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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 NTRS1996

STS-72 Space Shuttle Mission Report

The STS-72 Space Shuttle Program Mission Report summarizes the Payload activities as well as the Orbiter, External Tank (ET), Solid Rocket Booster (SRB), Reusable Solid Rocket Motor (RSRM), and the Space Shuttle main engine (SSME) systems performance during the seventy-fourth flight of the Space Shuttle Program, the forty-ninth flight since the return-to-flight, and the tenth flight of the Orbiter Endeavour (OV-105). In addition to the Orbiter, the flight vehicle consisted of an ET that was designated ET-75; three Block I SSME's that were designated as serial numbers 2028, 2039, and 2036 in positions 1, 2, and 3, respectively; and two SRB's that were designated BI-077. The RSRM's, designated RSRM-52, were installed in each SRB and the individual RSRM's were designated as 36OW052A for the left SRB, and 36OW052B for the right SRB. Appendix A lists the sources of data, both formal and informal, that were used to prepare this report. The primary objectives of this flight were to retrieve the Japanese Space Flyer Unit (JSFU) and deploy and retrieve the Office of Aeronautics and Space Technology-Flyer (OAST-Flyer). Secondary objectives were to perform the operations of the Shuttle Solar Backscatter Ultraviolet (SSBUV/A) experiment, Shuttle Laser Altimeter (SLA)/get-Away Special (GAS) payload, Physiological and Anatomical Rodent Experiment/National Institutes of Health-Cells (STL/NIH-C) experiment, Protein Crystal Growth-Single Locker Thermal Enclosure System (PCG-STES) experiment, Commercial Protein Crystal Growth (CPCG) payload and perform two extravehicular activities (EVA's) to demonstrate International Space Station Alpha (ISSA) assembly techniques). Appendix B provides the definition of acronyms and abbreviations used throughout the report. All times during the flight are given in Greenwich mean time (GMT) and mission elapsed time (MET).

Fricke, Robert W., Jr.↗
NASA NTRS1990

SEDS experiment design definition

The Small Expendable-tether Deployment System (SEDS) was developed to design, build, integrate, fly, and safely deploy and release an expendable tether. A suitable concept for an on-orbit test of SEDS was developed. The following tasks were performed: (1) Define experiment objectives and requirements; (2) Define experiment concepts to reach those objectives; (3) Support NASA in experiment concept selection and definition; (4) Perform analyses and tests of SEDS hardware; (5) Refine the selected SEDS experiment concept; and (6) Support interactive SEDS system definition process. Results and conclusions are given.

Carroll, Joseph A.↗
NASA NTRS2015

Using Risk Assessment Methodologies to Meet Management Objectives

Corporate and program objectives focus on desired performance and results. Management decisions that affect how to meet these objectives now involve a complex mix of: technology, safety issues, operations, process considerations, employee considerations, regulatory requirements, financial concerns and legal issues. Risk Assessments are a tool for decision makers to understand potential consequences and be in a position to reduce, mitigate or eliminate costly mistakes or catastrophic failures. Using a risk assessment methodology is only a starting point. A risk assessment program provides management with important input in the decision making process. A pro-active organization looks to the future to avoid problems, a reactive organization can be blindsided by risks that could have been avoided. You get out what you put in, how useful your program is will be up to the individual organization.

DeMott, D. L.↗
DOE OSTI2026

Technoeconomic Design Optimization for Fast Reactors. Part II: Impact of Technoeconomic Constraints on Optimal Design

