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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
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NASA NTRS2024

Development of a Single Level Assessment Module for Simulating the Human Factors Concept Trade Space

This paper is a synopsis of the design and development of the Single Level Assessment Module (SLAM), a habitation mockup aimed at simulating volumetric conditions for astronauts in transit to Mars. Utilizing repurposed materials to enable low cost and constrained by various other design requirements from its parent vehicle, the SLAM embodies a critical step towards understanding human/habitat dynamics and interactions within the framework of the Mars Transit Habitat (TH) concept trade space. The synopsis begins by outlining the design constraints and goals, focusing on material availability and functional area volume requirements. Through various 3D design solutions, the SLAM emerges as a versatile habitat prototype, capable of accommodating various functional areas within its reconfigurable framework. The construction phase is then explored, highlighting the practical challenges and solutions encountered in assembling the SLAM's components. From panel assembly to outfitting functional areas, the construction process demonstrates a methodical approach to realizing the habitat's design intent. Looking ahead, the paper outlines future work, emphasizing the SLAM's adaptability for analysis and its potential to inform the design trade space future habitation concepts across the Moon to Mars architecture. By incorporating hinges for reconfigurability and facilitating volume assessments, the SLAM emerges as a crucial tool in advancing NASA’s ability to assess focused habitation configurations in conjunction with the development of the Moon to Mars architecture. In conclusion, this paper showcases the iterative process of habitat design, from conceptualization to construction.

Keith Lindsey↗
NASA NTRS2024

Trade Space Analyses: Balancing Crew and Mission Design Parameters

In 2020, the Associate Administrator for Human Exploration and Operations and the Agency’s Federated Board requested an assessment to develop a methodology for trade space analysis comparing crew size for Mars missions against mission design parameters. The NASA Engineering and Safety Center (NESC) conducted an assessment to develop a methodology for systematic, repeatable trade space analysis for crew size and developed an initial set of human performance models and a list of candidate crew tasks for NASA’s first mission to Mars. This report contains the results of the NESC assessment.

Humans to Mars↗
NASA NTRS2025

Humans to Mars, but How Many? Trade Space Analyses for Mars Mission Crew Size

Missions to Mars will differ from previous human spaceflight missions in that the crew of astronauts will be required to operate in an Earth-independent manner due to the long communication delays. Without a systematic, repeatable process to determine the number and composition of crew necessary to successfully accomplish these missions, NASA increases the risk that crew sizes may be too small to meet primary mission objectives under nominal conditions and, more consequentially, that crewmembers may not have the expertise needed to successfully respond to unforeseen failures without the real-time expertise of the Mission Control Central (MCC) team NASA currently relies upon. The NASA Engineering and Safety Center (NESC) developed a methodology for assessing the trade space of factors that affect the number of crew for Mars missions based on human performance and expertise modeling. This methodology includes the consideration of results from three human performance models developed using the Improved Performance Research and Integration Tool (IMPRINT) modeling platform as well as a custom-built model on expertise trained within the crew based on NASA’s crew qualification and responsibilities matrix (CQRM). We present example model results and discuss implications on trade space analyses for Mars mission crew size.

Mars Mission↗
NASA NTRS2025

Trade Space Analyses: Balancing Crew and Mission Design Parameters-Candidate Mars Master Task List

In 2020, the Associate Administrator for Human Exploration and Operations and the Agency’s Federated Board requested an assessment to develop a methodology for trade space analysis comparing crew size for Mars missions against mission design parameters. The NASA Engineering and Safety Center (NESC) conducted an assessment to develop a methodology for systematic, repeatable trade space analysis for crew size and developed an initial set of human performance models and a list of candidate crew tasks for NASA’s first mission to Mars. This report contains list of candidate crew tasks for Mars.

Crew Duties and Tasks↗
NASA NTRS2005

Model-Based Trade Space Exploration for Near-Earth Space Missions

We developed a capability for model-based trade space exploration to be used in the conceptual design of Earth-orbiting space missions. We have created a set of reusable software components to model various subsystems and aspects of space missions. Several example mission models were created to test the tools and process. This technique and toolset has demonstrated itself to be valuable for space mission architectural design.

space mission↗
NASA NTRS2016

LAVA Pressure Transducer Trade Study

The Regolith and Environment Science and Oxygen and Lunar Volatile Extraction (RESOLVE) payload will transport the (LAVA) subsystem to hydrogen-rich locations on the moon supporting NASA's in-situ resource utilization (ISRU) programs. There, the LAVA subsystem will analyze volatiles that evolve from heated regolith samples in order to quantify how much water is present. To do this, the system needs resilient pressure transducers (PTs) to calculate the moles in the gas samples. The PT trade study includes a comparison of newly-procured models to a baseline unit with prior flight history in order to determine the PT model with the best survivability in flight-forward conditions.

Trade Study↗
NASA NTRS2019

Initial Trade Study for In-line Silver Sensor for Spacecraft Potable Water Systems

Ionic silver is currently baselined as the biocide for microbial control in potable water systems for future space exploration missions. In-line monitoring of silver ion concentration is desired for system feedback control to introduce and maintain sufficient and safe levels of biocide in the water. To date, NASA testing of silver biocide system prototypes has made use of an Ion-Selective Electrode (ISE) for in-line silver concentration measurements. However, known issues with ISE technology have continued to motivate a search for alternate sensor systems. Although devices capable of detecting silver are available for terrestrial applications, these systems are generally not well-suited for the unique demands of spaceflight. Desired attributes include: low weight, volume, and power consumption; stable, autonomous, and in-line measurement capability; long calibration lifetime; and limited maintenance requirements. This paper provides the results from a preliminary trade study conducted on three candidate silver sensor technologies: ISEs, Anodic Stripping Voltammetry (ASV), and Fiber Optic Chemical Sensors (FOCS). The review of these technologies includes the rationale for their selection, an overview of the principles of their operation, and a detailed assessment of their strengths and weaknesses relative to the anticipated requirements of future spacecraft applications. The study concluded that none of the currently-available versions of these technologies is suitable for immediate application to spacecraft systems; further technology development should be considered. To that end, recommendations for forward development work have been proposed and provided herein.

Potable Water↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

A Fecal Processing Technology Trade Study for Water Recovery in Various Mission Duration Scenarios

To achieve long endurance human space missions such as a trip to Mars, a fully recycled or “closed loop” water system is almost essential. Even for shorter duration missions in Earth orbit, lunar orbit, or on the surface of the moon, recovering and recycling water from as many sources as possible may prove beneficial. One source of water that has not been exploited to date is human solid waste. Herein, a trade study is performed to evaluate the ability of several fecal processing technologies to recover >80% of the water content within the waste. Human solid waste (feces) contains approximately 75% water by mass, which upon quantification, translates to ~170 g of recoverable water per crewmember per day and can scale to values of ~680 kg for a crew of 4 persons on a 1,000-day long exploration mission. Several fecal processing technologies (i.e., steam reforming, vacuum drying, freeze-drying, pyrolysis, ultrasonic drying, etc.) are analyzed using an equivalent system mass (ESM) approach to assess and compare the estimated cost for recovering fecal water – in terms of mass, power, and volume equivalents – against the water recovery mass savings for each technology. Post-use volume is also used as a secondary metric for comparison to quantify the benefits of volume reduction resulting from the fecal drying process. From said analysis, clear patterns and benefits emerge that may prove helpful for future fecal processing technology development and application to space exploration missions.

Trade study↗