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At least 937 records · Page 52

Terrestrial Testing of the CapiBRIC, a Microgravity Optimized Brine Processor

Utilizing geometry based static phase separation exhibited in the radial vaned capillary drying tray, a system was conceived to recover water from brine. This technology has been named the Capillary BRIC; abbreviated CapiBRIC. The CapiBRIC utilizes a capillary drying tray within a drying chamber. Water is recovered from clean water vapor evaporating from the free surface leaving waste brine solids behind. A novel approach of optimizing the containment geometry to support passive capillary flow and static phase separation provides the opportunity for a low power system that is not as susceptible to fouling as membranes or other technologies employing physical barriers across the free brine surface to achieve phase separation in microgravity. Having been optimized for operation in microgravity, full-scale testing of the CapiBRIC as designed cannot be performed on the ground as the force of gravity would dominate over the capillary forces. However, subscale units relevant to full-scale design were used to characterize fill rates, containment stability, and interaction with a variable volume reservoir in the PSU Dryden Drop Tower (DDT) facility. PSU also using tested units scaled such that capillary forces dominated in a 1-g environment to characterize evaporation from a free-surface in 1-g upward, sideways and downward orientations. In order to augment the subscale testing performed by PSU, a full scale 1-g analogue of the CapiBRIC drying unit was initiated to help validate performance predictions regarding expected water recovery ratio, estimated processing time, and interface definitions for inlets, outlets, and internal processes, including vent gas composition. This paper describes the design, development and test of the terrestrial CapiBRIC prototypes.

Sargusingh, Miriam J.↗

Free-Spinning Wind-Tunnel Tests of a Low-Wing Monoplane with Systematic Changes in Wings and Tails IV : Effect of Center-of-Gravity Location

Eight wings and three tails, covering a wide range of aerodynamic characteristics, were independently ballasted so as to be interchangeable with no change in mass distribution. For each of the 24 resulting wing-tail combinations, observations were made of the steady spin for four control settings and of recoveries for five control manipulations. The results are presented in the form of charts comparing the spin characteristics. The tests are part of a general investigation being made in the NACA free-spinning tunnel to determine the effects of systematic changes in wing and tail arrangement upon the steady-spin and the recovery characteristics of a conventional low-wing monoplane for various load distributions.

Seidman, Oscar↗

Spin-tunnel investigation of a 1/13-scale model of the NASA AD-1 oblique-wing research aircraft

The spin and recovery characteristics of a 1/13-scale model of the NASA AD-1 oblique-wing research aircraft at wing-skew positions of 0, 25, 45, and 60 deg (right wing forward) were investigated. Spins were obtained for all wing-skew positions tested. For the unskewed wing position, two spin modes were possible. One spin mode was very steep and recoveries were obtained within 1 turn or less by rudder reversal. The second spin mode was flat and fast; the angle of attack was about 75 deg and the spin rate was about 145 deg/sec (2.5 seconds per turn). For the skewed wing positions, spins were obtained only in the direction of the forward-skewed wing (right wing forward). No spins were obtained to the left when the wing was skewed with the right wing forward. Recoveries should be attempted by deflecting the rudder to full against the spin, the ailerons to full with the spin, and movement of the wings to 0 deg skew. If the wing is skewed, the recovery may not be effected until the wing skew approaches 0 deg.

White, W. L.↗

NASA's Functional Task Test: Providing Information for an Integrated Countermeasure System