There is a current drive toward optimizing reactors, particularly small/micro reactors to minimize cost and maximize performance. Previous work has investigated the development of technoeconomic workflows for the design optimization of pool-type fast reactors that aim to deploy into district energy grids. Initial scoping studies verified that the workflow was capable of capturing design trends throughout a variety of design configurations and problem formulations while remaining sufficiently flexible. In this paper, this methodology is applied to understand how cost functions and technoeconomic constraints can drive optimal reactor design. Specifically, the UPu10Zr-fueled fast reactor model from Part I is adapted to include changes in the fissile content limits, control rod worth limits, control rod drive cost, and assumed fuel form. In the case of constraint relaxation at fixed power (fissile content and control rod worth limits), cost sensitivities of 5% to 10% were uncovered. Multi-objective optimization at varying reactor power levels with individualized control rod drives for each assembly (as opposed to one operational and one safety drive) increased cost by $\$10$ to $\$25$ million and substantially altered the optimal core geometry, favoring geometries with substantially fewer control rod placements relative to baseline optimization. Finally, a multi-objective optimization was performed at varying power levels with the fuel form overhauled to metallic, high-assay low-enriched uranium–based U10Zr with more refined fuel cost models. In the case of uranium fueling, the costs increased by at least $50 million relative to the baseline case. Furthermore, economic fuel zoning and lower reactivity swing cores were recovered. Each case serves to demonstrate the value of applying technoeconomic workflows to initial reactor design scoping studies to better understand the trade-off for a proposed concept between different design options.

Argonne Reactor Computation (ARC) codes↗
NASA NTRS2015

X-Band CubeSat Communication System Demonstration

Today's CubeSats mostly operate their communications at UHF- and S-band frequencies. UHF band is presently crowded, thus downlink communications are at lower data rates due to bandwidth limitations and are unreliable due to interference. This research presents an end-to-end robust, innovative, compact, efficient and low cost S-band uplink and X-band downlink CubeSat communication system demonstration between a balloon and a Near Earth Network (NEN) ground system. Since communication systems serve as umbilical cords for space missions, demonstration of this X-band communication system is critical for successfully supporting current and future CubeSat communication needs. This research has three main objectives. The first objective is to design, simulate, and test a CubeSat S- and X-band communication system. Satellite Tool Kit (STK) dynamic link budget calculations and HFSS Simulations and modeling results have been used to trade the merit of various designs for small satellite applications. S- and X-band antennas have been tested in the compact antenna test range at Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) to gather radiation pattern data. The second objective is simulate and test a CubeSat compatible X-band communication system at 12.5Mbps including S-band antennas, X-band antennas, Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics (LASP) /GSFC transmitter and an S-band receiver from TRL-5 to TRL-8 by the end of this effort. Different X-band communication system components (antennas, diplexers, etc.) from GSFC, other NASA centers, universities, and private companies have been investigated and traded, and a complete component list for the communication system baseline has been developed by performing analytical and numerical analysis. This objective also includes running simulations and performing trades between different X-band antenna systems to optimize communication system performance. The final objective is to perform an end-to-end X-band CubeSat communication system demonstration between a balloon and/or a sounding rocket and a Near Earth Network (NEN) ground system. This paper presents CubeSat communication systems simulation results, analysis of X-band and S-band antennas and RF front-end components, transceiver design, analysis and optimization of space-to-ground communication performance, subsystem development, as well as the test results for an end-to-end X-band CubeSat communication system demonstration. The outcome of this work will be used to pave the way for next generation NEN-compatible X-band CubeSat communication systems to support higher data rates with more advanced modulation and forward error correction (FEC) coding schemes, and to support and attract new science missions at lower cost. It also includes an abbreviated concept of operations for CubeSat users to utilize the NEN, starting from first contact with NASA's communication network and continuing through on-orbit operations.

NEN↗
NASA NTRS2013

Evaluating Nextgen Closely Spaced Parallel Operations Concepts with Validated Human Performance Models: Flight Deck Guidelines

The objectives of the current research were to develop valid human performance models (HPMs) of approach and land operations; use these models to evaluate the impact of NextGen Closely Spaced Parallel Operations (CSPO) on pilot performance; and draw conclusions regarding flight deck display design and pilot-ATC roles and responsibilities for NextGen CSPO concepts. This document presents guidelines and implications for flight deck display designs and candidate roles and responsibilities. A companion document (Gore, Hooey, Mahlstedt, & Foyle, 2013) provides complete scenario descriptions and results including predictions of pilot workload, visual attention and time to detect off-nominal events.

