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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 127 records · Page 7

Opportunities for commercial organizations

The possible applications of technology of materials processing in low gravity is discussed. A special office established by NASA to familiarize commercial organizations with materials processing in low gravity is described. This office provides information on present research and will, if requested, hold a seminar to present the technological and business aspects of joint investigations and joint endeavors to interested organizations. Arrangements can be made for visits to laboratories where ground based research is in progress.

Vardaman, W. K.↗

The Context for Food Service and Nutrition in the Space Station

Space is part of humanity's continuing evolution and an integral part of man's capabilities to fashion a better future for this and succeeding generations. There is no turning back; space is the arena where U.S. industry has the opportunity to achieve a competitive edge and restore the vitality of industrial innovation. As in any emerging field with bright promise, skeptics can point to major obstacles to space operations, including the high cost of space transportation and space activities, the risks of new ventures and the timing of entry into the space market. Commercial activities in space represent diverse markets where international competitors will be motivated by economic, technical and political considerations. Although the technical details, costs and benefits of these activities can only be conceived in broad outline, it is time to take a constructive view of the attainable economic returns from space endeavors. President Reagan directed NASA to develop a permanently manned Space Station within a decade to demonstrate U.S. leadership in space and to stimulate commercial exploitation of space.(1) " A Space Station," declared Dr. James M. Beggs, NASA Administrator, "provides a logical stepping stone to the exploration and exploitation of space."(2)

Peter E. Glaser↗

Life sciences flight experiments program mission science requirements document. The first life sciences dedicated Spacelab mission, part 1

The Mission Science Requirements Document (MSRD) for the First Dedicated Life Sciences Mission (LS-1) represents the culmination of thousands of hours of experiment selection, and science requirement definition activities. NASA life sciences has never before attempted to integrate, both scientifically and operationally, a single mission dedicated to life sciences research, and the complexity of the planning required for such an endeavor should be apparent. This set of requirements completes the first phase of a continual process which will attempt to optimize (within available programmatic and mission resources) the science accomplished on this mission.

Rummel, J. A.↗

A formulation and analysis of combat games

Combat is formulated as a dynamical encounter between two opponents, each of whom has offensive capabilities and objectives. With each opponent is associated a target in the event space in which he endeavors to terminate the combat, thereby winning. If the combat terminates in both target sets simultaneously or in neither, a joint capture or a draw, respectively, is said to occur. Resolution of the encounter is formulated as a combat game; namely, as a pair of competing event-constrained differential games. If exactly one of the players can win, the optimal strategies are determined from a resulting constrained zero-sum differential game. Otherwise the optimal strategies are computed from a resulting non-zero-sum game. Since optimal combat strategies frequencies may not exist, approximate of delta-combat games are also formulated leading to approximate or delta-optimal strategies. To illustrate combat games, an example, called the turret game, is considered. This game may be thought of as a highly simplified model of air combat, yet it is sufficiently complex to exhibit a rich variety of combat behavior, much of which is not found in pursuit-evasion games.

Heymann, M.↗

International cooperation in the commercial era of space

NASA plans permitting international participation in space activities are reviewed, with an emphasis on the increasing commercialization of these endeavors. The potential indicated by the recent success of the STS, long-term and large-scale Soviet missions, and the Ariane launcher is discussed; the development of the Space Station concept is traced; the increasing use of remote-sensing and telecommunications satellites is documented; currently planned space science missions are listed; and the NASA policy on international cooperation (full payment by the second nation, clean payload-spacecraft interfaces to prevent technology transfer, and open availability of scientific results) is outlined. It is argued that space activity, having passed through first and second phases dominated by exploration and military goals, respectively, will now soon enter a primarily commercial phase, with competition in telecommunications and remote-sensing services and private investment in space processing, manufacturing, and even launchers.

Allnutt, R. F.↗

NASA's approach to the commercial use of space

NASA planning activities in the area of commercial development of space resources are reviewed. Examples of specific types of commercial space ventures are given, according to three different categories: new commercial high-technology ventures; new commercial application of existing space technology, and commercial ventures resulting from the transfer of existing space programs to the private sector. Basic objectives for reducing technical, financial and institutional risks for commercial space operations are considered. Attention is given to the cooperative working environment encouraged by Joint Endeavor Agreements (JEAs) and Technical Exchange Agreements (TEAs) between industrial organizations in the development of space systems. Benefits of the commercial development of space resources include the production of purer pharmaceuticals for the treatment of cancers, kidney diseases, and diabetes; and the development of ultra-pure semiconductor crystals for use in next generation electronic equipment.

