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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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NASA NTRS1984

Space station - The next logical step

NASA has been charged with the development, over the next decade, of a permanently manned space station in low earth orbit. The space station system will comprise a manned base and associated unmanned platforms; while one of the platforms will be in polar orbit, another (or several) platforms will, like the manned base, have an orbital inclination of 28.5 deg. Because it is permanent, the space station will have to be semiautonomous from its mission control center. NASA will take a number of steps to foster the commercial utilization of the space station, and one of the design goals of the project is the definition of astronaut facilities that are very 'customer friendly'. Reliance on a single, program-wide contractor has been deemed undesirable; several major aerospace manufacturers will instead distribute responsibility among themselves for the various modules constituting the craft.

Beggs, J. M.↗

NASA NTRS2004

Evolution of the Baseline ISS ECLSS Technologies: The Next Logical Steps

The baseline Environmental Control and Life Support Systems which are currently deployed on the International Space Station or planned to be launched in Node 3 are based on technologies selected in the early 1990's. While they are generally meeting or exceeding requirements for supporting the ISS crew, lessons learned from years of on orbit and ground testing, new advances in technology state of the art, and requirements for future manned missions prompt consideration of the next logical step to enhance these systems to increase performance, robustness, reliability, and reduce on-orbit and logistical resource requirements. This paper discusses the current state of the art in ISS ECLSS technologies, and possible areas for enhancement/improvement. Potential utilization of the ISS as a testbed for on-orbit checkout of selected technology improvements is also addressed.

Carrasquillo, Robyn L.↗

DOE OSTI2025

Transport and confinement physics: Chapter 2 of the special issue: on the path to tokamak burning plasma operation

Progress in physics understanding and theoretical model development of plasma transport and confinement (TC) in the ITPA TC Topical Group since the publication of the ITER Physics Basis (IPB) document (Doyle et al 2007 Nucl. Fusion 47 S18) was summarized focusing on the contributions to ITER and burning plasma prediction and control. This paper provides a general and streamlined overview on the advances that were mainly led by the ITPA TC joint experiments and joint activities for the last 15 years (see JEX/JA table in appendix). This paper starts with the scientific strategy and scope of the ITPA TC Topical group and overall picture of the major progress, followed by the progress of each research field: particle transport, impurity transport, ion and electron thermal turbulent transport, momentum transport, impact of 3D magnetic fields on transport, confinement mode transitions, global confinement, and reduced transport modeling. Cross references with other Topical Groups are given in order to highlight overlapped topics, such as the 3D effect on the plasma transport in the edge and L-H transition physics. The increasing overlap between the topical groups is a reflection of the progress on integrating the known physics into comprehensive models that are better and better able to reproduce the plasma transport. In recent years, such integration has become increasingly prevalent when considering transport from the SOL, through the edge pedestal, and into the plasma core. In the near future, increased collaboration also with the magneto-hydrodynamic and energetic particles community will be important as we approach burning plasma conditions in next-step fusion devices. A summary of remaining challenges and next steps for each research field is given in the Summary section.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

NASA NTRS1993

The repository-based software engineering program: Redefining AdaNET as a mainstream NASA source

The Repository-based Software Engineering Program (RBSE) is described to inform and update senior NASA managers about the program. Background and historical perspective on software reuse and RBSE for NASA managers who may not be familiar with these topics are provided. The paper draws upon and updates information from the RBSE Concept Document, baselined by NASA Headquarters, Johnson Space Center, and the University of Houston - Clear Lake in April 1992. Several of NASA's software problems and what RBSE is now doing to address those problems are described. Also, next steps to be taken to derive greater benefit from this Congressionally-mandated program are provided. The section on next steps describes the need to work closely with other NASA software quality, technology transfer, and reuse activities and focuses on goals and objectives relative to this need. RBSE's role within NASA is addressed; however, there is also the potential for systematic transfer of technology outside of NASA in later stages of the RBSE program. This technology transfer is discussed briefly.

