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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 379 records · Page 21

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NASA NTRS1983

Lidar remote measurements of Space Shuttle ground cloud emissions

The application of lidar remote sensing techniques to the measurement of spacecraft-booster-exhaust-cloud parameters is illustrated, using data obtained from the launch of STS-3. Mie-scatter measurements of plume and cloud particulates were made by a mobile unit with computer controlled elevation and azimuth coverage. Scattergraphs of typical STS-3 lidar data are presented and discussed. The potential use of DIAL techniques to measure the concentrations of HCl, N2H4, and NO2 is evaluated in terms of EPA overall-standard-deviation guidelines. It is shown that currently operational lidar systems can be modified to determine contamination or air pollution by these molecular species resulting from spacecraft launches.

Caputo, B.↗

NASA NTRS1990

Fiber optic systems for mobile platforms III; Proceedings of the Meeting, Boston, MA, Sept. 7, 8, 1989

Various papers on fiber optic systems for mobile platforms are presented. Individual topics addressed include: architecture for fiber optic sensors and actuators in aircraft propulsion systems, fiber optic sensor system readiness for aircraft, microphone headset compatible with power by light, wavelength-division-multiplexed fiber optic sensors for aircraft applications, development of fly-by-light systems, fiber-optic-based inertial measurement unit, fault-tolerant architecture for a fly-by-light flight control computer, optically powered sensors for EMI-immune aviation sensing systems, infrared fiber optic fire sensors for space station applications. Papers on shipboard and automotive applications of fiber optic systems are also included.

Lewis, Norris E.↗

NASA NTRS2012

Global Infrared Observations of Roughness Induced Transition on the Space Shuttle Orbiter

High resolution infrared observations made from a mobile ground based optical system captured the laminar-to-turbulent boundary layer transition process as it occurred during Space Shuttle Endeavour's return to earth following its final mission in 2011. The STS-134 imagery was part of a larger effort to demonstrate an emerging and reliable non-intrusive global thermal measurement capability and to complement a series of boundary layer transition flight experiments that were flown on the Shuttle. The STS-134 observations are believed to be the first time that the development and movement of a hypersonic boundary layer transition front has been witnessed in flight over the entire vehicle surface and in particular, at unprecedented spatial resolution. Additionally, benchmark surface temperature maps of the Orbiter lower surface collected over multiple flights and spanning a Mach range of 18 to 6 are now available and represent an opportunity for collaborative comparison with computational techniques focused on hypersonic transition and turbulence modeling. The synergy of the global temperature maps with the companion in-situ thermocouple measurements serve as an example of the effective leveraging of resources to achieve a common goal of advancing our understanding of the complex nature of high Mach number transition. It is shown that quantitative imaging can open the door to a multitude of national and international opportunities for partnership associated with flight-testing and subsequent validation of numerical simulation techniques. The quantitative imaging applications highlighted in this paper offer unique and complementary flight measurement alternatives and suggest collaborative instrumentation opportunities to advance the state of the art in transition prediction and maximize the return on investment in terms of developmental flight tests for future vehicle designs.

Horvath, Thomas J.↗

NASA NTRS2006

ROCK AND SOIL PHYSICAL PROPERTIES AT THE MER GUSEV CRATER AND MERIDIANI PLANUM LANDING SITES

Following the successful landings of both Mars Exploration Rover (MER) vehicles at Gusev Crater and Meridiani Planum, respectively, their Athena suite of instruments is being used to study the geologic history of these two very different landing sites on Mars that had been selected on the basis of showing different types of evidence for aqueous processes in the planet s past. Utilizing the on-board instruments as well as the rovers mobility system, a wide range of physical properties investigations is carried out as well - the subject of this abstract - that provide additional information on the geology and processes at the sites. Results of the mission in general as well as of the physical properties studies thus far greatly exceed expectations in that observations and measurements by both vehicles show a rich variety in materials and processes: the Gusev site in the vicinity of the lander is remarkably flat and generally devoid of large rocks along traverses up to the time of this writing (approx.Sol 50) and suggestive of a deflated surface with generally only thin veneers of bright dust while exhibiting evidence of a widespread occurrence of a crust from cemented fines that has been observed to fail in the form of blocky clods when disturbed by vehicle rolling action; numerous small and shallow depressions - presumably created by impacts - are observed at the site which are infilled with bright, fine-grained material that likewise appears indurated and which was studied by a trenching experiment; small ripple bedforms are scattered across the site and were characterized in terms of particle size distributions. At the Meridiani site, studies so far - up to approx.Sol 33 - have focussed on soils and the rock outcrop encountered within the approx.20 m diameter crater that the spacecraft came to rest in: from a physical properties point of view, a mantle of dark, well-sorted, apparently basaltic sand with small to moderate cohesion has been of interest - and has been studied by a trenching experiment - as well as a fine-grained unit underlying the mantle at least locally within the crater. Rock grindings were accomplished successfully at both sites at the time of this writing, suggesting different strengths of the two targets (the basaltic rock nicknamed Adirondack at Gusev and the Meridiani rock outcrop) in addition to enabling compositional measurements below the original rock surfaces.

