Orion Pad Abort 1 Crew Module Inertia Test Approach and Results

The Flight Loads Laboratory at the Dryden Flight Research Center conducted tests to measure the inertia properties of the Orion Pad Abort 1 (PA-1) Crew Module. These measurements were taken to validate analytical predictions of the inertia properties of the vehicle and assist in reducing uncertainty for derived aero performance results calculated post launch. The first test conducted was to determine the Ixx of the Crew Module. This test approach used a modified torsion pendulum test step up that allowed the suspended Crew Module to rotate about the x axis. The second test used a different approach to measure both the Iyy and Izz properties. This test used a Knife Edge fixture that allowed small rotation of the Crew Module about the y and z axes. Discussions of the techniques and equations used to accomplish each test are presented. Comparisons with the predicted values used for the final flight calculations are made. Problem areas, with explanations and recommendations where available, are addressed. Finally, an evaluation of the value and success of these techniques to measure the moments of inertia of the Crew Module is provided

Comparison of Two Recent Launch Abort Platforms

The development of new and safer manned space vehicles is a top priority at NASA. Recently two different approaches of how to accomplish this mission of keeping astronauts safe was successfully demonstrated. With work already underway on an Apollo-like launch abort system for the Orion Crew Exploration Vehicle (CEV), an alternative design concept named the Max Launch Abort System, or MLAS, was developed as a parallel effort. The Orion system, managed by the Constellation office, is based on the design of a single solid launch abort motor in a tower positioned above the capsule. The MLAS design takes a different approach placing the solid launch abort motor underneath the capsule. This effort was led by the NASA Engineering and Safety Center (NESC). Both escape systems were designed with the Ares I Rocket as the launch vehicle and had the same primary requirement to safely propel a crew module away from any emergency event either on the launch pad or during accent. Beyond these two parameters, there was little else in common between the two projects, except that they both concluded in successful launches that will further promote the development of crew launch abort systems. A comparison of these projects from the standpoint of technical requirements; program management and flight test objectives will be done to highlight the synergistic lessons learned by two engineers who worked on each program. This comparison will demonstrate how the scope of the project architecture and management involvement in innovation should be tailored to meet the specific needs of the system under development

Primer for the Transportable Applications Executive

The Transportable Applications Executive (TAE), an interactive multipurpose executive that provides commonly required functions for scientific analysis systems, is discussed. The concept of an executive is discussed and the various components of TAE are presented. These include on-line help information, the use of menus or commands to access analysis programs, and TAE command procedures

Prosthechea mejia

Platystele colombiana is most similar to P. caudatisepala, P. posadarum and P. baqueroi but can be easily distinguished by the completely glandular-hirsute tepals and the very narrowly linear to acuminate petals that are about a third the width of the sepals, but similar in length.UCR::Vicerrectoría de Investigación::Unidades de Investigación::Ciencias Agroalimentarias::Jardín Botánico Lankester (JBL

THE USE OF THE THY-1-YFP-H TRANSGENIC MOUSE STRAIN IN STUDIES OF PERIPHERAL NERVE INJURY

The aim of these studies was to utilise the thy-1-YFP-H transgenic mouse strain to investigate the effects of exogenous agents and the use of nerve conduits on peripheral nerve repair, while developing analysis methods to quantify nerve regeneration in this strain. Using a thy-1-YFP-H mouse common fibular nerve repair model, two potential nerve regeneration enhancing agents [mannose-6-phosphate and EC23] and four conduit designs were assessed. The outcomes of the experiments were measured by analysing whole mount images of the repaired nerves and comparing: axon numbers across the repairs, the proportion of unique axons reaching set distances within the repairs, and the disruption of axons as they entered the repairs. Of the two potential nerve regeneration enhancing agents [administered by pre-soaking the graft tissue and injections into the surrounding tissue] mannose-6-phosphate was shown to significantly reduce the disruption of axons entering the graft, which tied in with results of previous studies on mannose-6-phosphate. EC23 did not appear to have any significant effect upon nerve regeneration, displaying similar results to vehicle treated grafts. Within the conduit studies, both micro-stereolithography produced hollow conduit designs proved successful at enabling regeneration across a short nerve defect - with quantitative results similar to graft repairs - however, axon organisation within those repairs was greatly reduced. The other two conduit designs [aligned fibre filled and hollow nylon-12] were less successful, with limited regeneration occurring across the nerve defect. Through the results of these studies the usefulness of the thy-1-YFP-H transgenic mouse strain in assessing nerve regeneration has been further established. The ability to trace the fate of individual axons through repairs reveals much information that was previously not possible or very difficult to obtain. In addition, the ability to obtain results in only 2-3 weeks makes this model ideal for obtaining useful data quickly for pilot studies

Working at NASA

This slide presentation reviews the author's educational and work background prior to working at NASA. It then presents an overview of NASA Dryden, a brief review of the author's projects while working at NASA, and some closing thoughts

Where Do Poor Women in Developing Countries Give Birth? A Multi-Country Analysis of Demographic and Health Survey Data

In 2008, over 300,000 women died during pregnancy or childbirth, mostly in poor countries. While there are proven interventions to make childbirth safer, there is uncertainty about the best way to deliver these at large scale. In particular, there is currently a debate about whether maternal deaths are more likely to be prevented by delivering effective interventions through scaled up facilities or via community-based services. To inform this debate, we examined delivery location and attendance and the reasons women report for giving birth at home.We conducted a secondary analysis of maternal delivery data from Demographic and Health Surveys in 48 developing countries from 2003 to the present. We stratified reported delivery locations by wealth quintile for each country and created weighted regional summaries. For sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), where death rates are highest, we conducted a subsample analysis of motivations for giving birth at home. In SSA, South Asia, and Southeast Asia, more than 70% of all births in the lowest two wealth quintiles occurred at home. In SSA, 54.1% of the richest women reported using public facilities compared with only 17.7% of the poorest women. Among home births in SSA, 56% in the poorest quintile were unattended while 41% were attended by a traditional birth attendant (TBA); 40% in the wealthiest quintile were unattended, while 33% were attended by a TBA. Seven per cent of the poorest women reported cost as a reason for not delivering in a facility, while 27% reported lack of access as a reason. The most common reason given by both the poorest and richest women for not delivering in a facility was that it was deemed "not necessary" by a household decision maker. Among the poorest women, "not necessary" was given as a reason by 68% of women whose births were unattended and by 66% of women whose births were attended.In developing countries, most poor women deliver at home. This suggests that, at least in the near term, efforts to reduce maternal deaths should prioritize community-based interventions aimed at making home births safer

Disability in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Idiopathic Chronic Fatigue

The current investigation classified 31 people with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) and 44 people with idiopathic chronic fatigue (ICF) into mild, moderate, and severe/very severe categories of self reported functional impairment. Differences in sociodemographic characteristics, symptom frequency, symptom severity, and functional impairment were examined between individuals with CFS and ICF, and were examined among the three categories of functional impairment. Results indicated that there were no differences between the CFS and ICF groups in their functional impairment classification. People who were classified into the more disabled categories reported more severe symptoms, and were more likely to have scores indicating higher disability on other measures of functional status. Implications of these findings are discussed