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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 91 records · Page 5

NASA Past, Present, and Future: The Use of Commercial Off The Shelf (COTS) Electronics in Space

NASA has a long history of using commercial grade electronics in space. In this presentation we will provide a brief history of NASA's trends and approaches to commercial grade electronics focusing on processing and memory systems. This will include providing summary information on the space hazards to electronics as well as NASA mission trade space. We will also discuss developing recommendations for risk management approaches to Electrical, Electronic and Electromechanical (EEE) parts usage in space. Two examples will be provided focusing on a near-earth Polar-orbiting spacecraft as well as a mission to Mars. The final portion will discuss emerging trends impacting usage.

Electronic and Electromechanical (EEE) parts↗

NASA and COTS Electronics: Past Approach and Successes - Future Considerations

NASA has a long history of using commercial grade electronics in space. In this talk, a brief history of NASAâ's trends and approaches to commercial grade electronics focusing on processing and memory systems will be presented. This will include providing summary information on the space hazards to electronics as well as NASA mission trade space. We will also discuss developing recommendations for risk management approaches to Electrical, Electronic and Electromechanical (EEE) parts and reliability in space. The final portion of the talk will discuss emerging aerospace trends and the future for Commercial Off The Shelf (COTS) usage.

LaBel, Kenneth A.↗

Development of UItra-Low Temperature Motor Controllers: Ultra Low Temperatures Evaluation and Characterization of Semiconductor Technologies For The Next Generation Space Telescope

Electronics designed for low temperature operation will result in more efficient systems than room temperature. This improvement is a result of better electronic, electrical, and thermal properties of materials at low temperatures. In particular, the performance of certain semiconductor devices improves with decreasing temperature down to ultra-low temperature (-273 'C). The Low Temperature Electronics Program at the NASA Glenn Research Center focuses on research and development of electrical components and systems suitable for applications in deep space missions. Research is being conducted on devices and systems for use down to liquid helium temperatures (-273 'C). Some of the components that are being characterized include semiconductor switching devices, resistors, magnetics, and capacitors. The work performed this summer has focused on the evaluation of silicon-, silicon-germanium- and gallium-Arsenide-based (GaAs) bipolar, MOS and CMOS discrete components and integrated circuits (ICs), from room temperature (23 'C) down to ultra low temperatures (-263 'C).

Elbuluk, Malik E.↗

Secondary electron emission from electrically charged fluorinated-ethylene-propylene Teflon for normal and non-normal electron incidence

The secondary electron emission coefficient was measured for a charged polymer (FEP-Teflon) with normally and obliquely incident primary electrons. Theories of secondary emission are reviewed and the experimental data is compared to these theories. Results were obtained for angles of incidence up to 60 deg in normal electric fields of 1500 V/mm. Additional measurements in the range from 50 to 70 deg were made in regions where the normal and tangential fields were approximately equal. The initial input angles and measured output point of the electron beam could be analyzed with computer simulations in order to determine the field within the chamber. When the field is known, the trajectories can be calculated for impacting electrons having various energies and angles of incidence. There was close agreement between the experimental results and the commonly assumed theoretical model in the presence of normal electric fields for angles of incidence up to 60 deg. High angle results obtained in the presence of tangential electric fields did not agree with the theoretical models.

Budd, P. A.↗

Macroscopic T nonconservation - Prospects for a new experiment

Breakdown of time-reversal invariance can be detected in macroscopic samples as a magnetic alignment along an electric field. It is shown that both fundamental and practical limits to the detection of this effect in paramagnets correspond to measurement of electron electric dipole moments down to d(e) of about 10 to the -28th e cm on 50-g quantities of EuS near its Curie point; this compares to the current limit of d(e) not greater than 10 to the -24th e cm. Strategies for still greater sensitivity are outlined.