Ming, Douglas W.↗

NASA NTRS2006

Miniature Gas Chromatograph (GC): Penning Ionization Electron Spectroscopy (PIES) Instrument for the Trace Analyses of Extraterrestrial Environments

In situ exploration of the solar system to identify its early chemistry as preserved in icy bodies and to look for compelling evidence of astrobiology will require new technology for chemical analysis. Chemical measurements in space flight environments highlight the need for a high level of positive identification of chemical compounds, since re-measurement by alternative techniques for confirmation will not be feasible. It also may not be possible to anticipate all chemical species that are observed, and important species may be present only at trace levels where they can be masked by complex chemical backgrounds. Up to now, the only techniques providing independent sample identification of GC separated components across a wide range of chemical species have been Mass Spectrometry (MS) and Ion Mobility Spectrometry (IMS). We describe here the development of a versatile and robust miniature GC detector based on Penning Ionization Electron Spectroscopy (PIES), for use with miniature GC systems being developed for planetary missions. PIES identifies the sample molecule through spectra related to its ionization potential. The combination of miniature GC technology with the primary identification capabilities of PIES provides an analytical approach ideal for planetary analyses.

Kojiro, Daniel R.↗

NASA NTRS1989

A photoelectric technique for measuring lightning-channel propagation velocities from a mobile laboratory

The present device for lightning channel propagation-velocity determination employs eight photodetectors mounted behind precision horizontal slits in the focal plane of a photographic camera lens. The eight photodetector pulses, IRIG-B time, and slow and fast electric field-change waveforms are recorded on a 14-track analog tape recorder. A comparison of the present results with those obtained by a streaking camera shows no significant differences between the velocities obtained from the same strokes with the two systems; neither is there any difference in pulse characteristics or in the velocities calculated from them.

Mach, Douglas M.↗

DOE OSTI2024

Optimizing protic ionic liquid electrolyte for pre-intercalated Ti 3 C 2 T x MXene supercapacitor electrodes

Electrical double-layer capacitors (EDLCs) are of increasing importance in energy storage from renewable sources. The properties of the electrode and electrolyte materials influence the energy and power densities of EDLCs. We examined the specific capacitance and ion dynamics of a protic ionic liquid confined in pre-intercalated Ti 3 C 2 T x MXene. Our electrochemical measurements demonstrated that the creation of a protic ionic liquid, 1-butyl-3-H-imidazolium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide (BuIMH-NTf2), using a mixture of ionic liquid, 1-butyl imidazole (BuIM), and salt, bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide (HNTf2), in a ratio of 0.8:0.2 led to the optimal capacitance. Remarkably, quasi-elastic neutron scattering measurements revealed increased particle mobility at this composition, attributed to the more efficient accumulation of BuIMH + on the electrode surface. This deposit of additional ions results in fewer BuIM molecules away from the surface, enhancing their mobility due to reduced crowding. This composition-dependent electrochemical behavior will guide the formulation of more efficient protic ionic liquid systems, enabling faster ion transport in energy storage devices.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

NASA NTRS1990

Design considerations for future planetary space suits

Manned extravehicular activity (EVA) operations will be major mission elements of planned future U.S. space operations. Whether designed for orbital operations or planetary surface exploration, the EVA system must be safe and reliable, and must provide a high degree of performance capabilities. An extravehicular mobility unit (EMU) consisting of a space suit, EVA gloves, and a portable life support system (PLSS) is central to the EVA system. A rugged, highly reliable, mobile, reusable, and easily maintained EVA suit and compact PLSS must meet the specific requirements of the intended mission. Additional requirements imposed by exposure to surface and gravitational environments are the need for lightweight, high-strength materials for fabricating EMUs to prevent astronaut fatigue and the need for dust protection measures and removal techniques to prevent contamination. Also, operational pressure for habitats should be chosen so as to maintain zero-prebreathe conditions while allowing for lower EMU operating pressure.

