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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

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NASA NTRS2007

Revisiting Training and Verification Process Implementation for Risk Reduction on New Missions at NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory

In 2003 we proposed an effort to develop a core program of standardized training and verification practices and standards against which the implementation of these practices could be measured. The purpose was to provide another means of risk reduction for deep space missions to preclude the likelihood of a repeat of the tragedies of the 1998 Mars missions. We identified six areas where the application of standards and standardization would benefit the overall readiness process for flight projects at JPL. These are Individual Training, Team Training, Interface and Procedure Development, Personnel Certification, Interface and procedure Verification, and Operations Readiness Testing. In this paper we will discuss the progress that has been made in the tasks of developing the proposed infrastructure in each of these areas. Specifically we will address the Position Training and Certification Standards that are now available for each operational position found on our Flight Operations Teams (FOT). We will also discuss the MGSS Baseline Flight Operations Team Training Plan which can be tailored for each new flight project at JPL. As these tasks have been progressing, the climate and emphasis for Training and for V and V at JPL has changed, and we have learned about the expansion, growth, and limitations in the roles of traditional positions at JPL such as the Project's Training Engineer, V and V Engineer, and Operations Engineer. The need to keep a tight rein on budgets has led to a merging and/or reduction in these positions which pose challenges to individual capacities and capabilities. We examine the evolution of these processes and the roles involved while taking a look at the impact or potential impact of our proposed training related infrastructure tasks. As we conclude our examination of the changes taking place for new flight projects, we see that the importance of proceeding with our proposed tasks and adapting them to the changing climate remains an important element in reducing the risk in the challenging business of space exploration.

verifications↗

NASA NTRS1980

Piracetam and fish orientation during parabolic aircraft flight

Goldfish were flown in parabolic Keplerian trajectories in a KC-135 aircraft to assay both the effectiveness of piracetam as an antimotion sickness drug and the effectiveness of state-dependent training during periods of oscillating gravity levels. Single-frame analyses of infrared films were performed for two classes of responses - role rates in hypogravity or hypogravity orienting responses (LGR) and climbing responses in hypergravity or hypergravity orienting responses (HGR). In Experiment I, preflight training with the vestibular stressor facilitated suppression of LGR by the 10th parabola. An inverse correlation was found between the magnitudes of LGR and HGR. Piracetam was not effective in a state-dependent design, but the drug did significantly increase HGR when injected into trained fish shortly before flight. In Experiment II, injections of saline, piracetam, and modifiers of gamma-aminobutyric acid - aminooxyacetic acid (AOAA) and isonicotinic acid did not modify LGR. AOAA did significantly increase HGR. Thus, the preflight training has a beneficial effect in reducing disorientation in the fish in weightlessness, but the drugs employed were ineffective.

Hoffman, R. B.↗

NASA NTRS1991

On the flight deck

NASA's Chief Astronaut describes what he experienced from take-off to landing on the Shuttle missions he has flown. The Chief Astronaut, curently in training for his fourth flight, has served as a pilot on one Shuttle mission and commanded two more.

Hartsfield, James↗

NASA NTRS1989

Shuttle remote manipulator system mission preparation and operations

The preflight planning, analysis, procedures development, and operations support for the Space Transportation System payload deployment and retrieval missions utilizing the Shuttle Remote Manipulator System are summarized. Analysis of the normal operational loads and failure induced loads and motion are factored into all procedures. Both the astronaut flight crews and the Mission Control Center flight control teams receive considerable training for standard and mission specific operations. The real time flight control team activities are described.

Smith, Ernest E., Jr.↗

NASA NTRS1986

Simulation studies of alternate longitudinal control systems for the space shuttle orbiter in the landing regime

Simulations of the space shuttle orbiter in the landing task were conducted by the NASA Ames-Dryden Flight Research Facility using the Ames Research Center vertical motion simulator (VMS) and the total in-flight simulator (TIFS) variable-stability aircraft. Several new control systems designed to improve the orbiter longitudinal response characteristics were investigated. These systems improved the flightpath response by increasing the amount of pitch-rate overshoot. Reduction in the overall time delay was also investigated. During these evaluations, different preferences were noted for the baseline or the new systems depending on the pilot background. The trained astronauts were quite proficient with the baseline system and found the new systems to be less desirable than the baseline. On the other hand, the pilots without extensive flight training with the orbiter had a strong preference for the new systems. This paper presents the results of the VMS and TIFS simulations. A hypothesis is presented regarding the control strategies of the two pilot groups and how this influenced their control systems preferences. Interpretations of these control strategies are made in terms of open-loop aircraft response characteristics as well as pilot-vehicle closed-loop characteristics.

