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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 163 records · Page 9
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS2026

Thermal Considerations for 2039 Opposition Class Nuclear Electric Propulsion/Chemical Propulsion Crewed Mars Mission

The high specific impulse (Isp) of Nuclear Electric Propulsion (NEP) technology offers the potential for advanced space mission capabilities. However, the five critical technology elements of NEP vehicles have yet to prove technical maturity levels for consideration into mission design. In response to the critical reviews by the NASA Engineering and Safety Center (NESC) and the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM), NASA’s Space Nuclear Propulsion (SNP) project created an NEP Technology Maturation Plan (TMP) for focused development of NEP technology. The TMP called for a coordinated set of technology development efforts to meet this objective. The Modular Assembled Radiators for NEP VehicLes (MARVL) Early Career Initiative (ECI) project was initiated to develop a portion of the fifth Critical Technology Element (CTE) of the NEP vehicle: the Primary Heat Rejection Subsystem (PHRS). A target application of a 2039 human-rated Mars mission was outlined in the TMP. For the outlined mission, a NEP vehicle will experience several thermal environments which will impact the design and operation of the PHRS. To maintain radiator temperatures within the required effective temperature range, the effect of natural, induced, and NEP internally generated heat loads on the radiator panel must be well understood. Furthermore, this analysis is critical for analyzing the influence of various orientations and positions of the NEP vehicle relative to nearby celestial bodies throughout the mission. This study conducted a complete enveloping analysis of the thermal environments influencing the NEP vehicle throughout the mission. Thermal analysis was conducted for the radiator panels based on the defined mission environments. This thermal analysis concludes with the selection of ideal radiator orientations for the NEP vehicle, and the identification of worst case hot and cold environmental sink temperatures throughout the mission. For the target application, the environmental sink temperature while the reactor is powered OFF or powered ON ranges from 30 K to 353 K and 2.7 K to 243 K respectively. When considering interplanetary space, the minimum environmental sink temperature when the reactor is powered OFF and the radiators are oriented “edge to Sun” is 2.7 K. The environmental thermal models generated in this study will be used for future studies with the full vehicle system model. The environmental sink temperature curves generated will be used for future radiator and component analysis to predict transient performance in the space environment. The environmental sink temperature and heat rejection capability curves will inform the trade between commissioning orbits that are in consideration. The model may also serve as a useful tool as reference for future crewed space missions, missions involving radiators or temperature sensitive equipment, or other missions requiring analysis of natural orbital thermal environments.

Nuclear Electric Propulsion↗
NASA NTRS2021

Avionics Radiation Hardness Assurance (RHA) Guidelines

Based on the need to develop and adopt timely and up-to-date guidance to ensure that natural space radiation environment threats do not compromise mission success, the NASA Engineering and Safety Center (NESC) was solicited to develop and publish guidance for deriving radiation hardness assurance (RHA) requirements and for evaluating avionics hardware elements with respect to total ionizing dose, total non-ionizing dose, and single event effects. This document contains the outcome of the NESC assessment.

Guidelines↗
NASA NTRS2023

Human Factors Support for On-Orbit Servicing, Assembly and Manufacturing Mission 1 (OSAM-1)

The NASA Engineering and Safety Center (NESC) Human Factors Technical Discipline Team was requested by the Satellite Servicing Projects Division at Goddard Space Flight Center to provide support in assessing the design of the On-Orbit Servicing, Assembly and Manufacturing Mission 1 (OSAM-1) Mission Operations Center in light of concerns about overcrowding and potential for distractions, as well as assistance in creating a Human-Machine Interface style guide for OSAM-1 user interface design. This report contains the outcome of the NESC assessment.

On-Orbit Servicing, Assembly and Manufacturing Mis↗
NASA NTRS2020

Development and Verification of a Pipeline for Modeling Flexible Multibody Dynamics

This project was proposed by Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) personnel in response to a call from the NASA Engineering and Safety Center (NESC) Chief Engineer at JPL for discipline-advancing work. The work described in this NESC Final Assessment Report was requested to improve the efficiency and accuracy of analyses to support the dynamic modeling of complex aerospace systems.

