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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

Lidar Past, Present, and Future in NASA's Earth and Space Science Programs

Lidar is firmly entrenched in the family of remote sensing technologies that NASA is developing and using. Still a relatively new technology, lidar should continue to experience significant advances and progress. Lidar is used in each one of the major research themes, including planetary exploration, in the Earth Sciences Directorate at Goddard Space Flight Center. NASA has and will continue to generate new lidar applications from ground, air and space for both Earth science and planetary exploration.

Einaudi, Franco↗

Efficient Ho:LuLiF MOPA Laser Transmitter for Space Pathfinder Coherent Wind Lidar

Supported by NASA’s Earth Science Technology Office (ESTO), a new lidar transmitter system is developed under the Wind-Space Pathfinder coherent wind lidar project. It is an efficient Ho:LuLiF master oscillator power amplifier system (MOPA) that is capable of generating 15 watts power and 180 ns pulse width at 200 Hz PRF with excellent beam quality. The laser is injection seeded to provide stable single longitudinal frequency output. The laser beam polarization can be switched between “S” and “P” alternatively. Thus, the “S” and “P” beams can be directed to two separate telescopes at different directions to provide true horizontal wind measurement without a moving part in the lidar system. The laser power, pulse width and beam quality fulfill the space lidar system’s figure-of-merit (FOM) and measurement accuracy requirements.

Coherent laser radar↗

Efficient Ho:LuLiF MOPA Laser Transmitter for Space Pathfinder Coherent Wind Lidar

Supported by NASA’s Earth Science Technology Office (ESTO), a new lidar transmitter system is developed under the Wind-Space Pathfinder coherent wind lidar project. It is an efficient Ho:LuLiF master oscillator power amplifier system (MOPA) that is capable of generating 15 watts power and 180 ns pulse width at 200 Hz PRF with excellent beam quality. The laser is injection seeded to provide stable single longitudinal frequency output. The laser beam polarization can be switched between “S” and “P” alternatively. Thus, the “S” and “P” beams can be directed to two separate telescopes at different directions to provide true horizontal wind measurement without a moving part in the lidar system. The laser power, pulse width and beam quality fulfill the space lidar system’s figure-of-merit (FOM) and measurement accuracy requirements.

Coherent Laser Radar↗

The Deep Space 1 Extended Mission

The primary mission of Deep Space 1 (DS1), the first flight of the New Millennium program, completed successfully in September 1999, having exceeded its objectives of testing new, high-risk technologies important for future space and Earth science missions.

Deep↗

Earth Science Geostationary Platform Technology

The objective of the workshop was to address problems in science and in four technology areas (large space antenna technology, microwave sensor technology, electromagnetics-phased array adaptive systems technology, and optical metrology technology) related to Earth Science Geostationary Platform missions.

Wright, Robert L.↗

The Laboratory for Terrestrial Physics

The Laboratory for Terrestrial Physics is dedicated to the advancement of knowledge in Earth and planetary science, by conducting innovative research using space technology. The Laboratory's mission and activities support the work and new initiatives at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC). The Laboratory's success contributes to the Earth Science Directorate as a national resource for studies of Earth from Space. The Laboratory is part of the Earth Science Directorate based at the GSFC in Greenbelt, MD. The Directorate itself is comprised of the Global Change Data Center (GCDC), the Space Data and Computing Division (SDCD), and four science Laboratories, including Laboratory for Terrestrial Physics, Laboratory for Atmospheres, and Laboratory for Hydrospheric Processes all in Greenbelt, MD. The fourth research organization, Goddard Institute for Space Studies (GISS), is in New York, NY. Relevant to NASA's Strategic Plan, the Laboratory ensures that all work undertaken and completed is within the vision of GSFC. The philosophy of the Laboratory is to balance the completion of near term goals, while building on the Laboratory's achievements as a foundation for the scientific challenges in the future.

