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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 487 records · Page 27
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1993

Space Life Support Technology Applications to Terrestrial Environmental Problems

Many of the problems now facing the human race on Earth are, in fact, life support issues. Decline of air Quality as a result of industrial and automotive emissions, pollution of ground water by organic pesticides or solvents, and the disposal of solid wastes are all examples of environmental problems that we must solve to sustain human life. The technologies currently under development to solve the problems of supporting human life for advanced space missions are extraordinarily synergistic with these environmental problems. The development of these technologies (including both physicochemical and bioregenerative types) is increasingly focused on closing the life support loop by removing and recycling contaminants and wastes to produce the materials necessary to sustain human life. By so doing, this technology development effort also focuses automatically on reducing resupply logistics requirements and increasing crew safety through increased self-sufficiency. This paper describes several technologies that have been developed to support human life in space and illustrates the applicability of the technologies to environmental problems including environmental remediation and pollution prevention.

Schwartzkopf, Steven H.↗
NASA NTRS2006

Design Tools for Cost-Effective Implementation of Planetary Protection Requirements

Since the Viking missions to Mars in the 1970s, accounting for the costs associated with planetary protection implementation has not been done systematically during early project formulation phases, leading to unanticipated costs during subsequent implementation phases of flight projects. The simultaneous development of more stringent planetary protection requirements, resulting from new knowledge about the limits of life on Earth, together with current plans to conduct life-detection experiments on a number of different solar system target bodies motivates a systematic approach to integrating planetary protection requirements and mission design. A current development effort at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory is aimed at integrating planetary protection requirements more fully into the early phases of mission architecture formulation and at developing tools to more rigorously predict associated cost and schedule impacts of architecture options chosen to meet planetary protection requirements.

mission architecture↗
NASA NTRS2014

Solar Power for Future NASA Missions

An overview of NASA missions and technology development efforts are discussed. Future spacecraft will need higher power, higher voltage, and much lower cost solar arrays to enable a variety of missions. One application driving development of these future arrays is solar electric propulsion.

Photovoltaics↗
NASA NTRS2012

Solar Cell and Array Technology Development for NASA Solar Electric Propulsion Missions

NASA is currently developing advanced solar cell and solar array technologies to support future exploration activities. These advanced photovoltaic technology development efforts are needed to enable very large (multi-hundred kilowatt) power systems that must be compatible with solar electric propulsion (SEP) missions. The technology being developed must address a wide variety of requirements and cover the necessary advances in solar cell, blanket integration, and large solar array structures that are needed for this class of missions. Th is paper will summarize NASA's plans for high power SEP missions, initi al mission studies and power system requirements, plans for advanced photovoltaic technology development, and the status of specific cell and array technology development and testing that have already been conducted.

Piszczor, Michael↗
DOE OSTI2026

Hydrogen Recombiner Catalyst Evaluations for Waste Storage

Radiolysis of water in nuclear waste storage generates hydrogen gas that can accumulate within sludge style waste and be rapidly released during agitation events, creating a significant flammability hazard. Engineering controls are therefore required to limit hydrogen concentrations during both quiescent storage and transient disturbances. Catalytic recombination of hydrogen in waste storage offgas is a proven mitigation strategy, maintaining hydrogen levels below flammability limits and managing sudden concentration spikes. Conventional recombiners rely on platinum and/or palladium catalysts, with development efforts focused on extending service life, increasing active surface area, and ensuring safe deployment in radioactive environments. Savannah River National Laboratory (SRNL) is evaluating a newly developed hydrogen recombiner catalyst from Canadian Nuclear Laboratories as a cost-effective and durable alternative for nuclear waste applications. Testing was conducted in SRNL’s Shielded Cells facility, which enables reduced-scale experimental modeling under radiation fields and near-use-case conditions relevant to radioactive waste storage. Catalyst performance was evaluated using a custom offgas characterization system designed for near-zero flow conditions. The experimental apparatus consisted of a gas-tight 2.7 L PTFE vessel equipped with temperature monitoring, gas flow controls, and a variable-speed mixer to simulate sludge agitation. Offgas composition was monitored using a dedicated gas chromatograph with argon carrier gas and a krypton internal standard. Measurements were obtained for an empty vessel, the vessel containing a well characterized radioactive tank waste sample, and the same configuration with the candidate catalyst installed. Results demonstrate that the new catalyst effectively reduced hydrogen concentrations in the offgas within the constraints of the experimental design. In addition to confirming catalytic activity, the testing provided valuable insights into experimental optimization and considerations for future performance evaluations. These findings support the potential scalability of the technology and highlight its applicability to broader nuclear waste management operations, offering improved safety and reduced operational costs through enhanced catalyst durability and lower replacement frequency.

