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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 883 records · Page 49
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1981

Thunderstorm hazards flight research - Program overview

The NASA thunderstorm hazards research program, designed to study the effects of lightning strikes on the design and operation of aircraft, is described. An all-weather F-106B is instrumented to document the EM characteristics of direct and nearby strikes, measure the field parameters and analyze the ambient atmospheric content, and film the strikes; X-ray detectors are also on board, along with instrumentation for determining the frequency of visible light waveforms. Data is either recorded on-board or sent by telemetry to base, while ground based telemetry is used to direct the pilot and craft into regions of optimal lightning activity. The sensing apparatus is described, and ongoing programs to correlate different storm parameters are reviewed, along with operational procedures and safety precautions. Continued use of the craft through 152 storms and 16 direct hits, with no fatalities or circuit breaker throw, confirms the ability of metal skinned aircraft to withstand lightning strikes; data gathered from flights during 1980 are provided.

Deal, P. L.↗
NASA NTRS1967

Astronautics and Aeronautics, 1966

At the opening of the tenth year in the era of man’s mobility in outer space, we can look back on 1966 as offering convincing evidence that the United States had gained great competence. This evidence included: five orbital space flights by ten Gemini astronauts; four lunar missions undertaking the orbiting of and soft landing on the moon; numerous contributions to scientific knowledge by unmanned spacecraft and sounding rockets; and further demonstrations of the practical utility of operational space systems, including weather and communications satellites. During 1966, a record 100 American spacecraft were placed into earth orbit or on escape trajectories. Thousands of revealing and useful pictures of the earth were taken from space and of the moon from lunar orbit and on its surface. The Gemini program ended with rendezvous and docking experiments and extravehicular activity by the Gemini test pilots as the Apollo R&D test flights leading to the manned lunar mission came into the schedule. Thirty-five major scientific, technological, and operational milestones were cited for 1966 by the President in his Report to the Congress on aeronautical and space activities of the United States. This was one measure of the American commitment to share in the peaceful exploration of space for all mankind. Another was our support of the final steps toward a United Nations space treaty, undertaken to ensure that the peaceful exploitation of space had juridical basis in international law. Spectacular as some events in the space venture were in 1966, they nonetheless came to have diminished novelty in the eyes of many laymen. The multitude of both important and unspectacular space activities attained almost an accepted and routine place. This volume, as well as its predecessor chronicles, offers a ready reference on the major as well as the less-well known events. Beyond the welter of documented details on the complex nature of aeronautical and space related events and their impact, this volume helps to provide a better perspective upon today as we contemplate tomorrow. Such intent also serves future historians and analysts who cannot be unmindful of what is herein presented. When the Congress created the National Aeronautics and Space Administration in 1958, it charged NASA with the responsibility to “contribute materially to . . . the expansion of human knowledge of phenomena in the atmosphere and space’’ and to “provide for the widest practical and appropriate dissemination of information concerning its activities and results thereof.” NASA has attempted to do this and to include documentation for the historical record. The relating of NASA history begins with this day-by day chronicle and leads to more specialized studies and histories of the unprecedented task of extending man’s mobility and understanding beyond his planet. While a chronology cannot in itself serve as a full-fledged history, the size of this annual volume alone is illustrative of the scope and complexity of the historical task yet to be completed as memories fade and the records disappear.

SPACE PROBE↗
NASA NTRS2019

Advancing the Standards for Unmanned Air System Communications, Navigation and Surveillance

