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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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All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1997

Requirements and Development of an Acceleration Measurement System for International Space Station Microgravity Science Payloads

The International Space Station is being developed by NASA and international partners as a versatile user platform to allow long term on-orbit investigations of a variety of scientific and technology arenas. In particular, scientific studies are planned within a research class known as microgravity science in areas such as biotechnology, combustion, fluid physics, and materials sciences. An acceleration measurement system is in development to aid such research conducted in the on-orbit conditions of apparent weightlessness. This system provides a general purpose acceleration measurement capability in support of these payloads and investigators. Such capability allows for systematic study of scientific phenomena by obtaining information regarding the local accelerations present during experiment operations. Preparations for implementing this flight measurement system involves two distinct stages: requirements development prior to initiating the design activity, and the design activity itself. This paper defines the requirements definition approach taken, provides an overview of the results of the requirements phase, and outlines the initial design considerations being addressed for this measurement system. Some preliminary engineering approaches are also described.

Sutliff, Thomas J.↗
NASA NTRS1989

On-orbit operations of the Space Station Freedom attached payloads accommodations equipment

The Space Station Freedom which will serve as a base of operations for instruments performing space science is discussed. The Attached Payload Accommodation Equipment (APAE) will be a set of equipment designed to provide standard structural, power, data and thermal interfaces between payloads and the space station. The APAE is designed to minimize and simplify the on-orbit operations required for payload installation, replacement, and servicing. In addition, the APAE supplies launch support for small payloads and attitude control for payloads that required it.

Lane, Jean Folse↗
NASA NTRS1986

Planetary detection and the astrometric telescope facility - A Space Station attached payload

Astrometric measurements with 1-microarcsec accuracy from the Space Station could reveal terrestrial-sized planets orbiting stars within 10 pc of earth. Interferometry from the Station could furnish the needed acuity, while direct imaging could not. A proposed Astrometric Telescope Facility would be attached to the Station on an equatorial mount and would have a 15-m focal length.

Swenson, B. L.↗
NASA NTRS1990

Earth Science and Applications attached payloads on Space Station

This paper describes the Office of Space Science and Applications' process for Attached Payloads on Space Station Freedom from development through on-orbit operations. Its primary objectives are to detail the sequential steps of the attached payload methodology by tracing in particular the selected Earth Science and Applications' payloads through this flow and relate the integral role of Marshall Space Flight Center's Science Utilization Management function of integration and operations.

Wicks, Thomas G.↗
NASA NTRS1994

SpaceHab 1 maintenance experiment

The SpaceHab 1 flight on STS-57 served as a test platform for evaluation of two space station payloads. The first payload evaluated a space station maintenance concept using a sweep signal generator and a 48-channel logic analyzer to perform fault detection and isolation. Crew procedures files, test setup diagram files, and software to configure the test equipment were created on the ground and uplinked on the astronauts' voice communication circuit to perform tests in flight. In order to use these files, the portable computer was operated in a multi-window configuration. The test data transmitted to the ground allowing the ground staff to identify the cause of the fault and provide the crew with the repair procedures and diagrams. The crew successfully repaired the system under test. The second payload investigated hand soldering and de-soldering of standard components on printed circuit (PC) boards in zero gravity. It also used a new type of intra-vehicular foot restraints which uses the neutral body posture in zero-g to provide retention of the crew without their conscious attention.

Bohannon, Jackie W.↗
NASA NTRS1989

Space station attached payload program support

The USRA is providing management and technical support for the peer review of the Space Station Freedom Attached Payload proposals. USRA is arranging for consultants to evaluate proposals, arranging meeting facilities for the reviewers to meet in Huntsville, Alabama and management of the actual review meetings. Assistance in developing an Experiment Requirements Data Base and Engineering/Technical Assessment support for the MSFC Technical Evaluation Team is also being provided. The results of the project will be coordinated into a consistent set of reviews and reports by USRA. The strengths and weaknesses analysis provided by the peer panel reviewers will by used NASA personnel in the selection of experiments for implementation on the Space Station Freedom.