Tener, Zachary P. [Savannah River National Laborat↗
NASA NTRS1978

Developing industrial participation in space - An approach for NASA

Maximizing industrial utilization of NASA's Space Transportation System (STS) requires the identification of potential STS users, determination of user needs, and initiation of integrated technical/market development efforts. With the involvement of potential end-users, R&D must be funded to demonstrate STS capabilities in technologies which have industrial potential. An integrated user development plan for NASA is discussed, emphasizing major activities and functional relationships in a user development program. Opportunities for private industry are noted. Results presented are those developed in support of a recent NASA contract intended as an initial step in the implementation by NASA of a user development program for the STS.

Madigan, J. A.↗
NASA NTRS1988

Cryogenic systems for the large deployable reflector

There are five technologies which may have application for Large Deployable Reflector (LDR), one passive and four active. In order of maturity, they are passive stored cryogen systems, and mechanical, sorption, magnetic, and pulse-tube refrigerators. In addition, deep space radiators will be required to reject the heat of the active systems, and may be useful as auxiliary coolers for the stored cryogen systems. Hybrid combinations of these technologies may well be more efficient than any one alone, and extensive system studies will be required to determine the best trade-offs. Stored cryogen systems were flown on a number of missions. The systems are capable of meeting the temperature requirements of LDR. The size and weight of stored cryogen systems are proportional to heat load and, as a result, are applicable only if the low-temperature heat load can be kept small. Systems using chemisorption and physical adsorption for compressors and pumps have received considerable attention in the past few years. Systems based on adiabatic demagnetization of paramagnetic salts were used for refrigeration for many years. Pulse-tube refrigerators were recently proposed which show relatively high efficiency for temperatures in the 60 to 80 K range. The instrument heat loads and operating temperatures are critical to the selection and design of the cryogenic system. Every effort should be made to minimize heat loads, raise operating temperatures, and to define these precisely. No one technology is now ready for application to LDR. Substantial development efforts are underway in all of the technologies and should be monitored and advocated. Magnetic and pulse-tube refrigerators have high potential.

Mason, Peter V.↗
NASA NTRS1997

Advanced Technology Composite Fuselage - Materials and Processes

The goal of Boeing's Advanced Technology Composite Aircraft Structures (ATCAS) program was to develop the technology required for cost and weight efficient use of composite materials in transport fuselage structure. This contractor report describes results of material and process selection, development, and characterization activities. Carbon fiber reinforced epoxy was chosen for fuselage skins and stiffening elements and for passenger and cargo floor structures. The automated fiber placement (AFP) process was selected for fabrication of monolithic and sandwich skin panels. Circumferential frames and window frames were braided and resin transfer molded (RTM'd). Pultrusion was selected for fabrication of floor beams and constant section stiffening elements. Drape forming was chosen for stringers and other stiffening elements. Significant development efforts were expended on the AFP, braiding, and RTM processes. Sandwich core materials and core edge close-out design concepts were evaluated. Autoclave cure processes were developed for stiffened skin and sandwich structures. The stiffness, strength, notch sensitivity, and bearing/bypass properties of fiber-placed skin materials and braided/RTM'd circumferential frame materials were characterized. The strength and durability of cocured and cobonded joints were evaluated. Impact damage resistance of stiffened skin and sandwich structures typical of fuselage panels was investigated. Fluid penetration and migration mechanisms for sandwich panels were studied.

Scholz, D. B.↗
NASA NTRS2008

Fiber Optic Wing Shape Sensing on NASA's Ikhana UAV

This document discusses the development of fiber optic wing shape sensing on NASA's Ikhana vehicle. The Dryden Flight Research Center's Aerostructures Branch initiated fiber-optic instrumentation development efforts in the mid-1990s. Motivated by a failure to control wing dihedral resulting in a mishap with the Helios aircraft, new wing displacement techniques were developed. Research objectives for Ikhana included validating fiber optic sensor measurements and real-time wing shape sensing predictions; the validation of fiber optic mathematical models and design tools; assessing technical viability and, if applicable, developing methodology and approaches to incorporate wing shape measurements within the vehicle flight control system; and, developing and flight validating approaches to perform active wing shape control using conventional control surfaces and active material concepts.