Exposure to the microgravity conditions of spaceflight causes astronauts to experience alterations in multiple physiological systems. These physiological changes include sensorimotor disturbances, cardiovascular deconditioning, and loss of muscle mass and strength. Some or all of these changes might affect the ability of crewmembers to perform critical mission tasks immediately after landing on a planetary surface. The goals of the Functional Task Test (FTT) study were to determine the effects of spaceflight on functional tests that are representative of critical exploration mission tasks and to identify the key physiological factors that contribute to decrements in performance. The FTT was comprised of seven functional tests and a corresponding set of interdisciplinary physiological measures targeting the sensorimotor, cardiovascular and muscular changes associated with exposure to spaceflight. Both Shuttle and ISS crewmembers participated in this study. Additionally, we conducted a supporting study using the FTT protocol on subjects before and after 70 days of 6 head-down bed rest. The bed rest analog allowed us to investigate the impact of body unloading in isolation on both functional tasks and on the underlying physiological factors that lead to decrements in performance, and then to compare them with the results obtained in our spaceflight study. Spaceflight data were collected on three sessions before flight, on landing day (Shuttle only) and 1, 6 and 30 days after landing. Bed rest subjects were tested three times before bed rest and immediately after getting up from bed rest as well as 1, 6, and 12 days after reambulation. We have shown that for Shuttle, ISS and bed rest subjects, functional tasks requiring a greater demand for dynamic control of postural equilibrium (i.e. fall recovery, seat egress/obstacle avoidance during walking, object translation, jump down) showed the greatest decrement in performance. Functional tests with reduced requirements for postural stability (i.e. hatch opening, ladder climb, manual manipulation of objects and tool use) showed little reduction in performance. These changes in functional performance were paralleled by similar decrements in sensorimotor tests designed to specifically assess postural equilibrium and dynamic gait control. Bed rest subjects experienced similar deficits both in functional tests with balance challenges and in sensorimotor tests designed to evaluate postural and gait control as spaceflight subjects indicating that body support unloading experienced during spaceflight plays a central role in post-flight alteration of functional task performance. To determine how differences in body-support loading experienced during in-flight treadmill exercise affect postflight functional performance, the loading history for each subject during in-flight treadmill (T2) exercise was correlated with postflight measures of performance. ISS crewmembers who walked on the treadmill with higher pull-down loads had enhanced post-flight performance on tests requiring mobility. Taken together the spaceflight and bed rest data point to the importance of supplementing inflight exercise countermeasures with balance and sensorimotor adaptability training. These data also support the notion that inflight treadmill exercise performed with higher body loading provides sensorimotor benefits leading to improved performance on functional tasks that require dynamic postural stability and mobility.

Bloomberg, J. J.↗

Orion Launch Abort System Performance on Exploration Flight Test 1

This paper will present an overview of the flight test objectives and performance of the Orion Launch Abort System during Exploration Flight Test-1. Exploration Flight Test-1, the first flight test of the Orion spacecraft, was managed and led by the Orion prime contractor, Lockheed Martin, and launched atop a United Launch Alliance Delta IV Heavy rocket. This flight test was a two-orbit, high-apogee, high-energy entry, low-inclination test mission used to validate and test systems critical to crew safety. This test included the first flight test of the Launch Abort System preforming Orion nominal flight mission critical objectives. NASA is currently designing and testing the Orion Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle (MPCV). Orion will serve as NASA's new exploration vehicle to carry astronauts to deep space destinations and safely return them to earth. The Orion spacecraft is composed of four main elements: the Launch Abort System, the Crew Module, the Service Module, and the Spacecraft Adapter (Fig. 1). The Launch Abort System (LAS) provides two functions; during nominal launches, the LAS provides protection for the Crew Module from atmospheric loads and heating during first stage flight and during emergencies provides a reliable abort capability for aborts that occur within the atmosphere. The Orion Launch Abort System (LAS) consists of an Abort Motor to provide the abort separation from the Launch Vehicle, an Attitude Control Motor to provide attitude and rate control, and a Jettison Motor for crew module to LAS separation (Fig. 2). The jettison motor is used during a nominal launch to separate the LAS from the Launch Vehicle (LV) early in the flight of the second stage when it is no longer needed for aborts and at the end of an LAS abort sequence to enable deployment of the crew module's Landing Recovery System. The LAS also provides a Boost Protective Cover fairing that shields the crew module from debris and the aero-thermal environment during ascent. Although the Orion Program has tested a number of the critical systems of the Orion spacecraft on the ground, the launch environment cannot be replicated completely on Earth. A number of flight tests have been conducted and are planned to demonstrate the performance and enable certification of the Orion Spacecraft. Exploration Flight Test 1, the first flight test of the Orion spacecraft, was successfully flown on December 5, 2014 from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station's Space Launch Complex 37. Orion's first flight was a two-orbit, high-apogee, high-energy entry, low-inclination test mission used to validate and test systems critical to crew safety, such as heat shield performance, separation events, avionics and software performance, attitude control and guidance, parachute deployment and recovery operations. One of the key separation events tested during this flight was the nominal jettison of the LAS. Data from this flight will be used to verify the function of the jettison motor to separate the Launch Abort System from the crew module so it can continue on with the mission. The LAS nominal jettison event on Exploration Flight Test 1 occurred at six minutes and twenty seconds after liftoff (See Fig. 3). The abort motor and attitude control motors were inert for Exploration Flight Test 1, since the mission did not require abort capabilities. A suite of developmental flight instrumentation was included on the flight test to provide data on spacecraft subsystems and separation events. This paper will focus on the flight test objectives and performance of the LAS during ascent and nominal jettison. Selected LAS subsystem flight test data will be presented and discussed in the paper. Exploration Flight Test -1 will provide critical data that will enable engineering to improve Orion's design and reduce risk for the astronauts it will protect as NASA continues to move forward on its human journey to Mars. The lessons learned from Exploration Flight Test 1 and the other Flight Test Vehicles will certainly contribute to the vehicle architecture of a human-rated space launch vehicle.