Bialek, W.↗

Electron-radiation effects on the ac and dc electrical properties and unpaired electron densities of three aerospace polymers

The effects of gigarad-level total absorbed doses from 1-MeV electrons on the post-irradiation alternating-current (ac) and direct-current (dc) electrical properties and the unpaired electron densities have been studied for Kapton, Ultem, and Mylar. The unpaired electron densities (determined from electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy) and the dc electrical conductivities of the irradiated materials were monitored as functions of time following the exposures to determine their decay characteristics at room temperature. The elevated-temperature ac electrical dissipations of the Ultem and Mylar were affected by the radiation. The dc conductivity of the Kapton increased by five orders of magnitude, while the dc conductivities of the Ultem and Mylar increased by less than an order of magnitude, due to the radiation. The observed radiation-generated changes in the ac electrical dissipations are explained in terms of known radiation-generated changes in the molecular structures of the three materials. A preliminary model relating the dc electrical conductivity and the unpaired electron density in the Kapton is proposed.

Long, Sheila Ann T.↗

NASA Electronic Parts and Packaging (NEPP) Program: Overview and Technology Focus Areas - Responsive Technology Assurance for Civil Space

NASA Electronic Parts and Packaging (NEPP) Program Overview and Technology Highlights – The NEPP Program provides NASA's leadership for developing and maintaining guidance for the screening, qualification, test, and reliable use of electrical, electronic, and electromechanical parts by NASA, in collaboration with other government agencies and industry. The NASA Electronic Parts Assurance Group (NEPAG) is a core portion of NEPP. This presentation highlights key focus areas for 2019.

radiation effects↗

Experimental Demonstration and Characterization of a Ceramic Sintered Wick Heat Pipe Evaporator

As electrified aircraft propulsion (EAP) matures and power electronics, electric machines, and batteries achieve higher power density, the thermal management of these devices becomes ever more critical. In this paper, a heat pipe made from a dielectric ceramic material is proposed, which enables its use in the thermal management of a high frequency filter inductor for an EAP power electronics application. The manufacturing process for the sintered powder wick was developed and its performance characterized. The heat pipe is further experimentally demonstrated via an open evaporator test and shown to behave analogous to a constant conductance heat pipe.

Thermal Management↗

Experimental Demonstration and Characterization of a Ceramic Sintered Wick Heat Pipe Evaporator

As electrified aircraft propulsion (EAP) matures and power electronics, electric machines, and batteries achieve higher power density, the thermal management of these devices becomes ever more critical. In this paper, a heat pipe made from a dielectric ceramic material is proposed, which enables its use in the thermal management of a high frequency filter inductor for an EAP power electronics application. The manufacturing process for the sintered powder wick was developed and its performance characterized. The heat pipe is further experimentally demonstrated via an open evaporator test and shown to behave analogous to a constant conductance heat pipe.

Thermal management↗

Overview of Developments in Voluntary Consensus Standards for Counterfeit Parts Avoidance

The presentation provides an introduction to the electronic parts supply chain and various standards used for preventing counterfeit parts. The presentation provides detailed instruction on various non-destructive techniques, destructive and analytical steps for inspecting suspect counterfeit parts. The techniques are based on the AS6171 Aerospace Standard which standardizes the test and inspection procedures, workmanship criteria, and minimum training and certification requirements to detect counterfeit electrical, electronic, and electromechanical parts. Also included are discussions of other inspection, sampling and distribution standards.

Sood, Bhanu↗

Evaluation of Automotive Grade Resistors for Space Flight

Over the past decade, electronic, electrical, and electromechanical (EEE) parts for space applications have undergone significant changes, largely driven by CubeSat and commercial space developers pushing the boundaries on the utilization of commercial parts in space. Global product shortages and shipping delays are still impacting space flight project deadlines. Many projects have turned to automotive grade resistors as an alternate to their MILSPEC counterparts to fulfill requirements. In addition, automotive grade resistors may offer designers a wider range of parts to consider. A recent NASA study recommended the use of high-volume manufactured commercial components for space applications provided these components show evidence of stringent fabrication controls and thorough reliability monitoring practices. Automotive grade components have stringent qualification requirements per the Automotive Electronic Council (AEC). However, the end user usually does not have insight into the practices the manufacturer may use to reduce/eliminate infant mortality nor for compliance to all datasheet specifications. Screening, Life and Accelerated Life testing on a set of standard automotive-grade chip resistors is proposed to evaluate the reliability of these components. Requirements from both the AEC-Q (Automotive Electronic Council Qualification) and EEE-INST-002 (Instructions for EEE Parts Selection, Screening, Qualification, and Derating) for resistors is compared and discussed. The resistors have been tested by using a modified methodology from EEEINST-002 to evaluate their reliability for space flight projects. The findings of this study indicate that the underlying degradation mechanisms at rated temperature and power are best represented by power law models with a fitted exponent between 0 and 1. A linear model is more conservative which compensates for potential model uncertainty given the wide range of design and materials used in automotive resistors, while still providing useful long-term resistance drift estimates. No electrical anomalies or failures were observed throughout the 1000-hour Life Tests other than small in tolerance resistance drift aging. Degradation models were utilized to quantify and extrapolate the long-term resistance drift under operating conditions for the components. The models demonstrated that some automotive-grade resistors are likely to operate 10 years at nominal usage conditions while others might fail earlier.

