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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 NTRS1988

NASA Office of Space Sciences and Applications study on Space Station attached payload pointing

A study has been conducted to determine the articulated-pointing requirements of a suite of instruments carried by the NASA Space Station, and define a pointing system architecture accomodating those requirements. It is found that these pointing requirements are sufficiently exacting, and the Space Station's disturbance environment sufficiently severe, to preclude the successful use of a conventional gimbal-pointing system; a gimbaled system incorporating an isolation stage is judged capable of furnishing the requisite levels of pointing performance.

Laskin, R. A.↗
NASA NTRS1990

Space Station Freedom attached payloads and commercialization

NASA's Space Station Freedom (SSF) attaches external payloads to its main truss structure via Attached Payload Accommodation Equipment (APAE); this equipment also provides access to such SSF resources as electrical power, command/control, and data handling. In orbit, APAE payloads are installed and maintained by a teleoperated robot or by an astronaut in EVA. Commercialization of EPAE will be accomplished by private companies concerned with the development of materials processing, earth resources and ocean resources monitoring, telecommunications, and industrial services. Attention is given to APAE user-integration activity.

Furio, N.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Conceptual design of pointing control systems for space station gimballed payloads

A conceptual design of the control system for Payload Pointing Systems (PPS) is developed using classic Proportional-Integral-Derivatives (PID) techniques. The major source of system pointing error is due to the disturbance-rich environment of the space station in the form of gimbal baseplate motions. These baseplate vibrations are characterized using Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) techniques. Both time domain and frequency domain dynamic models are developed to assess control system performance. Three basic methods exist for the improvement of PPS pointing performance: increase control system bandwidth, add Image Motion Compensation, and/or reduce (or change) the baseplate disturbance environment.

Hughes, Robert O.↗
NASA NTRS1986

SOT: A rapid prototype using TAE windows

The development of the window interface extension feature of the Transportable Applications Executive (TAE) is discussed. This feature is being used to prototype a space station payload interface in order to demonstrate and assess the benefits of using windows on a bit mapped display and also to convey the concept of telescience, the control and operation of space station payloads from remote sites. The prototype version of the TAE with windows operates on a DEC VAXstation 100. This workstation has a high resolution 19 inch bit mapped display, a keyboard and a three-button mouse. The VAXstation 100 is not a stand-alone workstation, but is controlled by software executing on a VAX/8600. A short scenario was developed utilizing the Solar Optical Telescope (SOT) as an example payload. In the scenario the end-user station includes the VAXstation 100 plus an image analysis terminal used to display the CCD images. The layout and use of the prototype elements, i.e., the root menu, payload status window, and target acquisition menu is described.

Stephens, Mark↗
NASA NTRS2015

Achieving Operational Two-Way Laser Acquisition for OPALS Payload on the International Space Station

The Optical PAyload for Lasercomm Science (OPALS) experiment was installed on the International Space Station (ISS) in April 2014. Developed as a technology demonstration, its objective was to experiment with space-to-ground optical communications transmissions from Low Earth Orbit. More than a dozen successful optical links were established between a Wrightwood, California-based ground telescope and the OPALS flight terminal from June 2014 to September 2014. Each transmission required precise bi-directional pointing to be maintained between the space-based transmitter and ground-based receiver. This was accomplished by acquiring and tracking a laser beacon signal transmitted from the ground telescope to the OPALS flight terminal on the ISS. OPALS demonstrated the ability to nominally acquire the beacon within three seconds at 25deg elevation and maintain lock within 140 μrad (3(sigma)) for the full 150-second transmission duration while slewing at rates up to 1deg/sec. Additional acquisition attempts in low elevation and weather-challenged conditions provided valuable insight on the optical link robustness under off-nominal operational conditions.

optical communications↗
NASA NTRS2003

An Overview of the Process for Pre-Launch Checkout and Transition Activities in Support of the International Space Station (ISS) Payload Operations Integration Center

The objective of this paper is to provide future ISS scientists and/or engineers with an overview of the coordination process for the preparation and implementation of the pre-launch checkout and transition activities as observed from the Marshall Control Flight Center (MSFC) Payload Operations Integration Center perspective. This includes 4 major phases: (1) Verification and validation of the new command and telemetry databases that are needed for new payload experiments and new onboard formats; (2) Integration testing of the new ground control software and hardware; (3) Final internal and external pre-launch checkouts with cadre and experiment teams; (4) Performance of the actual synchronized transition between MSFC, Johnson Space Center (JSC), and ISS onboard configuration to new onboard software, ground software, and databases.

Digesu, Sam↗
NASA NTRS1988

Coordinated study of Solar-Terrestrial Observatory (STO) payloads on space station

Since the publication of the final report of the science study group in October 1984 on the Solar Terrestrial Observatory (STO), its science goals and objectives have been clearly defined and a conceptual design and analysis was carried out by MSFC/NASA. Plans for the possible placing of the STO aboard the Space Station were made. A series of meetings for the STO science study group were held to review the instruments to be placed on the initial STO at Space Station IOC, and the placement of these instruments on the manned space station, polar platform, and the co-orbiting platform. A summary of these initial STO instruments is presented in Section 2. A brief description of the initial plan for the placement of STO instruments is included in Section 3. Finally, in Section 4, the scenario for the operation of the STO is discussed. These results were obtained from the report of the Solar Terrestrial Observatory mini-workshop held at MSFC on 6 June 1985.

