High-speed civil transport flight- and propulsion-control technological issues

Technology advances required in the flight and propulsion control system disciplines to develop a high speed civil transport (HSCT) are identified. The mission and requirements of the transport and major flight and propulsion control technology issues are discussed. Each issue is ranked and, for each issue, a plan for technology readiness is given. Certain features are unique and dominate control system design. These features include the high temperature environment, large flexible aircraft, control-configured empennage, minimizing control margins, and high availability and excellent maintainability. The failure to resolve most high-priority issues can prevent the transport from achieving its goals. The flow-time for hardware may require stimulus, since market forces may be insufficient to ensure timely production. Flight and propulsion control technology will contribute to takeoff gross weight reduction. Similar technology advances are necessary also to ensure flight safety for the transport. The certification basis of the HSCT must be negotiated between airplane manufacturers and government regulators. Efficient, quality design of the transport will require an integrated set of design tools that support the entire engineering design team

TriG - A GNSS Precise Orbit and Radio Occultation Space Receiver

The GPS radio occultation (RO) technique [1] produces measurements in the ionosphere and neutral atmosphere [2] that contribute to monitoring space weather and climate change; and improving operational weather prediction. The high accuracy of RO soundings, traceable to SI standards, makes them ideal climate benchmark observations. For weather applications, RO observations improve the accuracy of weather forecasts by providing temperature and moisture profiles of sub-km vertical resolution, over land and ocean and in the presence of clouds. JPL is currently flying a handful of RO instruments [3] on various satellites in Low Earth Orbit (LEO). Although these receivers have served to pioneer occultation measurements, various advances in technology and understanding of the RO technique along with availability of new signals from GPS and other GNSS satellites allow us to design an improved next generation space-based Precise Orbit Determination (POD) and RO receiver, the TriG receiver. The paper describes the architecture and implementation of the JPL TriG receiver as well as results obtained with a prototype receiver demonstrating key technologies necessary for a next-generation space science receiver

Reliability Analysis of Complex NASA Systems with Model-Based Engineering

The emergence of model-based engineering, with Model- Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) leading the way, is transforming design and analysis methodologies. The recognized benefits to systems development include moving from document-centric information systems and document-centric project communication to a model-centric environment in which control of design changes in the life cycles is facilitated. In addition, a single source of truth about the system, that is up-to-date in all respects of the design, becomes the authoritative source of data and information about the system. This promotes consistency and efficiency in regard to integration of the system elements as the design emerges and thereby may further optimize the design. Therefore Reliability Engineers (REs) supporting NASA missions must be integrated into model-based engineering to ensure the outputs of their analyses are relevant and value-needed to the design, development, and operational processes for failure risks assessment and communication

OEXP Analysis Tools Workshop

This publication summarizes the software needs and available analysis tools presented at the OEXP Analysis Tools Workshop held at the NASA Langley Research Center, Hampton, Virginia on June 21 to 22, 1988. The objective of the workshop was to identify available spacecraft system (and subsystem) analysis and engineering design tools, and mission planning and analysis software that could be used for various NASA Office of Exploration (code Z) studies, specifically lunar and Mars missions

Space Transportation Materials and Structures Technology Workshop

The Space Transportation Materials and Structures Technology Workshop was held on September 23-26, 1991, in Newport News, Virginia. The workshop, sponsored by the NASA Office of Space Flight and the NASA Office of Aeronautics and Space Technology, was held to provide a forum for communication within the space materials and structures technology developer and user communities. Workshop participants were organized into a Vehicle Technology Requirements session and three working panels: Materials and Structures Technologies for Vehicle Systems, Propulsion Systems, and Entry Systems

Space platform expendables resupply concept definition study. Volume 1: Executive summary

NASA has recognized that the capability for remote resupply of space platform expendable fluids will help transition space utilization into a new era of operational efficiency and cost/effectiveness. The emerging Orbital Maneuvering System (OMV) in conjunction with an expendables resupply module will introduce the capability for fluid resupply enabling satellite lifetime extension at locations beyond the range of the Orbiter. This report summarizes a Phase A study of a remote resupply module for the OMV. Volume 1 is the executive summary

Fiber optic control system integration

A total fiber optic, integrated propulsion/flight control system concept for advanced fighter aircraft is presented. Fiber optic technology pertaining to this system is identified and evaluated for application readiness. A fiber optic sensor vendor survey was completed, and the results are reported. The advantages of centralized/direct architecture are reviewed, and the concept of the protocol branch is explained. Preliminary protocol branch selections are made based on the F-18/F404 application. Concepts for new optical tools are described. Development plans for the optical technology and the described system are included

A Diagnostic of Diesel-Electric Propulsion for Ships

The main objective of this paper is to present an analysis on diesel electric −DE− propulsion systems used on naval, maritime and fluvial ships. There are many advantages and some disadvantages of this system; besides, new propulsion systems have been developed to aid in the maneuvering and steering of ships. Recently, electric ships have employed a very interesting architectural arrangement and these technologies permit achieving more efficiency and a reduction of operational cost and weight. Considerations for propulsion systems utilizing the various types of machine technologies such as the Azipod system are also discussed.El objetivo principal de este trabajo es presentar un análisis del sistema de propulsión diesel-eléctrico −DE− usado en embarcaciones navales, marítimas y fluviales, el cual presenta muchas ventajas pero también algunas desventajas. En la actualidad, se han desarrollado nuevos sistemas de propulsión para ayudar en la maniobrabilidad de los buques aumentando su capacidad de giro y de sostener el rumbo. Recientemente, las embarcaciones con sistemas eléctricos han empleado una disposición general muy interesante ya que esta tecnología permite lograr una mayor eficiencia con la consecuente reducción de costos operativos y de peso de la embarcación. Igualmente, se discuten consideraciones sobre los sistemas de propulsión que utilizan varios tipos de tecnología de maquinaria tal como el acimutal o azipod

Preliminary QCSEE program test results

The QCSEE (Quiet, Clean, Short-Haul Experimental Engine) program has entered the engine test phase. Overall design and advanced technology incorporated into the two engines in the program were described. In addition, preliminary engine test results are presented and compared to the technical requirements the engines were designed to meet

Study of Space Station propulsion system resupply and repair Final report

Resupply and repair capabilities for orbital space station bipropellant propulsion syste