McCauley, R.↗

Dynamic Earth Energy Storage: Terawatt-Year, Grid-Scale Energy Storage using Planet Earth as a Thermal Battery (GeoTES): Seedling Project Final Report

Grid-scale energy storage has been identified as a needed technology to support the continued build-out of intermittent renewable energy resources. As of April 2017, the U.S. had approximately 24.2 GW of energy storage on line, compared to 1,081 GW of installed generation capacity (Litynski et al. 2006, Hellstrom 2003). This represents a large shortfall of the storage needed to stabilize the U.S. grids with the rising penetration of renewable energy. Our team proposed to address this shortfall through the storage of excess energy as geothermal brine in deep geologic formations. This concept, known as geologic thermal energy storage (GeoTES), relies on the storage of thermal energy in geologic formations for recovery and use in large-scale direct use geothermal applications. As such, GeoTES has the potential to play a significant role in meeting the energy storage shortfall in the coming decades by assisting with peak demand ramping, easing stress on transmission, providing regional storage to support sustainable direct use geothermal applications, and providing a variety of grid stabilization benefits due to renewable outages or inaccurate forecasting and rotor stability.

15 GEOTHERMAL ENERGY↗

The aerodynamic challenges of SRB recovery

Recovery and reuse of the Space Shuttle solid rocket boosters was baselined to support the primary goal to develop a low cost space transportation system. The recovery system required for the 170,000-lb boosters was for the largest and heaviest object yet to be retrieved from exoatmospheric conditions. State-of-the-art design procedures were ground-ruled and development testing minimized to produce both a reliable and cost effective system. The ability to utilize the inherent drag of the boosters during the initial phase of reentry was a key factor in minimizing the parachute loads, size and weight. A wind tunnel test program was devised to enable the accurate prediction of booster aerodynamic characteristics. Concurrently, wind tunnel, rocket sled and air drop tests were performed to develop and verify the performance of the parachute decelerator subsystem. Aerodynamic problems encountered during the overall recovery system development and the respective solutions are emphasized.

Bacchus, D. L.↗

Adaptation of primate vestibuloocular reflex to altered peripheral vestibular inputs. I. Frequency-specific recovery of horizontal VOR after inactivation of the lateral semicircular canals