Source record↗

DOE OSTI2025

Neutrino oscillations

Neutrino oscillation measurements provide an important window on what lies beyond the Standard Model of particle physics. These measurements may unlock the mechanism by which the universe came to become matter-dominated, and may offer hints of another mechanism to generate particles with mass. Measurements of oscillations from muon neutrinos to electron neutrinos (and their antineutrino counterpart) as a function of time provide critical inputs to understanding both mechanisms. These are challenging measurements and a variety of techniques and strategies are required to get the complete picture. This article describes the current status of our understanding of neutrino masses and how neutrinos oscillate between one flavour and another as they propagate through space and time, and what remains to be understood. Taking the next steps in this field requires a variety of approaches and a better understanding of how neutrinos interact with nuclei. This article describes two of those next steps, highlighting where Canadian groups are active, and concludes with a discussion of the broad range of additional physics that becomes accessible by having two very different large sensitive neutrino detectors making these measurements.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

NASA NTRS2016

Resource Prospector Instrumentation for Lunar Volatiles Prospecting, Sample Acquisition and Processing

Lunar Crater↗

NASA NTRS2016

Resource Prospector Instrumentation for Lunar Volatiles Prospecting, Sample Acquisition and Processing

Data gathered from lunar missions within the last two decades have significantly enhanced our understanding of the volatile resources available on the lunar surface, specifically focusing on the polar regions. Several orbiting missions such as Clementine and Lunar Prospector have suggested the presence of volatile ices and enhanced hydrogen concentrations in the permanently shadowed regions of the moon. The Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite (LCROSS) mission was the first to provide direct measurement of water ice in a permanently shadowed region. These missions with other orbiting assets have laid the groundwork for the next step in the exploration of the lunar surface; providing ground truth data of the volatiles by mapping the distribution and processing lunar regolith for resource extraction. This next step is the robotic mission Resource Prospector (RP). Resource Prospector is a lunar mission to investigate 'strategic knowledge gaps' (SKGs) for in-situ resource utilization (ISRU). The mission is proposed to land in the lunar south pole near a permanently shadowed crater. The landing site will be determined by the science team with input from broader international community as being near traversable landscape that has a high potential of containing elevated concentrations of volatiles such as water while maximizing mission duration. A rover will host the Regolith & Environment Science and Oxygen & Lunar Volatile Extraction (RESOLVE) payload for resource mapping and processing. The science instruments on the payload include a 1-meter drill, neutron spectrometer, a near infrared spectrometer, an operations camera, and a reactor with a gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer for volatile analysis. After the RP lander safely delivers the rover to the lunar surface, the science team will guide the rover team on the first traverse plan. The neutron spectrometer (NS) and near infrared (NIR) spectrometer instruments will be used as prospecting tools to guide the traverse path. The NS will map the water-equivalent hydrogen concentration as low as 0.5% by weight to an 80 centimeter depth as the rover traverses the lunar landscape. The NIR spectrometer will measure surficial H2O/OH as well as general mineralogy. When the prospecting instruments identify a potential volatile-rich area during the course of a traverse, the prospect is then mapped out and the most promising location identified. An augering drill capable of sampling to a depth of 100 centimeters will excavate regolith for analysis. A quick assay of the drill cuttings will be made using an operations camera and NIR spectrometer. With the water depth confirmed by this first auguring activity, a regolith sample may be extracted for processing. The drill will deliver the regolith sample to a crucible that will be sealed and heated. Evolved volatiles will be measured by a gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer and the water will be captured and photographed. RP is a solar powered mission, which given the polar location translates to a relatively short mission duration on the order of 4-15 days. This short mission duration drives the concept of operations, instrumentation, and data analysis towards critical real time analysis and decision support. Previous payload field tests have increased the fidelity of the hardware, software, and mission operations. Current activities include a mission level field test to optimize interfaces between the payload and rover as well as better understand the interaction of the science and rover teams during the mission timeline. This paper will include the current status of the science instruments on the payload as well as the integrated field test occurring in fall of 2015. The concept of operations will be discussed, including the real time science and engineering decision-making process based on the critical data from the instrumentation. The path to flight will be discussed with the approach to this ambitious low cost mission.

ISRU↗

NASA NTRS2000

A Network Mission: Completing the Scientific Foundation for the Exploration of Mars

Despite recent setbacks and vacillations in the Mars Surveyor Program, in many respects the exploration of Mars has historically followed a relatively logical path. Early fly-bys provided brief glimpses of the planet and paved the way for the initial orbital reconnaissance of Mariner 9. The Viking orbiters completed the initial survey, while the Viking landers provided our first close-up look at the surface. Essentially, Mars Pathfinder served a similar role, giving a brief look at another place on the surface. And finally, Mars Global Surveyor (and the up-coming orbital mission in 2001) are taking the next step in providing in-depth, global observations of many of the fundamental characteristics of the planet, as well as selected high-resolution views of the surface. With this last step we are well on our way to acquiring the global scientific context that is necessary both for understanding Mars in general, its origin and evolution, and for use as a basis to plan and execute the next level of focused investigations. However, even with the successful completion of these missions this context will be incomplete. Whereas we now know a great deal about the surface of Mars in a global sense, we know very little about its interior, even at depths of only a meter or so. Also, as most of this information has been acquire by remote sensing, we still lack much of the bridging knowledge between the global view and the processes and character of the surface environments themselves. Thus, in many ways we lack sufficient fundamental understanding to intelligently cast the critical investigations into important questions of the origins and evolution of Mars in general, and in particular, life. The next step in building our understanding of Mars has been identified by several previous groups who were charged with creating a strategy for Mars exploration (e.g., COMPLEX, MarSWG, Planetary Roadmap Team). This is a so-called "network" mission, which places a large number of science platforms simultaneously on the surface.

