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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 541 records · Page 30
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1978

Use of the Marshall Space Flight Center solar simulator in collector performance evaluation

Actual measured values from simulator checkout tests are detailed. Problems encountered during initial startup are discussed and solutions described. Techniques utilized to evaluate collector performance from simulator test data are given. Performance data generated in the simulator are compared to equivalent data generated during natural outdoor testing. Finally, a summary of collector performance parameters generated to date as a result of simulator testing are given.

Humphries, W. R.↗
NASA NTRS1978

DOE LeRC photovoltaic systems test facility

The facility was designed and built and is being operated as a national facility to serve the needs of the entire DOE National Photovoltaic Program. The object of the facility is to provide a place where photovoltaic systems may be assembled and electrically configured, without specific physical configuration, for operation and testing to evaluate their performance and characteristics. The facility as a breadboard system allows investigation of operational characteristics and checkout of components, subsystems and systems before they are mounted in field experiments or demonstrations. The facility as currently configured consist of 10 kW of solar arrays built from modules, two inverter test stations, a battery storage system, interface with local load and the utility grid, and instrumentation and control necessary to make a flexible operating facility. Expansion to 30 kW is planned for 1978. Test results and operating experience are summaried to show the variety of work that can be done with this facility.

Cull, R. C.↗
NASA NTRS1977

NASA/ESA CV-990 Spacelab Simulation (ASSESS 2)

Cost effective techniques for addressing management and operational activities on Spacelab were identified and analyzed during a ten day NASA-ESA cooperative mission with payload and flight responsibilities handled by the organization assigned for early Spacelabs. Topics discussed include: (1) management concepts and interface relationships; (2) experiment selection; (3) hardware development; (4) payload integration and checkout; (5) selection and training of mission specialists and payload specialists; (6) mission control center/payload operations control center interactions with ground and flight problems; (7) real time interaction during flight between principal investigators and the mission specialist/payload specialist flight crew; and (8) retrieval of scientific data and its analysis.

Source record↗
NASA NTRS1978

DSS 13 antenna subsystem automation

Unattended station operation was implemented that permitted full operational control from the network operations center (NOCC). Sensors were installed in the mechanical subsystem to monitor critical functions and to permit automated premission checkout of the subsystem, automated reaction to component failure, and identification of failed components under control of the antenna pointing computer. This monitoring installation is a prototype for monitoring equipment to be installed throughout the DSN.

Phillips, H.↗
NASA NTRS1978

NASTRAN analysis of Tokamak vacuum vessel using interactive graphics

Isoparametric quadrilateral and triangular elements were used to represent the vacuum vessel shell structure. For toroidally symmetric loadings, MPCs were employed across model boundaries and rigid format 24 was invoked. Nonsymmetric loadings required the use of the cyclic symmetry analysis available with rigid format 49. NASTRAN served as an important analysis tool in the Tokamak design effort by providing a reliable means for assessing structural integrity. Interactive graphics were employed in the finite element model generation and in the post-processing of results. It was felt that model generation and checkout with interactive graphics reduced the modelling effort and debugging man-hours significantly.

Miller, A.↗
NASA NTRS1978

Creation of lumped parameter thermal model by the use of finite elements

In the finite difference technique, the thermal network is represented by an analogous electrical network. The development of this network model, which is used to describe a physical system, often requires tedious and mental data preparation and checkout by the analyst which can be greatly reduced through the use of the computer programs to develop automatically the mathematical model and associated input data and graphically display the analytical model to facilitate model verification. Three separate programs are involved which are linked through common mass storage files and data card formats. These programs are SPAR, CINGEN and GEOMPLT, and are used to (1) develop thermal models for the MITAS II thermal analyzer program; (2) produce geometry plots of the thermal network; and (3) produce temperature distribution and time history plots.

Source record↗
NASA NTRS1977

Space Shuttle Orbiter approach and landing program status

The approach and landing test (ALT) phase of the Space Shuttle program aims at assessing the Orbiter's subsonic aerodynamic flight and landing characteristics along with the support equipment, ground facilities, and the approximate hardware and software to be used in the terminal phase of orbital missions. The program also evaluates the performance of the Shuttle carrier aircraft (SCA) as related to the transport of the Orbiter to the launch sites during the stages of Space Shuttle operations. Results are presented for the SCA inert Orbiter flight testing and the program plans up to the completion of the ALT program. Emphasis is placed on testing the airworthiness of the mated B-747 Shuttle carrier aircraft and Orbiter, checkout of the Orbiter systems in captive flight, and launching the Orbiter with and without the tail cone installed. Major program milestones before the first manned orbital flight are summarized in graphic form.

Andrews, W. H.↗
NASA NTRS1978

Manned maneuvering unit - A space platform support system

The assembly and evaluation of large space platforms in low earth orbit will become practical in the Shuttle era. Extravehicular crewmembers, equipped with manned maneuvering units (MMUs), will play a vital role in the construction and checkout of these platforms. The MMU is a propulsive backpack with mobility extending the crew's visual, mental, and manipulative capabilities beyond the cabin to on-the-spot assembly and maintenance operations. Previous MMU experience is reviewed, Shuttle MMU design features related to space platform support are described, and the use of the MMU for specific construction and assembly tasks is illustrated.