1. The adaptive plasticity of the vestibuloocular reflex (VOR) following a selective lesion of the peripheral vestibular organs was investigated in rhesus monkeys whose lateral semicircular canals were inactivated by plugging of the canal lumen in both ears. Gain and phase of horizontal, vertical, and torsional slow-phase eye velocity were determined from three-dimensional eye movement recordings obtained acutely after the plugging operation, as well as in regular intervals up to 10 mo later. 2. Acutely after plugging, horizontal VOR was minimal during yaw rotation with gains of < 0.1 at all frequencies. Horizontal VOR gain gradually increased over time, reaching gains of 0.4-0.5 for yaw oscillations at 1.1 Hz approximately 5 mo after lateral canal inactivation. This response recovery was strongly frequency dependent: horizontal VOR gains were largest at the highest frequency tested and progressively decreased for lower frequencies. Below approximately 0.1 Hz, no consistent horizontal VOR could be elicited even 10 mo after plugging. 3. The frequency-dependent changes in gain paralleled changes in horizontal VOR phase. Below approximately 0.1-0.05 Hz large phase leads were present, similarly as in semicircular canal primary afferents. Smaller phase leads were also present at higher frequencies, particularly at 1.1 Hz (the highest frequency tested). 4. Consistent with the afferent-like dynamics of the adapted horizontal VOR, per- and postrotatory horizontal responses to constant-velocity yaw rotations were short lasting. Time constants of the slow-phase eye velocity envelope of the horizontal postrotatory nystagmus were approximately 2 s. Nonetheless, a consistent horizontal optokinetic afternystagmus was evoked in plugged animals. 5. A torsional component that was absent in intact animals was consistently present during yaw rotation acutely after lateral canal inactivation and remained approximately constant thereafter. The frequency response characteristics of this torsional component resembled those of the adapted horizontal slow-phase responses: gain decreased and large phase leads were introduced at frequencies below approximately 0.05-0.1 Hz. Torsional responses elicited by roll oscillations in supine position, on the other hand, were indistinguishable in their dynamics from intact animals. No consistent vertical nystagmus was elicited during yaw rotation. 6. Our results show that there is a slow, frequency-specific recovery of horizontal VOR after selective inactivation of the lateral semicircular canals. Both the spatial organization and the dynamic properties of the adapted VOR responses are distinctly different from responses in intact animals, suggesting complex changes in the underlying vestibuloocular circuitry.

NASA Program Space Physiology and Countermeasures↗

Apollo experience report: Postflight testing of command modules

Various phases of the postflight testing of the command modules used in the Apollo Program are presented. The specific tasks to be accomplished by the task force recovery teams, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, (formerly the Manned Spacecraft Center) and the cognizant contractors/subcontractors are outlined. The means and methods used in postflight testing and how such activities evolved during the Apollo Program and were tailored to meet specific test requirements are described. Action taken to resolve or minimize problems or anomalies discovered during the flight, the postflight test phase, or mission evaluation is discussed.

Hamilton, D. T.↗

Reconstruction of Thermal Protection System Aeroheating using a Green’s Function Approach

Inverse heat transfer (IHT) techniques are often used to reconstruct the surface heating conditions on spacecraft thermal protection systems (TPS) during atmospheric entry. Current IHT techniques for entry spacecraft applications, however, demand substantial computational resources, and are impractical for analyses such as uncertainty quantification and real-time health monitoring. In this paper, a Green’s function sensor fusion approach is used to reconstruct the TPS surface aeroheating conditions on experimental spaceflight and ground test systems from collocated temperature and heat flux sensors embedded in the TPS. The algorithm leverages Green’s functions to model the heat conduction within the spacecraft TPS and stabilizes the recovery of the surface heating condition using the direct heat flux sensor measurement. The algorithm is validated using arc-jet ground test data and applied to the reconstruction of the Mars 2020 backshell heating during Martian atmospheric entry. The performance of the algorithm is benchmarked against a current state-of-the-art IHT framework, FIAT_Opt. The Green’s function-based reconstruction algorithm recovers the net hot-wall heat flux absorbed by the TPS and the incident heat flux from the atmospheric entry environment in close agreement with FIAT_Opt. Notably, computation of the surface heating condition is completed in three orders of magnitude less time with the Green’s function sensor fusion approach using a consumer-grade PC, versus with FIAT_Opt running on a high performance computer cluster. The efficiency of the algorithm is leveraged to compute the uncertainty contributions of input parameters to the total uncertainty in reconstructed Mars 2020 backshell heating for the full atmospheric entry heat pulse. The sensitivity analysis uncovers that, at different times throughout the entry heat pulse, uncertainties in the TPS specific heat, thermal conductivity, and emissivity are all dominant drivers of the reconstruction uncertainty. These results demonstrate Green’s functions and sensor-fusion techniques as promising IHT approaches to reconstruct atmospheric entry environments from TPS-embedded measurements, and highlight how these techniques may give access to post-flight analyses previously hindered by the prohibitive cost of current methods.