Zainab Abdullahi↗

Evaluation of Automotive Grade Resistors for Space Flight

Over the past decade, electronic, electrical, and electromechanical (EEE) parts for space applications have undergone significant changes, largely driven by CubeSat and commercial space developers pushing the boundaries on the utilization of commercial parts in space. Global product shortages and shipping delays are still impacting space flight project deadlines. Many projects have turned to automotive grade resistors as an alternate to their MIL-SPEC counterparts to fulfill requirements. In addition, automotive grade resistors may offer designers a wider range of parts to consider. A recent NASA study recommended the use of high-volume manufactured commercial components for space applications provided these components show evidence of stringent fabrication controls and thorough reliability monitoring practices [1]. Automotive grade components have stringent qualification requirements per the Automotive Electronic Council (AEC). However, the end user usually does not have insight into the practices the manufacturer may use to reduce/eliminate infant mortality nor for compliance to all datasheet specifications. Screening, Life and Accelerated Life testing on a set of standard automotive-grade chip resistors is proposed to evaluate the reliability of these components. Requirements from both the AEC-Q (Automotive Electronic Council Qualification) and EEE-INST-002 (Instructions for EEE Parts Selection, Screening, Qualification, and Derating) for resistors is compared and discussed. The resistors have been tested by using a modified methodology from EEE-INST-002 to evaluate their reliability for space flight projects. The findings of this study indicate that the underlying degradation mechanisms at rated temperature and power are best represented by power law models with a fitted exponent between 0 and 1. A linear model is more conservative which compensates for potential model uncertainty given the wide range of design and materials used in automotive resistors, while still providing useful long-term resistance drift estimates. No electrical anomalies or failures were observed throughout the 1,000-hour Life Tests other than small in tolerance resistance drift aging. Degradation models were utilized to quantify and extrapolate the long-term resistance drift under operating conditions for the components. The models demonstrated that some automotive-grade resistors are likely to operate 10 years at nominal usage conditions while others might fail earlier.

Zainab Abdullahi↗

Study of Plasma Radiation Shielding

The Plasma Radiation Shield is an active device using free electrons, electric and magnetic fields for the purpose of shielding astronauts from energetic solar flare-produced protons. The concept of Plasma Radiation Shielding is reviewed in the light of current studies. The available evidence indicates that the concept is physically sound, but important practical questions remain in at least two areas: these have to do with establishment and control of the extremely high voltages required, and with integration of the concept into a realistic space vehicle design.

Source record↗

Energy-saving thermostat

Thermostat for two-stage heating system adjusts turn-on time and thermostat setpoint so that reserve resistance electrical heaters are not activated in morning warm up. Thermostat monitors outside temperature and turns on heat earlier in cold weather so that room will be at desired temperature by specified time. Mechanical, electrical, electronic, pneumatic, or microprocessor versions of device are possible. Correctional factors can be included where second-stage operation is more cost-effective than prolonged first-stage operation.

Jensen, R. N.↗

The Manned Maneuvering Unit - 'A nice flying machine'

The need for untethered maneuvers in extravehicular space was recognized early in the NASA manned spaceflight program, leading to experiments during the Gemini flights. The Space Shuttle crews are now equipped with a Manned Maneuvering Unit (MMU) which employs 24 gaseous nitrogen thrusters to furnish six-degree-of-freedom mobility and is fitted with fully redundant electronics, electrical, and propulsion subsystems. The MMU thrusters are operated with translational and rotational hand controllers at the ends of the MMU arms.

Bollendonk, W. W.↗