Richards, Lance↗
NASA NTRS2007

Engineered Structured Sorbents for the Adsorption of Carbon Dioxide and Water Vapor from Manned Spacecraft Atmospheres: Applications and Modeling 2007/2008

In NASA s Vision for Space Exploration, humans will once again travel beyond the confines of earth s gravity, this time to remain there for extended periods. These forays will place unprecedented demands on launch systems. They must not only blast out of earth s gravity well as during the Apollo moon missions, but also launch the supplies needed to sustain a larger crew over much longer periods. Thus all spacecraft systems, including those for the separation of metabolic carbon dioxide and water from a crewed vehicle, must be minimized with respect to mass, power, and volume. Emphasis is also placed on system robustness both to minimize replacement parts and ensure crew safety when a quick return to earth is not possible. This paper describes efforts to improve on typical packed beds of sorbent pellets by making use of structured sorbents and alternate bed configurations to improve system efficiency and reliability. The development efforts described offer a complimentary approach combining testing of subscale systems and multiphysics computer simulations to characterize the regenerative heating substrates and evaluation of engineered structured sorbent geometries. Mass transfer, heat transfer, and fluid dynamics are included in the transient simulations.

Knox, James C.↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

In-Space Manufacturing and Planetary Surface Construction: A "Make It, Don't Take It" Approach to Long Duration Human Exploration

This presentation will focus on technology development efforts at NASA Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) related to the long term sustainability of human spaceflight operations. NASA’s in-space manufacturing (ISM) project is developing approaches for on-demand manufacturing of metals, printed electronics, and recycling. These technologies will be demonstrated onboard the International Space Station (ISS) before transitioning to more logistically remote platforms such as Gateway or a foundational lunar surface habitat. Based on quantitative analyses, the operations and logistics approach used for ISS (which relies on storage of a large volume of spares and frequent cargo resupply), will not be transferrable to long duration, long endurance missions beyond low earth orbit. The deployment of manufacturing and recycling technologies on crewed platforms will enable on-demand manufacturing of spares at the point of use and conversion of nuisance materials to manufacturing feedstock, reducing both launch mass and waste material. This talk will also include information on NASA’s 3D Printed Habitat Centennial Challenge, which concluded in 2019 and served to advance the state of the art for large scale 3D printing with indigenous materials similar to those which would be available on a planetary surface. MSFC also recently began work on the Moon-to-Mars Planetary Autonomous Construction Technologies (MMPACT) project, which seeks to demonstrate capabilities for the creation of infrastructure on the lunar surface via construction of landing pads and habitats with lunar regolith based materials.

materials↗
NASA NTRS1986

Research on enhancing the utilization of digital multispectral data and geographic information systems in global habitability studies

The University of Kansas Applied Remote Sensing (KARS) program is engaged in a continuing long term research and development effort designed to reveal and facilitate new applications of remote sensing technology for decision makers in governmental agencies and private firms. Some objectives of the program follows. The development of new modes of analyzing multispectral scanner, aerial camera, thermal scanner, and radar data, singly or in concert in order to more effectively use these systems. Merge data derived from remote sensing with data derived from conventional sources in geographic information systems to facilitate better environmental planning. Stimulation of the application of the products of remote sensing systems to problems of resource management and environmental quality now being addressed in NASA's Global Habitability directive. The application of remote sensing techniques and analysis and geographic information systems technology to the solution of significant concerns of state and local officials and private industry. The guidance, assistance and stimulation of faculty, staff and students in the utilization of information from the Earth Resources Satellite (LANDSAT) and Aircraft Programs of NASA in research, education, and public service activities carried at the University of Kansas.

Martinko, E. A.↗
NASA NTRS1988

Testing expert systems

Software quality is of primary concern in all large-scale expert system development efforts. Building appropriate validation and test tools for ensuring software reliability of expert systems is therefore required. The Expert Systems Validation Associate (EVA) is a validation system under development at the Lockheed Artificial Intelligence Center. EVA provides a wide range of validation and test tools to check correctness, consistency, and completeness of an expert system. Testing a major function of EVA. It means executing an expert system with test cases with the intent of finding errors. In this paper, we describe many different types of testing such as function-based testing, structure-based testing, and data-based testing. We describe how appropriate test cases may be selected in order to perform good and thorough testing of an expert system.

Chang, C. L.↗
NASA NTRS1992

Progress on the National Launch System demonstrates national commitment

The paper discusses the process and measures involved in the design and development efforts now underway to achieve the construction of a new NASA/DOD heavy-lift launch system, the National Launch System. Special attention is given to the extensive technology development program initiated with the purpose of achieving robustness, operability, and low cost per flight for the NLS. The design features of the NLS and the constraints utilized are discussed.

