National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Technology Demonstration Missions Program

The Bridge Summer 2015

NASA’s LDSD Project Completes The Low Density Supersonic Decelerator test vehicle’s onboard rocket motor is firing in this still captured from an in-flight video Second Experimental Test Flight recording. The trailing parachute can be seen at the far right. (NASA) From a NASA news release Engineers continue to pore over data robotic missions, as well as human Fourteen seconds after SIAD inflation, obtained during the June 8 flight test precursor missions to the Red Planet.” the test vehicle’s second braking tech- of NASA’s Low-Density Supersonic nology — a 100-foot-wide Supersonic Decelerator project. The directorate funds the project as part Ringsail parachute, the largest of NASA’s Technology Demonstration supersonic chute ever flown — was suc- During the flight, the LDSD project team Missions Program, which at the time of cessfully released. Preliminary analysis of tested two decelerator technologies that this writing anticipated analysis of the imagery and other data received during could enable larger payloads to land vehicle and flight data to continue for the test indicates the chute deployed, safely on the surface of Mars, and allow several months. then began to generate large amounts of access to more of the planet’s surface by drag. A tear appeared in the canopy at assisting landings at higher-altitude sites. A high-altitude balloon carrying the sau- about the time it was fully inflated. cer-shaped LDSD test vehicle launched “Developing and demonstrating entry, the morning of the flight test from the The LDSD craft splashed down in the descent and landing technologies such U.S. Navy’s Pacific Missile Range Facility Pacific Ocean off the west coast of Kauai. as supersonic decelerators is critical to on the Hawaiian island of Kauai. After enabling our journey to Mars,” said Steve nearly four hours of ascent, the vehicle “Early indications are that we got what Jurczyk, associate administrator for the separated as planned from the balloon we came for: new and actionable data Space Technology Mission Directorate at about 120,000 feet above the ocean. on our parachute design,” said Mark NASA Headquarters. “The technologies An onboard rocket motor then took the Adler, LDSD project manager at NASA’s tested on LDSD are giving us data and vehicle to 180,000 feet, where the first Jet Propulsion Laboratory, during a insight into the capabilities we’ll need to braking technology, the Supersonic post-flight news conference. land more mass than we currently can Inflatable Aerodynamic Decelerator, on Mars, which will enable more capable deployed at about Mach 3. …continued on p. 2

Q&A: Meet TDM Program Manager Larry Gagliano In April, Larry Gagliano was named earned a bachelor’s degree in aerospace Space Station in a manager of NASA’s Technology engineering there. He also received a succession of pay- Demonstration Missions program at master’s degree in technical manage- load engineering NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center. ment in 2000 from the Florida Institute and management “Bridge” editor Rick Smith recently sat of Technology in Huntsville. He joined roles, including chief engineer for the down with him to discuss his NASA NASA in 1988 as a mechanical engineer space station’s Microgravity Glovebox experience, his managerial style and his in Marshall’s Propulsion Laboratory, and and program integration lead for the expectations for TDM. went on to train Spacelab astronauts Node 2 and Node 3 elements, which and work on Hubble Space Telescope became the station’s “Harmony” and A 1987 graduate of the University of repair missions. For the bulk of his “Tranquility” modules, respectively. Alabama in Tuscaloosa, Gagliano career, he supported the International …continued on p. 7 NASA’s LDSD Project LDSD Flight Test Reflects Nationwide Teamwork Completes Second By Rick Smith Experimental Test When NASA’s Low-Density Supersonic Partners nationwide — and beyond Decelerator test vehicle flew high over The LDSD project is led by program Flight…continued from p. 1 the Pacific Ocean June 8 to test two manager Mark Adler and principal innovative aerobraking technologies (see investigator Ian Clark at NASA’s Jet The flight test was the second for the cover story), it did so thanks to the tenac- Propulsion Laboratory. It is supported project. The first was held in June 2014 ity and ingenuity of workers at a host of by NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center, at the same Hawaiian test facility. NASA facilities, military installations and which manages the project as part of specialized companies that very nearly the Technology Demonstration Missions “The physics involved with LDSD are stretches from sea to shining sea. program for NASA’s Space Technology so cutting-edge we learn something Mission Directorate. profound every time we test,” said Ian The LDSD flight tested breakthrough Clark, principal investigator for the proj- technologies for landing future robotic NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility, operated ect at JPL. “Going into this year’s flight, I and human missions on Mars and by NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, wanted to see that the parachute opened safely returning large payloads to Earth. is home to the agency’s Balloon Program further than it did last year before it Researchers lofted the test vehicle off Office, which played a crucial role in pre- began to rupture. The limited data set the coast of Hawaii via a large NASA paring the balloon to lift the LDSD test we have at present indicates we may not scientific balloon. A powerful rocket vehicle into the stratosphere. Wallops only have gone well down the road to full then boosted it to the edge of space also assisted with the launch, in tandem inflation, but we may have achieved it.” before sending it hurtling toward the with the Columbia Scientific Balloon ocean below — simulating the supersonic Facility, and with communications, range speeds at which the craft would travel safety and recovery operations. JPL also through Mars’ atmosphere. turned to NASA’s Ames Research Center, NASA’s Langley Research Center and The flight test was a crucial milestone for Marshall for wind tunnel testing, aerody- proving two key technologies: a super- namics modeling and subscale testing, sonic inflatable aerodynamic decelerator, rocket plume thermal analysis and flight or SIAD, a balloon-like vessel designed dynamics support prior to flight testing. to inflate around a vehicle and slow its entry; and a state-of-the-art supersonic Wallops’ balloon specialists helped parachute. The groundbreaking nature guide design and delivery of the scien- of these technologies — and the unique tific balloon and oversaw the balloon challenges faced by the investigators launch. Wallops and Columbia person- seeking to test them in flight — is why nel coordinated its flight with the U.S. NASA called upon such a widespread Navy’s Pacific Missile Range Facility, Two members of the U.S. Navy’s Mobile Diving team for the job. the designated launch site in Hawaii. Salvage Unit 1 Explosive Ordnance Detachment work to recover the LDSD test vehicle. (NASA)