Dynamic Modeling; Flexible Multibody; Finite Eleme↗
NASA NTRS2024

Space-Shielding Radiation Dosage Code Evaluation Phase 2: SHIELDOSE-2 Radiation-Assessment Code

Radiation-transport codes or radiation-analysis tools are used in the spacecraft-design community to define and assess the local radiation levels. Among various radiation-transport/analysis tools available, SHIELDOSE-2 is commonly used in the early spacecraft-design phases because it has been established that it provides reasonably reliable results with relatively rapid computation time. The NASA Engineering and Safety Center initiated a two-phased study: (1) to better understand and document the SHIELDOSE-2 code capabilities and limitations, and (2) to identify alternative tools to use for cases where SHIELDOSE-2 is not applicable. This report provides a summary of the Phase 2 study.

SHIELDOSE-2↗
NASA NTRS2023

Unconservatism of Linear-Elastic Fracture Mechanics (LEFM) Analysis Post Autofrettage

The scope of the NASA Engineering and Safety Center (NESC) Unconservatism of Linear-Elastic Fracture Mechanics (LEFM) Analysis Post Autofrettage assessment was to evaluate the influence of the elastic-plastic autofrettage cycle on elastic cycles post autofrettage and generate data to support damage tolerance life analysis verification approach. The decision to include an elastic-plastic autofrettage cycle is informed by other factors beyond damage tolerance, including manufacturing and fatigue crack initiation. The results of the NESC assessment are contained in this report.

Linear-Elastic Fracture Mechanics↗
NASA NTRS2024

Agency Additive Manufacturing (AM) Certification Support Team (AACT) Risk Reduction – Safe Life Category: Fracture Control Framework for Un-inspectable Fracture Critical AM Parts

The NASA Engineering and Safety Center (NESC) was requested to support the development of a governing philosophy to provide a consistent and systematic approach for fracture control certification of additive manufacturing (AM) hardware that cannot be reliably inspected. The overall goal of the NESC assessment was to make progress toward a framework for general certification of un-inspectable fracture critical AM hardware and toward approaches for evaluating risks associated with these components. This report contains the results of the assessment.

Additive Manufacturing↗
NASA NTRS2021

Assessment of Biocide Impacts on Life Support (LS) and Extravehicular Activity (EVA) Architectures

The Project Manager for the Human Exploration and Operations Mission Directorate’s Advanced Exploration Systems Life Support Systems (LSS) project, requested a NASA Engineering and Safety Center (NESC) assessment to evaluate potable water system biocide options impacting Gateway, Human Lander Systems, Foundation Surface Habitat, and Exploration Command Module missions. The assessment focused on identifying feasible biocide options, evaluating the impacts of their implementation on crew health, extravehicular activity hardware, and LSS hardware, and conducting a trade on architecture options. This report contains the outcome of the NESC assessment.

Extravehicular Activity; Life Support; NASA Engine↗
NASA NTRS2022

Unique Science from the Moon in the Artemis Era

Since the beginning of the space age, the Moon has been proposed as a platform for astronomy. The Moon provides unique capabilities for astrophysics observations. NASA’s Artemis plan to return humans to the Moon in the mid-2020s in a sustainable manner provides an opportunity to advance synergistic approaches between human and robotic exploration. This NASA Engineering and Safety Center (NESC) workshop assesses the feasibility and value proposition of using the Moon as a location for performing unique science observations, leveraging Artemis-era infrastructure while evaluating risks and key engineering challenges.

NASA Engineering and Safety Center↗
NASA NTRS2021

Improvements to the Flight Analysis and Simulation Tool (FAST) and Initial Development of the Genesis Flight Mechanics Simulation for Ascent, Aerocapture, Entry, Descent, and Landing (A2EDL) Trajectory Design

The NASA Engineering and Safety Center (NESC) was requested to provide significant enhancements to the Flight Analysis and Simulation Tool (FAST), a generic, variable-degree-of-freedom, multi-body ascent, aerocapture, entry, descent, and landing (A2EDL) flight simulation code and a key Agency analysis tool. This report details the upgrades to FAST that were completed, describes a change to the assessment’s scope that allowed its goals to be exceeded with a new and innovative approach, and discusses the results of the modified approach.