Powers, B. G.↗

NASA NTRS1986

Simulation studies of alternate longitudinal control systems for the Space Shuttle Orbiter in the landing regime

Simulations of the Space Shuttle Orbiter in the landing task were conducted by the NASA Ames-Dryden Flight Research Facility using the Ames Research center vertical motion simulation (VMS) and the total in-flight simulator (TIFS) variable-stability aircraft. Several new control systems designed to improve the orbiter longitudinal response characteristics were investigated. These systems improved the flightpath response by increasing the amount of pitch-rate overshoot. Reduction in the overall time delay was also investigated. During these evaluations, different preferences were noted for the baseline or the new systems depending on the pilot background. The trained astronauts were quite proficient with the baseline system and found the new systems to be less desirable than the baseline. On the other hand, the pilots without extensive flight training with the Orbiter had a strong preference for the new systems. This paper presents the results of the VMS and TIFS simulations. A hypothesis is presented regarding the control strategies of the two pilot groups and how this influenced their control system preferences. Interpretations of these control strategies are made in terms of open-loop aircraft response characteristics as well as pilot-vehicle closed-loop characteristics.

Powers, B. G.↗

NASA NTRSDate not supplied

What Can We Learn From Resilient Pilot Behaviors? The Case of Energy Management While Flying a Star

Recently, there has been increased interest in documenting flightcrew behaviors that contribute to safe operations. Instead of only capturing errors, new efforts are attempting to understand how pilots manage complexity and variability in the operational environment to ensure a safe mission. This approach highlights pilot responses to events and conditions that fall outside typical TEM threats; e.g., revised ATC clearances. This approach presents a two-sided coin: characterize flightcrew resilience /or/ generate insights regarding complexity in the operational environment that is not adequately managed by current flight deck interface designs, procedures, and training. To capture operational complexity, we have been analyzing flight path management tied to flying an RNAV STAR. Because ATC often requests revisions—e.g., descend late—and because RNAV STARs may not align with airplane performance limits, flightcrews need to monitor, anticipate threats to RNAV STAR compliance, and devise ways to accommodate unexpected challenges. In this paper, we identify general strategies that can support response adaptation and explore methods to facilitate training these strategies.

flight operations↗

NASA NTRS2006

Control Room Training for the Hyper-X Program Utilizing Aircraft Simulation

The NASA Dryden Flight Research Center flew two Hyper-X Research Vehicles and achieved hypersonic speeds over the Pacific Ocean in March and November 2004. To train the flight and mission control room crew, the NASA Dryden simulation capability was utilized to generate telemetry and radar data, which was used in nominal and emergency mission scenarios. During these control room training sessions, personnel were able to evaluate and refine data displays, flight cards, mission parameter allowable limits, and emergency procedure checklists. Practice in the mission control room ensured that all primary and backup Hyper-X staff were familiar with the nominal mission and knew how to respond to anomalous conditions quickly and successfully. This paper describes the technology in the simulation environment and the mission control center, the need for and benefit of control room training, and the rationale and results of specific scenarios unique to the Hyper-X research missions.

Lux-Baumann, Jessica R.↗

NASA NTRS2006

Control Room Training for the Hyper-X Project Utilizing Aircraft Simulation

The NASA Dryden Flight Research Center flew two Hyper-X research vehicles and achieved hypersonic speeds over the Pacific Ocean in March and November 2004. To train the flight and mission control room crew, the NASA Dryden simulation capability was utilized to generate telemetry and radar data, which was used in nominal and emergency mission scenarios. During these control room training sessions personnel were able to evaluate and refine data displays, flight cards, mission parameter allowable limits, and emergency procedure checklists. Practice in the mission control room ensured that all primary and backup Hyper-X staff were familiar with the nominal mission and knew how to respond to anomalous conditions quickly and successfully. This report describes the technology in the simulation environment and the Mission Control Center, the need for and benefit of control room training, and the rationale and results of specific scenarios unique to the Hyper-X research missions.