Under NASA program NNA16BD84C, new architectures were identified and developed for supporting reliable and secure Communications, Navigation and Surveillance (CNS) needs for Unmanned Air Systems (UAS) operating in both controlled and uncontrolled airspace. An analysis of architectures for the two categories of airspace and an implementation technology readiness analysis were performed. These studies produced NASA reports that have been made available in the public domain and have been briefed in previous conferences. We now consider how the products of the study are influencing emerging directions in the aviation standards communities. The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Communications Panel (CP), Working Group I (WG-I) is currently developing a communications network architecture known as the Aeronautical Telecommunications Network with Internet Protocol Services (ATN/IPS). The target use case for this service is secure and reliable Air Traffic Management (ATM) for manned aircraft operating in controlled airspace. However, the work is more and more also considering the emerging class of airspace users known as Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS), which refers to certain UAS classes. In addition, two Special Committees (SCs) in the Radio Technical Commission for Aeronautics (RTCA) are developing Minimum Aviation System Performance Standards (MASPS) and Minimum Operational Performance Standards (MOPS) for UAS. RTCA SC-223 is investigating an Internet Protocol Suite (IPS) and AeroMACS aviation data link for interoperable (INTEROP) UAS communications. Meanwhile, RTCA SC-228 is working to develop Detect And Avoid (DAA) equipment and a Command and Control (C2) Data Link MOPS establishing LBand and C-Band solutions. These RTCA Special Committees along with ICAO CP WG/I are therefore overlapping in terms of the Communication, Navigation and Surveillance (CNS) alternatives they are seeking to provide for an integrated manned- and unmanned air traffic management service as well as remote pilot command and control. This paper presents UAS CNS architecture concepts developed under the NASA program that apply to all three of the aforementioned committees. It discusses the similarities and differences in the problem spaces under consideration in each committee, and considers the application of a common set of CNS alternatives that can be widely applied. As the works of these committees progress, it is clear that the overlap will need to be addressed to ensure a consistent and safe framework for worldwide aviation. In this study, we discuss similarities and differences in the various operational models and show how the CNS architectures developed under the NASA program apply.

Ponchak, Denise S.↗
DOE OSTI2015

ADX: a high field, high power density, advanced divertor and RF tokamak

The MIT Plasma Science and Fusion Center and collaborators are proposing a high-performance Advanced Divertor and RF tokamak eXperiment (ADX) – a tokamak specifically designed to address critical gaps in the world fusion research program on the pathway to next step devices: fusion nuclear science facility (FNSF), fusion pilot plant (FPP), and/or demonstration power plant (DEMO). This high field (≥ 6.5 tesla, 1.5 MA), high power density facility (P/S ~ 1.5 MW/m2) will test innovative divertor ideas, including an ‘X-point target divertor’ concept, at the required performance parameters – reactor-level boundary plasma pressures, magnetic field strengths and parallel heat flux densities entering into the divertor region – while simultaneously producing high performance core plasma conditions that are prototypical of a reactor: equilibrated electrons and ions, regimes with low or no torque, and no fueling from external heating and current drive systems. Equally important, the experimental platform will test innovative concepts for lower hybrid current drive (LHCD) and ion-cyclotron range of frequency (ICRF) actuators with the unprecedented ability to deploy launch structures both on the lowmagnetic- field side and the high-magnetic-field side – the latter being a location where energetic plasma-material interactions can be controlled and favorable RF wave physics leads to efficient current drive, current profile control, heating and flow drive. This triple combination – advanced divertors, advanced RF actuators, reactor-prototypical core plasma conditions – will enable ADX to explore enhanced core confinement physics, such as made possible by reversed central shear, using only the types of external drive systems that are considered viable for a fusion power plant. Such an integrated demonstration of high-performance core-divertor operation with steady state sustainment would pave the way toward an attractive pilot plant, as envisioned in the ARC concept (Affordable, Robust, Compact) [B. N. Sorbom, et al., submitted to Fusion Engineering Design, 2014] that makes use of high-temperature superconductor technology – a high-field (9.25 tesla) tokamak the size of the Joint European Torus that produces 270 MW of net electricity.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2020

Inner Engineering Practices and Advanced 4-day Isha Yoga Retreat Are Associated with Cannabimimetic Effects with Increased Endocannabinoids and Short-Term and Sustained Improvement in Mental Health: A Prospective Observational Study of Meditators