Estes, Maurice G., Jr.↗
NASA NTRS1989

A pointing system design concept for Space Station attached payloads

A study has been conducted to recommend a pointing system design and architecture that can accommodate the articulated pointing requirements levied on the Space Station Freedom Attached Payload Pointing System. A conceptual design of a control system is developed using classical rate and position control techniques. A high fidelity simulation testbed has been developed as the principal tool for the pointing performance evaluation. Techniques of model reduction are applied to reduce the model order to a manageable size for incorporation into the testbed. The disturbance rich space station environment has been modeled, and nonlinearities such as bearing friction, motor and sensor noise are also considered. Simulations were performed with representatie payloads at nominal pointing orientations. The results show that the tight instrument pointing requirements and the severe Space Station disturbance environment render a marginal performance for a conventional (direct drive and hardmount) gimbal pointing system, particularly for lightweight payloads. A gimbal system that incorporates a passive base isolator and reactionless actuation appears to provide a significant imporvement in pointing performance over the conventional pointing systems.

Wong, Edward↗
NASA NTRS1994

International Space Station Alpha user payload operations concept

International Space Station Alpha (ISSA) will accommodate a variety of user payloads investigating diverse scientific and technology disciplines on behalf of five international partners: Canada, Europe, Japan, Russia, and the United States. A combination of crew, automated systems, and ground operations teams will control payload operations that require complementary on-board and ground systems. This paper presents the current planning for the ISSA U.S. user payload operations concept and the functional architecture supporting the concept. It describes various NASA payload operations facilities, their interfaces, user facility flight support, the payload planning system, the onboard and ground data management system, and payload operations crew and ground personnel training. This paper summarizes the payload operations infrastructure and architecture developed at the Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) to prepare and conduct ISSA on-orbit payload operations from the Payload Operations Integration Center (POIC), and from various user operations locations. The authors pay particular attention to user data management, which includes interfaces with both the onboard data management system and the ground data system. Discussion covers the functional disciplines that define and support POIC payload operations: Planning, Operations Control, Data Management, and Training. The paper describes potential interfaces between users and the POIC disciplines, from the U.S. user perspective.

Schlagheck, Ronald A.↗
NASA NTRS1997

DAC-3 Pointing Stability Analysis Results for SAGE 3 and Other Users of the International Space Station (ISS) Payload Attachment Sites (PAS)

The purpose of this paper is to provide final results of a pointing stability analysis for external payload attachment sites (PAS) on the International Space Station (ISS). As a specific example, the pointing stability requirement of the SAGE III atmospheric science instrument was examined in this paper. The instrument requires 10 arcsec stability over 2 second periods. SAGE 3 will be mounted on the ISS starboard side at the lower, outboard FIAS. In this engineering analysis, an open-loop DAC-3 finite element model of ISS was used by the Microgravity Group at Johnson Space Flight Center to generate transient responses at PAS to a limited number of disturbances. The model included dynamics up to 50 Hz. Disturbance models considered included operation of the solar array rotary joints, thermal radiator rotary joints, and control moment gyros. Responses were filtered to model the anticipated vibration attenuation effects of active control systems on the solar and thermal radiator rotary joints. A pointing stability analysis was conducted by double integrating acceleration transient over a 2 second period. Results of the analysis are tabulated for ISS X, Y, and Z Axis rotations. These results indicate that the largest excursions in rotation during pointing occurred due to rapid slewing of the thermal radiator. Even without attenuation at the rotary joints, the resulting pointing error was limited to less than 1.6 arcsec. With vibration control at the joints, to a maximum 0.5 arcsec over a 2 second period. Based on this current level of model definition, it was concluded that between 0 - 50 Hz, the pointing stability requirement for SAGE 3 will not be exceeded by the disturbances evaluated in this study.

Woods-Vedeler, Jessica A.↗
NASA NTRS1992

Spacelab, Spacehab, and Space Station Freedom payload interface projects

Contributions were made to several projects. Howard Nguyen was assisted in developing the Space Station RPS (Rack Power Supply). The RPS is a computer controlled power supply that helps test equipment used for experiments before the equipment is installed on Space Station Freedom. Ron Bennett of General Electric Government Services was assisted in the design and analysis of the Standard Interface Rack Controller hardware and software. An analysis was made of the GPIB (General Purpose Interface Bus), looking for any potential problems while transmitting data across the bus, such as the interaction of the bus controller with a data talker and its listeners. An analysis was made of GPIB bus communications in general, including any negative impact the bus may have on transmitting data back to Earth. A study was made of transmitting digital data back to Earth over a video channel. A report was written about the study and a revised version of the report will be submitted for publication. Work was started on the design of a PC/AT compatible circuit board that will combine digital data with a video signal. Another PC/AT compatible circuit board is being designed to recover the digital data from the video signal. A proposal was submitted to support the continued development of the interface boards after the author returns to Memphis State University in the fall. A study was also made of storing circuit board design software and data on the hard disk server of a LAN (Local Area Network) that connects several IBM style PCs. A report was written that makes several recommendations. A preliminary design review was started of the AIVS (Automatic Interface Verification System). The summer was over before any significant contribution could be made to this project.