Kenneth McAfee↗

Reconstruction of Thermal Protection System Aeroheating using a Green’s Function Approach

Inverse heat transfer (IHT) techniques are often used to reconstruct the surface heating conditions on spacecraft thermal protection systems (TPS) during atmospheric entry. Current IHT techniques for entry spacecraft applications, however, demand substantial computational resources, and are impractical for analyses such as uncertainty quantification and real-time health monitoring. In this paper, a Green’s function sensor fusion approach is used to reconstruct the TPS surface aeroheating conditions on experimental spaceflight and ground test systems from collocated temperature and heat flux sensors embedded in the TPS. The algorithm leverages Green’s functions to model the heat conduction within the spacecraft TPS and stabilizes the recovery of the surface heating condition using the direct heat flux sensor measurement. The algorithm is validated using arc-jet ground test data and applied to the reconstruction of the Mars 2020 backshell heating during Martian atmospheric entry. The performance of the algorithm is benchmarked against a current state-of-the-art IHT framework, FIAT_Opt. The Green’s function-based reconstruction algorithm recovers the net hot-wall heat flux absorbed by the TPS and the incident heat flux from the atmospheric entry environment in close agreement with FIAT_Opt. Notably, computation of the surface heating condition is completed in three orders of magnitude less time with the Green’s function sensor fusion approach using a consumer-grade PC, versus with FIAT_Opt running on a high performance computer cluster. The efficiency of the algorithm is leveraged to compute the uncertainty contributions of input parameters to the total uncertainty in reconstructed Mars 2020 backshell heating for the full atmospheric entry heat pulse. The sensitivity analysis uncovers that, at different times throughout the entry heat pulse, uncertainties in the TPS specific heat, thermal conductivity, and emissivity are all dominant drivers of the reconstruction uncertainty. These results demonstrate Green’s functions and sensor-fusion techniques as promising IHT approaches to reconstruct atmospheric entry environments from TPS-embedded measurements, and highlight how these techniques may give access to post-flight analyses previously hindered by the prohibitive cost of current methods.

Kenneth McAfee↗

Recovery of Cs-137 from Electric Arc Furnace Dust - 20562

The present work proposes the Cs-137 recovery from Electric Arc Furnace Dusts (EAFD) by leaching, in order to reduce the volume of radioactive waste to be managed. Leaching tests were performed on different samples of EAFD contaminated with Cs-137. Two leaching methodologies were tested: dynamic and static using as medium distilled water and in some cases NaOH. The results indicate the possibility of recovering Cs-137 from EAFD using the dynamic method; however, the recovery efficiencies of Cs-137 depend on EAFD's chemical composition. The leachates of Cs-137 were quantitatively adsorbed on exchange resins, showing its great potential to isolate or contain the Cs-137 recovery from EAFD. This study shows the feasible to apply the dynamic leaching methodology to recover Cs-137 from EAFD and the use of ion exchange resins for the isolation of removed Cs-137. (authors)

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗

Spin and Recovery Characteristics of the Northrop XF-89 Airplane

The spin and recovery characteristics of the Northrop XF-89 airplane, as well as the spin-recovery parachute requirements, the control forces that would be encountered in the spin, and the best method for the crew to attempt an emergency escape are presented in this report. The characteristics were mainly estimated rather than determined by model tests because the XF-89 dimensional and mass characteristics were such as to make this airplane similar to several others, models of which have previously been tested. Brief tests were made on an available model of similar design to augment the estimation. The results indicate that the recovery characteristics will be satisfactory for all airplane loadings if recovery is attempted by use of rudder followed by moving the elevator down. The rudder pedal forces will be within the capabilities of the pilot but the elevator stick forces will be beyond the pilot's capabilities unless a trim tab, or a booster is used. A 9.5-foot-diameter flat-type tail parachute or a 5.0-foot-diameter flat-type wing-tip parachute with a drag coefficient of 0.7 will be a satisfactory emergency spin-recovery device for spin demonstrations and if it is necessary for the crew to abandon the spinning airplane, they should leave from the outboard side of the cockpit.

