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At least 19 records

On-orbit checkout of satellites, volume 2. Part 3 of on-orbit checkout study

Early satellite failures significantly degrading satellite operations are reviewed with emphasis on LANDSAT D, the Technology Demonstration Satellite, the ATREX/AEM spacecraft, STORMSAT 2, and the synchronous meteorological satellite. Candidates for correction with on-orbit checkout and appropriate actions are analyzed. On-orbit checkout subsystem level studies are summarized for electrical power, attitude control, thermal control, reaction control and propulsion, instruments, and angular rate matching for alignment of satellite IRU.

Pritchard, E. I.

Space shuttle propulsion systems on-board checkout and monitoring system development study (extension). Volume 2: Guidelines for for incorporation of the onboard checkout and monitoring function on the space shuttle

Guidelines are presented for incorporation of the onboard checkout and monitoring function (OCMF) into the designs of the space shuttle propulsion systems. The guidelines consist of and identify supporting documentation; requirements for formulation, implementation, and integration of OCMF; associated compliance verification techniques and requirements; and OCMF terminology and nomenclature. The guidelines are directly applicable to the incorporation of OCMF into the design of space shuttle propulsion systems and the equipment with which the propulsion systems interface. The techniques and general approach, however, are also generally applicable to OCMF incorporation into the design of other space shuttle systems.

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Parallel Eclipse Project Checkout

Parallel Eclipse Project Checkout (PEPC) is a program written to leverage parallelism and to automate the checkout process of plug-ins created in Eclipse RCP (Rich Client Platform). Eclipse plug-ins can be aggregated in a feature project. This innovation digests a feature description (xml file) and automatically checks out all of the plug-ins listed in the feature. This resolves the issue of manually checking out each plug-in required to work on the project. To minimize the amount of time necessary to checkout the plug-ins, this program makes the plug-in checkouts parallel. After parsing the feature, a request to checkout for each plug-in in the feature has been inserted. These requests are handled by a thread pool with a configurable number of threads. By checking out the plug-ins in parallel, the checkout process is streamlined before getting started on the project. For instance, projects that took 30 minutes to checkout now take less than 5 minutes. The effect is especially clear on a Mac, which has a network monitor displaying the bandwidth use. When running the client from a developer s home, the checkout process now saturates the bandwidth in order to get all the plug-ins checked out as fast as possible. For comparison, a checkout process that ranged from 8-200 Kbps from a developer s home is now able to saturate a pipe of 1.3 Mbps, resulting in significantly faster checkouts. Eclipse IDE (integrated development environment) tries to build a project as soon as it is downloaded. As part of another optimization, this innovation programmatically tells Eclipse to stop building while checkouts are happening, which dramatically reduces lock contention and enables plug-ins to continue downloading until all of them finish. Furthermore, the software re-enables automatic building, and forces Eclipse to do a clean build once it finishes checking out all of the plug-ins. This software is fully generic and does not contain any NASA-specific code. It can be applied to any Eclipse-based repository with a similar structure. It also can apply build parameters and preferences automatically at the end of the checkout.

Crockett, Thomas M.

Space shuttle propulsion systems on-board checkout and monitoring system development study

Investigations on the fundamental space shuttle propulsion systems program are reported, with emphasis on in-depth reviews of preliminary drafts of the guidelines. The guidelines will be used to incorporate the onboard checkout and monitoring function into the basic design of the propulsion systems and associated interfacing systems. The analysis of checkout and monitoring requirements of the Titan 3 L expandable booster propulsion systems was completed, and the techniques for accomplishing the checkout and monitoring functions were determined. Updating results of the basic study of propulsion system checkout and monitoring is continuing.

Source record

Apollo experience report: Acceptance checkout equipment for the Apollo spacecraft

The acceptance checkout equipment for the Apollo spacecraft is described, and the history of the major equipment modifications that were required to meet the Apollo Program checkout requirements is traced. Some major problem areas are outlined, and a discussion of future checkout methods is included. The concept of the future checkout methods presented provides for an increase in test equipment standardization among NASA programs and among all testing phases within a program. The capability for increased automation and reduction in the test equipment inventory is provided in the proposed concept.

Burtzlaff, I. J.

Communications systems checkout study

The results and conclusions of an engineering study of Space Station communications subsystem checkout are reported. The primary purpose of the study is to recommend specific guidelines and constraints for the design and utilization of the communications subsystem leading to a practical and effective means of onboard checkout implementation. Major study objectives are as follows: (1) identify candidate communications subsystem checkout concepts, (2) determine implementation impacts of feasible concepts, (3) evaluate practicality and effectiveness of alternative concepts, (4) propose baseline modifications to accommodate preferred concepts, and (5) recommend areas for additional investigation. In addition, study results are interpreted, where appropriate, in terms of their applicability to checkout of Shuttle-Orbiter communications subsystem.

Ginter, W. G.

Advanced ground support checkout systems.

The experience gained with the acceptance checkout equipment for spacecraft, which was used for checkout on the Apollo and Skylab Programs, is discussed in this paper and related to advanced ground systems for the Space Shuttle Program. The basic capabilities of the checkout system are outlined, goals for future checkout systems are discussed, and the unified test equipment system is described.

Osgood, D. R.

Launch vehicle test and checkout plan. - Volume 2: Saturn 1B launch vehicle Skylab R (rescue) and AS-208 flow plan and listings

The launch operations test and checkout plan is a planning document that establishes all launch site checkout activity, including the individual tests and sequence of testing required to fulfill the development center and KSC test and checkout requirements. This volume contains the launch vehicle test and checkout plan encompassing S-1B, S-4B, IU stage, and ground support equipment tests. The plan is based upon AS-208 flow utilizing a manned spacecraft, LUT 1, and launch pad 39B facilities.

