Search NASA⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search NASA

Results for “program metrics”

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.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 505 records · Page 28
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1986

High resolution remote sensing missions of a tethered satellite

The application of the Tethered Satellite (TS) as an operational remote sensing platform is studied. It represents a new platform capable of covering the altitudes between airplanes and free flying satellites, offering an adequate lifetime, high geometric and radiometric resolution and improved cartographic accuracy. Two operational remote sensing missions are proposed: one using two linear array systems for along track stereoscopic observation and one using a synthetic aperture radar combined with an interferometric technique. These missions are able to improve significantly the accuracy of future real time cartographic systems from space, also allowing, in the case of active microwave systems, the Earth's observation both in adverse weather and at any time, day or night. Furthermore, a simulation program is described in which, in order to examine carefully the potentiality of the TS as a new remote sensing platform, the orbital and attitude dynamics description of the TSS is integrated with the sensor viewing geometry, the Earth's ellipsoid, the atmospheric effects, the Sun illumination and the digital elevation model. A preliminary experiment has been proposed which consist of a metric camera to be deployed downwards during the second Shuttle demonstration flight.

Vetrella, S.↗
NASA NTRS2004

Computer-Aided Systems Engineering for Flight Research Projects Using a Workgroup Database

An online systems engineering tool for flight research projects has been developed through the use of a workgroup database. Capabilities are implemented for typical flight research systems engineering needs in document library, configuration control, hazard analysis, hardware database, requirements management, action item tracking, project team information, and technical performance metrics. Repetitive tasks are automated to reduce workload and errors. Current data and documents are instantly available online and can be worked on collaboratively. Existing forms and conventional processes are used, rather than inventing or changing processes to fit the tool. An integrated tool set offers advantages by automatically cross-referencing data, minimizing redundant data entry, and reducing the number of programs that must be learned. With a simplified approach, significant improvements are attained over existing capabilities for minimal cost. By using a workgroup-level database platform, personnel most directly involved in the project can develop, modify, and maintain the system, thereby saving time and money. As a pilot project, the system has been used to support an in-house flight experiment. Options are proposed for developing and deploying this type of tool on a more extensive basis.

Mizukami, Masahi↗
NASA NTRS2010

Using SCOR as a Supply Chain Management Framework for Government Agency Contract Requirements

This paper will present a model that uses the Supply-Chain Operations Reference (SCOR) model as a foundation for a framework to illustrate the information needed throughout a product lifecycle to support a healthy supply chain management function and the subsequent contract requirements to enable it. It will also show where in the supply chain the information must be extracted. The ongoing case study used to exemplify the model is NASA's (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) Ares I program for human spaceflight. Effective supply chain management and contract requirements are ongoing opportunities for continuous improvement within government agencies, specifically development of systems for human spaceflight operations. Multiple reports from the Government Accountability Office (GAO) reinforce this importance. The SCOR model is a framework for describing a supply chain with process building blocks and business activities. It provides a set of metrics for measuring supply chain performance and best practices for continuously improving. This paper expands the application of the SCOR to also provide the framework for defining information needed from different levels of the supply chain and at different phases of the lifecycle. These needs can be incorporated into contracts to enable more effective supply chain management. Depending on the phase of the lifecycle, effective supply chain management will require involvement from different levels of the organization and different levels of the supply chain.

Paxton, Joseph↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Progressive Damage Analysis of Post-Buckled Stiffened Panels under Static Compressive Loading

The validation of progressive damage analysis methods requires experimental data that captures the initiation of damage, its evolution with continued loading, and the morphology of damage throughout its evolution. In support of the NASA Advanced Composites Project, several validation specimens of increasing complexity have been tested and characterized in order to provide the data required to assess the capabilities of several progressive damage analysis methods for fiber-reinforced composite materials. The analytical capabilities of interest for this validation program include networks of interacting matrix cracks and delaminations in post-buckled stiffened structures. A series of single stringer compression specimens was tested and characterized at NASA Langley Research Center. The experimental data from these tests are compared with progressive damage finite element analysis results. Test/analysis comparisons are made in terms of load/displacement histories, damage morphology, and damage size versus load metrics.

