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NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Development of a Weather Capability for the Urban Air Mobility Airspace Research Roadmap

Traditionally, the transportation system’s resiliency to the impacts of weather is an area where neglected or incorrect assumptions can lead to difficulties later in the research and development lifecycle. To mitigate this, NASA has ongoing efforts to develop a set of research roadmaps for organizing, integrating, and communicating research into new aviation infrastructure and transportation modalities, within which weather is being addressed early on. An effort has been undertaken to add weather assumptions and requirements to an already-existing roadmap for the Urban Air Mobility (UAM) airspace, seeking to integrate weather requirements early in the system design. This effort addresses the way in which state-of-the art and evolving weather science and technology can enable safe and efficient travel with increasing tempo of UAM operations over time. This paper describes the addition of weather as one of 10 capabilities into the UAM Airspace research roadmap, laying out the anticipated weather technology and information requirements needed to facilitate operations at various UAM Maturity Levels. The process developed and exercised by MIT Lincoln Laboratory researchers produced 41 unique requirements to be satisfied by a Weather capability for the UAM ecosystem, with more than 300 dependencies identified across the system. These requirements cover measurement, analysis, modeling, forecasting, decision support, dissemination, and overarching policy, and are provided with an overview of weather challenges for UAM. The requirements were mainly defined based on subject matter expert review of existing UAM Airspace system requirements, and refined based on iterative feedback with various stakeholders including regulators, academia, and industry. Going forward, this roadmap will help researchers and developers align to a common vision in ensuring that weather is appropriately considered in the UAM ecosystem.

research roadmap↗
NASA NTRS1999

Capillary Pumped Loop 3 Flight Experiment Overview

The Capillary Pumped Loop 3 (CAPL 3) Experiment is a follow on to the CAPL 1 and CAPL 2 experiments which flew on STS-60 (2/94) and STS-69 (9/95), respectively. CAPL 3 is tentatively scheduled to fly on the Space Shuttle in late 2000 as part of the Hitchhiker Experiments Advancing Technology (HEAT) payload. The experiment is a joint Naval Research Laboratory (NRL)/Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) payload which will meet technology objectives for both the Department of Defense and NASA. The primary objective of CAPL 3 is to demonstrate in space a multiple evaporator capillary pumped loop system, capable of reliable start-up, reliable continuous operation, and at least 50% heat load sharing with hardware for a deployable radiator. CAPL 3 is a full scale CPL system with four parallel capillary evaporators. The loop also contains a capillary starter pump, 8 parallel direct condensation condensers with associated flow regulators, a back pressure regulator, a two-phase reservoir, and various headers and transport tubing. A variable conductance heat pipe is located between one of the evaporators and the experiment radiator to provide a cooling source for the demonstration of heat load sharing. The experiment has an operating power range of 100 W to approximately 1400 W. The experiment ammonia charge will cause it to transition to a fixed conductance mode of operation if the radiator usage reaches 85%. Ambient functional tests have been performed on the experiment. Tests performed included start-up, low power, power cycles, high power, heat load sharing, variable/fixed conductance transition, saturation temperature changes, and pressure primes while the system was operating. The majority of the testing was performed at an ammonia saturation temperature of 30C, but a few tests were done at temperatures above and below this. The testing was highly successful. Details of the tests performed and a discussion of the results will be given in the presentation.

Ottenstein, Laura↗
NASA NTRS2013

An Overview of the Microgravity Science Glovebox (MSG) Facility and the Research Performed in the MSG on the International Space Station (ISS)