Clark also noted the successful inflation of the SIAD and deployment and inflation of the supersonic ballute — an inflatable drag device that extracts the parachute. “Both of those devices have now had two great flights,” he said, “and we have matured them to the point where they can be used, with confidence, on future missions.

“We’re not just pushing the envelope,” he added. “We flew a 7,000-pound test vehicle right through it.”

For more about the teams involved in making the LDSD flight test happen, see the related story on page 2.

The test vehicle is suspended beneath the static launch tower during a May 29 rehearsal. (Image: NASA/Bill Ingalls)

2 A number of commercial firms provided The Hawaii Resource Group, under personnel,” Adler said. “It also had the critical technologies and capabilities. The contract to Wallops, provided recovery right conditions — a proper light sea SIAD used in this test flight was built for vessels — from among locally owned breeze in the mornings near the surface, NASA by ILC Dover, while the supersonic and operated fishing and commercial yet stiff winds higher up to send our parachute — the largest ever con- ships — to retrieve the test vehicle after balloon out over the sea. It was almost structed — was built by Zodiac Parachute splashdown. And in keeping with NASA’s perfectly situated for our mission.” & Protection America (formerly Pioneer commitment to environmentally friendly Aerospace Corporation). A second SIAD practices, the Hawaiian firm Pacific Farm The Wallops team worked with the Navy and a backup parachute, the latter of Services will recycle the spent balloon. facility to put in place special meteo- which may be test-flown in 2016, were rology equipment and communications built by Airborne Systems. “We’ve done things nobody has ever systems prior to the first LDSD flight test done before,” said Clark, reflecting on in 2014. The Columbia Scientific Balloon the roster of participants in the work. Facility, under contract to Wallops, “We turned to every potential resource “has decades of experience in building, we could think of. It’s crucial in cases launching and flying these enormous like this to harness the talents, skills and helium balloons,” Adler said. “They also knowledge base of experts across the provided world-class meteorologists for agency and outside the agency. You look weather forecasting, which was essential for expertise wherever it’s available.” to knowing when it was both possible and safe to launch.” The path to flight With a successful series of design stud- Reaping the rewards ies, fabrication of test articles and ground How does Adler sum up the teamwork tests behind the team, the search began that helped reach this latest milestone? for a way to launch the test vehicle to the “When you start a project like this, you proper altitude. The JPL leads consid- have no idea how many problems and On-site in Hawaii prior to launch, LDSD ered various rocket-propelled solutions, complications you’re going to run into,” principal investigator Ian Clark, rear, watches but found them too costly. he said. “These partners all stepped as LDSD project manager Mark Adler discusses up with their expertise, ingenuity and the flight test. Clark and Adler both work at “A scientific balloon turned out to be a dedication to the mission to provide NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, which relatively low-cost, efficient means of the solutions and support to make it a leads the LDSD project for the agency. bringing our system much of the way to success.” (NASA/Bill Ingalls) where it needed to be,” Adler said. He credited Wallops’ long experience with “There’s no way one organization could Orbital ATK designed, fabricated and scientific balloons — and its close work do even half the things we’ve done tested the composite super-structure of with its contractors and with the Navy’s without seeking help and insight from the vehicle, while Orbital ATK’s Defense Hawaii launch site — for bringing in the others,” Clark added. “That’s what made Systems Group provided the STAR™ test flights on budget. LDSD fly.” 48B motor. Orbital ATK’s Technical Services Division, contracted to oversee “From their technical expertise with bal- The LDSD project is one of a series of the Columbia Scientific Balloon Facility, loons, range communication systems Technology Demonstration Missions supplied the flight computer, inertial and recovery operations, to their direct in development by NASA’s Space measurement unit and avionics. As a knowledge of rocket range safety and Technology Mission Directorate to further subcontractor to NASA’s Atmospheric logistics, I cannot imagine how we could the knowledge and capabilities necessary Technology Services Company, Orbital have gotten where we are today without to enable future missions to an asteroid, ATK also supplied 18 small sounding them,” he said. Mars and beyond. Learn more here. rockets for gathering meteorological data. The powerful “spin motors” neces- The project team conducted a worldwide The full text of this story is available sary to rotate the test vehicle during its search for its test site. They selected the online. powered ascent were built by Nammo Navy’s PMRF range in 2011. Talley. Canadian firm Foremost LLC Smith, an ASRC Federal/Analytical built the special launch tower used to “It offered a fully supported range, a Services employee, supports Mar- suspend the balloon while launch prepa- knowledgeable safety organization shall’s Office of Strategic Analysis & rations were underway. and a full contingent of experienced Communications.