Wu, S. T.↗
NASA NTRS2002

The Console in A Briefcase: An Approach to Remote Space Operations

The CIAB (Console in a Briefcase) is conceived as an ISS (International Space Station) Payload Operations remote console that would run via an Internet connection, consisting of components (primarily a laptop PC) that fit into a briefcase, and intended for use from home in an 'on call' scenario. The primary purpose of the CIAB project is to verify that the technology and tools exist to support remote-access payload operations for the International Space Station (ISS) and to build, test, and demonstrate a prototype system. The project can potentially provide cost savings and increased morale to the space operations community by reducing demands on staff. Also, the CIAB project provides a vehicle for examining innovative concepts pertaining to Mission Planning software tools that have potential benefits beyond just the immediate needs of remote access. To date we have implemented and tested the basic capability. Current research is focused on reducing bandwidth demands via the adoption of innovative software solutions. Research into current Internet connectivity and bandwidth is also being pursued.

Heaton, Andy F.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Astrophysical payload accommodation on the space station

Surveys of potential space station astrophysics payload requirements and existing point mount design concepts were performed to identify potential design approaches for accommodating astrophysics instruments from space station. Most existing instrument pointing systems were designed for operation from the space shuttle and it is unlikely that they will sustain their performance requirements when exposed to the space station disturbance environment. The technology exists or is becoming available so that precision pointing can be provided from the space station manned core. Development of a disturbance insensitive pointing mount is the key to providing a generic system for space station. It is recommended that the MSFC Suspended Experiment Mount concept be investigated for use as part of a generic pointing mount for space station. Availability of a shirtsleeve module for instrument change out, maintenance and repair is desirable from the user's point of view. Addition of a shirtsleeve module on space station would require a major program commitment.

Woods, B. P.↗
NASA NTRS1990

Evolution of Spacelab payload operations to Space Station Freedom

NASA's Office of Space Science and Applications is actively involved in the development of operational concepts and data infrastructures which will be integrated to maximize the effectiveness of Space Station Freedom (SSF) payloads. Spacelab is noted to furnish an excellent 'experience base' for SFF activities. The SSF operations/data systems will be adaptable with respect to changes in payload manifests, in facility/apparatus complexity, and in implementing technologies; they will also be capable of flexibly accommodating the expanding needs of a highly variegated community of scientific users. Flowcharts are presented for the SSF payload operations concept, its flight operational data flows, and a data-flow growth concept.

Golden, H.↗
NASA NTRS2004

EXPRESS Pallet Payload Interface Requirements

A viewgraph presentation describing the EXPRESS Pallet Space Station payload interface requirements is shown. The topics include: 1) External Payload Sites; 2) EXPRESS Pallet with Six Payload Envelopes; 3) EXPRESS Pallet in Payload Bay Representative Layout; 4) EXPRESS Pallet Installation SSRMS positions pallet for PAS mating on S3 truss; 5) EXPRESS Pallet Major Components; 6) EXPRESS Pallet Adapter; 7) EXPRESS Pallet Center Location Payload Envelope; 8) Envelope Restriction for EXPRESS Pallet Corner Payload Locations; 9) EXPRESS Pallet-PAS Truss Configuration; and 10) EXPRESS Pallet Payload Services and Specifications.

Holt, Alan C.↗
NASA NTRS1989

Launch site payload test configurations for Space Shuttle scientific payloads

This paper provides an overview of the test configurations which are utilized in prelaunch testing at the John F. Kennedy Space Center (KSC) for those scientific payloads which are flown in the National Space Transportation System (NSTS) Space Shuttle. A generalized view of the payload prelaunch processing is provided and the major types of payload configurations are described. The majority of the prelaunch test activity involves the verification of experiment functions, compatibility of experiment-to-carrier interfaces and payload-to-orbiter interfaces. The Shuttle's avionics system is presented as it relates to payloads. The testing of Spacelab experiments and the experiment-to-Spacelab compatibility verification is described as is the test activity for partial payloads and their experiments. Test operations which involve simulated orbiter interface verification and actual payload-to-orbiter testing are discussed. An overview of the Space Station payload processing concept is presented.

Schuiling, Roelof L.↗
NASA NTRS1992

Payload isolation and stabilization by a Suspended Experiment Mount (SEM)

Many Space Shuttle and Space Station payloads can benefit from isolation from crew or attitude control system disturbances. Preliminary studies have been performed for a Suspended Experiment Mount (SEM) system that will provide isolation from accelerations and stabilize the viewing direction of a payload. The concept consists of a flexible suspension system and payload-mounted control moment gyros. The suspension system, which is rigidly locked for ascent and descent, isolates the payload from high frequency disturbances. The control moment gyros stabilize the payload orientation. The SEM will be useful for payloads that require a lower-g environment than a manned vehicle can provide, such as materials processing, and for payloads that require stabilization of pointing direction, but not large angle slewing, such as nadir-viewing earth observation or solar viewing payloads.

Bailey, Wayne L.↗
NASA NTRS1987

Space Station accommodation of attached payloads

The Attached Payload Accommodation Equipment (APAE), which provides the structure to attach payloads to the Space Station truss assembly, to access Space Station resources, and to orient payloads relative to specified targets, is described. The main subelements of the APAE include a station interface adapter, payload interface adapter, subsystem support module, contamination monitoring system, payload pointing system, and attitude determination system. These components can be combined to provide accommodations for small single payloads, small multiple payloads, large self-supported payloads, carrier-mounted payloads, and articulated payloads. The discussion also covers the power, thermal, and data/communications subsystems and operations.

Browning, Ronald K.↗