Smith, Dean Lance↗
NASA NTRS2018

Hybridized Agile Software Development of Flight Control Team Tools for International Space Station's Payload Operations Integration Center

Ground systems operations at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's (NASA) Payload Operations and Integration Center (POIC) at Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) recently increased via a High Operations Tempo (HOT) initiative, in order to support more science activities with a fourth crew member on the International Space Station (ISS). The Flight Control Team's (FCT) need to support this increasing pace of payload science operations was the impetus for creating a series of new tools. While their need was clear, the full scope and user experience for each tool was not as well-understood, thus establishing a fixed set of initial requirements was not feasible. A hybridized Agile Software Development (ASD) paradigm was created to take advantage of this uncertainty, plan for it, permit the exploration of novel concepts, and also facilitate a rapid and flexible response to inevitably changing requirements. The POIC's hybridized ASD approach places preeminent focus on providing customer value through the delivery of high quality, customer-focused solutions in short timeframes. This has been successfully achieved through creating unprecedented modes of cooperation and collaboration between operations and software development teams, frequent user evaluations of the software with well-defined feedback mechanisms, increased human factors involvement, and a dedication to successful outcomes by the whole of the POIC. Since space science operations and software development are not typically so closely linked, this paper discusses an approach that offers an optimal way to provide an increased return on investment and a faster time-to-completion than traditional software development paradigms, while aiming at delivering high quality products and customer-driven value.

Albers, Cerese M.↗
NASA NTRS2018

Hybridized Agile Software Development of Flight Control Team Tools for International Space Station's Payload Operations Integration Center

Ground systems operations at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's (NASA) Payload Operations and Integration Function (POIF) is increasing, via the High Operations Tempo (HOT) initiative, its ability to support more science activities with a fourth crew member on the International Space Station (ISS). The Flight Control Team's need to support this increased crew presence mandated the need for a series of software tools to better handle the increasing pace of payload science operations. The overall need was clear from the outset, but the full scope and user experience for each tool, were not as well understood, so establishing a fixed set of initial requirements was not feasible. An Agile Software Development (ASD) paradigm takes advantage of uncertainty, and plans for it, so it was deemed the most appropriate approach to create room for exploring novel concepts, and to mount a rapid and flexible response to inevitiably changing requirements. It facilitated the need for unprecedented collaboration between the Product Team (i.e. users from the Flight Control Team) and the Development Team (i.e. POIC systems engineers, developers, testers). This is a process shift in the development, test, and release of software from one that is prescriptive to one that is adaptive, which is necessary for these tools to have longevity. The application of ASD to the product development lifecycle permitted the timely incorporation of customer feedback, and, allowed for continuous quality improvements. This resulted in a suite of tools that are efficient, user-friendly, and enable POIF ground systems to support the increasing pace of payload science operations. ASD is not as much a set of prescriptive processes as it is a shift in mindset; one that moves from planning against change, to planning for change, thereby iteratively growing software towards user-defined value.

Albers, Cerese M.↗
NASA NTRS1994

Virtual reality as a human factors design analysis tool: Macro-ergonomic application validation and assessment of the Space Station Freedom payload control area

A virtual reality (VR) Applications Program has been under development at MSFC since 1989. Its objectives are to develop, assess, validate, and utilize VR in hardware development, operations development and support, missions operations training, and science training. A variety of activities are under way within many of these areas. One ongoing macro-ergonomic application of VR relates to the design of the Space Station Freedom Payload Control Area (PCA), the control room from which onboard payload operations are managed. Several preliminary conceptual PCA layouts have been developed and modeled in VR. Various managers and potential end users have virtually 'entered' these rooms and provided valuable feedback. Before VR can be used with confidence in a particular application, it must be validated, or calibrated, for that class of applications. Two associated validation studies for macro-ergonomic applications are under way to help characterize possible distortions of filtering of relevant perceptions in a virtual world. In both studies, existing control rooms and their 'virtual counterparts will be empirically compared using distance and heading estimations to objects and subjective assessments. Approaches and findings of the PCA activities and details of the studies are presented.

