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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 NTRSDate not supplied

Technology Development of a Solid State 266 nm Laser for NASA’s Dragonfly Mission

NASA’s Dragonfly mission is a rotorcraft lander which will explore several geologic locations on Saturn’s moon, Titan and investigate evidence of surface-level prebiotic chemistry as well as search for chemical signatures of water-based and/or hydrocarbon-based life. To perform molecular composition investigations in-situ, the payload includes the Dragonfly Mass Spectrometer (DraMS), being developed at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC). DraMS will utilize laser desorption mass spectrometry (LDMS) to interrogate surface samples and measure the organic composition. Enabling this science capability is the Throttled Hydrocarbon Analysis by Nanosecond Optical Source (THANOS) laser being developed at NASA-GSFC. The THANOS laser is comprised of a solid state, passively Q-Switched Nd:YAG oscillator which is frequency converted to 266 nm and utilizes a RTP high voltage electro-optic for pulse energy control. The laser outputs <2.0 ns pulses with a maximum energy of approximately 200 uJ which can be emitted in 1 - 50 shot bursts at 100 Hz while performing LDMS science operations. While operating, the laser has the capability to throttle its UV pulse energy output from full attenuation to maximum energy to provide varying levels of fluence on samples in the DraMS instrument. This paper reports the technology development and space qualification effort of the THANOS laser including vibration, thermal vacuum cycling, radiation as well as Titan atmospheric composition optical damage testing performed at NASA-GSFC from 2019 through 2022.

Matthew W Mullin↗

NASA NTRS2005

Beyond Einstein: Exploring the Extreme Universe

This paper will give an overview of the NASA Universe Division Beyond Einstein program. The Beyond Einstein program consists of a series of exploratory missions to investigate some of the most important and pressing problems in modern-day astrophysics - including searches for Dark Energy and studies of the earliest times in the universe, during the inflationary period after the Big Bang. A variety of new technologies are being developed both in the science instrumentation these missions will carry and in the spacecraft that will carry those instruments.

Barbier, Louis M.↗

NASA NTRS2006

Astrophysics of the 21st Century - Exploring the Extreme Universe

This paper will give an overview of the NASA Universe Division Beyond Einstein program. The Beyond Einstein program consists of a series of exploratory missions to investigate the most important and pressing problems in modern-day astrophysics - including searches for Dark Energy and studies of the earliest times in the universe, during the inflationary period after the Big Bang. A variety of new technologies are being developed both in the science instrumentation these missions will use and in the spacecraft that will carry those instruments.

Barbier, Louis M.↗

NASA NTRS2005

JIMO follow-on mission studies

Team Prometheus is a geographically-distributed, collaborative engineering team composed of representatives from several NASA centers and the Department of Energy (DOE). During the months of April through September 2004, Team Prometheus performed studies of representative Saturn/Titan and Neptune/Triton science missions based on proposed Jupiter Icy Moons Orbiter (JIMO) technology. The principal objectives of these studies were: 1) to assess the feasibility of using direct copies of the baseline JIMO flight system designs to perform these follow-on missions, and 2) to identify and assess technologies or potential enhancements or alterations to the baseline JIMO designs which could reduce the cruise durations to meet NASA Headquarters-specified programmatic goals. A tertiary objective was to provide feedback to the JlMO Project on the suitability of the JIMO reference designs for potential follow-on applications

Satter, Celeste M.↗

NASA NTRS1991

Aeronautics and Space Report of the President

The years 1989 to 1990 activities are reported including human space flight, unmanned expendable launch vehicles, space science and applications, space communications operations, space research and technology, and aeronautics research and technology. Contributions made by the 14 participating government organizations are outline. Each organization's aeronautics and/or space activities for the year are presented. The organizations involved include: (1) NASA; (2) Dept. of Defense; (3) Dept. of Commerce; (4) Dept. of Energy; (5) Dept. of the Interior; (6) Dept. of Agriculture; (7) Federal Communications Commission; (8) Dept. of Transportation; (9) Environmental Protection Agency; (10) National Science Foundation; (11) Smithsonian Institution; (12) Dept. of State; (13) Arms Control and Disarmament; and (14) United States Information Agency.