Anxiety and depression are common in the modern world, and there is growing demand for alternative therapies such as meditation. Meditation can decrease perceived stress and increase general well-being, although the physiological mechanism is not well-characterized. Endocannabinoids (eCBs), lipid mediators associated with enhanced mood and reduced anxiety/depression, have not been previously studied as biomarkers of meditation effects. Our aim was to assess biomarkers (eCBs and brain-derived neurotrophic factor [BDNF]) and psychological parameters after a meditation retreat. Methods. This was an observational pilot study of adults before and after the 4-day Isha Yoga Bhava Spandana Program retreat. Participants completed online surveys (before and after retreat, and 1 month later) to assess anxiety, depression, focus, well-being, and happiness through validated psychological scales. Voluntary blood sampling for biomarker studies was done before and within a day after the retreat. The biomarkers anandamide, 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG), 1-arachidonoylglycerol (1-AG), docosatetraenoylethanolamide (DEA), oleoylethanolamide (OLA), and BDNF were evaluated. Primary outcomes were changes in psychological scales, as well as changes in eCBs and BDNF. Results. Depression and anxiety scores decreased while focus, happiness, and positive well-being scores increased immediately after retreat from their baseline values (P < 0.001). All improvements were sustained 1 month after BSP. All major eCBs including anandamide, 2-AG, 1-AG, DEA, and BDNF increased after meditation by > 70% (P < 0.001). Increases of ≥20% in anandamide, 2-AG, 1-AG, and total AG levels after meditation from the baseline had weak correlations with changes in happiness and well-being. Conclusions. A short meditation experience improved focus, happiness, and positive well-being and reduced depression and anxiety in participants for at least 1 month. Participants had increased blood eCBs and BDNF, suggesting a role for these biomarkers in the underlying mechanism of meditation. Meditation is a simple, organic, and effective way to improve well-being and reduce depression and anxiety.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2017

Commercially Scalable Process to Fabricate Porous Silicon

Navitas Advanced Solutions Group proposes a novel, commercially scalable approach to supply microporous silicon (μpSi) to lithium ion battery manufacturers. If successful, this project will result in a significant reduction in the cost and environmental impact of high capacity anodes that are needed to meet the EV Everywhere battery goals. Silicon nanocomposite materials have been identified as a viable anode technology for EV batteries. Presently, high capacity silicon-based anodes rely either on materials that are expensive (e. g., silane or nano-silicon powder) or on processes that are limited by low yield methods (e.g., chemical vapor deposition). Microporous silicon potentially avoids these limitations and is attracting increasing attention as a lower cost alternative for the manufacture of high capacity silicon-based anodes. Microporous silicon suitable for EV batteries is not currently available as a commodity material. Microporous silicon can be produced at lab scale through a metal catalyzed hydrofluoric acid etching process. However, this process is expensive and hazardous. Our proposed production route will facilitate the availability of μpSi to lithium ion battery producers and developers at a scale and cost able to support EV battery production. Under the Vehicle Technologies FOA AOI 4 seeks Advances in Existing and Next-Generation Battery Material Manufacturing to reduce the cost of EV batteries. The EV Everywhere initiative establishes a goal of $100/kWh system level cost for an EV battery. This cost target can be met with moderate risk through pairing silicon-based high capacity anodes with lithium metal-rich nickel manganese cobalt oxide 'LMR-NMC' cathodes. For this set of assumptions, the silicon anode active material cost would need to be <$25/kg. The Navitas µpSi powder manufacturing process will reach this target through a combination of low-cost commodity raw materials and reactants with scalable and low environmental impact processes. Processing will involve mechanical milling and thermal reduction operations that are in wide application at industrial scale. The goal of this program is to reach most or all of the MRL 6 criteria in a pilot scale demonstration for the manufacturing of porous silicon powder, while minimizing raw material added cost and limiting hazardous and environmental impact and using scalable industrial processing (i.e. mechanical milling, thermal reduction). The Navitas μpSi fabrication process represents a novel approach to reduce the cost of silicon anode material manufacturing. This process has been shown to be more efficient (higher yield) and economical on scaling up than conventional metal-assisted etching. The process significantly reduces the cost on $/mAh basis versus existing anode materials. The μpSi powders can be modified to form nanocomposite structures through blending with graphite or coating with carbon or a metal oxide to decrease initial capacity loss (ICL) and improve cell cycle life, a key barrier to adoption of silicon anodes into EV batteries. The impact of this technology will be driven by the projected rate of EV adoption and market share. By reducing battery cost, the proposed technology will stimulate EV adoption rate. Assuming this technology enables capturing an additional 6% of the present PHEV + EV market the reduction in petroleum consumption would be 90,000 gallons of gasoline per day, or 1.6M barrels per year. The carbon emissions from a gallon of gasoline = 2.4 kg/gallon. Thus, if the proposed technology was incorporated into just 0.1% of all new vehicles produced and if all the electricity to power those electric-drive vehicles was produced from clean, renewable sources such as wind and solar, it would result in 15K metric tons/yr reduction of CO2 emissions.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗
DOE OSTI2018

