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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 361 records · Page 20
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NASA NTRS1997

STS-81 Flight Day 4

On this fourth day of the STS-81 mission, the flight crew, Cmdr. Michael A. Baker, Pilot Brent W. Jett, Mission Specialists, John M. Grunsfeld, Marsha S. Ivins, Peter J.K. Wisoff, and Jerry M. Linenger, prepare for the fifth linkup of the Space Shuttle and the Mir Space Station. The Atlantis docks with Mir at a point 210 nautical miles above the Earth southeast of Moscow, culminating a three-day rendezvous. Two hours after docking, the hatches between Atlantis and Mir are opened and Baker and Mir 22 Commander Valery Korzun share a hug to mark the start of five days of joint operations between the two crews. After an informal welcoming ceremony in the Mir's core module, the STS-81 crewmembers receive a station safety briefing. Linenger becomes the fourth American to occupy a position on the Russian Space Station following the docking of Atlantis to the outpost. During the docked phase of the mission, the two crews transfer nearly three tons of food, water and supplies to Mir.

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NASA NTRS1997

STS-81 Flight Day 9

On this ninth day of the STS-81 mission, the flight crew, Cmdr. Michael A. Baker, Pilot Brent W. Jett, Mission Specialists, John M. Grunsfeld, Marsha S. Ivins, Peter J.K. Wisoff, and John Blaha, are flying on their own after undocking the Mir Space Station. Following the separation Pilot Brent Jett initiates a two-revolution flyaround of the Russian complex at a distance of about 560 feet. Jett fires maneuvering jets to separate Atlantis from Mir for the final time until May, when the shuttle will return on STS-84 to deliver astronaut Mike Foale to the outpost as Jerry M. Linenger's replacement.

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NASA NTRS1995

STS-84 Day 05 Highlights

On this fifth day of the STS-84 mission, the flight crew, Cmdr. Charles J. Precourt, Pilot Eileen M. Collins, Payload Cmdr, Jean-Francois Clervoy (ESA), Mission Specialists Edward T. Lu, Carlos I. Noriega, Elena V. Kondakova, Jerry M. Linenger (download), and C. Michael Foale (upload) continue their work through the overnight hours, transferring water, hardware and logistical supplies to and from each other's spacecraft. It is the third day of joint operations between the Shuttle and the Russian Space Station crewmembers. As planned, the newest member of the Mir 23 crew, Mike Foale, and astronaut Jerry Linenger continue their handover activities to prepare Foale for his 4 month stay on Mir. Foale will serve aboard the Russian outpost until he is replaced by astronaut Wendy Lawrence during Atlantis' next visit to Mir in September.

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NASA NTRS1995

STS-84 Day 07 Highlights

On this seventh day of the STS-84 mission, the flight crew, Cmdr. Charles J. Precourt, Pilot Eileen M. Collions, Payload Cmdr, Jean-Francois Clervoy (ESA), Mission Specialists Edward T. Lu; Carlos I. Noriega; Elena V. Kondakova; Jerry M. Linenger (download) and C. Michael Foale (upload) are seen saying their final farewells and closing the hatches on their two spacecraft. This wrap up five days of joint operations in which about 7,000 pounds of supplies, experiments and water were transferred between the two vehicles, as well as astronaut Mike Foale, who swapped places with Jerry Linenger for the start of a four-month research mission on the Russian outpost. The final handshakes by Commanders Charlie Precourt and Vasily Tsibliev came moments before the hatches between Atlantis and Mir swung shut.

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NASA NTRS1993

Production of Lunar Concrete Using Molten Sulfur

The United States has made a commitment to go back to the moon to stay in the early part of the next century. In order to achieve this objective it became evident to NASA that a Lunar Outpost will be needed to house scientists and astronauts who will be living on the moon for extended periods of time. A study has been undertaken by the authors and supported by NASA to study the feasibility of using lunar regolith with different binders such as molten sulfur, epoxy or hydraulic cement as a construction material for different lunar structures. The basic premise of this study is that it will be more logical and cost effective to manufacture lunar construction materials utilizing indigenous resources rather than transporting needed materials from earth. Lunar concrete (made from Hydraulic Cement and lunar soil) has been studied and suggested as the construction material of choice for some of the lunar projects. Unfortunately, its hydration requires water which is going to be a precious commodity on the moon. Therefore this study explores the feasibility of using binders other than hydraulic cement such as sulfur or epoxy with lunar regolith as a construction material. This report describes findings of this study which deals specifically with using molten sulfur as a binder for Lunar concrete. It describes laboratory experiments in which the sulfur to lunar soil simulant ratios by weight were varied to study the minimum amount of sulfur required to produce a particular strength. The compressive and tensile strengths of these mixes were evaluated. Metal and fiber glass fibers were added to some of the mixes to study their effects on the compressive and tensile strengths. This report also describes experiments where the sulfur is melted and mixed with the lunar regolith in a specially designed vacuum chamber. The properties of the produced concrete were compared to those of concrete produced under normal pressure.