Source record↗

NASA NTRS2011

Development of the Advanced Energetic Pair Telescope (AdEPT) for Medium-Energy Gamma-Ray Astronomy

Progress in high-energy gamma-ray science has been dramatic since the launch of INTEGRAL, AGILE and FERMI. These instruments, however, are not optimized for observations in the medium-energy (approx.0.3< E(sub gamma)< approx.200 MeV) regime where many astrophysical objects exhibit unique, transitory behavior, such as spectral breaks, bursts, and flares. We outline some of the major science goals of a medium-energy mission. These science goals are best achieved with a combination of two telescopes, a Compton telescope and a pair telescope, optimized to provide significant improvements in angular resolution and sensitivity. In this paper we describe the design of the Advanced Energetic Pair Telescope (AdEPT) based on the Three-Dimensional Track Imager (3-DTI) detector. This technology achieves excellent, medium-energy sensitivity, angular resolution near the kinematic limit, and gamma-ray polarization sensitivity, by high resolution 3-D electron tracking. We describe the performance of a 30x30x30 cm3 prototype of the AdEPT instrument.

Hunter, Stanley D.↗

NASA NTRS2007

An Exploration Perspective of Beamed Energy Propulsion

The Vision for Exploration is currently focused on flying the Space Shuttle safely to complete our Space Station obligations, retiring the Shuttle in 2010, then returning humans to the Moon and learning how to proceed to Mars and beyond. The NASA budget still includes funds for science and aeronautics but the primary focus is on human exploration. Fiscal constraints have led to pursuing exploration vehicles that use heritage hardware, particularly existing boosters and engines, with the minimum modifications necessary to satisfy mission requirements. So, pursuit of immature technologies is not currently affordable by NASA. Beamed energy is one example of an immature technology, from a human exploration perspective, that may eventually provide significant benefits for human exploration of space, but likely not in the near future. Looking to the more distant future, this paper will examine some of the criteria that must be achieved by beamed energy propulsion to eventually contribute to human exploration of the solar system. The analysis focuses on some of the implications of increasing the payload fraction of a launch vehicle, with a quick look at trans-lunar injection. As one would expect, there is potential for benefit, and there are concerns. The analysis concludes with an assessment of the Technology Readiness Level (TRL) for some beamed energy propulsion components, indicating that TRL 2 is close to being completed.

Cole, John W.↗

NASA NTRS1990

NASA and Education

President Bush endorsed a package of six goals developed by the governors of the 50 states, among them making the United States first in the world in mathematics and science achievement. The crux of the technical manpower problem is that too few people in the workforce today have the skills required to function in a technologically advanced society. All over the U.S., government, industry and academic organizations, individually and in concert, at the national, state and local levels, are accelerating efforts to find remedies for the educational and training maladies that threaten America's scientific and technological future. NASA is among the leading education promoting organizations and the agency is expanding its effort. In May 1990, NASA and the Department of Energy concluded an agreement for a cooperative program directed at encouraging more U.S. students to pursue careers in science, engineering and mathematics, and at improving the instructional process in those areas at the precollege and university levels.

Source record↗

NASA NTRS2016

Maturing Technologies for Stirling Space Power Generation

Stirling Radioisotope Power Systems (RPS) are being developed as an option to provide power on future space science missions where robotic spacecraft will orbit, flyby, land or rove. A Stirling Radioisotope Generator (SRG) could offer space missions a more efficient power system that uses one fourth of the nuclear fuel and decreases the thermal footprint of the current state of the art. The RPS Program Office, working in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), manages projects to develop thermoelectric and dynamic power systems, including Stirling Radioisotope Generators (SRGs). The Stirling Cycle Technology Development (SCTD) Project, located at Glenn Research Center (GRC), is developing Stirling-based subsystems, including convertors and controllers. The SCTD Project also performs research that focuses on a wide variety of objectives, including increasing convertor temperature capability to enable new environments, improving system reliability or fault tolerance, reducing mass or size, and developing advanced concepts that are mission enabling. Research activity includes maturing subsystems, assemblies, and components to prepare them for infusion into future convertor and generator designs. The status of several technology development efforts are described here. As part of the maturation process, technologies are assessed for readiness in higher-level subsystems. To assess the readiness level of the Dual Convertor Controller (DCC), a Technology Readiness Assessment (TRA) was performed and the process and results are shown. Stirling technology research is being performed by the SCTD Project for NASA's RPS Program Office, where tasks focus on maturation of Stirling-based systems and subsystems for future space science missions.

