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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 73 records · Page 4
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS2011

Architectures for Human Exploration of Near Earth Asteroids

The presentation explores human exploration of Near Earth Asteroid (NEA) key factors including challenges of supporting humans for long-durations in deep-space, incorporation of advanced technologies, mission design constraints, and how many launches are required to conduct a round trip human mission to a NEA. Topics include applied methodology, all chemical NEA mission operations, all nuclear thermal propulsion NEA mission operations, SEP only for deep space mission operations, and SEP/chemical hybrid mission operations. Examples of mass trends between datasets are provided as well as example sensitivity of delta-v and trip home, sensitivity of number of launches and trip home, and expected targets for various transportation architectures.

Drake, Bret G.↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Language Model For Earth Science: Exploring Potential Downstream Applications As Well As Current Challenges

The use of deep learning techniques to build transformer language models such as SciBERT and GPT3 have transformed the natural language technology (NLT) landscape. These new NLTs are being used in speech to text and vice versa, auto-mated text classification, sentiment analysis, topic modeling, text summarization, and cognitive assistants. While Earth science has no shortage of unstructured data such as journal and conference papers, little efforts have focused on harnessing NLTs for knowledge extraction and supporting the scientific process. This paper surveys the use of language models in different science. BERT-E, a new Earth science-specific language model, is presented. BERT-E is generated using a transfer learning solution. A language model that has already been trained for general Science (SciBERT) is fine-tuned using abstracts and full text extracted from various Earth science-related articles. A downstream keywords classification application is used for evaluation, and the use of BERT-E shows improved performance. The need to develop a robust set of benchmarks in evaluating the language model such as BERT-E is discussed. Finally, example applications are presented to inspire additional ideas for applications using domain-specific language models.

R Ramachandran↗
NASA NTRS2019

A NASA Supply Chain Beyond Low Earth Orbit: Explore Moon to Mars

Presentation will highlight the Space Shuttle Program Lessons Learned with a simulation of the complexity, volatility and multi-functional relationships of the supplier base followed by a review of a key element in the NASA KSC Supply Chain/Logistics Strategic Roadmap to include supply chain resiliency modeling as impacted by 3D Printing technology maturation and campaign-level network flow modeling for logistics nodal positioning of critical product needed to support space operations and In-Space Manufacturing beyond Low Earth Orbit.

Supply Chain Analytics↗
NASA NTRS2017

Growing Beyond Earth; Students Exploring Plant Varieties for Future Space Exploration

Future space exploration and long duration space flight will pose an array of challenges to the health and wellbeing of astronauts. Since 2015, Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden (FTBG), in partnership with NASA's Veggie team, has been testing edible crops for space flight potential through a series of citizen science experiments. FTBG's interest in classroom-based science projects, along with NASA's successful operation of the Veggie system aboard the International Space Station (ISS), led to a NASA-FTBG partnership that gave rise to the Growing Beyond Earth STEM Initiative (GBE). Established in 2015, GBE now involves 131 middle and high school classrooms in South Florida, all conducting simultaneous plant science experiments. The results of those experiments (both numeric and visual) are directly shared with the space food production researchers at KSC. Through this session, we will explore the successful classroom implementation and integration into the curriculum, how the data is being used and the impact of the project on participating researchers, teachers, and students. Participating schools were supplied with specialized LED-lit growth chambers, mimicking the Veggie system on ISS, for growing edible plants under similar physical and environmental constraints. Research protocols were provided by KSC scientists, while edible plant varieties were selected mainly by the botanists at FTBG. In a jointly-led professional development workshop, participating teachers were trained to conduct GBE experiments in their classrooms. Teachers were instructed to not only teach basic botany concepts, but to also demonstrate practical applications of math, physics and chemistry. As experiments were underway, students shared data on plant germination, growth, and health in an online spreadsheet. Results from the students research show a promising selection of new plant candidates for possible further testing. Over a two year period, more than 5000 South Florida students, ages 11 to 18, participated in GBE. Evaluation of the program shows an increased knowledge of and interest in science and science careers among students. The program has also boosted the demand for summer high school internships at FTBG, further developing expertise in plant research and science related to space exploration. Supported by a grant from NASA (NNX16AM32G) to Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden.