W. B. Banerdt↗

NASA NTRS1993

Investigation of alternate power source for Space Shuttle Orbiter hydraulic system

This investigation consists of a short-term feasibility study to determine whether or not an alternate electrical power source would trade favorably from a performance, reliability, safety, operation, and weight standpoint in replacing the current auxiliary power unit subsystems with its attendant components (water spray boiler, hydrazine fuel and tanks, feed and vent lines, controls, etc.), operating under current flight rules. Results of this feasibility study are used to develop recommendations for the next step (e.g., to determine if such an alternate electrical power source would show an advantage given that the current operational flight mode of the system could be modified in such a way as not to constrain the operational capability and safety of the vehicle). However, this next step is not within the scope of this investigation. This study does not include a cost analysis, nor does it include investigation of the integration aspects involved in such a trade, except in a qualitative sense for the determination of concept feasibility.

Simon, William E.↗

NASA NTRS2007

Recommendations for Refinement and Validation of Intermittent Artificial Gravity

The IMAG Pilot Study, recently completed at the University of Texas Medical Branch, filled in the second major gap in knowledge standing in the way of development of a practical Short Radius Centrifuge (SRC) and the use of Artificial Gravity (AG) as a multi-system countermeasure to combat the deconditioning associated with extended weightlessness. (The first challenge, to adapt rapidly rotating subjects to permit unlimited head movements without excessive motion sickness, was achieved in a series of studies at MIT involving incremental increases in head and centrifuge velocity.) It remained to be demonstrated that intermittent exposure to AG, at only one hour per day for 21 days, would have any positive effect on slowing or eliminating of deconditioning. Bed-rested normal subjects were used as a ground analog for astronauts in weightlessness. The results are clearly positive for the key physiological systems of interest: cardiovascular, muscle, and bone. No functionally relevant changes were observed in immune, cognitive, or sensory-motor function. Furthermore, we found that our initial concerns about the inability of deconditioned subjects to withstand daily centrifugation without syncope were misplaced. These encouraging initial results clearly support the further development of AG protocols. We recommend, as the next steps, the integration of a controlled exercise device on the SRC to determine the synergy between AG and exercise. Coupled with appropriate exercise device(s) the AG protocol will be tuned to-ward an optimal prescription for minimum exposure duration and frequency, maximum AG level and SRC speed.. Performance of these next steps will require extensive use of bed-rest/centrifuge facilities and eventually validation using an SRC in space. A space SRC could be placed in the ISS or on a planetary surface.

Young, Lauren R.↗

NASA NTRS2021

Review of Vapor Compression Refrigeration in Microgravity Environments

Using a vapor compression cycle for cooling in microgravity environments was already suggested in the 1970s to leverage the high coefficient of performance. Since then, only a few systems have operated in microgravity with scarce documentation of these flights. The lack of measured data and detailed documentation makes identifying the necessary next steps difficult for researchers entering the field of refrigeration in space. This paper provides a review of available literature for vapor compression systems flown in microgravity by outlining the history of vapor compression devices in space and presenting performance data. Moreover, gaps in the literature are highlighted and open questions are posed based on the reviewed material. Next steps of research are suggested to support and ultimately achieve reliable vapor compression refrigeration in space. Calculating equivalent masses for a fair comparison of different microgravity cooling technologies is proposed by capturing both energy consumption and used volume.

Vapor compression↗

NASA NTRS2015

How To Make the Most of Your Human: Design Considerations for Single Pilot Operations

Reconsidering the function allocation between automation and the pilot in the flight deck is the next step in improving aviation safety. The current allocation, based on who does what best, makes poor use of the pilot's resources and abilities. In some cases it may actually handicap pilots from performing their role. Improving pilot performance first lies in defining the role of the pilot - why a human is needed in the first place. The next step is allocating functions based on the needs of that role (rather than fitness), then using automation to target specific human weaknesses in performing that role. Examples are provided (some of which could be implemented in conventional cockpits now). Along the way, the definition of human error and the idea that eliminating/automating the pilot will reduce instances of human error will be challenged.

