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At least 109 records · Page 6

Heated Rack For Weathering Tests

Outdoor photothermal aging reactor (OPTAR) simple device exposing polymer specimens to both heat and natural sunlight. Intended to provide accelerated aging data for service life of polymers used in outdoor environments. In principle, OPTAR accelerates (but does not initiate) degradation of polymers resulting from sunlight and other weathering effect (eg. rain, wind, ozone). Aging of tested material accelerated, but under almost-natural conditions.

Cuddihy, Edward F.

An analysis of the loads applied to a heavy Space Station rack during translation and rotation tasks

To prepare for Space Station Alpha's on-orbit assembly, maintenance, and resupply, NASA requires information about the crew members' ability to move heavy masses on orbit. Ease of movement in microgravity and orbiter stay time constraints may change the Space Station equipment and outfitting design requirements. Therefore, the time and effort required to perform a particular task and how and where the forces and torque should be applied become critical in evaluating the design effort. Thus, the three main objectives of this investigation were to: (1) quantify variables such as force and torque as they relate to heavy mass handling techniques; (2) predict the time required to perform heavy mass handling tasks; and (3) note any differences between males and females in their ability to manipulate a heavy mass.

Stoycos, Lara E.

Combustion Module 1: Spacelab Racks Integrated at the Lewis Research Center for the First Time

The Combustion Module-1 (CM-1), NASA's largest (over 1800 lb) and one of the most sophisticated combustion experiments ever to fly on the Spacelab, will be carried on the first Microgravity Science Laboratory (MSL-1) mission aboard the space shuttle flight STS-84 in April 1997. The CM-1 project is a stepping stone to the space station era, because the hardware can support multiple investigators on the same mission and can be integrated at user locations and shipped to the launch site. CM-1 is being developed to accommodate microgravity combustion experiments that are designed to help explain and predict the behavior of combustion processes. Although the two principal investigators for CM-1 are both studying combustion processes, their investigations are quite different. Professor Paul D. Ronney of the University of Southern California will examine the Structures of Flame Balls at Low Lewis Numbers (SOFBALL), in which a variety of fuel-lean gaseous mixtures fill the combustion chamber and are ignited. Professor Gerard M. Faeth of the University of Michigan will investigate Laminar Soot Processes (LSP) by studying the key properties of burning gas jets of fuel, employing different fuels and nozzle sizes.

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International Space Station (ISS) Expedite the Process of Experiments to Space Station (EXPRESS) Racks Software Support

bd Systems personnel accomplished the technical responsibilities for this reporting period, as planned. A close working relationship was maintained with personnel of the MSFC Avionics Department Software Group (ED 14), the MSFC EXPRESS Project Office (FD3 l), and the Huntsville Boeing Company. Work accomplishments included the support of SRB activities, ATB activities, ESCP activities, participating in technical meetings, coordinating issues between the Boeing Company and the MSFC Project Office, and performing special tasks as requested.

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The ISS Increments 3 and 4 Test Report: For the Active Rack Isolation System ISS Characterization Experiment (ARIS-ICE)

The purpose of ARIS-ICE is to improve, optimize then operationally test and document the performance of the ARIS system on the International Space Station. The ICE program required testing across a full 3 increments (2 through 4). This paper represents the operational report summarizing our accomplishments through the third and fourth increment of testing. The main objectives and results of the increment two testing are discussed in The Increment two Operational Report. This report can be obtained from the ISS Payloads Office or from (http://iss-www.isc.nasa.gov/sslissapt/payofc/OZ3/ARIS.html). In summary these were to ensure the smooth and successful activation of the system and correct operational issues related to long term testing. Then the follow on increment 3 & 4 testing encompassed the majority of the on orbit performance assessments and improvements made to the ARIS system. The intent here is to report these preliminary results of the increment 3 & 4 ARIS-ICE testing as well as the ARIS system improvements made for our users and customers.