Gabris, Edward A.↗
NASA NTRS1993

Performance of the NASA 30 cm Ion Thruster

A 30 cm diameter xenon ion thruster is under development at NASA to provide an ion propulsion option for missions of national interest, and is being proposed for use on the USAF/TRW Space Surveillance, Tracking and Autonomous Repositioning (SSTAR) platform to validate ion propulsion. The thruster incorporates innovations in design, materials, and fabrication techniques compared to those employed in conventional ion thrusters. Specific development efforts include thruster design optimizations, component life testing and validation, vibration testing, and performance characterizations. Under this test program, the ion thruster will be brought to engineering model development status. This paper discusses the performance and power throttling test data for the NASA 30 cm diameter xenon ion thruster over an input power envelope of 0.7 to 4.9 kW, and corresponding thruster lifetime expectations.

Patterson, Michael J.↗
NASA NTRS2002

1999 NCCS Highlights

The NASA Center for Computational Sciences (NCCS) is a high-performance scientific computing facility operated, maintained and managed by the Earth and Space Data Computing Division (ESDCD) of NASA Goddard Space Flight Center's (GSFC) Earth Sciences Directorate. The mission of the NCCS is to advance leading-edge science by providing the best people, computers, and data storage systems to NASA's Earth and space sciences programs and those of other U.S. Government agencies, universities, and private institutions. Among the many computationally demanding Earth science research efforts supported by the NCCS in Fiscal Year 1999 (FY99) are the NASA Seasonal-to-Interannual Prediction Project, the NASA Search and Rescue Mission, Earth gravitational model development efforts, the National Weather Service's North American Observing System program, Data Assimilation Office studies, a NASA-sponsored project at the Center for Ocean-Land-Atmosphere Studies, a NASA-sponsored microgravity project conducted by researchers at the City University of New York and the University of Pennsylvania, the completion of a satellite-derived global climate data set, simulations of a new geodynamo model, and studies of Earth's torque. This document presents highlights of these research efforts and an overview of the NCCS, its facilities, and its people.

Bennett, Jerome↗
NASA NTRS2004

Update on SLD Engineering Tools Development

The airworthiness authorities (FAA, JAA, Transport Canada) will be releasing a draft rule in the 2006 timeframe concerning the operation of aircraft in a Supercooled Large Droplet (SLD) environment aloft. The draft rule will require aircraft manufacturers to demonstrate that their aircraft can operate safely in an SLD environment for a period of time to facilitate a safe exit from the condition. It is anticipated that aircraft manufacturers will require a capability to demonstrate compliance with this rule via experimental means (icing tunnels or tankers) and by analytical means (ice prediction codes). Since existing icing research facilities and analytical codes were not developed to account for SLD conditions, current engineering tools are not adequate to support compliance activities in SLD conditions. Therefore, existing capabilities need to be augmented to include SLD conditions. In response to this need, NASA and its partners conceived a strategy or Roadmap for developing experimental and analytical SLD simulation tools. Following review and refinement by the airworthiness authorities and other international research partners, this technical strategy has been crystallized into a project plan to guide the SLD Engineering Tool Development effort. This paper will provide a brief overview of the latest version of the project plan and technical rationale, and provide a status of selected SLD Engineering Tool Development research tasks which are currently underway.

Miller, Dean R.↗
NASA NTRS1991

Enhancement of biological control agents for use against forest insect pests and diseases through biotechnology

Research and development efforts in our research group are focused on the generation of more efficacious biological control agents through the techniques of biotechnology for use against forest insect pests and diseases. Effective biological controls for the gypsy moth and for tree fungal wilt pathogens are under development. The successful use of Gypchek, a formulation of the Lymantria dispar nuclear polyhedrosis virus (LdNPV), in gypsy moth control programs has generated considerable interest in that agent. As a consequence of its specificity, LdPNV has negligible adverse ecological impacts compared to most gypsy moth control agents. However, LdNPV is not competitive with other control agents in terms of cost and efficacy. We are investigating several parameters of LdNPV replication and polyhedra production in order to enhance viral potency and efficacy thus mitigating the current disadvantages of LdNPV for gypsy moth control, and have identified LdNPV variants that will facilitate these efforts. Tree endophytic bacteria that synthesize antifungal compounds were identified and an antibiotic compound from one of these bacteria was characterized. The feasibility of developing tree endophytes as biological control agents for tree vascular fungal pathogens is being investigated.

Slavicek, James M.↗