Hale, Joseph P.↗
NASA NTRS1999

Java RMI Software Technology for the Payload Planning System of the International Space Station

The Payload Planning System is for experiment planning on the International Space Station. The planning process has a number of different aspects which need to be stored in a database which is then used to generate reports on the planning process in a variety of formats. This process is currently structured as a 3-tier client/server software architecture comprised of a Java applet at the front end, a Java server in the middle, and an Oracle database in the third tier. This system presently uses CGI, the Common Gateway Interface, to communicate between the user-interface and server tiers and Active Data Objects (ADO) to communicate between the server and database tiers. This project investigated other methods and tools for performing the communications between the three tiers of the current system so that both the system performance and software development time could be improved. We specifically found that for the hardware and software platforms that PPS is required to run on, the best solution is to use Java Remote Method Invocation (RMI) for communication between the client and server and SQLJ (Structured Query Language for Java) for server interaction with the database. Prototype implementations showed that RMI combined with SQLJ significantly improved performance and also greatly facilitated construction of the communication software.

Bryant, Barrett R.↗
NASA NTRS2016

International Space Station (ISS) Payload Autonomous Operations Past, Present and Future

Draper Laboratorys Timeliner is a scripting and automation system that runs onboard computers in the International Space Station (ISS). Timeliner is fully integrated with ISS and can be used to automate ISS operations tasks. Some of the most challenging aspects of operating a payload in low earth orbit are communication delays, ground equipment failures, and human errors. How does a Payload Developer (PD) know their equipment is operating nominally and collecting science in the most efficient way possible or even powered at any given time? During a ground Loss of Signal (LOS) data outage, PDs have no insight into their experiments state, and benefit greatly from Timeliner scripts executing on ISS to perform telemetry monitoring and commanding operations. This paper will discuss current software designs, and new operational uses for Timeliner. Existing Timeliner capabilities discussed will include: autonomous EXPRESS Rack activation and deactivation; autonomous science data downlinks; Minus Eighty Degree Freezer (MELFI) Dewar autonomous safing; JAXA and ESA module autonomous payload facility safing; as well as many others. New operational concepts discussed will include allowing Timeliner on the payload computer to issue core commands (Thermal, Power, Fire Detection), creation of new ground tools that will monitor the current status of Payload Racks as well as all the messaging from autonomous scripts executing, decreasing approval time for Timeliner bundles, and opening up the Payload MDM Enhanced Processor Integrated Communications Card (EPIC) interface. The EPIC interface could provide a new crew interface for PL Timeliner execution. The new interface could operate on either a Payload Computer System (PCS) or a Station Support Computer (SSC) that is plugged into either the Payload LAN or the Operations LAN which will make communicating to the PL MDM more flexible and greatly increase band width for communication.

Space Mission Automation↗
NASA NTRS1992

Space Station Freedom payload operations from the user's perspective

This report describes the Microgravity Science and Applications Division's (MSAD) operations concept for using the Space Station Freedom (SSF) program ground data systems and services, and the plans for and capabilities of the MSAD remote User Operations Facilities (UOF) from which the MSAD SSF payloads will be operated. Attention is given to the MSAD operational phases, the MSAD UOF concept, and UOF operations teams. MSAD is planning remote payload operations for a number of Spacelab missions which will supply MSAD valuable information for application to the development of UOFs in the SSF era.

Robey, J. L.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Overview of Space Station attached payloads in the areas of solar physics, solar terrestrial physics, and plasma processes

This paper outlines the currently planned utilization of the Space Station to perform investigations in solar physics, solar terrestrial physics, and plasma physics. The investigations and instrumentation planned for the Solar Terrestrial Observatory (STO) and its associated Space Station accommodation requirements are discussed as well as the planned placement of the STO instruments and typical operational scenarios. In the area of plasma physics, some preliminary plans for scientific investigations and for the accommodation of a plasma physics facility attached to the Space Station are outlined. These preliminary experiment concepts use the space environment around the Space Station as an unconfined plasma laboratory. In solar physics, the initial instrument complement and associated accommodation requirements of the Advanced Solar Observatory are described. The planned evolutionary development of this observatory is outlined, making use of the Space Station capabilities for servicing and instrument reconfiguration.

Roberts, W. T.↗
NASA NTRS1991

Space Station Freedom payload operations in the 21st century

The modified approach to the accomodation of payload operations in light of both flight and ground systems changes to the operational concept for the Space Station Freedom is described. The challenges for the man-tended capability payload operations and those for the permanently manned capability are assessed. An overview of payload operations is presented including payload accomodations, operations modes, ground systems, the payload operations integration center, and the evolution from man-tended capability to permanent manning.

Griner, C. S.↗