guidelines↗
NASA NTRS2006

Method and apparatus for automatically generating airfoil performance tables

One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that facilitates automatically generating a performance table for an object, wherein the object is subject to fluid flow. The system operates by first receiving a description of the object and testing parameters for the object. The system executes a flow solver using the testing parameters and the description of the object to produce an output. Next, the system determines if the output of the flow solver indicates negative density or pressure. If not, the system analyzes the output to determine if the output is converging. If converging, the system writes the output to the performance table for the object.

van Dam, Cornelis P.↗
NASA NTRS2016

Lightforce Photon-Pressure Collision Avoidance: Efficiency Analysis in the Current Debris Environment and Long-Term Simulation Perspective

This work provides an efficiency analysis of the LightForce space debris collision avoidance scheme in the current debris environment and describes a simulation approach to assess its impact on the long-term evolution of the space debris environment. LightForce aims to provide just-in-time collision avoidance by utilizing photon pressure from ground-based industrial lasers. These ground stations impart minimal accelerations to increase the miss distance for a predicted conjunction between two objects. In the first part of this paper we will present research that investigates the short-term effect of a few systems consisting of 20-kilowatt-class lasers directed by 1.5-meter-diameter telescopes using adaptive optics. The results found such a network of ground stations to mitigate more than 85 percent of conjunctions and could lower the expected number of collisions in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) by an order of magnitude. While these are impressive numbers that indicate LightForce's utility in the short-term, the remaining 15 percent of possible collisions contain (among others) conjunctions between two massive objects that would add large amount of debris if they collide. Still, conjunctions between massive objects and smaller objects can be mitigated. Hence, we choose to expand the capabilities of the simulation software to investigate the overall effect of a network of LightForce stations on the long-term debris evolution. In the second part of this paper, we will present the planned simulation approach for that effort. For the efficiency analysis of collision avoidance in the current debris environment, we utilize a simulation approach that uses the entire Two Line Element (TLE) catalog in LEO for a given day as initial input. These objects are propagated for one year and an all-on-all conjunction analysis is performed. For conjunctions that fall below a range threshold, we calculate the probability of collision and record those values. To assess efficiency, we compare a baseline (without collision avoidance) conjunction analysis with an analysis where LightForce is active. Using that approach, we take into account that collision avoidance maneuvers could have effects on third objects. Performing all-on-all conjunction analyses for extended period of time requires significant computer resources; hence we implemented this simulation utilizing a highly parallel approach on the NASA Pleiades supercomputer.

space debris mitigation↗
DOE OSTI2025

Plasma shape and position control development for NSTX-U using the GSEvolve plasma simulator

NSTX-U discharges have been reproduced using the GSEvolve plasma simulator in order to improve their control and reduce oscillations during the plasma current (Ip) ramp-up phase, and with the ultimate goal of enabling reliable H-mode access with a double-null shape at high elongation, low internal inductance, and high plasma performance. The control objective is to eliminate undesired oscillations in the plasma shape and vertical position that start when the plasma diverts during the Ip ramp-up phase, and that happened recurrently during the first NSTX-U experimental campaign. Model-based control solutions have been developed, including alternative H-mode access recipes and a Multi-Input Multi-Output (MIMO) decoupling controller. These solutions have demonstrated their capability to reduce or eliminate the aforementioned oscillations in GSEvolve simulations, enabling reproducible H-mode access. The results of this work aim to inform NSTX-U experimental operations on potential control developments to maximize its scientific output, and highlight the powerful capabilities of high-fidelity control-simulation frameworks like GSEvolve.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2025

