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NASA NTRSDate not supplied

New Development Activities at NASA Ames in Reusable TPS Materials

Over the last few years, new activities in rapid, low-cost access to low-earth orbit (LEO) and hypersonic flight have refreshed interest in reusable thermal protection systems (RTPS) that have not had broad application since the Space Shuttle era. Development of novel systems having a greater consideration of full cycle cost (lower cost raw materials, manufacturing, integration, and refurbishment) in addition to improved performance are needed to enable this new generation of space flight. NASA Ames has a long history of RTPS development including invention of flexible blankets such as Advanced Flexible Reusable Surface Insulation (AFRSI), rigid ceramic tiles like Fibrous Refractory Composite Insulation (FRCI) and Alumina Enhanced Thermal Barrier (AETB), and multi-component systems like Toughened Uni-piece Fibrous Reinforced Oxidation-resistant Composite (TUFROC). In much more recent times, NASA Ames is supporting the growing commercial space field through internal research and development efforts for high-risk low TRL materials and collaboration with commercial partners including technology transfer. This talk will discuss the current development efforts that span broadly from updating legacy insulating systems with modern raw materials and processes to totally novel designs for heat pipes with various low-TRL activities in between. It will also discuss Ames’ recent re-investment in experimental capabilities to enable characterization and material testing.

Reusable thermal protection materials↗

NASA NTRSDate not supplied

New Development Activities at NASA Ames in Reusable TPS Materials

Reusable thermal protection materials↗

NASA NTRS2017

Ames Engineering Directorate

The Ames Engineering Directorate is the principal engineering organization supporting aerospace systems and spaceflight projects at NASA's Ames Research Center in California's Silicon Valley. The Directorate supports all phases of engineering and project management for flight and mission projects-from R&D to Close-out-by leveraging the capabilities of multiple divisions and facilities.The Mission Design Center (MDC) has full end-to-end mission design capability with sophisticated analysis and simulation tools in a collaborative concurrent design environment. Services include concept maturity level (CML) maturation, spacecraft design and trades, scientific instruments selection, feasibility assessments, and proposal support and partnerships. The Engineering Systems Division provides robust project management support as well as systems engineering, mechanical and electrical analysis and design, technical authority and project integration support to a variety of programs and projects across NASA centers. The Applied Manufacturing Division turns abstract ideas into tangible hardware for aeronautics, spaceflight and science applications, specializing in fabrication methods and management of complex fabrication projects. The Engineering Evaluation Lab (EEL) provides full satellite or payload environmental testing services including vibration, temperature, humidity, immersion, pressure/altitude, vacuum, high G centrifuge, shock impact testing and the Flight Processing Center (FPC), which includes cleanrooms, bonded stores and flight preparation resources. The Multi-Mission Operations Center (MMOC) is composed of the facilities, networks, IT equipment, software and support services needed by flight projects to effectively and efficiently perform all mission functions, including planning, scheduling, command, telemetry processing and science analysis.

Small Satellites↗

NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Latest Results from NASA Ames’ COSmIC and Optical Constants Facility (OCF): Determining Optical Constants for Titan, Pluto and Protoplanetary Disks Applications

The NASA Ames COsmic SImulation Chamber (COSmIC) is a unique experimental facility that can be used, among many applications, to produce solid particles from gas phase molecular precursors at low temperature (150 K) using a plasma discharge to induce the chemistry in the stream of a free jet expansion. The choice of the initial gas mixture used to produce the solid sample allows the simulation of either cold planetary atmospheres like Titan or Pluto (with N2/CH4-based initial mixtures), or circumstellar environments (with Ar/CxHy-based initial mixtures). The Ames Optical Constants Facility (OCF) allows the determination of optical constants covering a broad wavelength range with high spectral resolution for solid materials, analogs of organic refractory materials formed in planetary and astrophysical environments. The core of the OCF is a Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectrometer that allows the continuous characterization of solid samples in the visible to far-infrared (FIR) range (0.59–200 μm, 16,950–50 cm−1). Modeling of the laboratory measurements conducted with the OCF allows the determination of accurate optical constants, n and k, over the full vis-FIR range. Here we present the latest results of two studies that combined (1) experiments performed with COSmIC to produce analogs of aerosols forming in Titan’s atmosphere and analogs of cosmic grains forming in circumstellar envelops, and (2) the characterization of these analogs with the OCF to provide the real and imaginary parts of their refractive indices, n + ik, to the community, from the visible to the FIR. These optical constants can be used as critical input parameters in radiative transfer, atmospheric and reflectance models to interpret observational data of, e.g., Titan’s atmosphere and protoplanetary disks. Providing optical constants for various materials of different compositions allows to explore a broad range of composition by simulating mixtures of materials. We also present a new project to produce analogs of Pluto’s atmospheric aerosols with COSmIC and determine their optical constants with OCF, to be used in reflectance spectra models for the interpretation of New Horizons observations of Lowell Regio, Sputnik Planitia and Cthulhu.