Omar, Husam A.↗
NASA NTRS1997

STS-86 Day 05 Highlights

On this fifth day of the STS-86 mission, the flight crew, Cmdr. James D. Wetherbee, Jr., Pilot Michael J. Bloomfield, Mission Specialists Scott E. Parazynski, Jean-Loup Chretien, Vladimir G. Titov, Wendy B. Lawrence and Mike Foale continue their transfer activities today, moving more supplies and water to the Russian outpost as U.S. astronaut Dave Wolf settles in for his four-month mission on the space station.

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NASA NTRS1998

STS-89 Day 08 Highlights

On this eighth day of the STS-89 mission, the flight crew, Cmdr. Terrence W. Wilcutt, Pilot Frank Edwards, and Mission Specialists Michael P. Anderson, James F. Reilly, Bonnie J. Dunbar, Salizhan Shakirovich Sharipov, David A. Wolf and Andrew S.W. Thomas, prepare to conclude their joint mission with the crew of the Mir. Endeavour separates from the Russian Space Station with a gentle push from springs in the docking mechanism attaching it to the Space Station. Following a flyaround of the station to gather additional photography of the outpost, Pilot Joe Edwards conducts a final separation maneuver to allow Endeavour to drift away from the Mir.

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NASA NTRS1998

STS-91 Day 03 Highlights

On this third day of the STS-91 mission, the flight crew, Cmdr. Charles J. Precourt, Pilot Dominic L. Pudwill Gorie and Mission Specialists Wendy B. Lawrence, Franklin R. Chang-Diaz, Janet L. Kavandi, and Valery Victorovitch Ryumin prepare for docking with the Mir Space Station and a reunion with U.S. Astronaut Andy Thomas, who is about to conclude his more-than-four-month mission to the Russian outpost. After the docking the two crews open the entry hatch and greet each other. The astronauts and cosmonauts transfer supplies from the shuttle to Mir.

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NASA NTRS1998

Human Exploration of Mars: The Reference Mission of the NASA Mars Exploration Study Team

The Reference Mission was developed over a period of several years and was published in NASA Special Publication 6107 in July 1997. The purpose of the Reference Mission was to provide a workable model for the human exploration of Mars, which is described in enough detail that alternative strategies and implementations can be compared and evaluated. NASA is continuing to develop the Reference Mission and expects to update this report in the near future. It was the purpose of the Reference Mission to develop scenarios based on the needs of scientists and explorers who want to conduct research on Mars; however, more work on the surface-mission aspects of the Reference Mission is required and is getting under way. Some aspects of the Reference Mission that are important for the consideration of the surface mission definition include: (1) a split mission strategy, which arrives at the surface two years before the arrival of the first crew; (2) three missions to the outpost site over a 6-year period; (3) a plant capable of producing rocket propellant for lifting off Mars and caches of water, O, and inert gases for the life-support system; (4) a hybrid physico-chemical/bioregenerative life-support system, which emphasizes the bioregenerative system more in later parts of the scenario; (5) a nuclear reactor power supply, which provides enough power for all operations, including the operation of a bioregenerative life-support system as well as the propellant and consumable plant; (6) capability for at least two people to be outside the habitat each day of the surface stay; (7) telerobotic and human-operated transportation vehicles, including a pressurized rover capable of supporting trips of several days' duration from the habitat; (7) crew stay times of 500 days on the surface, with six-person crews; and (8) multiple functional redundancies to reduce risks to the crews on the surface. New concepts are being sought that would reduce the overall cost for this exploration program and reducing the risks that are indigenous to Mars exploration. Among those areas being explored are alternative space propulsion approaches, solar vs. nuclear power, and reductions in the size of crews.