Veggie↗
NASA NTRS1993

Plasmasphere dynamics in the duskside bulge region: A new look at old topic

Data acquired during several multiday periods in 1982 at ground stations Siple, Halley, and Kerguelen and on satellites Dynamics Explorer 1, International Sun Earth Explorer 1, and GEOS 2 have been used to investigate thermal plasma structure and dynamics in the duskside plasmasphere bulge region of the Earth. The distribution of thermal plasma in the dusk bulge sector is difficult to describe realistically, in part because of the time integral manner in which the thermal plasma distribution depends upon on the effects of bulk cross-B flow and interchange plasma flows along B. While relatively simple MHD models can be useful for qualitatively predicting certain effects of enhanced convection on a quiet plasmasphere, such as an initial sunward entrainment of the outer regions, they are of limited value in predicting the duskside thermal plasma structures that are observed. Furthermore, use of such models can be misleading if one fails to realize that they do not address the question of the formation of the steep plasmapause profile or provide for a possible role of instabilities or other irreversible processes in plasmapause formation. Our specific findings, which are based both upon the present case studies and upon earlier work, include the following: (1) during active periods the plasmasphere appears to become divided into two entities, a main plasmasphere and a duskside bulge region. (2) in the aftermath of an increase in convection activity, the main plasmasphere tends (from a statistical point of view) to become roughly circular in equatorial cross section, with only a slight bulge at dusk; (3) the abrupt westward edge of the duskside bulge observed from whistlers represents a state in the evolution of sunward extending streamers; (4) in the aftermath of a weak magnetic storm, 10 to 30% of the plasma 'removed' from the outer plasmasphere appears to remain in the afternoon-dusk sector beyond the main plasmasphere. (5) outlying dense plasma structures may circulate in the outer duskside magetosphere for many days following an increase in convection, unless there is extremely deep quieting; (6) a day-night plasmatrough boundary may be identified in equatorial satellite data; (7) factor-of-2-to-10 density irregularities appear near the plasmatrough from the ionosphere at L = 4.6, predominantly bidirectional field aligned and equatorially trapped light ion pitch angle distributions give away to a predominantly isotropic distribution (as seen by DE 1) when the plasma density reaches a level a factor of about 3 below the satured plasmasphere level; (9) some outlying dense plasma structures are effectively detached from the main plasmasphere, while others appear to be connected to that body.

Carpenter, D. L.↗
NASA NTRS1975

Skylab explores the earth

During the third manned mission on Skylab, an experiment was conducted by the crewmen to determine what type of earth survey information man could obtain through visual observations and by handheld cameras. More than 850 observations and 2000 photographs were taken for 16 different scientific disciplines. Observations and photographs were taken over the entire range of possible sun angles (twilight to local noon) and viewing angles (high oblique to vertical). Results of the experiment confirm that man's ability to recognize objects and patterns, to integrate his observations over a range of aspects and lighting angles, to reason, and to make selective observations, can bring another dimension to the study of the earth.

Wilmarth, V. R.↗
NASA NTRS1977

Halo orbit station keeping for International Sun-Earth Explorer-C /ISEE-C/

The ISEE-C spacecraft must be kept close to an unstable 'halo' orbit with a series of discrete orbital maneuvers set at intervals at least one month apart. A numerical algorithm has been developed to compute a velocity correction at any point on the trajectory which will minimize the distance between the satellite orbit and the nominal halo path. This algorithm is used to generate a number of station keeping histories with fixed time intervals between maneuvers to ascertain bounds on fuel cost, tightness of fit to nominal path and expected duration between thrust applications. The difference between a third order analytic representation of the halo orbit and a numerically improved nominal path as a reference orbit in the station keeping scheme is investigated as well as the distinction between a tight control and a loose control. A simulation of an operational approach to station keeping is also presented which shows that intermittant propulsive maneuvers can be used to control the spacecraft with very modest fuel expenditure.

Heuberger, H.↗
NASA NTRS1980

Catalog of double lunar swingby orbits for exploring the Earth's geomagnetic tail

Forty three orbits, which are periodic in geocentric reference frames rotating at lunar and at solar rates were found using a patched conic technique. The different orbits provide coverage of different parts of the distant geomagnetic tail. The parameters for 43 sun synchronous double lunar swingby orbits and plots of the sun synchronous double lunar swingby orbits are included.

Dunham, D. W.↗
NASA NTRS1977

Skylab explores the Earth

Data from visual observations are integrated with results of analyses of approxmately 600 of the nearly 2000 photographs taken of Earth during the 84-day Skylab 4 mission to provide additional information on (1) Earth features and processes; (2) operational procedures and constraints in observing and photographing the planet; and (3) the use of man in real-time analysis of oceanic and atmospheric phenomena.

Source record↗
NASA NTRS2013

Space-Inspired Trailers Encourage Exploration on Earth

Architect Garret Finney joined Johnson Space Center's Habitability Design Center to work on creating comfortable, efficiently designed crew quarters for the ISS. Drawing directly on that experience, Finney founded Houston-based Cricket and set about creating unique, versatile recreational trailers that incorporate space habitat principles and features.

Source record↗