Frank A Leone↗
NASA NTRS2011

NASA's Space Launch System Progress Report

Exploration beyond Earth will be an enduring legacy for future generations, confirming America's commitment to explore, learn, and progress. NASA's Space Launch System (SLS) Program, managed at the Marshall Space Flight Center, is responsible for designing and developing the first exploration-class rocket since the Apollo Program's Saturn V that sent Americans to the Moon. The SLS offers a flexible design that may be configured for the MultiPurpose Crew Vehicle and associated equipment, or may be outfitted with a payload fairing that will accommodate flagship science instruments and a variety of high-priority experiments. Both options support a national capability that will pay dividends for future generations. Building on legacy systems, facilities, and expertise, the SLS will have an initial lift capability of 70 metric tons (mT) and will be evolvable to 130 mT. While commercial launch vehicle providers service the International Space Station market, this capability will surpass all vehicles, past and present, providing the means to do entirely new missions, such as human exploration of asteroids and Mars. With its superior lift capability, the SLS can expand the interplanetary highway to many possible destinations, conducting revolutionary missions that will change the way we view ourselves, our planet and its place in the cosmos. To perform missions such as these, the SLS will be the largest launch vehicle ever built. It is being designed for safety and affordability - to sustain our journey into the space age. Current plans include launching the first flight, without crew, later this decade, with crewed flights beginning early next decade. Development work now in progress is based on heritage space systems and working knowledge, allowing for a relatively quick start and for maturing the SLS rocket as future technologies become available. Together, NASA and the U.S. aerospace industry are partnering to develop this one-of-a-kind asset. Many of NASA's space centers across the country will provide their unique expertise to the Space Launch System endeavor. Unique infrastructure to be used includes the Michoud Assembly Facility for tank manufacturing, Stennis Space Center for engine testing, and Kennedy Space Center for processing and launch. As this panel will discuss, the SLS team is dedicated to doing things differently-from applying lean oversight/insight models to smartly using legacy hardware and existing facilities. Building on the foundation laid by over 50 years of human and scientific space flight--and on the lessons learned from the Apollo, Space Shuttle, and Constellation Programs-the SLS team has delivered both technical trade studies and business case analyses to ensure that the SLS architecture will be safe, affordable, reliable, and sustainable.

Singer, Joan A.↗
DOE OSTI2025

If We Build Them, They Will Run: Automated HPC Apps Deployment and Profiling with eBPF in Cloud

The high performance computing (HPC) community is in a period of transition. The rise of AI/ML coupled with a changing landscape of resources deems portability a new metric of performance, and methods to move between on-premises and cloud environments and assess compatibility are paramount. Here we design and test a strategy for bridging the gap between traditional HPC and Kubernetes environments – first containerizing applications, providing automated orchestration to run studies, and packaging the setup with automated means to assess performance using low overhead eXtended Berkeley Packet Filter (eBPF) programs. We first assess different designs for eBPF collection, demonstrating a tradeoff between number of programs deployed on a node and overhead added. We develop 5 low overhead eBPF programs that combine with streaming ML models to assess CPU, futex, TCP, shared memory, and file access across four different builds of an HPC application for CPU and GPU. We use eBPF data to generate insights into the possible underlying etiology of scaling issues. We then assess compatibility of a well-known benchmark, HPCG, across matrices of micro-architectures and optimization levels (217 containers across 24 instance types and over 7500 runs). We provide to the community 30 applications to deploy in our automated setup and perform a scaling study from 4 to a maximum of 256 nodes for both CPU and GPU applications. Finally, we use our gained knowledge about performance to generate compatibility artifacts that are used by a newly developed Kubernetes controller to intelligently select instance type based on optimizing a figure of merit. Along with insights to scaling in this environment with a collection of applications and templates to work from, we provide an overall strategy for approaching HPC application deployment and image selection based on compatibility in cloud.

