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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
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1988

Tethered space recovery vehicle deployment/re-entry demonstration

The feasibility of utilizing existing Space Re-entry Vehicle (SRV) hardware for a Shuttle Orbiter-based tethered SRV deployment and re-entry demonstration using the Small Expendable Deployer System has been investigated. Options for mounting the SRV in the Orbiter, modifications and additions required to the existing SRV hardware have been defined. Flight demonstration scenarios from the Orbiter have been investigated, and re-entry motion and targeting uncertainties have been determined.

Florence, D.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Study on various elements of the geosciences with respect to space technology

The utility of data acquired in space for both basic and applied studies of the geology of the Earth was evaluated. Focus was placed upon the gaps in the current ability to make effective use of remote sensing technology within the Earth sciences. A long range plan is presented for future research that involves an appropriate balance between the development and application of space techniques.

Head, J. W., III↗
NASA NTRS1992

NASA Space Engineering Research Center for utilization of local planetary resources

In 1987, responding to widespread concern about America's competitiveness and future in the development of space technology and the academic preparation of our next generation of space professionals, NASA initiated a program to establish Space Engineering Research Centers (SERC's) at universities with strong doctoral programs in engineering. The goal was to create a national infrastructure for space exploration and development, and sites for the Centers would be selected on the basis of originality of proposed research, the potential for near-term utilization of technologies developed, and the impact these technologies could have on the U.S. space program. The Centers would also be charged with a major academic mission: the recruitment of topnotch students and their training as space professionals. This document describes the goals, accomplishments, and benefits of the research activities of the University of Arizona/NASA SERC. This SERC has become recognized as the premier center in the area known as In-Situ Resource Utilization or Indigenous Space Materials Utilization.

Source record↗
NASA NTRS1978

Highlights of 1978 activities

General highlights of NASA's activities for 1978 are presented. The highlights are categorized into topics such as space science, space transportation systems, space and terrestrial applications, environment, technology utilization, aeronautics, space research and technology, energy programs, and international. A list of the 1978 launches including: (1) launch date; (2) payload designation; (3) launch vehicle; (4) launch site and (5) mission remarks is also presented.

Source record↗
NASA NTRS1984

Space station power system

It is pointed out that space station planning at NASA began when NASA was created in 1958. However, the initiation of the program for a lunar landing delayed the implementation of plans for a space station. The utility of a space station was finally demonstrated with Skylab, which was launched in 1972. In May 1982, the Space Station Task Force was established to provide focus and direction for space station planning activities. The present paper provides a description of the planning activities, giving particular attention to the power system. The initial space station will be required to supply 75 kW of continuous electrical power, 60 kW for the customer and 15 kW for space station needs. Possible alternative energy sources for the space station include solar planar or concentrator arrays of either silicon or gallium arsenide.

Forestieri, A. F.↗
NASA NTRS1985

The Space Station - Past, present and future with some thoughts on some legal questions that need to be addressed

The history of the concept of a space station is briefly considered, taking into account a story written by Hale (1869), quantitative work provided by Oberth and Tsiolkovsky, von Braun, and the U.S. decision regarding the establishment of a space station. Arguments in favor of constructing a space station are related to the utility of a laboratory in earth orbit, the importance of a repair and maintenance base for satellites, the provision of capabilities for the commercial utilization of space, and the employment of a space station as a staging base for missions to the moon, Mars, and, possibly, the asteroids. Plans for the implementation of the Space Station concept are discussed, taking into account also legal issues involved in such an implementation. Attention is given to questions regarding the applicability of the Liability convention, U.S. domestic law, the domestic law of other countries, and four treaties.

Hosenball, S. N.↗
NASA NTRS1988

Space spider crane

A space spider crane for the movement, placement, and or assembly of various components on or in the vicinity of a space structure is described. As permanent space structures are utilized by the space program, a means will be required to transport cargo and perform various repair tasks. A space spider crane comprising a small central body with attached manipulators and legs fulfills this requirement. The manipulators may be equipped with constant pressure gripping end effectors or tools to accomplish various repair tasks. The legs are also equipped with constant pressure gripping end effectors to grip the space structure. Control of the space spider crane may be achieved either by computer software or a remotely situated human operator, who maintains visual contact via television cameras mounted on the space spider crane. One possible walking program consists of a parallel motion walking program whereby the small central body alternatively leans forward and backward relative to end effectors.

Macconochie, Ian O.↗
NASA NTRS1989

Large antenna measurement and compensation techniques

Antennas in the range of 20 meters or larger will be an integral part of future satellite communication and scientific payloads. In order to commercially use these large, low sidelobe and multiple-beam antennas, a high level of confidence must be established as to their performance in the 0-g and space environment. It is also desirable to compensate for slowly varying surface distortions which could results from thermal effects. An overview of recent advances in performing rf measurements on large antennas is presented with emphasis given to the application of a space-based far-field range utilizing the Space Shuttle. The concept of surface distortion compensation is discussed by providing numerical and measurement results.

