layers of the peat rich in organic matter and inorganic sulfide. Sphagnum mosses were not a direct source of VSC's. However, they increased transport of DMS from the peat surface to the atmosphere.

Demello, William Zamboni↗

A shuttle and space station manipulator system for assembly, docking, maintenance, cargo handling and spacecraft retrieval (preliminary design). Volume 2: Concept development and selection

The overall program background, the various system concepts considered, and the rationale for the selected design are described. The concepts for each subsystem are also described and compared. Details are given for the requirements, boom configuration and dynamics, actuators, man/machine interface and control, visual system, control system, environmental control and life support, data processing, and materials.

Source record↗

A regenerative fuel cell system for modular space station integrated electrical power.

A regenerative fuel cell system (RFCS) for energy storage aboard the Modular Space Station (MSS) was selected over the battery technique because of lower cost, lower launch weight, lower required solar array area, and its ability to be integrated into the station's reaction control and environmental control and life support subsystems in addition to the electrical power subsystem. The total MSS energy storage requirement was met by dividing it into four equal modular RFCSs, each made up of a fuel cell subsystem, a water electrolysis subsystem, a gas accumulator subassembly, and a water tank subassembly. The weight of each of the four RFCSs varied from 4000 to 7000 lb with the latter being a more maintainable design. The specific energy ranged between 5.6 to 9.4 watt-hr/lb.

Wynveen, R. A.↗

The electric Orbiter

An electromechanical actuator (EMA) system is described and compared to the baseline hydraulic system for the Shuttle. Employment of the EMA depends on minimal changes in the avionics and software, no change in the vehicle configuration, and satisfaction of performance requirements. There are 13 actuators on the Shuttle, all subject to the standard four (redundant) command channels. The actuator control units, motor control units, mechanical actuators, and motors are discussed, and system and sizing requirements are outlined. The effects on the displays and controls, the environmental control system, electrical power and distribution, and software are mentioned, and projected to be minimal. It is noted that although the EMA total systems' costs have not been calculated, substantial weight, turnaround time, and power savings are available by use of EMA.

Swingle, W. L.↗

A concept for using the external tank from a National Space Transportation System (NSTS) for a lunar habitat

A concept for using the external tank from a National Space Transportation System for a lunar habitat is described. The tank is inserted in low earth orbit where it is outfitted as a 12-person lunar habitat. The tank modifications utilize existing structures and openings for man access without compromising the structural integrity of the tank. The modifications include installation of living quarters, instrumentation, and airlock; and thermal-control, environmental-control and life-support, and propulsion systems. The habitat is designed for unmanned transport to low lunar orbit and autonomously soft landed on the lunar surface. Supply to the habitat is provided by a space transfer vehicle and manned cargo lander. The lunar habitat concept is feasible by the year 2000 with the concurrent development of a space transfer vehicle and manned cargo lander for crew changeover and resupply.

King, C. B.↗

Space Station Freedom viewed as a 'tight building'

The Space Station Freedom (SSF), with a 30-year projected lifetime and a completely closed-loop Environmental Control and Life Support System (ECLSS), is perhaps the ultimate 'tight building'. Recognizing the potential for the development of 'tight building syndrome' (TBS), and initiating actions to minimize possible TBS occurrences on SSF, requires a multidisciplinary approach that begins with appropriate design concerns and ends with detection and control measures on board SSF. This paper presents a brief summary of current experience with TBS on earth. Air contamination, including volatile organic compounds and microorganisms, is the focus of the discussion. Preventive steps to avoid TBS, control of environmental factors that may lead to TBS, and use of real-time instrumentation for the detection of potential causes of TBS are also outlined.

Limero, Thomas F.↗

JSC Advanced Curation: Research and Development for Current Collections and Future Sample Return Mission Demands

Curation of NASA's astromaterials sample collections is a demanding and evolving activity that supports valuable science from NASA missions for generations, long after the samples are returned to Earth. For example, NASA continues to loan hundreds of Apollo program samples to investigators every year and those samples are often analyzed using instruments that did not exist at the time of the Apollo missions themselves. The samples are curated in a manner that minimizes overall contamination, enabling clean, new high-sensitivity measurements and new science results over 40 years after their return to Earth. As our exploration of the Solar System progresses, upcoming and future NASA sample return missions will return new samples with stringent contamination control, sample environmental control, and Planetary Protection requirements. Therefore, an essential element of a healthy astromaterials curation program is a research and development (R&D) effort that characterizes and employs new technologies to maintain current collections and enable new missions - an Advanced Curation effort. JSC's Astromaterials Acquisition & Curation Office is continually performing Advanced Curation research, identifying and defining knowledge gaps about research, development, and validation/verification topics that are critical to support current and future NASA astromaterials sample collections. The following are highlighted knowledge gaps and research opportunities.

Fries, M. D.↗