Source record

Antenna simulator permits preinstallation system checkout

Antenna simulator provides for evaluation checkout of corporate feeds, monopulse sum-and-difference networks, etc., in a shielded environment prior to system checkout on an antenna pattern range. This technique is useful wherever simulation of monopulse antenna element characteristics is desired for checkout of ancillary equipment in a controlled environment.

Elia, A. D.

Checkout systems: Summary report for the universal control and display console

The development of a unified test equipment checkout concept based on a universal control and display console system is discussed. The checkout requirements are analyzed for the shuttle and space station. Capability, size, utilization requirements and specifications of the ground checkout system are made on the basis of engineering trade-off studies. Recommendations related to the attainment of overall unified test equipment conceptual goals and objectives are submitted.

Source record

Automatic Navaids Checkout System

An automatic Navaids Checkout System for use in Space Shuttle development is discussed. The groundwork leading to the development is presented, followed by a description of the hardware. Finally, system utilization including operator interface and system software is discussed. The Navaids Checkout System is extremely flexible with capability to handle different test articles with a minimum of hardware reconfiguration. Application software is written in a high level user-oriented test language. The checkout system has been in operation for approximately one year with capability to handle VOR, ILS, TACAN, ATC Radar Beacon, and UHF/VHF communications equipment.

Belver, T. L.

Automated System Checkout to Support Predictive Maintenance for the Reusable Launch Vehicle

The Propulsion Checkout and Control System (PCCS) is a predictive maintenance software system. The real-time checkout procedures and diagnostics are designed to detect components that need maintenance based on their condition, rather than using more conventional approaches such as scheduled or reliability centered maintenance. Predictive maintenance can reduce turn-around time and cost and increase safety as compared to conventional maintenance approaches. Real-time sensor validation, limit checking, statistical anomaly detection, and failure prediction based on simulation models are employed. Multi-signal models, useful for testability analysis during system design, are used during the operational phase to detect and isolate degraded or failed components. The TEAMS-RT real-time diagnostic engine was developed to utilize the multi-signal models by Qualtech Systems, Inc. Capability of predicting the maintenance condition was successfully demonstrated with a variety of data, from simulation to actual operation on the Integrated Propulsion Technology Demonstrator (IPTD) at Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC). Playback of IPTD valve actuations for feature recognition updates identified an otherwise undetectable Main Propulsion System 12 inch prevalve degradation. The algorithms were loaded into the Propulsion Checkout and Control System for further development and are the first known application of predictive Integrated Vehicle Health Management to an operational cryogenic testbed. The software performed successfully in real-time, meeting the required performance goal of 1 second cycle time.

Patterson-Hine, Ann

Lunar Surface Operations: Post-Touchdown Lunar Surface and System Checkouts - Part 1

This slide presentation reviews the first part of the post-touchdown lunar surface and system checkout tasks. A stay/no stay decision for the lunar lander was made based on the questions: "Is the Lunar Module (LM) stable on the lunar surface?"; "Are there any time critical systems failures or trends indicating impending loss of capability to ascent and achieve a safe lunar orbit?"; and "Is there loss of capability in critical LM systems?" The sequence of these decisions is given as a time after touchdown on the surface of the moon. After the decision to stay is made the next task is to checkout status of the lunar module. While the status of the lunar module is checking out certain conditions, the Command Service Module was also engaged in certain checkout activities.

Interbartolo, Michael

UAS Service Supplier Checkout: How UTM Confirmed Readiness of Flight Tests with UAS Service Suppliers

NASA collaborated with industry partners to develop and test the small Unmanned Aircraft System (sUAS) Traffic Management (UTM) research platform, a software prototype used for developing airspace integration requirements for sUAS operations. The lessons learned from these activities will help inform the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on what is needed to safely manage sUAS operations. A core component of the UTM platform is the UAS Service Supplier (USS), which acts as a communications bridge to meet the regulatory and operational requirements. As the UTM partners began USS flight tests, NASA found that it was difficult to get all USSs functioning at comparable quality levels to ensure successful flight tests. Also, NASA anticipated that the FAA would encounter similar challenges when they begin to register USSs for operational use. These realizations led to the development of USS Checkout, a set of processes and tools designed to increase flight test efficiency. We learned that a good USS Checkout process is balanced for simplicity versus test coverage, and is amenable to automation. We also learned that when USS Checkout is a USS prerequisite for flight tests, flight tests were more efficient and effective.

Smith, Irene Skupniewicz

Concept of Operations and Checkout Testing for Green Propellant Loading System

Low toxicity propulsion, or Green Propulsion, is increasingly being considered for use on spacecraft following the successful demonstration during the Green Propellant Infusion Mission in 2020. One of these missions is JPL’s Lunar Flashlight (LF), a polar orbiting 12U CubeSat that uses lasers to investigate water ice deposits on the moon’s surface. For the past 3 years, Marshall Space Flight Center has developed the ASCENT propulsion system for LF, along with a green propellant loading system to service the spacecraft. The Propellant Loading System (PLS) is composed of 3 mobile carts designed to operate at a variety of launch facilities and handle the 2 primary green propellants, LMP-103S and ASCENT. In anticipation of LF propellant loading, the PLS was recently installed into an MSFC facility for checkout operations. In the winter of 2020, a simulant spacecraft was successfully loaded with water, pressurized to flight pressure, and drained back into the system. These checkouts drove the concept of operations for final spacecraft loading and informed minor modifications to the PLS for better operability. Additionally, a parallel effort was started to design the next generation of the PLS based on water flow lessons learned. With water flow testing complete, propellant checkouts and wet dress rehearsals with spacecraft pathfinder hardware are anticipated to begin in late Spring 2021.

Green Propulsion