Connolly, John↗
NASA NTRS1998

"2001: A Space Odyssey" Revisited--The Feasibility of 24 Hour Commuter Flights to the Moon Using NTR Propulsion with LUNOX Afterburners

The prospects for "24 hour" commuter flights to the Moon, similar to that portrayed in 2001: A Space Odyssey but on a more Spartan scale, are examined using two near term, "high leverage" technologies--liquid oxygen (LOX)-augmented nuclear thermal rocket (NTR) propulsion and "lunar-derived" oxygen (LUNOX) production. Ironrich volcanic glass, or "orange soil," discovered during the Apollo 17 mission to Taurus-Littrow, has produced a 4% oxygen yield in recent NASA experiments using hydrogen reduction. LUNOX development and utilization would eliminate the need to transport oxygen supplies from Earth and is expected to dramatically reduce the size, cost and complexity of space transportation systems. The LOX-augmented NTR concept (LANTR) exploits the high performance capability of the conventional liquid hydrogen (LH2)-cooled NTR and the mission leverage provided by LUNOX in a unique way, LANTR utilizes the large divergent section of its nozzle as an "afterburner" into which oxygen is injected and supersonically combusted with nuclear preheated hydrogen emerging front the engine's choked sonic throat--essentially "scramjet propulsion in reverse." By varying the oxygen-to-hydrogen mixture ratio, the LANTR engine can operate over a wide range of thrust and specific impulse (Isp) values while the reactor core power level remains relatively constant. The thrust augmentation feature of LANTR means that "big engine" performance can be obtained using smaller, more affordable, easier to test NTR engines. The use of high-density LOX in place of low-density LH2 also reduces hydrogen mass and tank volume resulting in smaller space vehicles. An implementation strategy and evolutionary lunar mission architecture is outlined which requires only Shuttle C or "in-line" Shuttle-derived launch vehicles, and utilizes conventional NTR-powered lunar transfer vehicles (LTVs), operating in an "expendable mode" initially, to maximize delivered surface payload on each mission. The increased payload is dedicated to installing "modular" LUNOX production units with the intent of supplying LUNOX to lunar landing vehicles (LLVS) and then LTVs at the earliest possible opportunity. Once LUNOX becomes available in low lunar orbit (LLO), monopropellant NTRs would be outfitted with an oxygen propellant module, feed system and afterburner nozzle for "bipropellant" operation. Transition to a "reusable" mission architecture now occurs with smaller, LANTR-powered LTVs delivering approximately 400% more payload on each piloted round trip mission than earlier expendable "all LH2" NTR systems. As initial lunar outposts grow to eventual lunar settlements and LUNOX production capacity increases, the LANTR concept can enable a rapid "commuter" shuttle capable of 24 hour "one way" trips to and from the Moon, A vast deposit of"iron-rich" volcanic glass beads identified at just one candidate site--located at the southeastern edge of Mare Serenitatis--could supply, sufficient LUNOX to support daily commuter flights to the Moon for the next 9000 years!

Borowski, Stanley K.↗
NASA NTRS1999

STS-96 Mission Highlights

In this second part of a three-part video mission-highlights set, on-orbit spacecrew activities performed on the STS-96 Space Shuttle Orbiter Discovery and the International Space Station are reviewed. The flight crew consists of Kent V. Rominger, Commander; Rick D. Husband, Pilot; and Mission Specialists Ellen Ochoa, Tamara E. Jernigan, Daniel T. Barry, Julie Payette (Canadian), and Valery Ivanovich Tokarev (Russian). The primary goals of this mission were to work on logistics and resupply the International Space Station. This second part in the mission series features video from Flight Day 4-7 (FD 4-7). FD 4 of STS-96 presents astronauts Tammy Jernigan and Dan Barry completing the second longest space walk in shuttle history. Footage includes Jernigan and Barry transferring and installing two cranes from the shuttle's payload bay to locations on the outside of the station. The astronauts enter the International Space Station delivering supplies and prepare the outpost to receive its first resident crew, scheduled to arrive in early 2000 on FD 5. The video also captures the crew involved in logistics transfer activities within the Discovery/ISS orbiting complex. FD 6 includes footage of Valery Tokarev and Canadian astronaut Julie Payette charging out the final six battery recharge controller units for two of Zarya's power-producing batteries and all crew members' involvement in logistics transfer activities from the SPACEHAB module to designated locations in the International Space Station. With the transfer work of FD 6 all but complete, the astronauts conduct some additional work, installing parts of a wireless strain gauge system that will help engineers track the effects of adding modules to the station throughout its assembly. Moving the few remaining items from Discovery to the ISS, then closing a series of hatches within the station's modules leading back to the shuttle are the primary activities contained in FD 7. Final coverage features Discovery's astronauts finishing their work inside the International Space Station, closing all of the hatches and readying the shuttle's small thrusters to be fired to raise the entire complex's orbit in preparation for the undocking and departure set for FD 8.