COsmic SImulation Chamber (COSmIC)↗

DOE OSTI2024

Automatic Multiple Experiment Simulation and Fitting (Ames-Fit)

AMES-Fit is a program used to automatically fit the multi-field solid-state NMR spectra of half-integer quadrupolar nuclei. Due to the high dimensional space, gradient algorithms have failed to address the fitting of such data, which is at present done manually. AMES-Fit diverges from these approaches by using an adaptive step size random search algorithm to fit the NMR spectra to consistently find the global best fit parameters.

Perras, Frederic↗

DOE OSTI2020

ames-market/psst

Python version of the AMES Wholesale Power Market Test Bed; no GUI. Previously hosted by Iowa State University; PNNL has assumed hosting. AMES existed in a non-version controlled and inconsistent form. PNNL added price-sensitive loads for transactive systems, with various other bug fixes and features.

McDermott, Tom↗

NASA NTRS1978

V/STOL aircraft simulation - Requirements and capabilities at Ames Research Center

Ground-based flight simulation contributes greatly to the development of new aircraft and flight management systems and will be especially important in improving the performance, safety, and environmental characteristics of future civil and military V/STOL aircraft. This paper describes existing simulation facilities at Ames Research Center and discusses their capabilities and limitations for V/STOL aircraft investigations. Simulation requirements for NASA research and support of DOD programs are also discussed, including technology development for advanced rotorcraft and civil and military V/STOL aircraft. Current efforts and future plans are described for the upgrading of Ames simulation facilities to meet those requirements. Recent advances in equipment technology and operational methodology are shown to provide significantly improved simulation fidelity through better motion and visual cues and faster system response to pilot inputs.

Wilcox, D. E.↗

NASA NTRS1982

Comparison of acoustic data from a 102 mm conic nozzle as measured in the RAE 24-foot wind tunnel and the NASA Ames 40- by 80-foot wind tunnel

A cooperative program between the Royal Aircraft Establishment (RAE), England, and the NASA Ames Research Center was initiated to compare acoustic measurements made in the RAE 24-foot wind tunnel and in the Ames 40- by 80-foot wind tunnel. The acoustic measurements were made in both facilities using the same 102 mm conical nozzle supplied by the RAE. The nozzle was tested by each organization using its respective jet test rig. The mounting hardware and nozzle exit conditions were matched as closely as possible. The data from each wind tunnel were independently analyzed by the respective organization. The results from these tests show good agreement. In both facilities, interference with acoustic measurement is evident at angles in the forward quadrant.

Atencio, A., Jr.↗

NASA NTRS1982

Energy Remote Sensing Applications Projects at the NASA Ames Research Center

The NASA Ames Research Center is active in energy projects primarily in the role of providing assistance to users in the solution of a number of problems related to energy. Data bases were produced which can be used, in combination with other sources of information, to solve spatially related energy problems. Six project activities at Ames are described which relate to energy and remote sensing. Two projects involve power demand forecasting and estimations using remote sensing and geographic information systems; two others involve transmission line routing and corridor analysis; one involves a synfuel user needs assessment through remote sensing; and the sixth involves the siting of energy facilities.

Norman, S. D.↗

NASA NTRS1984

A summary of rotorcraft handling qualities research at NASA Ames Research Center

The objectives of the rotorcraft handling qualities research program at Ames Research Center are twofold: (1) to develop basic handling qualities design criteria to permit cost effective design decisions to be made for helicopters, and (2) to obtain basic handling qualities data for certification of new rotorcraft configurations. The research on the helicopter handling qualities criteria has focused primarily on military nap-of-the-earth (NOE) terrain flying missions, which are flown in day visual meteorological conditions (VMC) and instrument meteorological conditions (IMC), or at night. The Army has recently placed a great deal of emphasis on terrain flying tactics in order to survive and effectively complete the missions in modern and future combat environments. Unfortunately, the existing Military Specification MIL-H 8501A which is a 1961 update of a 1951 document, does not address the handling qualities requirements for terrain flying. The research effort is therefore aimed at filling the void and is being conducted jointly with the Army Aeromechanics Laboratory at Ames. The research on rotorcraft airworthiness standards with respect to flying qualities requirements was conducted to collaboration with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

Chen, R. T.↗

NASA NTRS1984

A laser velocimeter system for the Ames 40- by 80-foot and 80by 120-foot wind tunnels

A unique laser velocimeter has been developed that is capable of sensing two orthogonal velocity components from a variable remote distance of 2.6 to 10 m for use in the Ames 40- by 80-Foot and 80- by 120-Foot wind tunnels, as well as in the Ames Outdoor Aerodynamic Research Facility. The system hardware, positioning instrumentation, and data acquisition equipment are described in detail. System capabilities and limitations are discussed, and expressions for systematic and statistical accuracy are developed. Direct and coupled laboratory measurements of a turbulent swirling flow are compared with measurements taken with a laser velocimeter of higher spatial resolution. Sample measurements taken in the open-circuit exhaust flow of the 80- by 120-Foot Wind Tunnel 1/50-scale model are presented.