Quraishi, Naveed

The development and potential uses of an Adsorption Water Collection System for the Trash Compaction Processing System designed for operation in the International Space Station Express Rack

The use of adsorption as an alternative to current state of the art water collection and phase separation methods for human space flight is being investigated at NASA Ames Research Center. A system called the Adsorption Water Recovery System was designed to work with the Trash Compaction Processing System. The system uses modular adsorption columns that can be combined both in parallel and series and allow for relatively easy system sizing. The system is intended to be a standalone system that may also be adapted for other applications that involve adsorption. This paper describes the design and potential operating parameters and configurations of the Adsorption Water Recovery System.

trash

Advantages and Disadvantages of Vertical Solar Racking for Agrivoltaic Systems

Vertical bifacial systems can provide benefits for agriculture compared to conventional solar farm designs, but gaps remain in understanding key features related to vegetative shading, electricity production, and microclimate. This study evaluates the advantages and disadvantages of vertical bifacial systems for agrivoltaics compared to traditional fixed tilt and single axis tracking (SAT) designs based on solar radiation data from the Northeastern US.

Williams, Henry J

Crew Member Interface with Space Station Furnace Facility

The Space Station Furnace Facility (SSFF) is a facility located in the International Space Station United States Laboratory (ISS US Lab) for materials research in the microgravity environment. The SSFF will accommodate basic research, commercial applications, and studies of phenomena of metals and alloys, electronic and photonic materials, and glasses and ceramics. To support this broad base of research requirements, the SSFF will operate, regulate, and support a variety of Experiment Modules (EMs). To meet station requirements concerning the microgravity level needed for experiments, station is providing an active vibration isolation system, and SSFF provides the interface. SSFF physically consists of a Core Rack and two instrument racks (IRs) that occupy three adjacent ISS US Lab rack locations within the International Space Station (ISS). All SSFF racks are modified International Standard Payload Racks (ISPR). SSFF racks will have a 50% larger pass through area on the lower sides than ISPRs to accommodate the many rack to rack interconnections. The Instrument Racks are further modified with lowered floors and an additional removable panel (15" x 22") on top of the rack for access if needed. The Core Rack shall contain all centralized Core subsystems and ISS subsystem equipment. The two Instrument Racks shall contain the distributed Core subsystem equipment, ISS subsystem equipment, and the EMs. The Core System, which includes the Core Rack, the IR structures, and subsystem components located in the IRs serves as the central control and management for the IRs and the EMs. The Core System receives the resources provided by the International Space Station (ISS) and modifies, allocates, and distributes these resources to meet the operational requirements of the furnace. The Core System is able to support a total of four EMs and can control, support, and activate/deactivate the operations of two EMs, simultaneously. The IRs can be configured to house two small EMs or one tall vertical EM, and serve as the interface between the Core and the respective EM. The Core Rack and an adjacent Instrument Rack (containing one or more furnaces) will be delivered to the ISS in one launch. This is Integrated Configuration One (ICI). The Core Rack and IRI will be passive during transport in the Mini Pressurized Logistics Module (MPLM): Any subsequent EMs to operate within IRI are installed on-orbit. The second IR (containing one or more furnaces) is delivered to ISS on a subsequent launch which will establish Integrated Configuration Two (IC2). Additional integrated configurations will be established with the replacement of EMs or Instrument Racks.

Cash, Martha B.

The Extension of ISS Resources for Multi-Discipline Subrack Payloads

The EXpedite the processing of Experiments to Space Station or EXPRESS Rack System was developed to provide Space Station accommodations for subrack payloads. The EXPRESS Rack accepts Space Shuttle middeck locker type payloads and International Subrack Interface Standard (ISIS) Drawer payloads, allowing previously flown payloads an opportunity to transition to the International Space Station. The EXPRESS Rack provides power, data command and control, video, water cooling, air cooling, vacuum exhaust, and Nitrogen supply to payloads. The EXPRESS Rack system also includes transportation racks to transport payloads to and from the Space Station, Suitcase Simulators to allow a payload developer to verify data interfaces at the development site, Functional Checkout Units to allow payload checkout at KSC prior to launch, and trainer racks for the astronauts to learn how to operate the EXPRESS Racks prior to flight. Standard hardware and software interfaces provided by the EXPRESS Rack simplify the integration processes, and facilitate simpler ISS payload development. Whereas most ISS Payload facilities are designed to accommodate one specific type of science, the EXPRESS Rack is designed to accommodate multi-discipline research within the same rack allowing for the independent operation of each subrack payload. On-orbit operations began with the EXPRESS Rack Project on April 24, 2001, with one rack operating continuously to support long-running payloads. The other on-orbit EXPRESS Racks operate based on payload need and resource availability. Sustaining Engineering and Logistics and Maintenance functions are in place to maintain operations and to provide software upgrades.

Sledd, Annette M.