The Microgravity Science Glovebox (MSG) is a rack facility aboard the International Space Station (ISS) designed for investigation handling. The MSG was built by the European Space Agency (ESA) which also provides sustaining engineering support for the facility. The MSG has been operating on the ISS since July 2002 and is currently located in the US Laboratory Module. The unique design of the facility allows it to accommodate science and technology investigations in a "workbench" type environment. The facility has an enclosed working volume that is held at a negative pressure with respect to the crew living area. This allows the facility to provide two levels of containment for small parts, particulates, fluids, and gases. This containment approach protects the crew from possible hazardous operations that take place inside the MSG work volume. Research investigations operating inside the MSG are provided a large 255 liter enclosed work space, 1000 watts of dc power via a versatile supply interface (120, 28, +/- 12, and 5 Vdc), 1000 watts of cooling capability, video and data recording and real time downlink, ground commanding capabilities, access to ISS Vacuum Exhaust and Vacuum Resource Systems, and gaseous nitrogen supply. These capabilities make the MSG one of the most utilized facilities on ISS. The MSG has been used for over 14500 hours of scientific payload operations. MSG investigations involve research in cryogenic fluid management, fluid physics, spacecraft fire safety, materials science, combustion, plant growth, and life support technology. The MSG facility is operated by the Payloads Operations Integration Center at Marshall Space flight Center. Payloads may also operate remotely from different telescience centers located in the United States and Europe. The investigative Payload Integration Manager (iPIM) is the focal to assist organizations that have payloads operating in the MSG facility. NASA provides an MSG engineering unit for payload developers to verify that their hardware is operating properly before actual operation on the ISS. This paper will provide an overview of the MSG facility, a synopsis of the research that has already been accomplished in the MSG, and an overview of video and biological upgrades.

Jordan, Lee P.↗
NASA NTRS2010

NASA Education Activities on the International Space Station: A National Laboratory for Inspiring, Engaging, Educating and Employing the Next Generation

The International Space Station (ISS) National Lab Education Project has been created as a part of the ISS National Lab effort mandated by the U.S. Congress The project seeks to expand ISS education of activities so that they reach a larger number of students with clear educational metrics of accomplishments. This paper provides an overview of several recent ISS educational payloads and activities. The expected outcomes of the project, consistent with those of the NASA Office of Education, are also described. NASA performs numerous education activities as part of its ISS program. These cover the gamut from formal to informal educational opportunities in grades Kindergarten to grade 12, Higher Education (undergraduate and graduate University) and informal educational venues (museums, science centers, exhibits). Projects within the portfolio consist of experiments performed onboard the ISS using onboard resources which require no upmass, payloads flown to ISS or integrated into ISS cargo vehicles, and ground based activities that follow or complement onboard activities. Examples include ground based control group experiments, flight or experiment following lesson plans, ground based activities involving direct interaction with ISS or ground based activities considering ISS resources in their solution set. These projects range from totally NASA funded to projects which partner with external entities. These external agencies can be: other federal, state or local government agencies, commercial entities, universities, professional organizations or non-profit organizations. This paper will describe the recent ISS education activities and discuss the approach, outcomes and metrics associated with the projects.

Severance, Mark T.↗
NASA NTRS2014

Overview of the Millimeter-Wave Thermal Launch System (MTLS) Project

In 2012, DARPA challenged the authors to launch a small thermal rocket into the air using millimeter waves. The resulting 2-year program, the Millimeter-Wave Thermal Launch System (MTLS), has been executed by NASA Ames Research Center and involves partnerships with General Atomics DIII-D Tokamak, the Air Force Research Laboratory, and the Army High Energy Laser Systems Test Facility (HELSTF). We define the MTLS program, describe its challenges, and outline its achievements

Parkin, Kevin Lewis↗
NASA NTRS2022

How to Build a Rover: An Overview of the Mars 2020 Mission’s Vehicle System Testbed