Computer science↗
DOE OSTI2024

pvplr-python: Python package implementation of PVplr for Performance Loss Rate (PLR) analysis

Due to software fragmentation, PV system modeling teams can be limited to language specific packages, preventing cross-sectional analysis of different modeling techniques and workflows. To this end, PVplr, a popular PV performance modeling R software package, has been ported to the Python programming language. To verify and test the robustness of the port, NSRDB data has been used to simulated PV installations at native resolution (~2 million Sites), with a variety of degradation rates, degradation patterns, and modules. Performance Ratios were calculated using the ported functions from pvplr-python and compared against Rdtools YoY values. Due to the complicated nature of degradation, a new metric has been proposed to quantify the performance loss of a system. The cumulative production loss, is the total amount of energy lost due to the degrading performance of the system. Cumulative production loss alleviates the problems with fitting linear functions to non-linear degradation. Cumulative Production loss was shown to better estimate the total lost revenue for non-linear degradation patterns. $XbX + UTC$ was found to most accurately predict the total lost revenue in simulated systems.

Kumar, Suraj↗
NASA NTRS2015

Integrated Surface Power Strategy for Mars

A National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) study team evaluated surface power needs for a conceptual crewed 500-day Mars mission. This study had four goals: 1. Determine estimated surface power needed to support the reference mission; 2. Explore alternatives to minimize landed power system mass; 3. Explore alternatives to minimize Mars Lander power self-sufficiency burden; and 4. Explore alternatives to minimize power system handling and surface transportation mass. The study team concluded that Mars Ascent Vehicle (MAV) oxygen propellant production drives the overall surface power needed for the reference mission. Switching to multiple, small Kilopower fission systems can potentially save four to eight metric tons of landed mass, as compared to a single, large Fission Surface Power (FSP) concept. Breaking the power system up into modular packages creates new operational opportunities, with benefits ranging from reduced lander self-sufficiency for power, to extending the exploration distance from a single landing site. Although a large FSP trades well for operational complexity, a modular approach potentially allows Program Managers more flexibility to absorb late mission changes with less schedule or mass risk, better supports small precursor missions, and allows a program to slowly build up mission capability over time. A number of Kilopower disadvantages-and mitigation strategies-were also explored.

Rucker, Michelle↗
NASA NTRS2015

A Tool for the Automated Collection of Space Utilization Data: Three Dimensional Space Utilization Monitor

Space Human Factors and Habitability (SHFH) Element within the Human Research Program (HRP), in collaboration with the Behavioral Health and Performance (BHP) Element, is conducting research regarding Net Habitable Volume (NHV), the internal volume within a spacecraft or habitat that is available to crew for required activities, as well as layout and accommodations within that volume. NASA is looking for innovative methods to unobtrusively collect NHV data without impacting crew time. Data required includes metrics such as location and orientation of crew, volume used to complete tasks, internal translation paths, flow of work, and task completion times. In less constrained environments methods for collecting such data exist yet many are obtrusive and require significant post‐processing. Example technologies used in terrestrial settings include infrared (IR) retro‐reflective marker based motion capture, GPS sensor tracking, inertial tracking, and multiple camera filmography. However due to constraints of space operations many such methods are infeasible, such as inertial tracking systems which typically rely upon a gravity vector to normalize sensor readings, and traditional IR systems which are large and require extensive calibration. However multiple technologies have not yet been applied to space operations for these explicit purposes. Two of these include 3‐Dimensional Radio Frequency Identification Real‐Time Localization Systems (3D RFID‐RTLS) and depth imaging systems which allow for 3D motion capture and volumetric scanning (such as those using IR‐depth cameras like the Microsoft Kinect or Light Detection and Ranging / Light‐Radar systems, referred to as LIDAR).