Schutte, Paul C.↗

DOE OSTI2026

Statistical Correlation of Heliostat Pointing Deviation With Wind

This work was carried out as part of the Heliostat Consortium (HelioCon) Field Deployment subtask with the aim to develop a reduced order model framework for correlating wind speed and pointing deviation of a heliostat facet. There are only sparse field measurements of heliostat pointing deviations and accompanying wind conditions published in the literature. Heliostat test standards, such as IEC 62862-4-3, propose a suite of tests including laser pointing repeatability at wind speeds below 4 m/s, and provide technical requirements for heliostat slope and tracking deviations in coarse average wind speed bins of 4 m/s, 6 m/s, and 8 m/s. In addressing the gap of the variation of heliostat pointing deviation with wind speed, field measurements of laser pointing on a grid target and wind conditions were analyzed in this study at the Third-Party Metrology Platform at the National Laboratory of the Rockies (NLR) Flatirons Campus. Horizontal pointing deviations were found to follow a logarithmic relationship with peak wind speed, whereas vertical pointing deviations follow an exponential relationship with peak wind speed. Both horizontal and vertical pointing deviations also follow a second order polynomial relationship, as expected from the proportionality of elastic loads and deformations with the square of wind speed. The results indicate that heliostat facet pointing deviations in the vertical direction increase at a faster rate than in the horizontal direction with increasing wind speed over the tested range, however these are dependent on the heliostat structural design. Next steps are recommended for additional field measurements to confirm a linear relationship of pointing deviation with applied moment on a heliostat facet, and to distinguish between gravity-induced and wind-induced pointing deviations at different elevation angles. The derived correlations in the preliminary analysis in this report serve as a case study for heliostat developers and plant operators to estimate the wind-induced pointing deviations and their variation with peak gust wind speed. Next steps in future work would recommend higher resolution and longer duration datasets for different elevation angles and wind directions to reduce uncertainties and variance of collected laser beam spot data and their correlations with bin-averaged wind speed.

17 WIND ENERGY↗

NASA NTRS1962

A Survey and Evaluation of High Energy Liquid Chemical Propulsion Systems: Propellant Selection Criteria for Space Missions - Part 1

This report presents the results of a study to develop a procedure for evaluating liquid propellants in order (a) to select the most appropriate propellant (from among those under development) for each of several applications on each of the various missions in the NASA program, or (b) to select new propellants (from among those being proposed) for initiation or continuation of research and development. The analysis begins with a consideration of requirements--either for the specific application or for the various classes of applications. The known characteristics of the propellant or propellants to be evaluated are then put into a convenient form for evaluation. The next step is to determine whether or not there are requirements that simply cannot be met by the propellant. If the propellant passes this test, an optimum vehicle configuration using the propellant (and meeting all requirements) is estimated. (The configuration should be optimized with respect to the total resource consumption for all aspects of the mission, including R&D, production, logistics, and operation.) The total resource consumption for this configuration is then compared with that for similar configurations using other propellants (and meeting all requirements equally well). If all factors have been properly taken into account, this comparison of resource consumption will complete the evaluation. Such an evaluation may be performed several times, in increasing detail and with correspondingly increasing accuracy, as an R&D program proceeds, and the accuracy of the data as well as the cost of the next step in the program increase. The procedure is superior to those in common use in that it minimizes both the amount of analytical work and the number of points at which subjective value judgments are made.

LIQUID PROPELLANT↗

NASA NTRS2015

Neutron Spectrometer Prospecting During the Mojave Volatiles Project Analog Field Test