While NASA’s Mars rover Perseverance continues to make groundbreaking achievements on the Red Planet, its twin is hard at work here on Earth. The Operational Perseverance Twin for the Integration of Mechanisms and Instruments Sent to Mars, or OPTIMISM, is the Mars 2020 Vehicle System Testbed (VSTB) rover operated by NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Pasadena, California. OPTIMISM’s home is the JPL Mars Yard; an outdoor field with red soil that simulates the terrain encountered by Perseverance. The VSTB is a full-scale engineering model of the flight rover, serving a number of functions to ensure mission operations can continue smoothly and on schedule. The VSTB possesses instrumentation, computers, mechanisms, cameras, and a Mobility subsystem that are nearly identical to its extraterrestrial twin. Its high fidelity allows the rover to be a highly effective tool to fully test system functionality and performance prior to commanding the flight rover. The early stages of building OPTIMISM began a few months prior to Perseverance departing JPL for Cape Canaveral, FL in early 2020. Electrical integration of the flight system avionics, and compatibility checkouts of the electrical ground support equipment ensured that the foundation of the electrical system was operational and in place. Next, the internal harnessing was installed and compatibility checks of the rover instrumentation and mechanisms were performed to confirm the system was prepared for full buildup. Finally, mechanical assembly of the rover chassis with its external components completed the integration of the system before it was moved to the Mars Yard for its initial phase of testing to perform verification & validation (V&V) of the Mobility subsystem requirements. By the time Perseverance landed at Jezero Crater in February 2021, the first phase of VSTB operations was underway. Surface guidance, navigation, and control (SGNC) testing for the Mobility subsystem ensured functionality and performance requirements were met for various capabilities such as visual odometry (VO), mapping, and automatic navigation (AutoNav). Subsequent integration of the robotic arm (RA) onto the VSTB enabled the V&V campaign for surface sampling operations (SSO) to commence. As the mission’s engineering operations (EO) have gotten underway, the VSTB has been utilized for an array of purposes including troubleshooting software anomalies, and performing dry-runs for first time activities (FTAs) prior to sending the commands to Perseverance. OPTIMISM will continue to serve mission critical functions as long as Perseverance is roving the Red Planet.

Rojas, Jose Trujillo↗
NASA NTRS1988

Advanced composite airframe program: Today's technology

The Advanced Composite Airframe Program (ACAP) was undertaken to demonstrate the advantages of the application of advanced composite materials and structural design concepts to the airframe structure on helicopters designed to stringent military requirements. The primary goals of the program were the reduction of airframe production costs and airframe weight by 17 and 22 percent respectively. The ACAP effort consisted of a preliminary design phase, detail design, and design support testing, full-scale fabrication, laboratory testing, and a ground/flight test demonstration. Since the completion of the flight test demonstration programs follow-on efforts were initiated to more fully evaluate a variety of military characteristics of the composite airframe structures developed under the original ACAP advanced development contracts. An overview of the ACAP program is provided and some of the design features, design support testing, manufacturing approaches, and the results of the flight test evaluation, as well as, an overview of Militarization Test and Evaluation efforts are described.

Good, Danny E.↗
NASA NTRS2002

The Revamping of an Ignition Test Facility

The revamping of an Ignition Test Facility, located in the Research Combustion Laboratory at the NASA Glenn Research Center, is presented. The history of how the test cell has adapted efficiently to a variety of test programs is discussed. The addition of a second test stand for ignition and small-scale rocket testing is detailed. An overview of the facility and the current test programs is offered. Planned upgrades for the future are outlined.