Final Technical Report

The goal of this project was to cut the per-wafer equipment cost for PECVD by more than 50% by adopting a Gen 8.5 thin-film manufacturing toolset originally developed for the LCD industry, significantly reducing the total capital-cost, cost-of-capital and wafer-to-cell production cost associated with HVM of Triex cells. Since PECVD is a common process step for many advanced Si PV cells, successful implementation of this device will broad-reaching implications across the domestic PV manufacturing industry. As a domestic PV manufacturing company in a challenging market, Silevo must focus our existing private funding and revenues on developing low-risk, short-term evolutionary improvements to our existing products and manufacturing process for scale-up. As such, without DOE funding, progress toward developing the high-impact manufacturing process described here, will not occur. However, this program leveraged more than $100M in past investment to develop this product and pilot-scale process tool, as well as significant funding that is being deployed to build our 200MW manufacturing plant in NY. With DOE funding, our proposed Gen 8.5 PECVD tool will reduce the CapEx cost associated with this expansion by 29%, allowing us to increase the scale of the Phase 2 facility to 550MW at the same level of investment as our current plan of record. Once this project is complete, all future funding needed to deploy this technology will come from private sources (product revenue and private finance), with no need for future government funding.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2020

Putting Data to Work (Final Technical Report)

The Putting Data to Work project was designed to pilot and summarize the use of building energy performance data to improve energy efficiency program design and delivery in DC and NYC. By doing this, the project aimed to expand the market for energy efficiency in multifamily and commercial buildings by producing a toolkit of resources for other jurisdictions to replicate the successes found in the project cities.

30 DIRECT ENERGY CONVERSION↗
DOE OSTI2024

NSTX-U liquid metal core-edge facility (LMCE)

NSTX-U/LMCE will provide a unique and world-leading research facility to address the primary challenge to delivering economic and timely magnetic fusion energy, namely the need to develop a power and particle exhaust and first-wall system that can withstand very high edge heat fluxes, maximize energy confinement, and avoid the production of large masses of solid eroded first-wall material. The NSTX-U/LMCE facility will assess the ability of liquid metals (LMs) – especially liquid lithium – to provide a new boundary condition for magnetic fusion systems, to extend the lifetime of the plasma facing components (PFCs) and improve core plasma confinement. Such capability is needed to establish the basis for next-step fusion facilities including fusion pilot plants, and to maintain U.S. world leadership in core-edge integration research. NSTX-U/LMCE will leverage the ability to generate very high divertor perpendicular heat flux q⊥ ~ 100MW/m 2 , extensive diagnostics, and liquid-metal-applicable infrastructure of NSTX-U. NSTX-U/LMCE will provide access to a high-confinement plasma core with majority self-driven plasma current, the flexibility to test a range of liquid metal divertor concepts, access to a range of separatrix collisionalities (from high to very low), and the ability to controllably vary the first-wall temperature to vary the plasma- wall interaction physics on liquid lithium components. Further, NSTX-U/LMCE will utilize more reactor-relevant high-Z refractory-metal PFC substrates. With these capabilities the NSTX-U/LMCE facility will explore the full continuum of core-edge solutions ranging from high core radiated power, to conditions with radiative losses concentrated in the scrape-off layer (SOL), and ultimately low recycling conditions. The low collisionality SOL that may be accessible in the low recycling regime is relatively unexplored and will require a kinetic treatment of the edge, which can be addressed theoretically, and with experiments in LTX-β. Additional smaller-scale preparatory R&D facilities will be required to reduce the risk of premature technical/engineering failure of liquid metal systems implemented in NSTX-U. The NSTX-U/LMCE facility aligns very well with recommendations in the FESAC Long-Range Plan and NASEM Pilot Plant reports and the Bold Decadal Vision, will be unique in the world program throughout the next decade, and is garnering private company interest in utilizing NSTX-U/LMCE for development of LM PFCs.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2024