Stabilizing dynamic subsea power cables using Bi-stable nonlinear energy sinks

This study investigates vibration mitigation of dynamic subsea cables through passive bi-stable nonlinear energy sinks (B-NESs). These devices suppress vibration energy in a broadband way, and can be regarded as extensions of classical linear tuned mass dampers (TMDs) which are narrowband devices. Through the open-source MoorDyn library, we simulated the vibrations of a vertical subsea cable equipped with a set of B-NESs. Multi-objective optimization was performed to detect the B-NES parameters for optimal mitigation of the cable vibrations. Advanced signal processing verified the efficacy of the optimized B-NESs not only to rapidly absorb and locally dissipate vibration energy, but also to nonlinearly scatter vibration energy from low to high frequencies within the cable itself. This last feature is especially beneficial for vibration mitigation of the undersea cable, as at higher frequencies the cable vibrations exhibit drastically reduced amplitudes and are more effectively dissipated by inherent structural damping and hydrodynamic radiation damping. This contrasts with traditional TMDs which can mitigate vibration only at a single frequency. Furthermore, our robustness study confirms the B-NES's effectiveness under even varying environmental conditions. Overall, the B-NES's capacity for broadband vibration mitigation renders it a promising retrofit solution for improving the performance and operational safety of dynamic power cables in offshore wind farms and other marine applications.

17 WIND ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2025

Euclid I. Overview of the Euclid mission

The current standard model of cosmology successfully describes a variety of measurements, but the nature of its main ingredients, dark matter and dark energy, remains unknown. Euclid is a medium-class mission in the Cosmic Vision 2015–2025 programme of the European Space Agency (ESA) that will provide high-resolution optical imaging, as well as near-infrared imaging and spectroscopy, over about 14 000 deg 2 of extragalactic sky. In addition to accurate weak lensing and clustering measurements that probe structure formation over half of the age of the Universe, its primary probes for cosmology, these exquisite data will enable a wide range of science. This paper provides a high-level overview of the mission, summarising the survey characteristics, the various data-processing steps, and data products. We also highlight the main science objectives and expected performance.

cosmology↗
DOE OSTI2025

Controller Hardware-in-the-Loop Evaluation of a Microgrid Controller for a Microgrid System with Multiple Grid-Forming Inverters

This paper presents the laboratory evaluation of a commercial Microgrid Management System (MGMS) implemented in the real-world Bronzeville Microgrid which features a futuristic scenario with high renewable energy integration and the use of multiple Grid-Forming (GFM) inverters. The primary objective of the performance evaluation for the MGMS is to assess the MGMS's capability to dispatch GFM units, including a GFM PV unit and two GFM battery units, to maintain the system stability and ensure economic operation, thus guaranteeing the microgrid's resilience during prolonged outages and dynamic events. The laboratory controller hardware-in-the-loop provides realistic testing environment through detailed electromagnetic transient modeling of the microgrid system, hardware MGMS, and standard communication protocols (DNP3). The CHIL evaluation shows how the MGMS effectively manages the GFM inverters, highlighting its performance in maintaining stability, reliability, and survivability in a microgrid environment with a high penetration of renewable energy sources.

controller hardware-in-the-loop↗
DOE OSTI2025

OPTICHEM (OPTimizer for Industrial CHEMical pathways) [SWR-25-70]

Using alternative feedstocks such as biomass and waste could help the chemical sector address growing challenges from supply chain disruptions. This project aims to identify optimal combinations of chemical production pathways that achieve user-defined priorities within set resource constraints. This project contains two main Python modules that work together to perform multi-objective optimization of feedstock usage and post-optimization analysis. The outputs from both modules (e.g., CSV files, PDF diagrams, HTML reports, and pickle files) are automatically saved in dedicated output folders. The folder names include key parameters such as the optimization metric, target year, and whether 2030 results are fixed.

Ghosh, Tapajyoti [National Renewable Energy Labora↗
DOE OSTI2024

First-Principles Studies of Tritium Species Diffusivity Across the Interface of Nickel-Plated Zircaloy-4

In this study, we will calculate the 3H2 and 3H2O diffusion mechanism in the Ni coated layer and the dominant 3H species dissolution into the Zircaloy-4 getter. We will optimize the Ni/Zr interface and introduce Sn and O impurities. To achieve the objectives, we will perform the investigation by using spin-polarized density functional theory (DFT) methods to capture the effects of Ni magnetic properties on 3H diffusion. We will introduce NiO/Ni(OH) on the Ni side closer to the interface. Then, the 3H diffusion pathways and barriers from Ni side to the zircalory-4 will be explored. We will investigate how NiO/Ni(OH) affects the 3H diffusion across the interface.

