Paper Session II-C - Optical Alignment Measurements of Space Shuttle Tiles

The Space Shuttles are serviced and maintained by the Lockheed Space Operations Company (LSOC) at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The tiles which act as a heat shield during Shuttle re-entry into the earth\u27s atmosphere, are a major part of the Shuttle servicing efforts. One very tedious and labor intensive task is the alignment measurement of these tiles. Alignment measurements include measuring the gaps, or separation between two adjacent tiles, and measuring the steps, or the height differences between adjacent tiles. Traditional methods of measurement required two mechanical tools to separately measure steps and gaps. Plastic feeler gauges were used for gap measurements and dial-indicator trammel tools were used to measure steps. The Lockheed Research And Development Division (R&DD) in Palo Alto, CA developed and built the hand-held optical tool, the Lockheed Laser Tool (LLT), that is currently being used to measure tile steps and gaps. The LLT measures both steps and gaps simultaneously, replacing both mechanical tools. Integration of the LLT into the Shuttle servicing environment and the formal certification and acceptance of its use was an important milestone for state-ofthe- art technology being utilized to improve and maintain Shuttle processing flow. This was an iterative process during a six month period in 1988. Direct feedback from Shuttle operations/engineering helped refine the user-interface and became a critical contribution to the success of the program

Laboratory Demonstration and Preliminary Techno-Economic Analysis of an Onsite Wastewater Treatment System.

Providing safe and reliable sanitation services to the billions of people currently lacking them will require a multiplicity of approaches. Improving onsite wastewater treatment to standards enabling water reuse would reduce the need to transport waste and fresh water over long distances. Here, we describe a compact, automated system designed to treat the liquid fraction of blackwater for onsite water reuse that combines cross-flow ultrafiltration, activated carbon, and electrochemical oxidation. In laboratory testing, the system consistently produces effluent with 6 ≤ pH ≤ 9, total suspended solids (TSS) < 30 mg L-1, and chemical oxygen demand (COD) < 150 mg L-1. These effluent parameters were achieved across a wide range of values for influent TSS (61-820 mg L-1) and COD (384-1505 mg L-1), demonstrating a robust system for treating wastewater of varying strengths. A preliminary techno-economic analysis (TEA) was conducted to elucidate primary cost drivers and prioritize research and development pathways toward commercial feasibility. The ultrafiltration system is the primary cost driver, contributing to >50% of both the energy and maintenance costs. Several scenario parameters showed an outsized impact on costs relative to technology parameters. Specific technological improvements for future prototype development are discussed

Laboratory Demonstration and Preliminary Techno-Economic Analysis of an Onsite Wastewater Treatment System.

Providing safe and reliable sanitation services to the billions of people currently lacking them will require a multiplicity of approaches. Improving onsite wastewater treatment to standards enabling water reuse would reduce the need to transport waste and fresh water over long distances. Here, we describe a compact, automated system designed to treat the liquid fraction of blackwater for onsite water reuse that combines cross-flow ultrafiltration, activated carbon, and electrochemical oxidation. In laboratory testing, the system consistently produces effluent with 6 ≤ pH ≤ 9, total suspended solids (TSS) < 30 mg L-1, and chemical oxygen demand (COD) < 150 mg L-1. These effluent parameters were achieved across a wide range of values for influent TSS (61-820 mg L-1) and COD (384-1505 mg L-1), demonstrating a robust system for treating wastewater of varying strengths. A preliminary techno-economic analysis (TEA) was conducted to elucidate primary cost drivers and prioritize research and development pathways toward commercial feasibility. The ultrafiltration system is the primary cost driver, contributing to >50% of both the energy and maintenance costs. Several scenario parameters showed an outsized impact on costs relative to technology parameters. Specific technological improvements for future prototype development are discussed