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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

Quaternions for control of space vehicles

Quaternion representation of successive rotations in space vehicle control, locating final position of coordinate frame with respect to original position

Hendley, A. C.↗

Automation for deep space vehicle monitoring

Information on automation for deep space vehicle monitoring is given in viewgraph form. Information is given on automation goals and strategy; the Monitor Analyzer of Real-time Voyager Engineering Link (MARVEL); intelligent input data management; decision theory for making tradeoffs; dynamic tradeoff evaluation; evaluation of anomaly detection results; evaluation of data management methods; system level analysis with cooperating expert systems; the distributed architecture of multiple expert systems; and event driven response.

Schwuttke, Ursula M.↗

Parametric estimation of R&M parameters during the conceptual design of space vehicles

Reliability and maintainability parameters of proposed space vehicles are estimated based on a comparability analysis of similar aircraft subsystems. Using multiple regression techniques, parametric equations are developed for each subsystem to predict mean flying hours between failure as a function of vehicle design and performance specifications. These estimates are then adjusted to account for reliability growth, environmental differences, and new technologies. Overall vehicle mission reliability may then be computed from subsystem reliability estimates.

Ebeling, Charles E.↗

Applying a Crew Accommodations Resource Model to Future Space Vehicle Research: A Case Study

Modeling for space vehicle design needs to consider: 1) The Human Factor; and 2) The Mission Factor. The Test Case of a crew resource model in this viewgraph presentation includes: 1) The Problem; 2) Crew Accomodations Resource Model; and 3) Conculsions on the model's utility for working the problem. The presentation uses the Crew Accomodations Resource Model to determine the mass and volume of supplies and equipment for a hypothetical manned Mars mission.

Blume, Jennifer Linda↗

Robust on-off pulse control of flexible space vehicles

The on-off reaction jet control system is often used for attitude and orbital maneuvering of various spacecraft. Future space vehicles such as the orbital transfer vehicles, orbital maneuvering vehicles, and space station will extensively use reaction jets for orbital maneuvering and attitude stabilization. The proposed robust fuel- and time-optimal control algorithm is used for a three-mass spacing model of flexible spacecraft. A fuel-efficient on-off control logic is developed for robust rest-to-rest maneuver of a flexible vehicle with minimum excitation of structural modes. The first part of this report is concerned with the problem of selecting a proper pair of jets for practical trade-offs among the maneuvering time, fuel consumption, structural mode excitation, and performance robustness. A time-optimal control problem subject to parameter robustness constraints is formulated and solved. The second part of this report deals with obtaining parameter insensitive fuel- and time- optimal control inputs by solving a constrained optimization problem subject to robustness constraints. It is shown that sensitivity to modeling errors can be significantly reduced by the proposed, robustified open-loop control approach. The final part of this report deals with sliding mode control design for uncertain flexible structures. The benchmark problem of a flexible structure is used as an example for the feedback sliding mode controller design with bounded control inputs and robustness to parameter variations is investigated.

Wie, Bong↗

Uses of Advanced Ceramic Composites in the Thermal Protection Systems of Future Space Vehicles

Current ceramic composites being developed and characterized for use in the thermal protection systems (TPS) of future space vehicles are reviewed. The composites discussed include new tough, low density ceramic insulation's, both rigid and flexible; ultra-high temperature ceramic composites; nano-ceramics; as well as new hybrid ceramic/metallic and ceramic/organic systems. Application and advantage of these new composites to the thermal protection systems of future reusable access to space vehicles and small spacecraft is reviewed.

Rasky, Daniel J.↗

Ecology and thermal inactivation of microbes in and on interplanetary space vehicle components

An experimental sterilization facility was developed to simulate conditions that will be encountered during terminal sterilization of space vehicles. The system consists of a temperature controlled oven with a nitrogen gas stream containing a known concentration of water. Moisture analyzers are utilized to monitor the gas flowing over spore samples contained in the oven. In its original configuration, no provision was made for the control of water vapor during the sterilization cycle. Because moisture profoundly influences the thermal inactivation of bacterial spores, an upper limit for the moisture content in the gas used to sterilize the space vehicle was established (25% RH at 0 C STP). Accordingly, a controller was developed and installed to provide these conditions in the experimental sterilization facility.

Wimsatt, J. C.↗