Kearns, Kimberly A.↗
NASA NTRS2015

OSIRIS-REx, Returning the Asteroid Sample

This paper addresses the technical aspects of the sample return system for the upcoming Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification, and Security-Regolith Explorer (OSIRIS-REx) asteroid sample return mission. The overall mission design and current implementation are presented as an overview to establish a context for the technical description of the reentry and landing segment of the mission.The prime objective of the OSIRIS-REx mission is to sample a primitive, carbonaceous asteroid and to return that sample to Earth in pristine condition for detailed laboratory analysis. Targeting the near-Earth asteroid Bennu, the mission launches in September 2016 with an Earth reentry date of September 24, 2023.OSIRIS-REx will thoroughly characterize asteroid Bennu providing knowledge of the nature of near-Earth asteroids that is fundamental to understanding planet formation and the origin of life. The return to Earth of pristine samples with known geologic context will enable precise analyses that cannot be duplicated by spacecraft-based instruments, revolutionizing our understanding of the early Solar System. Bennu is both the most accessible carbonaceous asteroid and one of the most potentially Earth-hazardous asteroids known. Study of Bennu addresses multiple NASA objectives to understand the origin of the Solar System and the origin of life and will provide a greater understanding of both the hazards and resources in near-Earth space, serving as a precursor to future human missions to asteroids.This paper focuses on the technical aspects of the Sample Return Capsule (SRC) design and concept of operations, including trajectory design and reentry retrieval. Highlights of the mission are included below.The OSIRIS-REx spacecraft provides the essential functions for an asteroid characterization and sample return mission: attitude control propulsion power thermal control telecommunications command and data handling structural support to ensure successful rendezvous with Bennu characterization of Bennus properties delivery of the sampler to the surface, and return of the spacecraft to the vicinity of the Earth sample collection, performed by the Touch-and-Go Sample Acquisition Mechanism (TAGSAM), to acquire a regolith sample from the surface Earth re-entry and SRC recovery. Following sample collection, OSIRIS-REx drifts away from Bennu until the Asteroid Departure Maneuver is commanded on March 4, 2021, sending OSIRIS-REx on a ballistic return cruise to Earth. No additional large deterministic maneuvers are required to return the SRC to Earth. During the cruise, tracking and trajectory correction maneuvers (TCMs) are performed as necessary to precisely target the entry corridor. As OSIRIS-REx approaches Earth, the reentry plans are reviewed starting about a year before arrival, and preparations begin. The spacecraft is targeted away from the Earth until 7 days before entry. The final two trajectory correction maneuvers bring the spacecraft on target toward the Utah Test and Training Range (UTTR), with sufficient time for contingency resolution. The SRC releases 4 hours prior to atmospheric entry interface and, using the Stardust capsule heritage design, employs a traditional drogue and main parachute descent system for a soft touchdown.

reentry↗
NASA NTRS1982

An overview of Spacelab capabilities

The crew functions, instrumentation, and mission profiles for the Spacelab to be flown on board the Shuttle are described. The Spacelab will be operated by up to four scientists or engineers who are not pilots, and who are required to pass only an FAA Class III physical examination to qualify for flight. Of modular design, the Spacelab pallets can house a laboratory for human operation, or experimental pallets for control by either the ground or the Orbiter crew. A shirt sleeve environment is provided by the manned laboratory version, with the crew staying in the Orbiter mid-deck during launch and landing. Electrical power is derived from the Orbiter fuel cells, up to 12 kW for 15 min every three hours and to a total of 890 kWh. Features of the Instrument Pointing System are outlined, along with the data transmission and relay systems and the on-ground check-out facilities.

Harrington, J. C.↗
NASA NTRS2023

Ryugu Asteroid Sample Return Provides A Natural Laboratory for Primordial Chemical Evolution

The samples returned from near-Earth asteroid (162173) Ryugu provide a pristine record of the 4.6 billion years since the birth of the Solar System. The Hayabusa2 initial analysis team has integrated a range of analytical techniques to investigate Ryugu’s organic chemistry. Here, we highlight their latest findings, the potential questions which may be answered, and provide an overview of new prospects in the decade to come.

Asteroids↗
NASA NTRS2013

Powered Flight Design and Reconstructed Performance Summary for the Mars Science Laboratory Mission

The Powered Flight segment of Mars Science Laboratory's (MSL) Entry, Descent, and Landing (EDL) system extends from backshell separation through landing. This segment is responsible for removing the final 0.1% of the kinetic energy dissipated during EDL and culminating with the successful touchdown of the rover on the surface of Mars. Many challenges exist in the Powered Flight segment: extraction of Powered Descent Vehicle from the backshell, performing a 300m divert maneuver to avoid the backshell and parachute, slowing the descent from 85 m/s to 0.75 m/s and successfully lowering the rover on a 7.5m bridle beneath the rocket-powered Descent Stage and gently placing it on the surface using the Sky Crane Maneuver. Finally, the nearly-spent Descent Stage must execute a Flyaway maneuver to ensure surface impact a safe distance from the Rover. This paper provides an overview of the powered flight design, key features, and event timeline. It also summarizes Curiosity's as flown performance on the night of August 5th as reconstructed by the flight team.