Kosmo, Joseph J.↗

NASA NTRS1993

Experience and results of the 1991 MTLRS-1 USSR campaign

The year 1991 was a special year for the mobile laser ranging systems. Due to the scheduled upgrades of the Modular Transportable Laser Ranging Systems, MTLRS#1 and MTLRS#2, neither a WEGENER MEDLAS nor a Crustal Dynamics Project campaign was carried out in 1991. After the successful upgrade of MTLRS#1 in the first half of 1991 the system departed from Wettzell in August to make measurements at two sites in the USSR. In Riga/Latvia, we operated close to the fixed SLR system. In Simeiz/Ucrainea, the place for MTLRS#1 pad was choosen to collocate the two fixed SLR stations in Simeiz (300 m distance to MTLRS#1) and Kazivelli (about 3 km distance).

Sperber, Peter↗

NASA NTRS2004

Small-RPS Enabled Mars Rover Concept

Both the MER and the Mars Pathfinder rovers operated on Mars in an energy-limited mode, since the solar panels generated power during daylight hours only. At other times the rovers relied on power stored in batteries. In comparison, Radioisotope Power Systems (RPS) offer a power-enabled paradigm, where power can be generated for long mission durations (measured in years), independently from the Sun, and on a continuous basis. A study was performed at PL to assess the feasibility of a small-RPS enabled MER-class rover concept and any associated advantages of its mission on Mars. The rover concept relied on design heritage from MER with two significant changes. First, the solar panels were replaced with two single GPHS module based small-RPSs. Second, the Mossbauer spectroscope was substituted with a laser Raman spectroscope, in order to move towards MEPAG defined astrobiology driven science goals. The highest power requirements were contributed to mobility and telecommunication type operating modes, hence influencing power system sizing. The resulting hybrid power system included two small-RPSs and two batteries. Each small-RPS was assumed to generate 50We of power or 62OWh/sol of energy (BOL), comparable to that of MER. The two 8Ah batteries were considered available during peak power usage. Mission architecture, power trades, science instruments, data, communication, thermal and radiation environments, mobility, mass issues were also addressed. The study demonstrated that a new set of RPS-enabled rover missions could be envisioned for Mars exploration within the next decade, targeting astrobiology oriented science objectives, while powered by 2 to 4 GPHS modules.

Mars exploration↗

NASA NTRS2005

Classification of Ion Mobility Data Using the Neural Network Approach

Determination of atmospheric and surface elemental and molecular composition of various solar system bodies is essential to the development of a firm understanding of the origin and evolution of the solar system. Furthermore, such data is needed to address the intriguing question of whether or not life exists or once existed elsewhere in the Solar System. As such, these measurements are among the primary scientific goals of NASA s current and future planetary missions. In recent years, significant progress toward both miniaturization and field portability of in situ analytical separation and detection devices have been made with future planetary explorations in mind. However, despite all these advances, accurate in situ identification of atmospheric and surface compounds remains a big challenge. In response to that we are developing various hardware and software tools which would enable us to uniquely identify species of interest in a complex chemical environment.

Duong, T. A.↗

NASA NTRS2000

Advances in Fluorescence Sensing Systems for the Remote Assessment of Nitrogen Supply in Field Corn

The studies described herein were conducted to better define changes in fluorescence properties of leaves from field grown corn (Zea mays L.) as they relate to varying levels of nitrogen (N) fertilization. This research was directed toward: 1) providing a remote non-destructive sensing technique to aid in the determination of optimal rates of N fertilization in corn crops and, 2) defining parameters for further development of fluorescence instrumentation to be operated remotely at field canopy levels. Fluorescence imaging bands centered in the blue (450 nm), green (525 nm), red (680 nm), and far-red (740 nm) and ratios of these bands were compared with the following plant parameters: rates of photosynthesis, N:C ratio, pigment concentrations, and grain yields. Both the fluorescence and physiological measures exhibited similar curvilinear responses to N fertilization level while significant linear correlations were obtained among fluorescence bands and band ratios to certain physiological measures of plant productivity. The red / blue, red / green, far-red / blue, far-red /green fluorescence ratios are well suited for remote observation and provided high correlations to grain yield, LAI, N:C, and chlorophyll contents. The results from this investigation indicate that fluorescence technology could aid in the determination of N fertilization requirements for corn. This discussion will also address design concepts and preliminary field trials of a mobile field-based Laser Induced Fluorescence Imaging System (LIFIS) capable of simultaneously acquiring images of four fluorescence emission bands from areas of plant canopies equaling 1 sq m and greater without interference of ambient solar radiation.