Gillam, I. T., IV↗

Commercial use of space - The space business era

Progress and avenues being explored by NASA to hasten the commercialization of space are described. A task force has recommended that the effort begin at once, that bureaucratic barriers to commercial space activities be removed, and that a partnership between government and industry be seriously explored. The government role is to establish links with private industry, invest in high-leverage technologies and space facilities which will be attractive to commercial ventures, and contribute to commercial enterprises where risks are high and significant economic benefits can be foreseen. The government/industry relationship can be legally evinced by MOUs, joint endeavor agreements, technical exchange agreements and industrial guest investigator arrangements. The Space Station is the first step in that it allows Americans to live and work in space. It is expected that international participation in Space Station development and utilization will accelerate the space business era.

Griffin, G. D.↗

Turbine engine Hot Section Technology (HOST) project

The Hot Section Technology (HOST) Project is a NASA-sponsored endeavor to improve the durability of advanced gas turbine engines for commercial and military aircraft. Through improvements in the analytical models and life prediction systems, designs for future hot section components , the combustor and turbine, will be more accurately analyzed and will incorporate features required for longer life in the more hostile operating environment of high performance engines.

Sokolowski, D. E.↗

Research and technology Fiscal Year 1985 report

A quarter of a century is but a moment on the cosmic calendar. Now that Marshall Space Flight Center has reached its 25th Anniversity, it seems just moments ago that President Dwight D. Eisenhower stood on these grounds and formally dedicated the George C. Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama. The Fiscal Year 1985 Research and Technology Report reflects the wide spectrum of activities closely linked with the Center's mainstream spaceflight developments. Past accomplishments testify to the success of getting deeply involved in the science and technology of its projects - 32 Saturn launches, Pegasus, the Skylab missions, three High Energy Astronomy Observatory missions, the Apollo - Soyuz mission, and an accelerating schedule of successful Shuttle, Spacelab, and Shuttle payload missions. The Center continues to be involved in engineering development, scientific research, and technology. At the beginning of the second quarter century, the experience and dedication of the engineers and scientists, and the success of the collaboration with industry and academia will now be aimed at the next great endeavor, the Space Station.

Speer, F.↗

Space station

The Space Station is being defined as a multi-purpose facility with emphasis in the following areas: scientific and technology research laboratory; permanent observatory; spacecraft servicing facility; construction and assembly facility; manufacturing facility; transportation node; and staging base for future space endeavors. The Station complex, in its initial operating capability configuration, includes a continuously habitable manned element, a polar orbiting unmanned platform, and a second unmanned platform co-orbiting with the manned element. All elements are dependent on the Space Transportation System (STS) for initial placement on-orbit and for subsequent logistical services. The manned element will be designed for long duration operations with systems maintainable on-orbit and operationally autonomous from ground control. A major feature of the Station will be its adaptability to evolutionary technology upgrades; and the Space Station, as a system, is to be designed for maximum ease of use by its users.

Thompson, D. R.↗

Defining reclaimed water potability requirements

Water used during previous space missions has been either carried or made aloft. Future human space endeavors will probably have to utilize some form of water reclamation and recycling. There is little applied experience in either the US or foreign space programs with this technology. Water reclamation and recycling constitutes an engineering challenge of the broadest nature and will require an intensive research and development effort if this technology is to mature in time for practical use on the proposed US spacestation. In order for this to happen, reclaimed/recycled water specification will need to be devised to guide engineering development. Perhaps the most strigent specifications will involve water to be consumed. NASA's present Potable Water Specifications are not applicable to reclaimed or recycled potable water. No specifications for reclaimed or recycled potable water presently exist either inside or outside NASA. NASA's past experience with potable water systems is reviewed, limitations of the present Potable Water Specifications are examined, present world expertise with potable water reclamation/recycling systems and system analogs is reviewed, and an approach to developing pertinent Reclaimed/Recycled Potable Water Specifications for spacecraft is presented.

Janik, D. S.↗

Tectonics and evolution of the Juan Fernandez microplate at the Pacific-Nazca-Antarctic triple junction

Magnetic and bathymetric profiles derived from the R/V Endeavor survey and focal mechanism studies for earthquakes on two of the Juan Fernandez microplate boundaries are analyzed. It is observed that the Nazca-Juan Fernandez pole is in the northern end of the microplate since the magnetic lineation along the East Ridge of the microplate fans to the south. The calculation of the relative motion of the Juan Fernandez-Pacific-Nazca-Antarctic four-plate system using the algorithm of Minster et al. (1974) is described. The development of tectonic and evolutionary models of the region is examined. The tectonic model reveals that the northern boundary of the Juan Fernandez microplate is a zone of compression and that the West Ridge and southwestern boundary are spreading obliquely; the evolutionary model relates the formation of the Juan Fernandez microplate to differential spreading rates at the triple junction.