Mars Science Laboratory (MSL)↗
NASA NTRS2013

The Unparalleled Systems Engineering of MSL's Backup Entry, Descent, and Landing System: Second Chance

Second Chance (SECC) was a bare bones version of Mars Science Laboratory's (MSL) Entry Descent & Landing (EDL) flight software that ran on Curiosity's backup computer, which could have taken over swiftly in the event of a reset of Curiosity's prime computer, in order to land her safely on Mars. Without SECC, a reset of Curiosity's prime computer would have lead to catastrophic mission failure. Even though a reset of the prime computer never occurred, SECC had the important responsibility as EDL's guardian angel, and this responsibility would not have seen such success without unparalleled systems engineering. This paper will focus on the systems engineering behind SECC: Covering a brief overview of SECC's design, the intense schedule to use SECC as a backup system, the verification and validation of the system's "Do No Harm" mandate, the system's overall functional performance, and finally, its use on the fateful day of August 5th, 2012.

fault protection↗
NASA NTRS1997

Mars Pathfinder Rover-Lewis Research Center Technology Experiments Program

An overview of NASA's Mars Pathfinder Program is given and the development and role of three technology experiments from NASA's Lewis Research Center and carried on the Mars Pathfinder rover is described. Two recent missions to Mars were developed and managed by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, and launched late last year: Mars Global Surveyor in November 1996 and Mars Pathfinder in December 1996. Mars Global Surveyor is an orbiter which will survey the planet with a number of different instruments, and will arrive in September 1997, and Mars Pathfinder which consists of a lander and a small rover, landing on Mars July 4, 1997. These are the first two missions of the Mars Exploration Program consisting of a ten year series of small robotic martian probes to be launched every 26 months. The Pathfinder rover will perform a number of technology and operational experiments which will provide the engineering information necessary to design and operate more complex, scientifically oriented surface missions involving roving vehicles and other machinery operating in the martian environment. Because of its expertise in space power systems and technologies, space mechanisms and tribology, Lewis Research Center was asked by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, which is heading the Mars Pathfinder Program, to contribute three experiments concerning the effects of the martian environment on surface solar power systems and the abrasive qualities of the Mars surface material. In addition, rover static charging was investigated and a static discharge system of several fine Tungsten points was developed and fixed to the rover. These experiments and current findings are described herein.

Stevenson, Steven M.↗
NASA NTRS2017

New Earth Observation Capabilities For The Commercial Sector

Earth observation data collected from orbital remote sensing systems are becoming increasingly critical to the short- and long-term operations of many commercial industries including agriculture, energy exploration, environmental management, transportation, and urban planning and operations. In this panel, I will present an overview of current and planned NASA remote sensing systems for Earth observation with relevance to commercial and industrial applications. Special emphasis will be given to the International Space Station (ISS) as a platform for both commercial technology demonstration/development and operational data collection through the ISS National Laboratory.

Stefanov, William L.↗
NASA NTRS2016

Satellite-Surface Perspectives of Air Quality and Aerosol-Cloud Effects on the Environment: An Overview of 7-SEAS BASELInE

