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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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Engine restart and thermodynamic analysis of Apollo spacecraft engine tests, volume 1
Thermodynamic performance test analyses for Apollo spacecraft ascent, descent, and service propulsion system engines to define hypergol engine restart limits
Rollup subsolar array. Volume 2 - Detailed test results Final report
Performance test on rollup solar array system and thermal bending tests on deployable boom
Pre-Flight Testing and Performance of a Ka-Band Software Defined Radio
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has developed a space-qualified, reprogrammable, Ka-band Software Defined Radio (SDR) to be utilized as part of an on-orbit, reconfigurable testbed. The testbed will operate on the truss of the International Space Station beginning in late 2012. Three unique SDRs comprise the testbed, and each radio is compliant to the Space Telecommunications Radio System (STRS) Architecture Standard. The testbed provides NASA, industry, other Government agencies, and academic partners the opportunity to develop communications, navigation, and networking applications in the laboratory and space environment, while at the same time advancing SDR technology, reducing risk, and enabling future mission capability. Designed and built by Harris Corporation, the Ka-band SDR is NASA's first space-qualified Ka-band SDR transceiver. The Harris SDR will also mark the first NASA user of the Ka-band capabilities of the Tracking Data and Relay Satellite System (TDRSS) for on-orbit operations. This paper describes the testbed's Ka-band System, including the SDR, travelling wave tube amplifier (TWTA), and antenna system. The reconfigurable aspects of the system enabled by SDR technology are discussed and the Ka-band system performance is presented as measured during extensive pre-flight testing.
Testing the performance of feedback concatenated decoder with a nonideal receiver
One of the inherent problems in testing the feedback concatenated decoder (FCD) at our operating symbol signal-to-noise ratio (SSNR) is that the bit-error rate is so low that we cannot measure it directly through simulations in a reasonable time period. This article proposes a test procedure that will give a reasonable estimate of the expected losses even though the number of frames tested is much smaller than needed for a direct measurement. This test procedure provides an organized robust methodology for extrapolating small amounts of test data to give reasonable estimates of FCD loss increments at unmeasurable miniscule error rates. Using this test procedure, we have run some preliminary tests on the FCD to quantify the losses due to the fact that the input signal contains multiplicative non-white non-Gaussian noises resulting from the buffered telemetry demodulator (BTD). Besides the losses in the BTD, we have observed additional loss increments of 0.3 to 0.4 dB at the output of the FCD for several test cases with loop signal-to-noise ratios (SNR's) lower than 20 dB. In contrast, these loss increments were less than 0.1 dB for a test case with the subcarrier loop SNR at about 28 dB. This test procedure can be applied to more extensive test data to determine thresholds on the loop SNRs above which the FCD will not suffer substantial loss increments.
Qualification test results of IAPS 8 cm ion thrusters
Two 8-cm-diameter 5-mN mercury ion thrusters with associated beam shields and gimbals have been fabricated and qualification-tested for the Ion Auxiliary Propulsion System (IAPS) flight test. Functional and performance tests of the thrusters, conducted before, during and after exposure to protoflight vibration and thermal vacuum conditions demonstrated no effects of the environmental exposure and little performance dispersion between the thrusters.
Solid rocket booster performance evaluation model. Volume 1: Engineering description
The space shuttle solid rocket booster performance evaluation model (SRB-II) is made up of analytical and functional simulation techniques linked together so that a single pass through the model will predict the performance of the propulsion elements of a space shuttle solid rocket booster. The available options allow the user to predict static test performance, predict nominal and off nominal flight performance, and reconstruct actual flight and static test performance. Options selected by the user are dependent on the data available. These can include data derived from theoretical analysis, small scale motor test data, large motor test data and motor configuration data. The user has several options for output format that include print, cards, tape and plots. Output includes all major performance parameters (Isp, thrust, flowrate, mass accounting and operating pressures) as a function of time as well as calculated single point performance data. The engineering description of SRB-II discusses the engineering and programming fundamentals used, the function of each module, and the limitations of each module.