Anderson-Fontana, S.↗

The U.S. Space Station program

An overview is given of the U.S. Space Station program, beginning with President Reagan's directive to NASA 'to develop a permanently manned Space Station and to do it within a decade'. The international aspects of the project are emphasized, and fruitful cooperation between Italy and the U.S. in past and present space research is noted. The Station is to serve diverse functions, including that of a laboratory in space, a permanent observatory, a servicing facility, a transportation node, and assembly and manufacturing facility, a storage depot, and a staging base for future endeavors. Management-related and engineering-related guidelines are laid out. The plan is to make the Space Station a legacy from this century to the next, with the help of and to the benefit of all who share our goals.

Culbertson, P. E.↗

Fourier transform techniques for the evaluation of the Thematic Mapper line spread function

An endeavor was made to use Fourier transform techniques to estimate the line spread function (LSF) of the Thematic Mapper (TM) from processed data. Data near the boundary of small fields from TM scenes were sampled, fitted to a theoretical curve, lowpass filtered, and then deconvolved to obtain the LSF. Lowpass filtering improved the truncation effect and eliminated the discontinuity at both ends of the data sequence.The selection of the cutoff frequency and the order of a lowpass filter is based on a newly defined criterion which tests the distortion of the processed edge by comparing it with the original edge. A parameter of the LSF, the equivalent width, is used to compare these LSF's deconvolved from sampled edge data with those evaluated by the derivative techniques. The calculated equivalent widths using the Fourier transform techniques for infrared bands are very close to TM design specifications.

Carnahan, W. H.↗

Studies of lightning data in conjunction with geostationary satellite data

Since January, work has been proceeding on the first phase of this project: the creation of an extensive real-time lightning data base accessible via the Space Science and Engineering Center McIdas system. The purpose of this endeavor is two-fold: to enhance the availability and ease of access to lightning data among the various networks, governmental and research agencies; and to test the feasiblity and desirability of such efforts in succeeding years. The final steps in the creation of the necessary communications links, hardware, and software are in the process of being completed. Operations ground rules for access among the various users have been discussed and are being refined. While the research planned for the last year of the project will rely for the most part on archived, quality-controlled data from the various networks, the real-time data will provide a valuable first-look at potentially interesting case studies. For this purpose, tools are being developed on McIdas for display and analysis of the data as they become available. In conjunction with concurrent GOES real-time imagery, strike locations can be plotted, gridded and contoured, or displayed in various statistical formats including frequency distributions, histograms, and scatter plots. The user may also perform these functions in relation to arbitrarily defined areas on the satellite image. By mid-May these preparations for the access and analysis of real-time lightning data are expected to be complete.

Auvine, B.↗

Gulf stream velocity structure through combined inversion of hydrographic and acoustic Doppler data

Near-surface velocities from an acoustic Doppler instrument are used in conjunction with CTD/O2 data to produce estimates of the absolute flow field off Cape Hatteras. The data set consists of two transects across the Gulf Stream made by the R/V Endeavor cruise EN88 in August 1982. An inverse procedure is applied which makes use of both the acoustic Doppler data and property conservation constraints. Velocity sections at approximately 73 deg. W and 71 deg. W are presented with formal errors of 1-2 cm/s. The net Gulf Stream transports are estimated to be 116 + or - 2 Sv across the south leg and 161 + or - 4 Sv across the north. A Deep Western Boundary Current transport of 4 + or - 1 Sv is also estimated. While these values do not necessarily represent the mean, they are accurate estimates of the synoptic flow field in the region.

Pierce, S. D.↗

Science and technology issues in spacecraft fire safety

The space station, a permanently-inhabited orbiting laboratory, places new demands on spacecraft fire safety. Long-duration missions may call for more-constrained fire controls, but the accessibility of the space station to a variety of users may call for less-restrictive measures. This paper discusses fire safety issues through a review of the state of the art and a presentation of key findings from a recent NASA Lewis Research Center Workshop. The subjects covered are the fundamental science of low-gravity combustion and the technology advances in fire detection, extinguishment, materials assessment, and atmosphere selection. Key concerns are for the adoption of a fire-safe atmosphere and the substitution for the effective but toxic extinguishant, halon 1301. The fire safety studies and reviews provide several recommendations for further action. One is the expanded research in combustion, sensors, and materials in the low-gravity environment of space. Another is the development of generalized fire-safety standards for spacecraft through cooperative endeavors with aerospace and outside Government and industry sources.

Friedman, Robert↗

The politics of Mars

This paper provides a discussion comparing past and present major accomplishments of the U.S. and the Soviet Union In space. It concludes that the Soviets are presently well ahead of the U.S. in several specific aspects of space accomplishment and speculates that the Soviet strategy ls directed towards sending a man to the vicinity of Mars by the end of this century. The paper briefly reviews a major successful multinational space endeavor--INTELSAT--and suggests that the manned exploration of Mars offers a unique opportunity for another such major international cooperative effort. The paper assesses the current attitude of U.S. leadership and the general public as uniformed or ambivalent about the perceived threat of Soviet dominance in space.

Harrison H Schmitt↗