Rahmatsamii, Y.↗
NASA NTRS1991

Analyses of risks associated with radiation exposure from past major solar particle events

Radiation exposures and cancer induction/mortality risks were investigated for several major solar particle events (SPE's). The SPE's included are: February 1956, November 1960, August 1972, October 1989, and the September, August, and October 1989 events combined. The three 1989 events were treated as one since all three could affect a single lunar or Mars mission. A baryon transport code was used to propagate particles through aluminum and tissue shield materials. A free space environment was utilized for all calculations. Results show the 30-day blood forming organs (BFO) limit of 25 rem was surpassed by all five events using 10 g/sq cm of shielding. The BFO limit is based on a depth dose of 5 cm of tissue, while a more detailed shield distribution of the BFO's was utilized. A comparison between the 5 cm depth dose and the dose found using the BFO shield distribution shows that the 5 cm depth value slightly higher than the BFO dose. The annual limit of 50 rem was exceeded by the August 1972, October 1989, and the three combined 1989 events with 5 g/sq cm of shielding. Cancer mortality risks ranged from 1.5 to 17 percent at 1 g/sq cm and 0.5 to 1.1 percent behind 10 g/sq cm of shielding for five events. These ranges correspond to those for a 45 year old male. It is shown that secondary particles comprise about 1/3 of the total risk at 10 g/sq cm of shielding. Utilizing a computerized Space Shuttle shielding model to represent a typical spacecraft configuration in free space at the August 1972 SPE, average crew doses exceeded the BFO dose limit.

Weyland, Mark D.↗
NASA NTRS1992

Energy requirements for space flight

Both the United States and the Soviet Union perform human space research. This paper reviews data available on energy metabolism in the microgravity of space flight. The level of energy utilization in space seems to be similar to that on earth, as does energy availability. However, despite adequate intake of energy and protein and in-flight exercise, lean body mass was catabolized, as indicated by negative nitrogen balance. Metabolic studies during simulated microgravity (bed rest) and true microgravity in flight have shown changes in blood glucose, fatty acids and insulin concentrations, suggesting that energy metabolism may be altered during space flight. Future research should focus on the interactions of lean body mass, diet and exercise in space, and their roles in energy metabolism during space flight.

Lane, Helen W.↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

International Space Station Space Environments Performance and Anomaly Resolution

The International Space Station is the largest and most complex on-orbit platform for space science utilization in low Earth orbit. The Space Environments Team addresses natural and induced environments for the ISS Program including external contamination, ionizing radiation, neutral atmosphere and solar ultraviolet radiation, plasma effects, and acoustics. For the ISS to fulfill its mission as a long-duration science platform, space environments effects are assessed, monitored, and controlled through design or operational mitigation. Interactions of ISS hardware with the natural and induced space environments, and the assessment and mitigation of those effects play a critical role in ISS mission operations. The Space Environments Team has complete system integration responsibility in these area for U.S./International Partner/Russian hardware, visiting vehicles, ISS payloads and operation. Lessons learned and processes developed for ISS are applicable to the design, assembly, and operations of long-duration space systems.

space environments↗
NASA NTRS1984

An evolutionary GEO transportation system

Several transportation system options that utilize the Space Station as a base for delivery of payloads to geosynchronous earth orbit are examined and compared to each other as well as to the reference case, which uses the orbiter as the staging base. The factors evaluated include impact on Kennedy Space Center (KSC) flow, STS traffic, load factor, and the cost effectiveness of each transportation system option. With respect to KSC flow, it is determined that utilizing the Space Station as a staging base could lead to a reduction of 3000 man-hours off-line and an additional 475 man-hours on-line. Launch costs for STS are reduced by 10 percent. The actual number of STS flights varies depending on the transportation system option, and the delivery of multiple payloads results in the least cost.

Markus, G.↗
NASA NTRS2017

External Contamination Environment at ISS Included: Selected Results from Payloads Contamination Mapping Delivery 3 Package

The International Space Station is the largest and most complex on-orbit platform for space science utilization in low Earth orbit. Multiple sites for external payloads, with exposure to the associated natural and induced environments, are available to support a variety of space science utilization objectives. Contamination is one of the induced environments that can impact performance, mission success and science utilization on the vehicle. The ISS has been designed, built and integrated with strict contamination requirements to provide low levels of induced contamination on external payload assets.

Olsen, Randy↗
NASA NTRS2020

International Space Station (ISS) Thruster Plume Contamination and Erosion Control for Visiting Spacecraft

The ISS is the largest and most complex platform for space science utilization in low Earth orbit. Multiple sites for external payloads, with exposure to the associated natural and induced environments, are available to support a variety of space science utilization objectives. Contamination is one of the induced environments that can impact performance, mission success, and science utilization on the vehicle. The ISS has been designed, built, and integrated with strict contamination requirements to provide low levels of induced contamination both on the ISS vehicle’s own contamination-sensitive surfaces and on external payload assets.