Source record↗

Overview of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's Nondestructive Evaluation (NDE) Program

NASA's Office of Safety and Mission Assurance sponsors an Agency-wide NDE Program that supports Aeronautics and Space Transportation Technology, Human Exploration and Development of Space, Earth Science, and Space Science Enterprises. For each of these Enterprises, safety is the number one priority. Development of the next generation aero-space launch and transportation vehicles, satellites, and deep space probes have highlighted the enabling role that NDE plays in these advanced technology systems. Specific areas of advanced component development, component integrity, and structural heath management are critically supported by NDE technologies. The simultaneous goals of assuring safety, maintaining overall operational efficiency, and developing and utilizing revolutionary technologies to expand human activity and space-based commerce in the frontiers of air and space places increasing demands on the Agencies NDE infrastructure and resources. In this presentation, an overview of NASA's NDE Program will be presented, that includes a background and status of current Enterprise NDE issues, and the NDE investment areas being developed to meet Enterprise safety and mission assurance needs through the year 2009 and beyond.

Generazio, Edward R.↗

Reinventing the International Space Station Payload Integration Processes and Capabilities

The fundamental ISS payload integration philosophy, processes and capabilities were established in the context of how NASA science programs were conducted and executed in the early 1990 s. Today, with the designation of the United States (US) portion of ISS as a National Lab, the ISS payload customer base is growing to include other government agencies, private and commercial research. The fields of research are becoming more diverse expanding from the NASA centric physical, materials and human research sciences to test beds for exploration and technology demonstration, biology and biotechnology, and as an Earth and Space science platform. This new customer base has a broader more diverse set of expectations and requirements for payload design, verification, integration, test, training, and operations. One size fits all processes are not responsive to this broader customer base. To maintain an organization s effectiveness it must listen to its customers, understand their needs, learn from its mistakes, and foster an environment of continual process improvement. The ISS Payloads office is evolving to meet these new customer expectations.

Jones, Rod↗

Ames Research Center Research and Technology 2000

This report highlights the challenging work accomplished during fiscal year 2000 by Ames research scientists,engineers, and technologists. It discusses research and technologies that enable the Information Age, that expand the frontiers of knowledge for aeronautics and space, and that help to maintain U.S. leadership in aeronautics and space research and technology development. The accomplishments are grouped into four categories based on four of NASA's Strategic Enterprises: Aerospace Technology, Space Science, Biological and Physical Research, and Earth Science. The primary purpose of this report is to communicate knowledge-to inform our stakeholders, customer, and partners, and the people of the United States about the scope and diversity of Ames' mission,the nature of Ames' research and technolog) activities,and the stimulating challenges ahead. The accomplishments cited illustrate the contributions that Ames is willing to improve the quality of life for our citizens and the economic position of the United States in the world marketplace.

Source record↗

NASA's technology plans - Will technology be ready when we are

Recent low NASA science and technology budgets impacted unfavorably on trade balances of aerospace products and lags in several technological areas impinged on other areas already in application which could not be exploited or did not achieve desired performance levels. NASA has formed a Civil Space Technology Initiative, for 1988 start, to foster research on safe and efficient access to space, earth orbiting operations, and science support technologies. R&D programs for fully reusable launch systems, aerobraking concepts, and a multi-arm, highly autonomous capability for space-based remote assembly, repair and servicing of space vehicles are described. Regarding science, emphasis will be placed on large flexible structures and the associated control programs, sensors and data handling and analysis equipment and programs. Finally, technologies common to human activities in regions beyond the Space Station are to be explored in the second phase of the NASA initiative, Pathfinder.

Colladay, Raymond S.↗

TPSAS-NF1676L-27491-DND

NASA is at fore-front in developing lidar technologies and unique active/passive remote sensing capabilities towards space-based observations for understanding the complexities and interactions among Earth system components. The world is facing significant environmental challenges and a robust, integrated, and flexible system of observations and models are needed for understanding the short-and long term impact on the Earth system. A fundamental challenge for the coming decade is to ensure that space-based observations, analyses, better interpretive understanding, enhanced predictive models, broadened international community participation, and improved means for information assimilation and disseminations are well coordinated to realize the full economic, societal, and security benefit of Earth science. This presentation will provide an overview of enabling lidar technologies and techniques from ground and space towards NASA's future vision for Earth science missions for global observations, and the challenges associated in applying them for societal benefit.

