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At least 145 records · Page 8

Rocket exhaust plume computer program improvement. Volume 1: Summary: Method of characteristics nozzle and plume programs

A summary is presented of the various documents that discuss and describe the computer programs and analysis techniques which are available for rocket nozzle and exhaust plume calculations. The basic method of characteristics program is discussed, along with such auxiliary programs as the plume impingement program, the plot program and the thermochemical properties program.

Ratliff, A. W.↗

Orbital operations study. Appendix A: Interactivity analysis

Supplemental analyses conducted to verify that safe, feasible, design concepts exist for accomplishing the attendant interface activities of the orbital operations mission are presented. The data are primarily concerned with functions and concepts common to more than one of the interfacing activities or elements. Specific consideration is given to state vector update, payload deployment, communications links, jet plume impingement, attached element operations, docking and structural interface assessment, and propellant transfer.

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Low thrust propulsion system effects on communication satellites.

Choice of type and placement of thrusters on spacecraft (s/c) should include consideration of their effects on other subsystems. Models are presented of the exhaust plumes of mercury, cesium, colloid, hydrazine, ammonia, and Teflon rockets. Effects arising from plume impingement on s/c surfaces, radio frequency interference, optical interference, and earth environmental contamination are discussed. Some constraints arise in the placement of mercury, cesium, and Teflon thrusters. Few problems exist with other thruster types, nor is earth contamination a problem.

Hall, D. F.↗

User's guide and description of the streamline divergence computer program

The streamline divergence program was developed to demonstrate the capability to trace inviscid surface streamlines and to calculate outflow-corrected laminar and turbulent convective heating rates on surfaces subjected to exhaust plume impingement. The analytical techniques used in formulating this program are discussed. A brief description of the streamline divergence program is given along with a user's guide. The program input and output for a sample case are also presented.

Sulyma, P. R.↗

The 0.040-scale space shuttle orbiter base heating model tests in the Lewis Research Center space power facility

Space shuttle base heating tests were conducted using a 0.040-scale model in the Plum Brook Space Power Facility of The NASA Lewis Research Center. The tests measured heat transfer rates, pressure distributions, and gas recovery temperatures on the orbiter vehicle 2A base configuration resulting from engine plume impingement. One hundred and sixty-eight hydrogen-oxygen engine firings were made at simulated flight altitudes ranging from 120,000 to 360,000 feet.

Dezelick, R. A.↗

Gasdynamics of the cryogenic cooler of the Nimbus F spacecraft

This paper presents a theoretical study of the gasdynamic behavior of the system used to vent methane gas from an open-cycle cryogenic cooler carried on the Nimbus F satellite. The flow of this gas from the cryogen tank to the vent-line exit takes place at very low Reynolds number, and is strongly affected by variations in the tube cross-sectional area, substantial heat addition, and important frictional effects. All three of these factors play a role in determining the choking mass flow. Finite-difference calculations are used to establish the mass flow rates for a range of cryogen temperatures. Finite-difference calculations are also used to determine the flowfield in the plume that results when the vented gas exits from the spacecraft. The momentum-flux distributions within the plume are then used to estimate the torques applied to the spacecraft when the plume impinges on several surfaces near the exit point. These torque estimates compare favorably with flight data.

Rae, W. J.↗

Preliminary design of an Orbiter/IUS separation sequence

An orbiter/IUS separation sequence to satisfy the assumed requirements of Shuttle Flight 8 was defined for the purpose of gaining an insight into the flight design software requirements. The key to economical and effective flight design for orbiter/IUS proximity operations is considered to be the capability for rapid and accurate generation of graphical displays that will facilitate not only decision making on the part of the designer, but also lucid documentation of rationale and the resulting design features. The data indicate that (1) an OMS burn is required to attain the necessary velocity without subjecting the IUS and its payload to undue plume impingement, and (2) a departure trajectory that places the orbiter above and behind the IUS at SRM ignition time is preferred over the alternative which would place it below and ahead.

Wilson, S. W.↗

A technique for scale model rocket base heating tests in a very large vacuum chamber

A series of tests was performed with a 0.040 scale Shuttle Orbiter Base Heating Model in a large vacuum chamber to determine the thermal effects of engine plume recirculation and direct engine plume impingement. The oxygen- and hydrogen-fueled model was fired through a range of simulated altitudes and configurations with varied engine gimbal angles and 'engine-out' combinations. Some of the special problems associated with conducting tests of this type related primarily to obtaining valid temperature and pressure data in the extremely short run times available. Run time is limited by the reflection of shock waves from the chamber wall, propellant charge-tube wave times, the time required to reach steady-state conditions for the engines, and model heating limitations. The 'data window' for potentially valid data usually begins with stabilized engine conditions and terminates with pressure perturbations from either of the aforementioned shock waves. The general approach for coping with these limitations and the method used to obtain valid data during the short data window (of the order of thirty milliseconds) are discussed.

Williams, F. U.↗

Optimal analytic rendezvous using Clohessy-Wiltshire equations

The optimal solution time that minimizes the sum of the two applied impulses necessary to rendezvous is obtained analytically for the Clohessy-Wiltshire equations with a linear gravity model assumption. A plume impingement inequality constraint on the solution is examined, and an optimal policy is developed. Numerical tests are conducted to verify the analysis and to illustrate the optimal solution algorithm.

Jezewski, D. J.↗

Space shuttle base heating analysis

Work performed in support of radiation and convective base heating predictions in developing the space shuttle thermal environment is described. Topics discussed include plume radiation predictions and the development of prediction methods; convective base heating predictions due to both reversed flow and direct plume impingement; and evaluation testing of a gas temperature probe used in short-duration base heating model tests.