Lux-Baumann, Jesica↗

NASA NTRS1982

Lessons learned - Americans in space

Milestones in the learning process during development of spaceflight capability for different NASA missions are traced from the initial launch of the Mercury escape rocket to the advent of the Shuttle. A detached heat shield on the first manned Mercury orbital flight led to a decision for reentry with retrorockets attached, a situation which demonstrated a need for on-line communications with the spacecraft construction engineers. The Gemini program served to develop EVA techniques and docking procedures essential for the Apollo missions. Apollo 8 circled the moon after only one manned test flight of the equipment due to the success of the first flight. Lunar landing simulation training exposed the astronauts to situations beyond the human ability to respond. The training was justified when computer overload required the pilot to retake manual control of some spacecraft functions during the successful first lunar landing. All lessons previously learned were used to safely return the damaged Apollo 13 to earth. The Skylab missions provided an opportunity to maintain rotating teams of flight controllers on a 24-hr/day basis for periods of months. Finally, the six-year hiatus of U.S. manned space activities between the end of the Skylab missions and the first Shuttle flight provided time for incorporating previous lessons into new procedures, training strategies, and data resources.

Kranz, E.↗

NASA NTRS1964

Formula for spaceflight.

NASA astronaut training program including Manned Spacecraft Center simulation operations

SPACE SIMULATION↗

NASA NTRS1987

A general architecture for intelligent training systems

A preliminary design of a general architecture for autonomous intelligent training systems was developed. The architecture integrates expert system technology with teaching/training methodologies to permit the production of systems suitable for use by NASA, other government agencies, industry, and academia in the training of personnel for the performance of complex, mission-critical tasks. The proposed architecture consists of five elements: a user interface, a domain expert, a training session manager, a trainee model, and a training scenario generator. The design of this architecture was guided and its efficacy tested through the development of a system for use by Mission Control Center Flight Dynamics Officers in training to perform Payload-Assist Module Deploys from the orbiter.

Loftin, R. Bowen↗

NASA NTRS1995

Training for Aviation Decision Making: The Naturalistic Decision Making Perspective

This paper describes the implications of a naturalistic decision making (NDM) perspective for training air crews to make flight-related decisions. The implications are based on two types of analyses: (a) identification of distinctive features that serve as a basis for classifying a diverse set of decision events actually encountered by flight crews, and (b) performance strategies that distinguished more from less effective crews flying full-mission simulators, as well as performance analyses from NTSB accident investigations. Six training recommendations are offered: (1) Because of the diversity of decision situations, crews need to be aware that different strategies may be appropriate for different problems; (2) Given that situation assessment is essential to making a good decision, it is important to train specific content knowledge needed to recognize critical conditions, to assess risks and available time, and to develop strategies to verify or diagnose the problem; (3) Tendencies to oversimplify problems may be overcome by training to evaluate options in terms of goals, constraints, consequences, and prevailing conditions; (4) In order to provide the time to gather information and consider options, it is essential to manage the situation, which includes managing crew workload, prioritizing tasks, contingency planning, buying time (e.g., requesting holding or vectors), and using low workload periods to prepare for high workload; (5) Evaluating resource requirements ("What do I need?") and capabilities ("'What do I have?" ) are essential to making good decisions. Using resources to meet requirements may involve the cabin crew, ATC, dispatchers, and maintenance personnel; (6) Given that decisions must often be made under high risk, time pressure, and workload, train under realistic flight conditions to promote the development of robust decision skills.