http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/tdm/main

3 Ball Leads Green Propellant Technology Discussion

NASA’s Green Propellant Infusion Mission seeks to demonstrate the capabilities of a new, non-toxic, “green” fuel on orbit in 2016. Following the mis- sion’s flight, what is the next step for the hydroxyl ammonium nitrate fuel known as AF-M315E? Ball Aerospace, which leads the project for NASA’s Technology Demonstration Missions program, is already looking into the answer to that question.

“We want to stay at the forefront of this technology’s maturation,” said Bryce Unruh, Ball’s manager for exploration and technology business development. “Our goal is to be an industry leader for implementing green technologies that meet our customers’ mission needs.”

Advancements of in-space, storable green propellant technologies have the potential to replace heritage hydrazine The GPIM project team completes the fourth hot-fire acceptance test on a 1-Newton thruster June and hypergolic systems. The value of 3 at Aeroject Rocketdyne’s Redmond, Washington, facility. The project seeks to develop a high- these technologies is twofold: performance, high-efficiency alternative to conventional chemical propulsion systems for next- generation spacecraft. (Ball/Aerojet Rocketdyne) • intrinsic safety associated with the handling of green propellant due to comparatively lower toxicity and “We have identified a number of missions Hydrazine” Technical Interchange Meeting reduced explosive ratings; and that would be enhanced or enabled by in August 2015, where a draft of the road- • significant increases in performance green propellant technology,” said Chris map will be presented and discussed. compared to heritage storable McLean, GPIM principal investigator The meeting will be hosted by the Joint systems. and Ball lead for the roadmap project. Army-Navy-NASA-Air Force Interagency “The benefits of green propellant are Propulsion Committee and the National NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center tantalizing and Ball is in a unique position Institute for Rocket Propulsion Systems. has been working on a technology mat- to engage NASA, [the Department of The final version of the roadmap will be uration roadmap for green propellant Defense] and industry and guide the delivered to NASA in the fall. technology, Unruh said, and recognized infusion path for the technology.” the need to include perspectives from This story is adapted with permission a spacecraft systems integrator. Ball’s The company intends to participate in the from an article which originally appeared unique position as the prime contractor “Green Monopropellant Alternatives to in Ball Aerospace’s company newsletter on the GPIM project, the first U.S. effort in May. to push a green propellant through the range safety process, gives the company the chance to provide valuable insights to the direction of the roadmap. Marshall TDM Team Tackles 5k