NSTX-U – A national User Facility to close the key fusion gaps

This presentation lays out how the NSTX-U Research Program will help close the science and technology gaps for moving towards a Fusion Pilot Plant (FPP) and how this work is aligned with the Bold Decadal Vision. The science gap focuses on determining whether the good confinement trends in Spherical Tokamaks extends to lower collisionalities that are comparable to those expected in FPPs. The technology gap is one of mitigating the power exhaust in FPPs, and NSTX-U is uniquely positioned to test Liquid Metal components in the highest heat flux environment of any existing tokamak, spherical or otherwise.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
NASA NTRS1976

Results of recent NASA studies on automatic spin prevention for fighter aircraft

A broad based research program was developed to eliminate or minimize inadvertent spins for advanced military aircraft. Recent piloted simulator studies and airplane flight tests have demonstrated that the automatic control systems in use on current fighters can be tailored to provide a high degree of spin resistance for some configurations without restrictions to maneuverability. Such systems result in greatly increased tactical effectiveness, safety, and pilot confidence.

Chambers, J. R.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Transport aircraft flying qualities activities

The optimal control model for pilot vehicle systems was used to develop a methodology for predicting pilot ratings for commercial transports. The method was tested by applying it to a family of transport configurations for which subjective pilot ratings were obtained. Specific attention is given to the development of the simulator program and procedures so as to yield objective and subjective performance data useful for a critical evaluation of the analytical method.

Moul, M. T.↗
NASA NTRS1983

Simulation of a weather radar display for over-water airborne radar approaches

Airborne radar approach (ARA) concepts are being investigated as a part of NASA's Rotorcraft All-Weather Operations Research Program on advanced guidance and navigation methods. This research is being conducted using both piloted simulations and flight test evaluations. For the piloted simulations, a mathematical model of the airborne radar was developed for over-water ARAs to offshore platforms. This simulated flight scenario requires radar simulation of point targets, such as oil rigs and ships, distributed sea clutter, and transponder beacon replies. Radar theory, weather radar characteristics, and empirical data derived from in-flight radar photographs are combined to model a civil weather/mapping radar typical of those used in offshore rotorcraft operations. The resulting radar simulation is realistic and provides the needed simulation capability for ongoing ARA research.

Clary, G. R.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Crash response data system for the controlled impact demonstration (CID) of a full-scale transport aircraft

A study involving the Controlled Impact Demonstration (CID) of a transport category aircraft was conducted with the objective to improve occupant safety during survivable crash scenarios. in connection with this study, the first remotely-piloted Full-Scale Transport aircraft was purposely crashed into the California desert. The program was initated to demonstrate the effectiveness of an imisting kerosene (AMK), a fuel additive emplyed to reduce postcrash fires. The unmanned CID flight carried 73 life-like flight research dummies, multiple experiments, high-speed interior cabin cameras, and the high-environment Crash Response Data System. Attention is given to the design approach, a block diagram of the Crash Response Data System, measurements, the digital data subsystem, signal conditioning, telemetry, on-board recording, the power subsystem, preflight checkout and calibration, and aspects of system qualification.