Advanced Stirling Radioisotope Generator↗

NASA NTRS2016

Maturing Technologies for Stirling Space Power Generation

High-Temperature Linear Alternator↗

NASA NTRS1991

Report of the x ray and gamma ray sensors panel

Overall five major areas of technology are recommended for development in order to meet the science requirements of the Astrotech 21 mission set. These are: detectors for high resolution gamma ray spectroscopy, cryogenic detectors for improved x ray spectral and spatial resolution, advanced x ray charge coupled devices (CCDs) for higher energy resolution and larger format, extension to higher energies, liquid and solid position sensitive detectors for improving stopping power in the energy range 5 to 500 keV and 0.2 to 2 MeV. Development plans designed to achieve the desired capabilities on the time scales required by the technology freeze dates have been recommended in each of these areas.

Szymkowiak, Andrew↗

NASA NTRS1977

Solar power satellite status report

The development of a solar power satellite program is considered. It is suggested that the solar power satellite is an engineering rather than a science program - that is, that no scientific breakthroughs are required before initiating the project. Available technology is examined, and several key questions are discussed: how efficient is microwave transfer of energy; how feasible is construction in space; and will the advantages of continuous insolation compensate for the costs of building a solar power plant in synchronous orbit 23,000 miles above the earth.

Davis, H. P.↗

NASA NTRS1988

Research and technology, 1988

Flight projects and mission definition studies for 1988 are briefly described. Technology research is presented in the following areas: sensors and space technology; space communication systems; system and software engineering; user space data systems; and techniques. Studies are presented for the following space and Earth science areas: atmospheres, SN 1987A, astronomy, high energy astrophysics, land and climate, solar systems, and oceans.

Source record↗

NASA NTRS2002

Cloud Physics Lidar: Instrument Description and Initial Measurement Results

The Cloud Physics Lidar (CPL) is a new custom-built instrument for the NASA ER-2 high-altitude aircraft. The CPL can provide multiwavelength measurements of cirrus, subvisual cirrus, and aerosols with high temporal and spatial resolution. Its state-of-the-art technology gives it a high repetition rate, and photon-counting detection, and includes a low-pulse-energy laser. The CPL was first deployed at the Southern African Regional Science Initiative's 2000 field campaign during August and September 2000. This paper provides an overview of the instrument and initial data results to illustrate the measurement capability of the CPL.

McGill, Matthew↗

NASA NTRS2021

LET and Range Characteristics of Proton Recoil Ions in Gallium Nitride (GaN)

A better understanding of the linear energy transfer and the range of proton recoil ions in gallium nitride is necessary to properly evaluate GaN device radiation tolerance. By analyzing the linear energy transfer (LET) and range of recoil heavy ions in GaN we can begin to reproduce the body of knowledge that exists for Si-based devices for this upcoming technology. Although the previous data on older technology has impressive depth and breadth we must be diligent and cautious in the application of these institutional intuitions when applied to emerging technologies such as GaN. As ever increasing materials science advances emerge, a sound methodology for evaluating new technologies must be established in order to apply what we know towards the effort of ensuring radiation tolerance.

gallium nitride (GaN)↗

NASA NTRS2018

The HIAD Orbital Flight Demonstration Instrumentation Suite

NASA's Hypersonic Inflatable Aerodynamic Decelerator (HIAD) technology has been selected for a Technology Demonstration Mission under the Science and Technology Mission Directorate. HIADs are an enabling technology that can facilitate atmospheric entry of heavy payloads to planets such as Earth and Mars using a deployable aeroshell. The deployable nature of the HIAD technology allows it to overcome the size constraints imposed on current rigid aeroshell entry systems. This permits use of larger aeroshells resulting in increased entry system performance (e.g. higher payload mass and/or volume, higher landing altitude at Mars). The Low Earth Orbit Flight Test of an Inflatable Decelerator (LOFTID) is currently scheduled for mid-2021. LOFTID will be launched out of Vandenberg Air Force Base as a secondary payload on an expendable launch vehicle. The flight test will employ a 6m diameter, 70-deg sphere-cone aeroshell and will provide invaluable high-energy orbital re-entry flight data. This data will be essential in supporting the HIAD team to mature the technology to diameters of 10m and greater. Aeroshells of this scale will address near-term commercial applications and potential future NASA missions.LOFTID will incorporate an extensive instrumentation suite totaling over 150 science measurements. This will include thermocouples, heat flux sensors, IR cameras, and a radiometer to characterize the aeroheating environment and aeroshell thermal response. An inertial measurement unit (IMU), GPS, and flush air data system will be included in order to reconstruct the flown trajectory and aerodynamic characteristics. Loadcells will be used to measure the HIAD structural loading, and HD cameras will be mounted on the aft segment looking at the aeroshell to monitor structural response. In addition to the primary instrumentation suite, a new fiber optic sensing system will be used to measure nose temperatures as a technology demonstration. The LOFTID instrumentation suites leverages Agency-wide expertise, with hardware development occurring at Ames Research Center, Langley Research Center, Marshall Space Flight Center and Armstrong Flight Research Center.This presentation will discuss the measurement objectives for the LOFTID mission, and the extensive instrumentation suite that has been selected to capture the HIAD's performance during the high-energy orbital re-entry flight test.