Microscopy↗
NASA NTRS2006

Processing of Space Resources to Enable the Vision for Space Exploration

The NASA human exploration program as directed by the Vision for Exploration (G.W. Bush, Jan. 14,2004) includes developing methods to process materials on the Moon and beyond to enable safe and affordable human exploration. Processing space resources was first popularized (O Neill 1976) as a technically viable, economically feasible means to build city sized habitats and multi GWatt solar power satellites in Earth/Moon space. Although NASA studies found the concepts to be technically reasonable in the post Apollo era (AMES 1979), the front end costs the limits of national or corporate investment. In the last decade analysis of space on has shown it to be economically justifiable even on a relatively small mission or commercial scenario basis. The Mars Reference Mission analysis (JSC 1997) demonstrated that production of return propellant on Mars can enable an order of magnitude decrease in the costs of human Mars missions. Analysis (by M. Duke 2003) shows that production of propellant on the Moon for the Earth based satellite industries can be commercially viable after a human lunar base is established. Similar economic analysis (Rapp 2005) also shows large cost benefits for lunar propellant production for Mars missions and for the use of lunar materials for the production of photovoltaic power (Freundlich 2005). Recent technologies could enable much smaller initial costs, to achieve mass, energy, and life support self sufficiency, than were achievable in the 1970s. If the Exploration Vision program is executed with a front end emphasis on space resources, it could provide a path for human self reliance beyond Earth orbit. This path can lead to an open, non-zero-sum, future for humanity with safer human competition with limitless growth potential. This paper discusses extension of the analysis for space resource utilization, to determine the minimum systems necessary for human self sufficiency and growth off Earth. Such a approach can provide a more compelling and comprehensive path to space resource utilization.

Curreri, Peter A.↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Operational Analysis to Evaluate Practical Potential of Vertical Vertiplex for Urban Air Mobility

Urban Air Mobility (UAM) is intended to serve as an alternative mode of transportation to relieve congestions in and out of urban areas. Therefore, a high density vertiplex (HDV) with multiple touchdowns and liftoff (TLOF) zone is necessary to alleviate the demands. To increase the operational efficiency of the vertiplex, EVTOL aircraft are distributed to parking spaces to utilize the TLOF zone for another approach and departure procedure. The surface footprint of the infrastructure increases drastically due to the horizontal arrangement of taxiways and parking spaces. Because high-demand locations will likely be in an urban environment with space constraints, consideration to decrease the surface footprint of the infrastructure without jeopardizing the operational efficiency is necessary for the realization of UAM. The first part of this paper proposes an innovative approach to vertically orient taxiways and parking spaces by utilizing a vertical lift to transport EVTOL aircraft within the vertiplex while meeting the safety-critical requirements outlined in Heliport Design Advisory Circular: AC 150/5390-2c. The second part of the paper evaluates the practical potential of the proposed vertical vertiplex by analyzing relative surface area utilization and operational capacity.

Smart Air Mobility↗
NASA NTRS1992

Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) utilizing Man-Tended Capability (MTC) hardware onboard Space Station Freedom

Because of the time and distance involved in returning a patient from space to a definitive medical care facility, the capability for Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) exists onboard Space Station Freedom. Methods: In order to evaluate the effectiveness of terrestrial ACLS protocols in microgravity, a medical team conducted simulations during parabolic flights onboard the KC-135 aircraft. The hardware planned for use during the MTC phase of the space station was utilized to increase the fidelity of the scenario and to evaluate the prototype equipment. Based on initial KC-135 testing of CPR and ACLS, changes were made to the ventricular fibrillation algorithm in order to accommodate the space environment. Other constraints to delivery of ACLS onboard the space station include crew size, minimum training, crew deconditioning, and limited supplies and equipment. Results: The delivery of ACLS in microgravity is hindered by the environment, but should be adequate. Factors specific to microgravity were identified for inclusion in the protocol including immediate restraint of the patient and early intubation to insure airway. External cardiac compressions of adequate force and frequency were administered using various methods. The more significant limiting factors appear to be crew training, crew size, and limited supplies. Conclusions: Although ACLS is possible in the microgravity environment, future evaluations are necessary to further refine the protocols. Proper patient and medical officer restraint is crucial prior to advanced procedures. Also emphasis should be placed on early intubation for airway management and drug administration. Preliminary results and further testing will be utilized in the design of medical hardware, determination of crew training, and medical operations for space station and beyond.

Smith, M.↗
NASA NTRS1979

Development of space manufacturing systems concepts utilizing lunar resources

Results of a NASA sponsored study to evaluate the merits of constructing solar power satellites using lunar and terrestrial resources are reviewed. Three representative lunar resources utilization (LRU) concepts were developed and compared with a previously designed earth baseline concept, and major system hardware elements as well as personnel requirements were defined. LRU for space construction was shown to be competitive with earth baseline approach for a program requiring 10 to the 5th metric tons per year of completed satellites. Results also indicated that LRU can reduce earth launched cargo requirements to less than 10% of that needed to build satellites exclusively from earth materials, with a significant percentage of the reduction due to the use of liquid oxygen derived from lunar soil. A concept using the mass driver to catapult lunar material into space was found to be superior to the other LRU logistics techniques investigated.

Bock, E. H.↗