Berman, Theodore↗

Testing of Diode-Clamping in an Inductive Pulsed Plasma Thruster Circuit

Testing of a 5.5 kV silicon (Si) diode and 5.8 kV prototype silicon carbide (SiC) diode in an inductive pulsed plasma thruster (IPPT) circuit was performed to obtain a comparison of the resulting circuit recapture efficiency,eta(sub r), defined as the percentage of the initial charge energy remaining on the capacitor bank after the diode interrupts the current. The diode was placed in a pulsed circuit in series with a silicon controlled rectifier (SCR) switch, and the voltages across different components and current waveforms were collected over a range of capacitor charge voltages. Reverse recovery parameters, including turn-off time and peak reverse recovery current, were measured and capacitor voltage waveforms were used to determine the recapture efficiency for each case. The Si fast recovery diode in the circuit was shown to yield a recapture efficiency of up to 20% for the conditions tested, while the SiC diode further increased recapture efficiency to nearly 30%. The data presented show that fast recovery diodes operate on a timescale that permits them to clamp the discharge quickly after the first half cycle, supporting the idea that diode-clamping in IPPT circuit reduces energy dissipation that occurs after the first half cycle

Toftul, Alexandra↗

Development of Testing Methodologies to Evaluate Postflight Locomotor Performance

Crewmembers experience locomotor and postural instabilities during ambulation on Earth following their return from space flight. Gait training programs designed to facilitate recovery of locomotor function following a transition to a gravitational environment need to be accompanied by relevant assessment methodologies to evaluate their efficacy. The goal of this paper is to demonstrate the operational validity of two tests of locomotor function that were used to evaluate performance after long duration space flight missions on the International Space Station (ISS).

Mulavara, A. P.↗

Preliminary Evaluation of the Spin and Recovery Characteristics of the Douglas XF3D-1 Airplane

A preliminary evaluation of the spin and recovery characteristics of the XF3D-1 airplane has been made, based primarily on the results of the free-spinning tunnel tests of a model which closely simulated the XF3D-1 in tail design, tail length, and mass loading. Estimates have been made of the rudder-pedal force that may be encountered in effecting recovery from a spin and of the spin recovery parachute requirements of the airplane for demonstration spins. The method of bail-out which should be used if it becomes necessary for the crew to abandon the airplane during a spin is indicated. It was indicated that the recovery characteristics of the XF3D-1 airplane in the clean condition for erect and inverted spins would be satisfactory for all loadings specified by the contractor as possible on the airplane. However, if a spin is inadvertently entered while the landing flaps are down, recovery may be slow. The slow-down brakes and the landing flaps should be retracted immediately upon the inception of a spinning condition, after which recovery from the spin should be attempted. The pedal force necessary to reverse the rudder during a spin will be within the physical capabilities of the pilot. Opening a 10-foot diameter parachute attached to the tail (laid-out-flat diameter, drag coefficient 0.7) or a 4.5-foot diameter parachute attached to the outboard wing tip will insure satisfactory spin recovery from demonstration spins. If it becomes necessary for the crew to abandon the airplane during a spin, they should leave from the outboard side of the cockpit.

Scher, Stanley H.↗

An iterative reconstruction of cosmological initial density fields

We present an iterative method to reconstruct the linear-theory initial conditions from the late-time cosmological matter density field, with the intent of improving the recovery of the cosmic distance scale from the baryon acoustic oscillations. We present tests using the dark matter density field in both real and redshift space generated from an N-body simulation. In redshift space at z = 0.5, we find that the reconstructed displacement field using our iterative method are more than 80 percent correlated with the true displacement field of the dark matter particles on scales k < 0.10 h Mpc -1 . Furthermore, we show that the two-point correlation function of our reconstructed density field matches that of the initial density field substantially better, especially on small scales (<40 h -1 Mpc). Our redshift-space results are improved if we use an anisotropic smoothing so as to account for the reduced small-scale information along the line of sight in redshift space.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