Calloway, R. S.↗
NASA NTRS1989

Initial flight test of a ground deployed system for flying qualities assessment

NASA-Ames has developed a safe, repeatable, high-precision flying-qualities study system whose Adaptable Target Lighting Array System (ATLAS) furnishes a flying-qualities task that emulates a ground-attack mission with ground-deployed targets lighted in an unpredictable sequence; the pilot must aim the aircraft at whatever target is lighted. Two flight-test programs have been instituted to test the suitability of ATLAS. While the first of these uses a variable-stability aircraft to ascertain whether ATLAS has provided a suitable task for general flying qualities research, using an HUD-tracking task for comparison, the second employed the X-29A FSW research aircraft to demonstrate that ATLAS is appropriate for such research in the case of a specific aircraft.

Shafer, Mary F.↗
NASA NTRS1999

Design, Development,and Testing of Umbillical System Mechanisms for the X-33 Advanced Technology Demonstrator

The X-33 Advanced Technology Demonstrator is an un-piloted, vertical take-off, horizontal landing spacecraft. The purpose of the X-33 program is to demonstrate technologies that will dramatically lower the cost of access to space. The rocket-powered X-33 will reach an altitude of up to 100 km and speeds between Mach 13 and 15. Fifteen flight tests are planned, beginning in 2000. Some of the key technologies demonstrated will be the linear aerospike engine, improved thermal protection systems, composite fuel tanks and reduced operational timelines. The X-33 vehicle umbilical connections provide monitoring, power, cooling, purge, and fueling capability during horizontal processing and vertical launch operations. Two "rise-ofF' umbilicals for the X-33 have been developed, tested, and installed. The X-33 umbilical systems mechanisms incorporate several unique design features to simplify horizontal operations and provide reliable disconnect during launch.

Littlefield, Alan C.↗
NASA NTRS2000

Design, Development, And Testing of Umbilical System Mechanisms for the X-33 Advanced Technology Demonstrator

The X-33 Advanced Technology Demonstrator is an un-piloted, vertical take-off, horizontal landing spacecraft. The purpose of the X-33 program is to demonstrate technologies that will dramatically lower the cost of access to space. The rocket-powered X-33 will reach an altitude of up to 100 km and speeds between Mach 13 and 15. Fifteen flight tests are planned, beginning in 2000. Some of the key technologies demonstrated will be the linear aerospike engine, improved thermal protection systems, composite fuel tanks and reduced operational timelines. The X-33 vehicle umbilical connections provide monitoring, power, cooling, purge, and fueling capability during horizontal processing and vertical launch operations. Two "rise-off" umbilicals for the X-33 have been developed, tested, and installed. The X-33 umbilical systems mechanisms incorporate several unique design features to simplify horizontal operations and provide reliable disconnect during launch.

Littlefield, Alan C.↗
NASA NTRS2000

ISS Expedition 1 Crew Interviews: Yuri P. Gidzenko

Live footage of a preflight interview with Soyuz Commander Yuri P. Gidzenko is seen. The interview addresses many different questions including why Gidzenko became interested in the space program, the events that led to his interest, the transition from being a military pilot to being selected as a Russian cosmonaut. Other interesting information that this one-on-one interview discusses are the main goals of the first Expedition Crew, their scheduled docking with the International Space Station (ISS), making the ISS ready for human inhabitance, and all the specifics that will make his living arrangements difficult. Gidzenko mentions his responsibilities during the much-anticipated two-day flight to the ISS on the Soyuz spacecraft, as well as the possibility of his space-walk. Gidzenko also discusses the crew's first tasks upon entrance including other scheduled tasks for the first week, docking from cargo ships, and spacecraft delivering equipment or performing Extra Vehicular Activities (EVA). He explains his opinion of the implications of having human beings in space.

Source record↗