Paudel, Hari P.↗
DOE OSTI2024

Energy Services Interface: Architecture, Requirements, and Agreements

This report continues and extends the development of the Energy Services Interface (ESI) that recently has been led by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Grid Modernization Laboratory Consortium. The ESI is intended to facilitate the coordination of multiple, flexible energy resources that work in tandem to satisfy grid objectives by using performance attributes encoded within an ESI Service Template. The ESI relies on a pair of interfaces, representing the service requestor (the consumer of a service) and a service provider (who manages its resources per the agreed performance attributes) to achieve what is commonly known as a “grid service”. Due to its performance-driven approach, the ESI is hypothesized to be able to satisfy all common grid needs via only six common ESI service types. This report first reviews the status of ESI development, including its fundamental tenets. The report makes three important contributions to ESI development: First, it recognizes the similarity between service level agreements and the contract-like agreements that would be needed between energy service requestors and providers and recommends that ESI service agreements be modeled after the web services agreement specification. Second, whereas prior development efforts had focused on a flat, five-stage lifecycle, this report asserts that the ESI should have three behavioral layers in its architecture—the discovery, agreement, and service layers. Finally, this report offers concrete requirements that should be useful toward the development of the service requestors’ and service providers’ respective communications interfaces.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗
DOE OSTI2025

Quality Guidelines for Energy System Studies: Capital Cost Scaling Methodology: Revision 4b Report

The National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) regularly updates legacy analysis with new studies and cases as the Department of Energy objectives change, technology performance improves, costs are reduced, regulations change, market drivers are established, fuel prices fluctuate, and any number of other relevant factors vary in the market. As legacy studies are updated by NETL, the underlying performance and cost of the cases presented changes, and as such, the methods for interpreting and scaling the cost estimates change. Therefore, it is important that NETL maintain public guidance documents associated with different sets of cost estimates that delineate how a specific set, based on report vintage and/or year published, should be scaled. This Quality Guidelines for Energy System Studies report, providing guidance on capital cost scaling, should generally be applied to NETL case costs included in the report “Cost and Performance Baseline for Fossil Energy Plants Volume 1: Bituminous Coal and Natural Gas to Electricity Revision 4b,” (NETL, 2025) or any cases derived from the cases presented in the referenced report.

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY↗
DOE OSTI2025

Data Qualification Report: SRNL Glass Composition-Properties (ComPro) Database

The Savannah River National Laboratory Glass Composition-Properties (ComPro) database is an extensive database containing pertinent composition and durability data to support the accelerated clean-up mission at the Defense Waste Processing Facility. The activities described in this data qualification report were performed to support the information contained in the database. There were two objectives of the original data qualification process. The first objective was to review supporting documentation to determine if DOE/RW-0333P Quality Assurance Requirements and Description had been implemented during the original work. If the DOE/RW-0333P Quality Assurance Requirements and Description had not been directly implemented during the original work, the second objective was to determine if the controls that were used were adequate to meet the intent of the DOE/RW-0333P Quality Assurance Requirements and Description. The results of these two objectives and the activities performed to support these decisions are described in this document. An assessment of each dataset was made to determine if the data were RW-0333P Compliant, RW-0333P Equivalent or Non-RW-0333P Compliant. The original data qualification was performed in accordance with E7, Conduct of Engineering Manual, Procedure 3.70, Revision 4, Qualification of Data. The specific method that was used was Equivalent Controls as described in E7, 3.70. Revision 2 of this document adds supporting information for the RW-0333P Compliant datasets added to Revision 3 of the database.

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