Swanson, Greg↗

NASA NTRS2018

The HIAD Orbital Flight Demonstration Instrumentation Suite

NASA's Hypersonic Inflatable Aerodynamic Decelerator (HIAD) technology has been selected for a Technology Demonstration Mission under the Science and Technology Mission Directorate. HIADs are an enabling technology that can facilitate atmospheric entry of heavy payloads to planets such as Earth and Mars using a deployable aeroshell. The deployable nature of the HIAD technology allows it to overcome the size constraints imposed on current rigid aeroshell entry systems. This permits use of larger aeroshells resulting in increased entry system performance (e.g. higher payload mass and/or volume, higher landing altitude at Mars). The Low Earth Orbit Flight Test of an Inflatable Decelerator (LOFTID) is currently scheduled for mid-2021. LOFTID will be launched out of Vandenberg Air Force Base as a secondary payload on an expendable launch vehicle. The flight test will employ a 6m diameter, 70 degree sphere-cone aeroshell and will provide invaluable high-energy orbital re-entry flight data. This data will be essential in supporting the HIAD team to mature the technology to diameters of 10m and greater. Aeroshells of this scale will address near-term commercial applications and potential future NASA missions. LOFTID will incorporate an extensive instrumentation suite totaling over 150 science measurements. This will include thermocouples, heat flux sensors, IR cameras, and a radiometer to characterize the aeroheating environment and aeroshell thermal response. An inertial measurement unit (IMU), GPS, and flush air data system will be included in order to reconstruct the flown trajectory and aerodynamic characteristics. Loadcells will be used to measure the HIAD structural loading, and HD cameras will be mounted on the aft segment looking at the aeroshell to monitor structural response. In addition to the primary instrumentation suite, a new fiber optic sensing system will be used to measure nose temperatures as a technology demonstration. The LOFTID instrumentation suites leverages Agency-wide expertise, with hardware development occurring at Ames Research Center, Langley Research Center, Marshall Space Flight Center and Armstrong Flight Research Center. This presentation will discuss the measurement objectives for the LOFTID mission, and the extensive instrumentation suite that has been selected to capture the HIAD's performance during the high-energy orbital re-entry flight test.

Swanson, G. T.↗

NASA NTRS2001

Friction Factor Characterization for High-Porosity Random Fiber Regenerators

NASA Glenn Research Center, the Department of Energy (DOE), and Stirling Technology Company (STC) of Kennewick, Washington are developing a Stirling convertor for a high-efficiency Stirling Radioisotope Power System to provide electric power for NASA Space Science Missions. STC is developing the 55-We Technology Demonstration Convertor (TDC) under contract to DOE. Steady-flow tests were completed to determine the friction factor for the high-porosity regenerators that are used in the TDC. STC fabricated a flow test fixture and three random fiber regenerator test samples, one each at approximately 80, 88, and 96 percent porosities. The flow tests were then completed by the NASA Glenn Flow Calibration Laboratory, and the data reduced to Reynolds number and friction factor. The results showed that the 80 and 88 percent porosity samples had similar characteristics while the 96 percent porosity sample had significantly higher friction factors for given Reynolds numbers compared to the samples with lower porosities. Comparisons were also made between the test data and existing correlations. STC used this data to derive a modified regenerator friction factor correlation for use in the Stirling design code GLIMPS for porosities greater than 88 percent. Using this new correlation, the final optimized regenerator design porosity was reduced from 96 to 90 percent.

Thieme, Lanny G.↗