Corp, L. A.↗

NASA NTRS2003

A Wheel Electrometer to Measure Electrostatic Fields on the Martian Surface

A system of embedded sensors that can be incorporated into the wheel of any future mission rover would provide for a simple and fairly unobtrusive way to measure the distribution of electrostatic fields on the Martian surface and to measure variations in soil electrostatic response. This technology could perhaps be applied to different types of sensors that require the mobility provided by a rover s wheel.

C.I. Calle↗

NASA NTRS1991

A safety-based decision making architecture for autonomous systems

Engineering systems designed specifically for space applications often exhibit a high level of autonomy in the control and decision-making architecture. As the level of autonomy increases, more emphasis must be placed on assimilating the safety functions normally executed at the hardware level or by human supervisors into the control architecture of the system. The development of a decision-making structure which utilizes information on system safety is detailed. A quantitative measure of system safety, called the safety self-information, is defined. This measure is analogous to the reliability self-information defined by McInroy and Saridis, but includes weighting of task constraints to provide a measure of both reliability and cost. An example is presented in which the safety self-information is used as a decision criterion in a mobile robot controller. The safety self-information is shown to be consistent with the entropy-based Theory of Intelligent Machines defined by Saridis.

Musto, Joseph C.↗

NASA NTRS1995

Soil runway friction evaluation in support of USAF C-17 transport aircraft operations

A series of NASA Diagonal-Braked Vehicle (DBV) test runs were performed on the soil runway 7/25 at Holland landing zone, Fort Bragg, North Carolina, near Pope Air Force Base in March 1995 at the request of the Air Force C-17 System Program Office. These ground vehicle test results indicated that the dry runway friction level was suitable for planned C-17 transport aircraft landing and take-off operations at various gross weights. These aircraft operations were successfully carried out. On-board aircraft deceleration measurements were comparable to NASA DBV measurements. Additional tests conducted with an Army High Mobility Multi-Purpose Wheeled Vehicle equipped with a portable decelerometer, showed good agreement with NASA DBV data.

Yager, Thomas J.↗

NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Psychoacoustic Measures for UAM noise in the Context of Ambient Sound

The noise component of future aircraft and operations from Urban Air Mobility (UAM) vehicles is widely recognized as a challenge to community acceptance. NASA’s RVLT (Revolutionary Vertical Lift Technology) program is currently supporting research in the area of human response and psychoacoustics in an effort to augment current metrics for traditional aircraft. This talk will review current work at NASA Ames’ Human Systems Integration Division to evaluate detection, annoyance, and acceptability of UAM sound, in the context of expected ambient sound conditions.

aircraft noise disturbance↗

DOE OSTI2025

Two-step spin-coating of vacancy-ordered double perovskites enables growth of thin films for electronic devices

Vacancy-ordered double perovskites (VODPs), such as Cs 2 TeX 6 (X = Cl, Br, I), are lead-free alternatives to conventional metal-halide perovskites (MHPs). One limitation of VODPs is the lack of processes to form thin films relevant for physical characterization and electronic devices. A two-step spin-coating method was developed for synthesizing high-quality films of Cs 2 TeBr 6 . Independently depositing CsBr and TeBr 4 enables high precursor concentrations and control over crystallization kinetics. By optimizing the spin-coating parameters, conversion of precursors to phase pure films was observed using structural and surface characterization methods. The growth of mixed-halide systems was investigated using alternative salts including CsCl and CsI. The formation of halide alloys was found to depend on the existence of routes to byproducts. Lastly, single carrier diodes of Cs2TeBr6 were designed following valence band characterization with photoelectron spectroscopy. Temperature-dependent space-charge-limited current measurements revealed that transport occurs by hopping and the hole mobility is 3.2 × 10 −5 cm 2 V −1 s −1 near room temperature. As a result, the insights from the 2-step procedure provide a pathway towards making semiconducting devices from VODPs.

Kuklinski, Owen [University of California, Santa B↗

NASA NTRS1981

A frequency and timing subsystem for the ORION mobile unit

A mobile surveying instrument in support of the crustal dynamics program measures the length and direction of the distance between sites on the Earth's surface using VLBI techniques operating at microwave frequencies and extragalactic radio sources. The frequency and timing subsystem uses as a frequency standard the hydrogen maser. An important part of the subsystem is a sophisticated automatic system to monitor frequency stability and accumulated clock error.

Clements, P. A.↗