The objectives of 7-SEASBASELInE (Seven SouthEast Asian Studies Biomass-burning Aerosols and Stratocumulus Environment: Lifecycles and Interactions Experiment) campaigns in spring 2013-2015 were to synergize measurements from uniquely distributed ground-based networks (e.g., AERONET (AErosol RObotic NETwork)), MPLNET ( NASA Micro-Pulse Lidar Network)) and sophisticated platforms (e.g.,SMARTLabs (Surface-based Mobile Atmospheric Research and Testbed Laboratories), regional contributing instruments), along with satellite observations retrievals and regional atmospheric transport chemical models to establish a critically needed database, and to advance our understanding of biomass-burning aerosols and trace gases in Southeast Asia (SEA). We present a satellite-surface perspective of 7-SEASBASELInE and highlight scientific findings concerning: (1) regional meteorology of moisture fields conducive to the production and maintenance of low-level stratiform clouds over land; (2) atmospheric composition in a biomass-burning environment, particularly tracers-markers to serve as important indicators for assessing the state and evolution of atmospheric constituents; (3) applications of remote sensing to air quality and impact on radiative energetics, examining the effect of diurnal variability of boundary-layer height on aerosol loading; (4) aerosol hygroscopicity and ground-based cloud radar measurements in aerosol-cloud processes by advanced cloud ensemble models; and (5) implications of air quality, in terms of toxicity of nanoparticles and trace gases, to human health. This volume is the third 7-SEAS special issue (after Atmospheric Research, vol. 122, 2013; and Atmospheric Environment, vol. 78, 2013) and includes 27 papers published, with emphasis on air quality and aerosol-cloud effects on the environment. BASELInE observations of stratiform clouds over SEA are unique, such clouds are embedded in a heavy aerosol-laden environment and feature characteristically greater stability over land than over ocean, with minimal radar surface clutter at a high vertical spatial resolution. To facilitate an improved understanding of regional aerosol-cloud effects, we envision that future BASELInE-like measurement modeling needs fall into two categories: (1) efficient yet critical in-situ profiling of the boundary layer for validating remote-sensing retrievals and for initializing regional transport chemical and cloud ensemble models; and (2) fully utilizing the high observing frequencies of geostationary satellites for resolving the diurnal cycle of the boundary layerheight as it affects the loading of biomass-burning aerosols, air quality and radiative energetics.

AERONET↗
NASA NTRS2014

Astromaterials Acquisition and Curation Office (KT) Overview

The Astromaterials Acquisition and Curation Office has the unique responsibility to curate NASA's extraterrestrial samples - from past and forthcoming missions - into the indefinite future. Currently, curation includes documentation, preservation, physical security, preparation, and distribution of samples from the Moon, asteroids, comets, the solar wind, and the planet Mars. Each of these sample sets has a unique history and comes from a unique environment. The curation laboratories and procedures developed over 40 years have proven both necessary and sufficient to serve the evolving needs of a worldwide research community. A new generation of sample return missions to destinations across the solar system is being planned and proposed. The curators are developing the tools and techniques to meet the challenges of these new samples. Extraterrestrial samples pose unique curation requirements. These samples were formed and exist under conditions strikingly different from those on the Earth's surface. Terrestrial contamination would destroy much of the scientific significance of extraterrestrial materials. To preserve the research value of these precious samples, contamination must be minimized, understood, and documented. In addition, the samples must be preserved - as far as possible - from physical and chemical alteration. The elaborate curation facilities at JSC were designed and constructed, and have been operated for many years, to keep sample contamination and alteration to a minimum. Currently, JSC curates seven collections of extraterrestrial samples: (a)) Lunar rocks and soils collected by the Apollo astronauts, (b) Meteorites collected on dedicated expeditions to Antarctica, (c) Cosmic dust collected by high-altitude NASA aircraft,t (d) Solar wind atoms collected by the Genesis spacecraft, (e) Comet particles collected by the Stardust spacecraft, (f) Interstellar dust particles collected by the Stardust spacecraft, and (g) Asteroid soil particles collected by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) Hayabusa spacecraft Each of these sample sets has a unique history and comes from a unique environment. We have developed specialized laboratories and practices over many years to preserve and protect the samples, not only for current research but for studies that may be carried out in the indefinite future.

Allen, Carlton↗
NASA NTRS2017

Airspace Technology Demonstration 2 (ATD-2) Integrated Surface and Airspace Simulation - Experiment Plan

This presentation describes the overview of the ATD-2 project and the integrated simulation of surface and airspace to evaluate the procedures of IADS system and evaluate surface metering capabilities via a high-fidelity human-in-the-loop simulation. Two HITL facilities, Future Flight Central (FFC) and Airspace Operations Laboratory (AOL), are integrated for simulating surface operations of the Charlotte-Douglas International Airport (CLT) and airspace in CLT TRACON and Washington Center.

ATD-2↗