Reinath, M. S.↗

NASA NTRS1985

Flight flutter testing at Ames-Dryden

Over the past several years the NASA Ames-Dryden Flight Research Facility at Edwards Air Force Base has developed a variety of flight flutter and ground test techniques which have been applied to an assortment of new or modified aerospace research vehicles. This paper presents a summary of these techniques and the experiences gained from these applications. Topics discussed include the roles of ground vibration testing, flight flutter testing, wind tunnel flutter model testing, predictive analyses, and aeroservoelastic considerations. Data are presented for a wide variety of aircraft, including remotely piloted vehicles, modern fighters with relaxed static stability and highly augmented flight control systems, aircraft modified for laminar flow control experiments, a glider modified for deep stall tests, and aircraft with skewed or forward swept wings. The conclusions include a brief discussion of future directions in flight flutter testing at Ames-Dryden.

Felt, L. R.↗

NASA NTRS1987

A static data flow simulation study at Ames Research Center

Demands in computational power, particularly in the area of computational fluid dynamics (CFD), led NASA Ames Research Center to study advanced computer architectures. One architecture being studied is the static data flow architecture based on research done by Jack B. Dennis at MIT. To improve understanding of this architecture, a static data flow simulator, written in Pascal, has been implemented for use on a Cray X-MP/48. A matrix multiply and a two-dimensional fast Fourier transform (FFT), two algorithms used in CFD work at Ames, have been run on the simulator. Execution times can vary by a factor of more than 2 depending on the partitioning method used to assign instructions to processing elements. Service time for matching tokens has proved to be a major bottleneck. Loop control and array address calculation overhead can double the execution time. The best sustained MFLOPS rates were less than 50% of the maximum capability of the machine.

Barszcz, Eric↗

NASA NTRS1987

Some innovations and accomplishments of Ames Research Center since its inception

The innovations and accomplishments of Ames Research Center from 1940 through 1966 are summarized and illustrated. It should be noted that a number of accomplishments were begun at the NASA Dryden Flight Research Facility before that facility became part of the Ames Research Center. Such accomplishments include the first supersonic flight, the first hypersonic flight, the lunar landing research vehicle, and the first digital fly-by-wire aircraft.

Source record↗

NASA NTRS1989

Summary of proceedings of the first meeting of the NASA Ames Simulator Sickness Steering Committee

A program of research to investigate simulator induced sickness has recently been initiated under the sponsorship of NASA Ames Research Center to coordinate efforts to investigate and eventually eliminate the problem of simulator sickness. As part of this program, a Simulator Sickness Steering Committee has been assembled, comprised of eighteen representatives from the Army, Air Force, Navy, NASA, NATO, academia, and industry. The proceedings of the first meeting of the NASA Ames Simulator Sickness Steering Committee are summarized and discussed.

Hettinger, Lawrence J.↗

NASA NTRS1993

Study of optical techniques for the Ames unitary wind tunnel, part 7

A summary of optical techniques for the Ames Unitary Plan wind tunnels are discussed. Six optical techniques were studied: Schlieren, light sheet and laser vapor screen, angle of attack, model deformation, infrared imagery, and digital image processing. The study includes surveys and reviews of wind tunnel optical techniques, some conceptual designs, and recommendations for use of optical methods in the Ames Unitary Plan wind tunnels. Particular emphasis was placed on searching for systems developed for wind tunnel use and on commercial systems which could be readily adapted for wind tunnels. This final report is to summarize the major results and recommendations.

Lee, George↗

NASA NTRS1992

Arc jet testing in NASA Ames Research Center thermophysics facilities

The Arc Jet Complex facilities at NASA Ames and their performance capabilities and support systems are presented. An overview of the typical testing procedures is provided. Attention is focused on a basic understanding of the types of facilities available at Ames for aerothermodynamic testing.

Balter-Peterson, Aliza↗

NASA NTRS1993

Eddy mixing coefficient values derived from simulations with the NASA Ames Mars GCM

Values of eddy mixing coefficients, especially that for vertical mixing, are of particular importance for various photochemical models of the Mars atmosphere, which are either globally or zonally averaged. These models represent atmospheric transport processes in terms of eddy diffusion. While this is not appropriate for the advective transport by the mean meridional circulation (in general, a part of the eddy diffusion tensor actually does represent advection--a 'correction' to the Eulerian-mean circulation), it can be applied to simulate both the small- and larger-scale eddy transports of an atmospheric constituent. An effort is underway to estimate values of the eddy mixing coefficients for the Mars atmosphere using circulation data generated with the NASA Ames Mars GCM. This model simulates the three-dimensional winds in the atmosphere, and these are then used as inputs for a tracer transport model. The latter model has previously been used in interactive dust transport experiments with the Ames GCM. Idealized tracer transport experiments, with a conservative or nearly conservative hypothetical tracer, are performed to generate data from which the eddy diffusion coefficients can be estimated. Carrying out matched pairs of tracer experiments, using two very different initial states, permits all four components of the diffusion tensor to be determined. A large number of GCM experiments have been conducted, spanning a range of seasons and atmospheric dust loading, allowing the eddy mixing coefficients to be estimated for a variety of atmospheric conditions.

Barnes, J. R.↗