Vos, Gordon A.↗
NASA NTRS2021

Simulated Versus Measured UHF Radiated Power at LaRC Street Level

The Airspace Operations and Safety Program, System-Wide Safety Project /Technical Challenge 2 – Emerging Operations at NASA Langley aims to increase the flight safety of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV’s) by informing UAV operators of regions of airspace where the radio frequency (RF) power at designated frequencies exceeds threshold values, indicating possible damage or interference with on-board systems. WinProp electromagnetic simulation software, a commercially available ray tracing program, has been implemented to predict radiated power from known RF sources. As a test case, the NextNav geolocation system, with nine transmitters operating at 926.227 MHz, was selected and modeled together with other existing structures at Langley. The radiated power at street level was calculated and compared with measurements taken at street level by a Signal Hound receiver and an Electro-Metrics antenna mounted on a van. The two sets of results generally agreed to within about 5 dB.

electromagnetic simulation↗
NASA NTRS1978

Precise terrestrial time: A means for improved ballistic missile guidance analysis

An approach developed to improve the ground instrumentation time tagging accuracy and adapted to support the Minuteman ICBM program is desired. The Timing Insertion Unit (TIU) technique produces a telemetry data time tagging resolution of one tenth of a microsecond, with a relative intersite accuracy after corrections and velocity data (range, azimuth, elevation and range rate) also used in missile guidance system analysis can be correlated to within ten microseconds of the telemetry guidance data. This requires precise timing synchronization between the metric and telemetry instrumentation sites. The timing synchronization can be achieved by using the radar automatic phasing system time correlation methods. Other time correlation techniques such as Television (TV) Line-10 and the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites (GEOS) terrestial timing receivers are also considered.

Ehrsam, E. E.↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Estimates of Future Numerical Weather Prediction Impacts from Hyperspectral Sounders

The United States’ satellite programs are currently in the process of evaluating the future of satellite observations of the Earth’s atmosphere, both as an individual nation and within the context of international partnerships. In an effort to better understand the impacts of various alternatives, the Global Modeling and Assimilation Office (GMAO) observing system simulation experiment (OSSE) framework has been utilized to evaluate several configurations of the international hyperspectral infrared sounder constellation from the perspective of global numerical weather prediction (NWP). This was done with an emphasis on the proposed NOAA/NASA Geostationary eXtended Observations (GeoXO) Sounder (GXS), planned to launch in the mid-2030s, and similar planned missions from international partners. GXS, in addition to contributions from EUMETSAT and JMA, will form a global ring of geostationary sounders consistent with the WMO’s 2040 vision. In addition to a novel geostationary IR sounder program, considerations extend to the future of the Low Earth Orbit (LEO) sounder program with the upcoming demise of several existing instruments and plans for future missions ongoing. The GMAO OSSE framework has examined the potential roles of GEO and LEO sounders in weather prediction improvement. Overall, the inclusion of both GEO sounders in a global ring and LEO sounders produces the most beneficial observation impact and the most accurate global weather forecasts as evaluated using several metrics, including hurricanes and the FSOI.

Erica Mcgrath-Spangler↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

The Potential of GEO Sounders for Numerical Weather Prediction

The future of Earth observations from space is currently being decided upon in the United States. To better understand the impacts of various configurations, the Global Modeling and Assimilation Office (GMAO) observing system simulation experiment (OSSE) framework has been utilized to examine the impact of various hyperspectral infrared sounder constellations from the perspective of global numerical weather prediction (NWP). With an emphasis on the proposed NOAA/NASA Geostationary eXtended Observations (GeoXO) Sounder (GXS), planned to launch in the mid-2030s, the NWP benefit of a global ring of geostationary sounders, consistent with the WMO’s 2040 vision is evaluated. In addition, considerations extend to the future of the Low Earth Orbit (LEO) sounder program with the loss of several existing instruments and plans for future missions ongoing. The GMAO OSSE framework has examined the potential complementarities of GEO and LEO sounders in weather prediction improvement. Overall, the inclusion of both GEO and LEO sounders produces the most beneficial impact on NWP for regional and global scales and the most accurate global weather forecasts as evaluated using several metrics, including hurricanes and the forecast sensitivity observation impact (FSOI).