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An analytic approach to optimal rendezvous using Clohessy-Wiltshire equations

An analytic approach is used to obtain the optimal solution time that minimizes the sum of the two applied impulses necessary to rendezvous for the Clohessy-Wiltshire equations. A plume impingement inequality constraint on the solution is examined, and an optimal policy is developed. Numerical tests are conducted to verify the analysis and to illustrate the optimal solution algorithm.

Jezewski, D. J.↗

Comparison of quick-look plume heating calculations and Monte Carlo direct simulation

A quick-look method has been developed for estimating convective heat flux due to plume impingement in the transition flow regime on a concave surface surrounding a rocket nozzle. Comparison with the flowfield and heat fluxes computed by the Monte Carlo Direct Simulation Method show the quick-look method to be conservative. Assumptions regarding the nature of the flowfield based on engineering judgment were shown to be essentially valid. Further, the assumption of free molecular impingement was shown to be non-conservative for portions of the surface. Potential refinements of the quick-look method are discussed.

Guernsey, C. S.↗

Delta V errors due to attitude correction maneuvers of a spinning spacecraft

A statistical error analysis has been performed to evaluate the change in velocity of a spin stabilized spacecraft due to thruster induced attitude correction maneuvers. Analytical expressions were developed to determine the mean and variance of the velocity in terms of the nominal values and uncertainties of key spacecraft parameters. These parameters include thrust, thruster timing, thruster alignment, plume impingement force and estimated spacecraft mass. Typical values of these parameters and their uncertainties for NASA's Galileo spacecraft were used to evaluate these expressions. The results of the analysis allow the effect of attitude correction maneuvers to be evaluated with respect to the functional requirements on nongravitational acceleration. Other results include the identification of major sources of delta V error and studies of the sensitivity of delta V to variations in the error sources.

Zipursky, H. J.↗

Galileo maneuver analysis

In the maneuver analysis of the Galileo spacecraft, analytic models have been developed to assess the performance of an interplanetary dual spin spacecraft. These models take into account all the important effects of dual spin and flexible body dynamics to determine the spacecraft capability to achieve precise velocity changes for a variety of maneuver modes, as dictated by the requirements and as are tested and verified by computer simulation. Proportional velocity change magnitude accuracies as small as 0.34%, proportional velocity change pointing accuracies as little as 10 milliradians and fixed velocity change accuracies as precise as 0.015 m/sec are indicative of the stringency of these requirements. Error sources considered in the statistical analysis include probabilistic uncertainties due to wobble, plume impingement, nutation, thruster and accelerometer misalignments and radial offsets, gyro drift, burn timing, mass properties and algorithm errors. With its twelve thrusters, the versatility of the spacecraft to maneuver among the Galilean moons for eleven encounters after delivering a probe into the Jovian atmosphere provides a new level of challenge in the area of maneuver analysis.

Longuski, J. M.↗

Shuttle interaction study extension

The following areas of Space Shuttle technology were discussed: variable altitude strategy, spacecraft servicing, propellant storage, orbiter plume impingement, space based design, mating (docking and berthing), shuttle fleet utilization, and mission/traffic model.

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Manned maneuvering unit simulations on the Space Operations Simulator

Details of the Manned Maneuvering Unit (MMU) and its use is discussed. MMU simulations in the Space Operations Simulator (SOS) use two major devices. The first is a six-degree-of-freedom moving base carriage that allows the trainee freedom to fly the MMU in a large room and to match rates and dock with full scale targets. The second device is a large screen television display that provides the trainee with accurate views of tumbling targets from any point in a surrounding sphere up to 300 meters (1000 feet) in diameter. Astronauts used the SOS to train for the Solar Max repair mission and are now using it to train for a mission to recover the Palapa-B communications satellite. Subjective comparisons by astronauts of an orbit MMU performance to simulated MMU performance in the SOS indicate that the simulations are very realistic. Data from the Solar Max mission have resulted in two software upgrades that increase SOS fidelity for the next MMU mission: a model of contact dynamics between the MMU and a target spacecraft, and a model of MMU plume impingement forces during docking.

Hartley, C.↗

Orbiter operations in close proximity to free-flying satellites or formation flying in space

The seventh orbital flight of the Space Shuttle had as one of its primary objectives the testing of the vehicle's capability for proximity operations (defined as anytime the Orbiter is within 1000 feet of another satellite). The goals of these tests were to obtain flight data on different techniques for separation from, stationkeeping with, and approach and capture of a free-flying satellite. This included the acquisition of data on technique evaluation as to propellant usage, time required, crew workload, plume disturbance to the payload by the reaction control system, and jet plume impingement. The tests were also to provide data on the rendezvous radar and optical sighting devices performance in this environment. It is concluded that the Orbiter proved to be a very responsive vehicle that ws straightforward to fly in the vicinity of another satellite given the proper experience base with ground simulations.

Crippen, R. L.↗

An attitude reorientation algorithm for the Galileo spacecraft

This paper presents an onboard closed loop attitude reorientation algorithm for a dual-spin spacecraft, Galileo. The basic concept for the design uses the despun stator as a reference and fires a sequence of fixed duration thruster pulses to precess the angular momentum vector to its commanded orientation. The error signals used to despin the stator and to perform the turn are derived from the stator error quaternion which is computed using gyro outputs. Constraints considered in the design include gyro rate saturation, plume impingement effects, system parameter variations, as well as software reliability and flexibility. The performance of the algorithm was predicted by analysis and confirmed by computer simulation results. It was concluded that a reorientation accuracy of better than 1 milliradian with a nutation angle of less than 1 degree during the turn can be achieved.

Lin, H.-S.↗