We know there are volatiles sequestered at the poles of the Moon. While we have evidence of water ice and a number of other compounds based on remote sensing, the detailed distribution, and physical and chemical form are largely unknown. Additional orbital studies of lunar polar volatiles may yield further insights, but the most important next step is to use landed assets to fully characterize the volatile composition and distribution at scales of tens to hundreds of meters. To achieve this range of scales, mobility is needed. Because of the proximity of the Moon, near real-time operation of the surface assets is possible, with an associated reduction in risk and cost. This concept of operations is very different from that of rovers on Mars, and new operational approaches are required to carry out such real-time robotic exploration. The Mojave Volatiles Project (MVP) is a Moon- Mars Analog Mission Activities (MMAMA) program effort aimed at (1) determining effective approaches to operating a real-time but short-duration lunar surface robotic mission, and (2) performing prospecting science in a natural setting, as a test of these approaches. We know there are volatiles sequestered at the poles of the Moon. While we have evidence of water ice and a number of other compounds based on remote sensing, the detailed distribution, and physical and chemical form are largely unknown. Additional orbital studies of lunar polar volatiles may yield further insights, but the most important next step is to use landed assets to fully characterize the volatile composition and distribution at scales of tens to hundreds of meters. To achieve this range of scales, mobility is needed. Because of the proximity of the Moon, near real-time operation of the surface assets is possible, with an associated reduction in risk and cost. This concept of operations is very different from that of rovers on Mars, and new operational approaches are required to carry out such robotic exploration. The Mojave Volatiles Project (MVP) is a Moon- Mars Analog Mission Activities (MMAMA) program effort aimed at (1) determining effective approaches to operating a real-time but short-duration lunar surface robotic mission, and (2) performing prospecting science in a natural setting, as a test of these approaches. Here we describe some results from the first such test, carried out in the Mojave Desert between 16 and 24 October, 2014. The test site was an alluvial fan just E of the Soda Mountains, SW of Baker, California. This site contains desert pavements, ranging from the late Pleistocene to early-Holocene in age. These pavements are undergoing dissection by the ongoing development of washes. A principal objective was to determine the hydration state of different types of desert pavement and bare ground features. The mobility element of the test was provided by the KREX-2 rover, designed and operated by the Intelligent Robotics Group at NASA Ames Research Center.

Moon- Mars Analog Mission Activities (MMAMA)↗

NASA NTRS2014

Lunar Station: The Next Logical Step in Space Development

The International Space Station (ISS) is the product of the efforts of sixteen nations over the course of several decades. It is now complete, operational, and has been continuously occupied since November of 20001. Since then the ISS has been carrying out a wide variety of research and technology development experiments, and starting to produce some pleasantly startling results. The ISS has a mass of 420 metric tons, supports a crew of six with a yearly resupply requirement of around 30 metric tons, within a pressurized volume of 916 cubic meters, and a habitable volume of 388 cubic meters. Its solar arrays produce up to 84 kilowatts of power. In the course of developing the ISS, many lessons were learned and much valuable expertise was gained. Where do we go from here? The ISS offers an existence proof of the feasibility of sustained human occupation and operations in space over decades. It also demonstrates the ability of many countries to work collaboratively on a very complex and expensive project in space over an extended period of time to achieve a common goal. By harvesting best practices and lessons learned, the ISS can also serve as a useful model for exploring architectures for beyond low-‐ earth-‐orbit (LEO) space development. This paper will explore the concept and feasibility for a Lunar Station. The Station concept can be implemented by either putting the equivalent capability of the ISS down on the surface of the Moon, or by developing the required capabilities through a combination of delivered materials and equipment and in situ resource utilization (ISRU). Scenarios that leverage existing technologies and capabilities as well as capabilities that are under development and are expected to be available within the next 3-5 years, will be examined. This paper will explore how best practices and expertise gained from developing and operating the ISS and other relevant programs can be applied to effectively developing Lunar Station.

Lunar↗

DOE OSTI2025

The Muon Collider

Muons offer a unique opportunity to build a compact high-energy electroweak collider at the 10 TeV scale. A Muon Collider enables direct access to the underlying simplicity of the Standard Model and unparalleled reach beyond it. It will be a paradigm-shifting tool for particle physics representing the first collider to combine the high-energy reach of a proton collider and the high precision of an electron-positron collider, yielding a physics potential significantly greater than the sum of its individual parts. A high-energy muon collider is the natural next step in the exploration of fundamental physics after the HL-LHC and a natural complement to a future low-energy Higgs factory. Such a facility would significantly broaden the scope of particle colliders, engaging the many frontiers of the high energy community. The last European Strategy for Particle Physics Update and later the Particle Physics Project Prioritisation Panel in the US requested a study of the muon collider, which is being carried on by the International Muon Collider Collaboration. In this comprehensive document we present the physics case, the state of the work on accelerator design and technology, and propose an R\&D project that can make the muon collider a reality.

Accelerator Physics (physics.acc-ph)↗

NASA NTRS1985

Spacestation: The next logical step

The concept of a U.S. space station is discussed. The design, how it will work, space laboratory functions, commerce in space, and international cooperation are discussed.

Source record↗