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NASA NTRS1999

STS-96 Mission Highlights

In this third part of a three-part video mission-highlights set, spacecrew operations between the STS-96 Space Shuttle Orbiter Discovery and the International Space Station, as well as STS reentry and landing is reviewed. The flight crew consists of Kent V. Rominger, Commander; Rick D. Husband, Pilot; and Mission Specialists Ellen Ochoa, Tamara E. Jernigan, Daniel T. Barry, Julie Payette (Canadian), and Valery Ivanovich Tokarev (Russian). The primary goals of this mission were to work on logistics and resupply the International Space Station. This third part of the three part series includes footage from Flight Days 8-11 (FD 8-11) of the mission. FD 8 includes the crew members moving the last items from Discovery into the International Space Station (ISS), closing the final hatch on the orbiting outpost and commanding a series of 17 pulses of Discovery's reaction control system jets to boost the station's orbit. Discovery undocks from the station, performs a 2 1/2 lap flyaround of the station, before Husband fires Discovery's jets in a final burst to move Discovery away from the station, concluding six days of docked operations. After the flyaround, Husband fires Discovery's jets to depart the station's vicinity. Beginning FD 9, as Discovery departs from the station, Mission Specialists Tammy Jernigan and Dan Barry pack away the space suit gear they used during their spacewalk early in the mission, while Commander Kent Rominger and Pilot Rick Husband practice landings on a laptop computer program. Mission Specialists Julie Payette and Valery Tokarev help to stow gear and repressurize the shuttle's cabin to its standard 14.7 pounds per square inch. The crew also readies to deploy a small, student-built payload called STARSHINE (Student Tracked Atmospheric Research Satellite for Heuristic International Networking Equipment). In and around landing preparations and the STARSHINE deploy, the crew stowe all equipment used throughout the mission. The STARSHINE satellite ejects from a canister in Discovery's payload bay on FD 10. FD 11 is completed as Discovery swoops out of the darkness as Commander Kent Rominger sets the shuttle and his crewmates down on Runway 15 at the Shuttle Landing Facility in Florida to successfully complete the first shuttle mission of the year. Several different views of the landing are highlighted in the video.

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NASA NTRS1999

Calcium Solubility and Cation Exchange Properties in Zeoponic Soil

An important aspect of a regenerative life support system at a Lunar or Martian outpost is the ability to produce food. Essential plant nutrients, as well as a solid support substrate, can be provided by: (1) treated Lunar or Martian regolith; (2) a synthetic soil or (3) some combination of both. A synthetic soil composed of ammonium- and potassium-saturated chinoptlolite (a zeolite mineral) and apatite, can provide slow-release fertilization of plants via dissolution and ion-exchange reactions. Previous equilibrium studies (Beiersdorfer, 1997) on mixtures of synthetic hydroxyapatite and saturated-clinoptilolite indicate that the concentrations of macro-nutrients such as ammonium, phosphorous, potassium, magnesium, and calcium are a function of the ratio of chinoptilolite to apatite in the sample and to the ratio of potassium to ammonium on the exchange sites in the clinoptilolite. Potassium, ammonium, phosphorous, and magnesium are available to plants at sufficient levels. However, calcium is deficient, due to the high degree of calcium adsorption by the clinoptilolite. Based on a series of batch-equilibration experiments, this calcium deficiency can be reduced by (1) treating the clinoptilolite with CaNO3 or (2) adding a second Ca-bearing mineral (calcite, dolomite or wollastonite) to the soil. Treating the Cp with CaNO3 results in increased Ca in solution, decreased P in solution and decreased NH4 in solution. Concentrations of K were not effected by the CaNO3 treatment. Additions of Cal, Dol and Wol changed the concentrations of Ca and P in solution in a systematic fashion. Cal has the greatest effect, Dol the least and Wol is intermediate. The changes are consistent with changes expected for a common ion effect with Ca. Higher concentrations of Ca in solution with added Cal, Dol or Wol do not result in changes in K or NH4 concentrations.