NASA Engineering and Safety Center; Flight Analysi↗
NASA NTRS2024

Examination of Space Vehicle Ethernet Interconnects

The NASA Engineering and Safety Center (NESC) was requested to examine the performance of Ethernet in space vehicle configurations at the physical layer and develop guidance for system designers to ensure correct Ethernet operation in these systems. The objective of the assessment was to develop guidance and requirements for Ethernet cable and connectors for spaceflight environments and make recommendations for Ethernet systems used in flight-critical space applications. This report contains the results of the NESC assessment.

Ethernet↗
NASA NTRS2023

Floating Potential Measurement Unit (FPMU) Data Processing Algorithm Development and Analysis Assessment

The NASA Engineering and Safety Center (NESC) was requested to provide space plasma instrumentation data analysis expertise in support of Floating Potential Measurement Unit (FPMU) data analysis and data processing algorithm development. Subject matter expertise was requested to support modification of FPMU data processing algorithms to account for aging of the FPMU instrument suite, improve the science quality of the FPMU data sets that are made available to the science community, and provide analysis of FPMU data for complex spacecraft orientation and geophysical situations. This document contains the results of the NESC assessment.

Floating Potential Measurement Unit↗
NASA NTRS2020

Composite Overwrapped Pressure Vessel (COPV) Damage Tolerance Life Analysis Methodology and Test Best Practices

The NASA Engineering and Safety Center (NESC) Deputy Director requested an independent assessment to develop data to understand the limitations of linear elastic fracture mechanics (LEFM) computational methods used to predict fatigue crack growth rate (da/dN) behavior of small detectable cracks in thin metal liners for composite overwrapped pressure vessels (COPVs). The NESC assessment team was also requested to demonstrate a test-based methodology for validating damage tolerance requirements for COPVs with elastically responding metal liners where LEFM methods are not appropriate. This report contains the outcome of the NESC assessment.

Composite Overwrapped Pressure Vessels; Linear Ela↗
NASA NTRS2020

Composite Overwrapped Pressure Vessel (COPV) Damage Tolerance Life Analysis Methodology and Test Best Practices: Appendices

The NASA Engineering and Safety Center (NESC) Deputy Director requested an independent assessment to develop data to understand the limitations of linear elastic fracture mechanics (LEFM) computational methods used to predict fatigue crack growth rate (da/dN) behavior of small detectable cracks in thin metal liners for composite overwrapped pressure vessels (COPVs). The NESC assessment team was also requested to demonstrate a test-based methodology for validating damage tolerance requirements for COPVs with elastically responding metal liners where LEFM methods are not appropriate. This document contains the appendices to the main report.

Composite Overwrapped Pressure Vessels; Linear Ela↗
NASA NTRS2021

Risk Reduction of Orion Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle (MPCV) Program Government-Furnished Equipment for Environmental Control and Life Support (ECLS)

The NASA Engineering and Safety Center (NESC) was requested to conduct technical risk-reduction activities for safety-critical government-furnished environmental control and life support (ECLS) equipment for the Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle Program. These items include the post-landing anomaly gas monitor, the in-flight anomaly gas monitor, the emergency breathing mask, the 144-hour in-suit survival capability, the portable fire extinguisher, the smoke eater, and the post-landing carbon dioxide control system. This document contains the outcome of the NESC assessment.

Environmental Control and Life Support↗
NASA NTRS2011

Pre-Test Analysis Predictions for the Shell Buckling Knockdown Factor Checkout Tests - TA01 and TA02

This report summarizes the pre-test analysis predictions for the SBKF-P2-CYL-TA01 and SBKF-P2-CYL-TA02 shell buckling tests conducted at the Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) in support of the Shell Buckling Knockdown Factor (SBKF) Project, NASA Engineering and Safety Center (NESC) Assessment. The test article (TA) is an 8-foot-diameter aluminum-lithium (Al-Li) orthogrid cylindrical shell with similar design features as that of the proposed Ares-I and Ares-V barrel structures. In support of the testing effort, detailed structural analyses were conducted and the results were used to monitor the behavior of the TA during the testing. A summary of predicted results for each of the five load sequences is presented herein.

Thornburgh, Robert P.↗