Erica Mcgrath-Spangler↗
DOE OSTI2024

Catalytic Resonance Theory: The Catalytic Mechanics of Programmable Ratchets

Catalytic reaction networks of multiple elementary steps operating under dynamic conditions via a programmed input oscillation are difficult to interpret and optimize due to reaction system complexity. To understand these dynamic systems, individual elementary catalytic reactions oscillating between catalyst states were evaluated to identify their three fundamental characteristics that define their ability to promote reactions away from equilibrium. First, elementary catalytic reactions exhibit directionality to promote reactions forward or backward from equilibrium as determined by a ratchet directionality metric comprised of the input oscillation duty cycle and the reaction rate constants. Second, catalytic ratchets are defined by the catalyst state of strong or weak binding that permit reactants to proceed through the transition state. Third, elementary catalytic ratchets exhibit a cutoff frequency which defines the transition in applied frequency for which the catalytic ratchet functions to promote chemistry away from equilibrium. All three ratchet characteristics are calculated from chemical reaction parameters including rate constants derived from linear scaling parameters, reaction conditions, and catalyst state. The characteristics of the reaction network’s constituent elementary catalytic reactions provided an interpretation of complex reaction networks and a method of predicting the behavior of dynamic surface chemistry on oscillating catalysts.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
NASA NTRS1992

Deployable reflector antenna performance optimization using automated surface correction and array-feed compensation

Methods for increasing the electromagnetic (EM) performance of reflectors with rough surfaces were tested and evaluated. First, one quadrant of the 15-meter hoop-column antenna was retrofitted with computer-driven and controlled motors to allow automated adjustment of the reflector surface. The surface errors, measured with metric photogrammetry, were used in a previously verified computer code to calculate control motor adjustments. With this system, a rough antenna surface (rms of approximately 0.180 inch) was corrected in two iterations to approximately the structural surface smoothness limit of 0.060 inch rms. The antenna pattern and gain improved significantly as a result of these surface adjustments. The EM performance was evaluated with a computer program for distorted reflector antennas which had been previously verified with experimental data. Next, the effects of the surface distortions were compensated for in computer simulations by superimposing excitation from an array feed to maximize antenna performance relative to an undistorted reflector. Results showed that a 61-element array could produce EM performance improvements equal to surface adjustments. When both mechanical surface adjustment and feed compensation techniques were applied, the equivalent operating frequency increased from approximately 6 to 18 GHz.

Schroeder, Lyle C.↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Anomaly Detection in Flight Operational Data Using Deep Learning

In this session, we demonstrate two recently developed deep learning models for anomaly detection in flight operational data by the Data Sciences Group at NASA Ames Research Center. The first model is Convolutional Variational Auto-Encoder (CVAE) [1], which is an unsupervised deep encoder-decoder model, designed specifically for finding anomalies in heterogeneous multivariate time series data. We will demonstrate its application to finding anomalies in streaming data from NASA’s Digital Information Platform’s Fuser source. CVAE identifies data instances that are not representative of expected nominal behavior as anomalous. Since it is an unsupervised approach, the flagged anomalies will need to be reviewed by the subject matter experts (SMEs) for validation and labeling and is designed to assist with vulnerability discovery within Safety Monitoring System programs. The second model is Robust and Explainable Semi-supervised Anomaly Detection (RESAD) model [2], which builds on CVAE to allow learning from both minimally labeled data (previously reviewed by the SMEs) as well as majority unlabeled data. RESAD takes advantage of graph theoretic techniques to propagate the labels from the labeled data to the unlabeled data based on a pre-defined similarity metric and structures the learned feature space from flight time-series so that data of the same class would cluster tightly together. This model characteristic is enabled by training with an augmented loss function and allows learning of a more informative feature space for down-stream tasks such as search and active learning. We demonstrate RESAD using data from the NASA DASHlink project [3].

anomaly detection↗
NASA NTRS2020

NASA’s Space Launch System: Launch Capability for Lunar Exploration and Transformative Science