Whitsett, C. E., Jr.↗
NASA NTRS1978

The ERDA/LeRC Photovoltaic Systems Test Facility

The ERDA/LeRC Photovoltaic Systems Test Facility (STF) provides a vital support function to the overall ERDA National Solar Photovoltaic Program. It allows preliminary investigation and checkout of components, subsystems, and complete photovoltaic systems before installation in actual service. The STF can also be used to determine optimum system configurations and operating modes. A facility description is presented, taking into account the solar cell array, the energy storage equipment, the power conditioning equipment, electric utility distribution network and loads, and instrumentation and data acquisition systems. Safety procedures which have been set up for maintenance and inspection of the solar array are discussed. Attention is also given to a number of investigations regarding the effect of environmental factors on solar cell array operation.

Forestieri, A. F.↗
NASA NTRS1980

Window comparator for voltages

Circuit determines whether voltage is within preselected range of voltage levels.Device requires fewer components than previous window comparators and is less susceptible to errors from reference drift. Comparator is useful in process-control circuitry, measuring instruments, and checkout equipment.

Black, J. M.↗
NASA NTRS1976

OAST Space Theme Workshop. Volume 3: Working group summary. 1: Navigation, guidance, control (E-1) A. Statement. B. Technology needs (form 1). C. Priority assessment (form 2)

The six themes identified by the Workshop have many common navigation guidance and control needs. All the earth orbit themes have a strong requirement for attitude, figure and stabilization control of large space structures, a requirement not currently being supported. All but the space transportation theme have need for precision pointing of spacecraft and instruments. In addition all the themes have requirements for increasing autonomous operations for such activities as spacecraft and experiment operations, onboard mission modification, rendezvous and docking, spacecraft assembly and maintenance, navigation and guidance, and self-checkout, test and repair. Major new efforts are required to conceptualize new approaches to large space antennas and arrays that are lightweight, readily deployable, and capable of precise attitude and figure control. Conventional approaches offer little hope of meeting these requirements. Functions that can benefit from increasing automation or autonomous operations are listed.

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NASA NTRS1977

Multipurpose Panel Display Device Investigation

A multipurpose panel was developed to provide a flexible control and a LED display panel with easily changeable nomenclature for use in applications where panel space is limited, but where a number of similar subsystems must be controlled, or where basic panel nomenclature and functions must be changed rapidly, as in the case of between mission changes of space shuttle payloads. In the first application, panel area limitations are overcome by time sharing a central control panel among several subsystems. In the latter case, entire control panel changes are effected by simply replacing a memory module, thereby reducing the extent of installation and checkout procedures between missions. Several types of control technologies (other than LED's) which show potential in meeting criteria for overcoming limitations of the panel are assessed.

Sliwa, R.↗
NASA NTRS1979

The 25 kW power module evolution study. Part 3: Conceptual design for power module evolution. Volume 6: WBS and dictionary

Program elements of the power module (PM) system, are identified, structured, and defined according to the planned work breakdown structure. Efforts required to design, develop, manufacture, test, checkout, launch and operate a protoflight assembled 25 kW, 50 kW and 100 kW PM include the preparation and delivery of related software, government furnished equipment, space support equipment, ground support equipment, launch site verification software, orbital verification software, and all related data items.

Source record↗
NASA NTRS1979

Satellite Power Systems (SPS) concept definition study, exhibit C. Volume 6: In-depth element investigation

Computer assisted design of a gallium arsenide solid state dc-to-RF converter with supportive fabrication data was investigated. Specific tasks performed include: computer program checkout; amplifier comparisons; computer design analysis of GaSa solar cells; and GaAs diode evaluation. Results obtained in the design and evaluation of transistors for the microwave space power system are presented.

Hanley, G.↗
NASA NTRS1979

Meta assembler enhancements and generalized linkage editor

A meta Assembler for NASA was developed. The initial development of the Meta Assembler for the SUMC was performed. The capabilities included assembly for both main and micro level programs. A period of checkout and utilization to verify the performance of the Meta Assembler was undertaken. Additional enhancements were made to the Meta Assembler which expanded the target computer family to include architectures represented by the PDP-11, MODCOMP 2, and Raytheon 706 computers.

Source record↗
NASA NTRS1979

Safety considerations in the design and operation of large wind turbines

The engineering and safety techniques used to assure the reliable and safe operation of large wind turbine generators utilizing the Mod 2 Wind Turbine System Program as an example is described. The techniques involve a careful definition of the wind turbine's natural and operating environments, use of proven structural design criteria and analysis techniques, an evaluation of potential failure modes and hazards, and use of a fail safe and redundant component engineering philosophy. The role of an effective quality assurance program, tailored to specific hardware criticality, and the checkout and validation program developed to assure system integrity are described.

Reilly, D. H.↗
NASA NTRS1979

Automated Plasma Spray (APS) process feasibility study: Plasma spray process development and evaluation

An automated plasma spray (APS) process was developed to apply two layer (NiCrAlY and ZrO2-12Y2O3) thermal-barrier coatings to aircraft gas turbine engine blade airfoils. The APS process hardware consists of four subsystems: a mechanical blade positioner incorporating two interlaced six-degree-of-freedom assemblies; a noncoherent optical metrology subsystem; a microprocessor-based adaptive system controller; and commercial plasma spray equipment. Over fifty JT9D first stage turbine blades specimens were coated with the APS process in preliminary checkout and evaluation studies. The best of the preliminary specimens achieved an overall coating thickness uniformity of + or - 53 micrometers, much better than is achievable manually. Factors limiting this performance were identified and process modifications were initiated accordingly. Comparative evaluations of coating thickness uniformity for manually sprayed and APS coated specimens were initiated. One of the preliminary evaluation specimens was subjected to a torch test and metallographic evaluation.

Fetheroff, C. W.↗