Issues Related to Cleaning Complex Geometry Surfaces with ODC-Free Solvents
Implementing ozone depleting chemicals (ODC)-free solvents into full-scale reusable solid rocket motor cleaning operations has presented problems due to the low vapor pressures of the solvents. Because of slow evaporation, solvent retention is a problem on porous substrates or on surfaces with irregular geometry, such as threaded boltholes, leak check ports, and nozzle backfill joints. The new solvents are being evaluated to replace 1,1,1-trichloroethane, which readily evaporates from these surfaces. Selection of the solvents to be evaluated on full-scale hardware was made based on results of subscale tests performed with flat surface coupons, which did not manifest the problem. Test efforts have been undertaken to address concerns with the slow-evaporating solvents. These concerns include effects on materials due to long-term exposure to solvent, potential migration from bolthole threads to seal surfaces, and effects on bolt loading due to solvent retention in threads. Tests performed to date have verified that retained solvent does not affect materials or hardware performance. Process modifications have also been developed to assist drying, and these can be implemented if additional drying becomes necessary.
A New Forced Oscillation Capability for the Transonic Dynamics Tunnel
A new forced oscillation system has been installed and tested at NASA Langley Research Center's Transonic Dynamics Tunnel (TDT). The system is known as the Oscillating Turntable (OTT) and has been designed for the purpose of oscillating, large semispan models in pitch at frequencies up to 40 Hz to acquire high-quality unsteady pressure and loads data. Precisely controlled motions of a wind-tunnel model on the OTT can yield unsteady aerodynamic phenomena associated with flutter, limit cycle oscillations, shock dynamics, and non-linear aerodynamic effects on many vehicle configurations. This paper will discuss general design and components of the OTT and will present test data from performance testing and from research tests on two rigid semispan wind-tunnel models. The research tests were designed to challenge the OTT over a wide range of operating conditions while acquiring unsteady pressure data on a small rectangular supercritical wing and a large supersonic transport wing. These results will be presented to illustrate the performance capabilities, consistency of oscillations, and usefulness of the OTT as a research tool.
Static test-stand performance of the YF-102 turbofan engine with several exhaust configurations for the Quiet Short-Haul Research Aircraft (QSRA)
The performance of a YF-102 turbofan engine was measured in an outdoor test stand with a bellmouth inlet and seven exhaust-system configurations. The configurations consisted of three separate-flow systems of various fan and core nozzle sizes and four confluent-flow systems of various nozzle sizes and shapes. A computer program provided good estimates of the engine performance and of thrust at maximum rating for each exhaust configuration. The internal performance of two different-shaped core nozzles for confluent-flow configurations was determined to be satisfactory. Pressure and temperature surveys were made with a traversing probe in the exhaust-nozzle flow for some confluent-flow configurations. The survey data at the mixing plane, plus the measured flow rates, were used to calculate the static-pressure variation along the exhaust nozzle length. The computed pressures compared well with experimental wall static-pressure data. External-flow surveys were made, for some confluent-flow configurations, with a large fixed rake at various locations in the exhaust plume.
Feasibility model of a high reliability five-year tape transport, volume 2
Analysis of the design features of the modularized tape transport renders a life expectancy in excess of five years. Tests performed on the tape transport were directed toward determining its performance capability. These tests revealed that the tape jitter and skew are in the range achieved by high quality digital tape transports. Guidance of the tape in the lateral sense by the use of the two hybrid crowned rollers proved to be excellent. Tracking was maintained within less than one thousandth inch (approximately 2 micrometers). The guidance capability demonstrated makes possible the achievement of the performance objective of 7.2 x 10 to the 9th power storage capability employing 1500 ft. of one inch wide tape with a packing density of 5,000 bits per inch per track on 80 tracks. Also, the machine showed excellent characteristics operating over a wide range of tape speeds. The basic design concept lends itself to growth and adaptation to a wide range of recorder requirements.