Excitement is building for the first launch of NASA’s Space Launch System (SLS), a unique exploration asset for the agency’s Artemis lunar program as well as for a new generation of science missions. SLS is designed for an array of missions beyond Earth’s orbit. The flexible system, which can be configured for Orion, cargo or Orion with co-manifested payload missions, offers high escape velocities to send more mass to deep space destinations. When configured with an 8.4 m-diameter fairing, SLS offers unmatched payload volume for human exploration and science missions. The initial Block 1 variant will insert at least 26 metric tons (t) to trans-lunar injection (TLI) and the more powerful Block 1B vehicle will launch 34-37 t to TLI using a new-development upper stage. Much of the initial SLS Block 1 vehicle is complete, including the upper stage and payload section, the core stage, engines and the solid rocket boosters. The first mission, Artemis I, launching from modernized and upgraded facilities at Kennedy Space Center (KSC), will be an uncrewed test flight of SLS, Orion and ground processing, with a primary objective of testing Orion’s heat shield at lunar re-entry velocity. Artemis I will have accommodations for 13 6U CubeSat payloads. These CubeSat missions will be deployed along the upper stage disposal trajectory after Orion separates from the vehicle. A rare opportunity for CubeSats to be deployed beyond low Earth orbit (LEO), Artemis I CubeSat missions range from searching for hydrogen and other volatiles on the lunar South Pole to studying the acceleration mechanisms of solar and interplanetary particles from a heliocentric trajectory. With manufacturing of the initial vehicle complete, fabrication and procurement is progressing for the second flight of SLS and Orion, Artemis II. Also an SLS Block 1 and Orion flight launching from KSC, Artemis II will mark the return of American astronauts to deep space with a lunar flyby-free return trajectory mission. With the Artemis III flight, NASA has the goal to land the first woman and the next man on the Moon. Infrastructure beyond SLS will be required for this effort, including elements of the lunar Gateway as well as lunar rovers, landers and additional commercially supplied launch services. SLS, as the only vehicle with the capability to lift 26 t of mass to TLI in its initial Block 1 variant, will remain a key component of this new-era exploration program. Future variants – Block 1B and Block 2 –will lift 34-45 t to TLI. This paper will discuss the status of testing and integration for the Artemis I vehicle, manufacturing progress for the second vehicle and the manifest outlook for primary, co-manifested and secondary payloads in the current deep space exploration environment.

Creech, Stephen D.↗
DOE OSTI2025

Age at release affects developmental physiology and sex-specific phenotypic diversity of hatchery steelhead trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)

Most steelhead trout hatcheries increase growth rate during rearing to produce and release yearling smolts for harvest augmentation, but natural steelhead exhibit variable age of smoltification, so this common rearing practice may not be ideal for programs focused on recovering imperiled wild stocks; therefore, it is important to investigate and compare alternative hatchery rearing methods that promote life history diversity. Over six consecutive years, the Winthrop National Fish Hatchery on the Methow River, WA reared and released paired groups of age-1 (S1) and age-2 (S2) steelhead smolts. To understand how the two rearing methods affected developmental ontogeny and life-history, fish were sampled prior to hatchery release for factors associated with smoltification (size, gill Na+/K+ ATPase activity, and a qualitative smolt phenotype) and sexual maturation (sex, pituitary and testis mRNA transcripts, gonadosomatic index, and plasma 11-ketotestosterone). Our objectives were to quantify levels of smoltification and male maturation during hatchery rearing, combine metrics to estimate residualism (failure to migrate upon release), and compare the treatments by sex. Overall, S2 rearing produced 7.8% more smolts and 44-fold (4.4 vs. 0.1%) more precociously mature males than S1 rearing. Conversely, S1 rearing produced 31.6% more residuals than S2 rearing. While the proportion of total male residuals was comparable between treatments, the S1 treatment produced approximately five-fold more female residuals (20.6 vs. 4.2%). Because residuals contribute minimally to adult returns and the number of returning adult females is critical to the success of salmonid supplementation efforts, developing rearing techniques that maximize migration in females is a management priority. Physiological assessments are useful for characterizing and quantifying the effects and risks of different hatchery rearing regimes on steelhead life-history, in addition to providing sex-specific guidance to inform and optimize conservation management goals in supplementation programs.

Middleton, Mollie A. (ORCID:0009000905577865)↗