Upendra N Singh↗

Advanced Microelectronics Technologies for Future Small Satellite Systems

Future small satellite systems for both Earth observation as well as deep-space exploration are greatly enabled by the technological advances in deep sub-micron microelectronics technologies. Whereas these technological advances are being fueled by the commercial (non-space) industries, more recently there has been an exciting new synergism evolving between the two otherwise disjointed markets. In other words, both the commercial and space industries are enabled by advances in low-power, highly integrated, miniaturized (low-volume), lightweight, and reliable real-time embedded systems. Recent announcements by commercial semiconductor manufacturers to introduce Silicon On Insulator (SOI) technology into their commercial product lines is driven by the need for high-performance low-power integrated devices. Moreover, SOI has been the technology of choice for many space semiconductor manufacturers where radiation requirements are critical. This technology has inherent radiation latch-up immunity built into the process, which makes it very attractive to space applications. In this paper, we describe the advanced microelectronics and avionics technologies under development by NASA's Deep Space Systems Technology Program (also known as X2000). These technologies are of significant benefit to both the commercial satellite as well as the deep-space and Earth orbiting science missions. Such a synergistic technology roadmap may truly enable quick turn-around, low-cost, and highly capable small satellite systems for both Earth observation as well as deep-space missions.

Alkalai, Leon↗

TPSAS-NF1676L-30074-DND

NASA is at forefront in developing unique active/passive remote sensing capabilities towards space-based observations for understanding the complexities and interactions among Earth system components. The world is facing significant environmental challenges and a robust, integrated, and flexible system of observations and models are needed for understanding the short-and long-term impact on the Earth system. A fundamental challenge for the coming decade is to ensure that space-based observations, analyses, better interpretive understanding, enhanced predictive models, broadened international community participation, and improved means for information assimilation and disseminations are well coordinated to realize the full economic, societal, and security benefit of Earth science. This presentation will provide an overview of active/passive remote sensing technologies and techniques from ground and space towards NASA’s future vision for Earth science missions for global observations, and the challenges associated in applying them for societal benefit.

Upendra N Singh↗

Developments in Nano-Satellite Structural Subsystem Design at NASA-GSFC

The NASA-GSFC Nano-satellite Technology Development Program will enable flying constellations of tens to hundreds of nano-satellites for future NASA Space and Earth Science missions. Advanced technology components must be developed to make these future spacecraft compact, lightweight, low-power, low-cost, and survivable to a radiation environment over a two-year mission lifetime. This paper describes the efforts underway to develop lightweight, low cost, and multi-functional structures, serviceable designs, and robust mechanisms. As designs shrink, the integration of various subsystems becomes a vital necessity. This paper also addresses structurally integrated electrical power, attitude control, and thermal systems. These innovations bring associated fabrication, integration, and test challenges. Candidate structural materials and processes are examined and the merits of each are discussed. Design and fabrication processes include flat stock composite construction, cast aluminum-beryllium alloy, and an injection molded fiber-reinforced plastic. A viable constellation deployment scenario is described as well as a Phase-A Nano-satellite Pathfinder study.

Rossoni, Peter↗

NASA Funding Opportunities for Optical Fabrication and Testing Technology Development

Technologies to fabricate and test optical components are required for NASA to accomplish its highest priority science missions. For example, the NRC ASTRO2010 Decadal Survey states that an advanced large-aperture UVOIR telescope is required to enable the next generation of compelling astrophysics and exo-planet science; and that present technology is not mature enough to affordably build and launch any potential UVOIR mission concept. The NRC 2012 NASA Space Technology Roadmaps and Priorities report states that the highest priority technology in which NASA should invest to 'Expand our understanding of Earth and the universe' is a new generation of astronomical telescopes. And, each of the Astrophysics division Program Office Annual Technology Reports (PATR), identifies specific technology needs. NASA has a variety of programs to fund enabling technology development: SBIR (Small Business Innovative Research); the ROSES APRA and SAT programs (Research Opportunities in Space and Earth Science; Astrophysics Research and Analysis program; Strategic Astrophysics Technology program); and several Office of the Chief Technologist (OCT) technology development programs.

Stahl, H. Philip↗