High-Temperature/Vacuum Fiber-Pushout Apparatus
Fiber-pushout tests performed at temperatures up to 1,100 degrees C. Apparatus performs fiber-pushout tests using radiant heating in vacuum. Vacuum maintained by turbopump prevents significant specimen oxidation during test. Successfully applied to metal and ceramic matrix composites being developed for jet engines. Applicable to many industrial applications, such as automotive components and energy-conversion devices. Previous Brief, "New Testing Tool for Composite Interfaces" (LEW-15297), describes apparatus designed to perform fiber-pushout testing at room temperature.
Convertor Development for Dynamic Radioisotope Power Systems
Dynamic power conversion technologies are being developed for future space science and exploration missions by NASA’s Radioisotope Power Systems (RPS) Program, in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). The Dynamic Radioisotope Power Systems (DRPS) Project is working to mature dynamic power convertors and controllers for infusion into a potential future flight generators.1,2 Maturation of power conversion technologies is being executed by the DRPS Project and the Thermal Energy Conversion Branch, located at NASA’s Glenn Research Center (GRC), and includes convertor technology development contracts and in-house controller development. The convertor technology development contracts consist of three contractors tasked to design, fabricate, and complete performance testing before the units are delivered to GRC for independent assessment. All contractors have completed convertor designs and are fabricating convertors to enable performance testing, while one has demonstrated initial performance of their design. The contractors also have provided generator conceptual designs, which utilize their respective convertor technologies being developed.
Raman scattering applied to gas mixing in the successive channel flow of two gases
The Raman scattering technique has been applied to investigate the effects of fluid undercutting in a simulation of the fluid-piston concept for wind-tunnel design. Measurements of the structure of the driver-driven gas interface and of the effect of undercutting on test duration were performed. Tests were conducted over a Froude number range of 0.0021 to 0.526 at driver-to-driven gas density ratios of 1.103 and 1.573. The effects of inlet design, test-channel inclination angle, and pretest pressurization were also examined. The results are compared with shadowgraph and pressure measurements to illustrate the characteristics of the Raman technique and to explain the discrepancy between the shadowgraph and pressure results.
Lightweight Long Life Heat Exchanger
A shuttle orbiter flight configuration aluminum heat exchanger was designed, fabricated, and tested. The heat exchanger utilized aluminum clad titanium composite parting sheets for protection against parting sheet pin hole corrosion. The heat exchanger, which is fully interchangeable with the shuttle condensing heat exchanger, includes slurpers (a means for removing condensed water from the downstream face of the heat exchanger), and both the core air passes and slurpers were hydrophilic coated to enhance wettability. The test program included performance tests which demonstrated the adequacy of the design and confirmed the predicted weight savings.
X-wing noise data acquisition program
The X-wing circulation controlled rotor system model was tested for hover performance. During these performance tests, noise data from 12 microphones was recorded on magnetic tape for subsequent data reduction. The rotor system was operated at 4 tip speeds ranging from 529 to 650 ft./sec. (404 to 497 rpm), collective angles of attack fro 0 deg to 8.5 deg (maximum), and blade pressure ratios from 1.0 (no blowing) to a maximum of 2.1. The 12 microphones included 11 in the far field, and one in the transmission area. Following completion of the rotor and subsystem noise measurements, sound field calibration measurements were made of both the rotor 'bowl' and the loudspeaker system used in the 'bowl' calibration measurements. The location of 10 far field microphones was measured by a surveyor. Additionally, detailed tape logs were prepared for the six reels of tape used for the program.
Radiative resistojet performance characterization tests
The test article, test approach, data analysis and results of a study undertaken to characterize performance of the augmentation section of the Rocket Research Company Augmented Catalytic Thruster as a gas resistojet using hydrogen, nitrogen and ammonia as propellants are described. This renewed interest in resistojets is a result of propulsion systems definition studies which indicate potential application to space station auxiliary propulsion.
Low-gravity solidification of cast iron and space technology applications
Two types of analyses relating to cast iron solidification were conducted. A theoretical analysis using a computer to predict the cooling versus time relationship throughout the test specimen was performed. Tests were also conducted in a ground-based laboratory to generate a cooling time curve for cast iron. In addition, cast iron was cooled through the solidification period on a KC-135 and an F-104 aircraft while these aircraft were going through a period of low gravity. Future subjects for low gravity tests are enumerated.