Orasanu, Judith↗

NASA NTRS2012

Mission Operations Assurance

Integrate the mission operations assurance function into the flight team providing: (1) value added support in identifying, mitigating, and communicating the project's risks and, (2) being an essential member of the team during the test activities, training exercises and critical flight operations.

project tracking↗

NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Machine Learning Approach for Aircraft Performance Model Parameter Estimation for Trajectory Prediction Applications

Inaccurate prediction of aircraft trajectory by ground-based decision support tools (DST) is a major concern in air traffic management (ATM). Aircraft trajectory prediction tools rely on a simplified point-mass aircraft performance model (APM) to make their predictions. Even though the performance coefficients and weight of an aircraft are a vital part of the APM’s predictions and accuracy, these coefficients are proprietary in nature and therefore, unavailable to DSTs. Current ATM research focuses on improving the estimate of some APM parameters by freezing all other coefficients. This simplified approach introduces unwanted sources of bias and negatively impacts the accuracy of the performance model. In this paper, we apply machine learning (ML) techniques for the simultaneous prediction of three key APM parameters (two drag coefficients and the initial aircraft weight). To accomplish this, we employ an ordinary differential equation (ODE) fitting approach to generate optimized APM parameter labels customized to each individual flight record. Subsequently, we train ML models to capture the relationship between the historical data and the optimized APM parameters. Two different ML model solutions are applied and APM coefficients are predicted for unseen flights. The results indicate that the ML models are able to capture the relationship between APM parameters and flight-related features with good accuracy.

trajectory prediction, machine learning, aircraft ↗

NASA NTRS2014

Identification of Medical Training Methods for Exploration Missions

As the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and its international partner agencies anticipate eventual exploration missions of longer duration, there is a need to plan for the medical capabilities necessary to maximize crew health and provide the best likelihood of mission success. Current spaceflights consist of 5- to 6-month excursions to the International Space Station (ISS) in low-Earth orbit (LEO), and a 12-month ISS mission is currently in planning stages. However, missions to a near-Earth asteroid (NEA), a return to the moon, or even a mission to Mars will demand unprecedented medical capabilities, particularly relating to the training of the crew medical officers (CMOs). In its attempts to address the questions about medical preparation for spaceflight beyond LEO, the Exploration Medical Capability (ExMC) element within NASA's Human Research Program (HRP) defines a series of gaps. These gaps are shortcomings in knowledge, training, or technology that require resolution before an exploration mission can be undertaken. The ExMC element maintains current information about measures to close these gaps while developing plans for further investigation and research. Data pertaining to the gaps and their present status are available to the general public on the NASA Human Research Wiki and the NASA Human Research Roadmap Web sites (34, 36). One such gap, Gap 3.01, identifies a lack of knowledge about the optimal training methods for in-flight medical conditions identified on the Exploration Medical Condition List (EMCL), taking into account the crew medical officer s (CMOs) clinical background (33). This broad statement encompasses several related issues with the current methods of training CMOs and the medical ground support staff, specifically flight surgeons and biomedical engineers (BMEs) located in mission control, in addition to questions pertaining to the ways in which training will need to be adapted for the medical contingencies unique to exploration missions. To determine the optimal methods of medical training for an exploration medical crew and their ground support team, the historical context of medical operations, the current CMO training methods, and potential alternative training methods were identified.

Long duration space flight↗

NASA NTRS1987

Satellite servicing mission preliminary cost estimation model

The cost model presented is a preliminary methodology for determining a rough order-of-magnitude cost for implementing a satellite servicing mission. Mission implementation, in this context, encompassess all activities associated with mission design and planning, including both flight and ground crew training and systems integration (payload processing) of servicing hardward with the Shuttle. A basic assumption made in developing this cost model is that a generic set of servicing hardware was developed and flight tested, is inventoried, and is maintained by NASA. This implies that all hardware physical and functional interfaces are well known and therefore recurring CITE testing is not required. The development of the cost model algorithms and examples of their use are discussed.

Source record↗

NASA NTRS2007

Human Activity Behavior and Gesture Generation in Virtual Worlds for Long- Duration Space Missions

A virtual worlds presentation technique with embodied, intelligent agents is being developed as an instructional medium suitable to present in situ training on long term space flight. The system combines a behavioral element based on finite state automata, a behavior based reactive architecture also described as subsumption architecture, and a belief-desire-intention agent structure. These three features are being integrated to describe a Brahms virtual environment model of extravehicular crew activity which could become a basis for procedure training during extended space flight.

Sierhuis, Maarten↗