Beiersdorfer, Raymond E.↗
NASA NTRS2000

The Impact of Autonomous Systems Technology on JPL Mission Software

This paper discusses the following topics: (1) Autonomy for Future Missions- Mars Outposts, Titan Aerobot, and Europa Cryobot / Hydrobot; (2) Emergence of Autonomy- Remote Agent Architecture, Closing Loops Onboard, and New Millennium Flight Experiment; and (3) Software Engineering Challenges- Influence of Remote Agent, Scalable Autonomy, Autonomy Software Validation, Analytic Verification Technology, and Autonomy and Software Software Engineering.

Doyle, Richard J.↗
NASA NTRS1999

Calcium Solubility In Zeolite Synthetic-Apatite Mixtures

Life support systems at a lunar or martian outpost will require the ability to produce food growing in 1) treated lunar or martian regolith; 2) a synthetic soil, or 3) some combination of both. Zeoponic soil, composed of NH4 (-) and K-exchanged clinoptilolite (Cp) and synthetic apatite (Ap), can provide slow-release fertilization via dissolution and ion-exchange. Equilibrium studies indicate that KNH4, P, and Mg are available to plants at sufficient levels, however, Ca is deficient. Ca availability can be increased by adding a second Ca-bearing mineral: calcite (Cal); dolomite (Dol); or wollastonite (Wol). Additions of Cal, Dol, and Wol systematically change the concentrations of Ca and P in solution. Cal has the greatest effect, Dol the least, and Wol is intermediate.

Beiersdorfer, R.↗
NASA NTRS2000

Space Resources Development: The Link Between Human Exploration and the Long-Term Commercialization of Space

In a letter to the NASA Administrator, Dan Goldin, in January of 1999, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) stated the following . OMB recommends that NASA consider commercialization in a broader context than the more focused efforts to date on space station and space shuttle commercialization. We suggest that NASA examine architectures that take advantage of a potentially robust future commercial infrastructure that could dramatically lower the cost of future human exploration." In response to this letter, the NASA Human Exploration and Development of Space (HEDS) Enterprise launched the BEDS Technology & Commercialization Initiative (HTCI) to link technology and system development for human exploration with the commercial development of space to emphasize the "D" (Development) in BEDS. The development of technologies and capabilities to utilize space resources is the first of six primary focus areas in this program. It is clear that Space Resources Development (SRD) is key for both long-term human exploration of our solar system and to the long-term commercialization of space since: a) it provides the technologies, products, and raw materials to support efficient space transportation and in-space construction and manufacturing, and b) it provides the capabilities and infrastructure to allow outpost growth, self-sufficiency, and commercial space service and utility industry activities.

Sanders, Gerald B.↗
NASA NTRS2000

A Comparison of Brayton and Stirling Space Nuclear Power Systems for Power Levels from 1 Kilowatt to 10 Megawatts

An analytical study was conducted to assess the performance and mass of Brayton and Stirling nuclear power systems for a wide range of future NASA space exploration missions. The power levels and design concepts were based on three different mission classes. Isotope systems, with power levels from 1 to 10 kW, were considered for planetary surface rovers and robotic science. Reactor power systems for planetary surface outposts and bases were evaluated from 10 to 500 kW. Finally, reactor power systems in the range from 100 kW to 10 mW were assessed for advanced propulsion applications. The analysis also examined the effect of advanced component technology on system performance. The advanced technologies included high temperature materials, lightweight radiators, and high voltage power management and distribution.

Mason, Lee S.↗
NASA NTRS2000

Phoning Home from Mars in 2025

It's spring at Martian Outpost 3, the year 2025. The Universe Cup's on later today, and next week little Suzie celebrates her fourth birthday. Fortunately, this football fan and parent will be able to participate in both of these activities, albeit at a slight time delay, due completely to the sophisticated, high-speed quasi-real-time multimedia/navigation MarsNet surrounding Mars and tying it to Earth. Capable of moving gigabits a second in either direction, the network supports not only the multiple manned and robotic science needs of teams and devices encircling Mars, but also the very real human need for communication.

Adams, J.↗