Ball was notified by Marshall in March The Technology Demonstration Missions Program that it had been selected for a 2015 Office at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center Cooperative Agreement Notice. This was well represented in April when Marshall held project teams experts at Ball and its annual Safety, Health & Environmental (SHE) Marshall to identify the best roadmap for Day activities. Taking part in the 5-kilometer the green propellant technology. In com- run were, from left, Beth Adams Fogle, TDM mission manager for the Solar Electric Propulsion ing months, the team will identify what and eCryo projects; Susan Spencer, TDM is needed to infuse the green propellant mission manager for the Laser Communications technology into the general spacecraft Relay Demonstration project; Karen Stephens, use community, and will recommend TDM integration lead; Tammie Pope, TDM strategic technology investments administrative assistant; and Susan Turner, TDM required to meet this goal. chief engineer. (NASA/MSFC)

4 Bridge Builder: Grace Tan-Wang

As the Low- What are your responsibilities on this What’s been most rewarding about Density Supersonic project? this project? Decelerator team Even though this is a technology test It’s been so rewarding to work with the counted down to conducted here on Earth to support other organizations involved, includ- their June 8 launch future Mars missions, we’ve developed ing NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility, the (see cover story), these operations to be similar to true Pacific Missile Range Facility and the we had a chance spaceflight operations. The reason for Columbia Scientific Balloon Facility (see to chat with Grace this is because the test is coordinated related story on pg. 2). Successful test Tan-Wang, LDSD operations lead at across multiple teams, including the bal- operations require these organizations to NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, who loon and test vehicle operations, range work together in an integrated way that shuttled back and forth between her JPL and flight operations, sea recovery oper- has not been done before. The culture office and the U.S. Navy’s Pacific Missile ations and safety organizations. at each has been diverse, and each has Range Facility to ensure proper design, a wealth of experience and expertise to planning and coordination of supersonic Also, the range we used typically is used share. We’ve all learned a lot from each flight dynamic test operations across the for missile tests. Launching a 460-foot- other and have come together to seek a entire project team. by-396-foot helium balloon at full inflation, common goal — a successful test. with a 6,808-pound, fully fueled test vehi- Beyond her LDSD role, Tan-Wang is a cle payload that drops and ignites a solid How do you hope your work will principal systems engineer at JPL, and rocket motor over the ocean is a new positively impact NASA’s TDM goals? has worked on numerous, high-profile operation to develop. We conducted inte- LDSD is a poster project for TDM, and NASA planetary missions for almost grated tests with our range, balloon, test accomplishes its mission statement in a 30 years there. These included the Mars vehicle and launch pad teams the same very exciting way. The only way to vali- rovers Spirit and Opportunity, which way we do for real Mars mission opera- date the supersonic technologies needed launched in 2003, and Curiosity, which tions — ensuring the teams are rehearsed for future Mars surface missions — with- launched to the Red Planet in 2011. She and ready for any situation we can con- out actually testing at Mars — is to put also has supported outer solar system ceive of, thus enabling the best possible them in a flight-like environment. Not only missions including the Galileo mission to success of execution. Jupiter, which left Earth in 1989 and the will the project provide valuable data for supersonic deceleration, but it has cre- Cassini mission to Saturn, which launched What’s most important to you about ated a new wind tunnel venue for large in 1997. Her primary role during the devel- your regular JPL job? opment stages of these missions was in decelerators — LDSD technologies too concept, design, building and testing of A key aspect of systems engineering is large for conventional wind tunnels or each spacecraft and its operation. ensuring all subsystems are integrated other test venues. and working together, whether it’s She joined JPL in 1986, right after earn- spacecraft systems or operations. That’s What would most people would be ing her bachelor’s degree in aeronautical/ crucial. It’s about bringing it all together surprised to learn about you? and doing something that hasn’t been astronautical engineering from the My parents were born in China, and done before. Massachusetts Institute of Technology came to the United States to start a in Cambridge, where she also captained family and give us kids better opportu- I also can’t say enough about the peo- the women’s gymnastics team. Her first nities. They are both civil engineers. It ple here at JPL. Everyone takes pride in NASA job came in the summer of 1985, was groundbreaking for my mother to their work, and we work as a team with however, studying the fluid dynamic study civil engineering in Taiwan back a common goal. They’re not only brilliant effects of interactions of multiple vortex then. Also, a fun fact about my family and dedicated, but just great people to rings at NASA’s Ames Research Center. is that my husband and I are both MIT work with, too! She knew right then, Tan-Wang said, alums — class of 1986 — and both our that she wanted to work for the nation’s daughters currently are MIT students What do you hope most to accomplish? space program. as well. Our oldest just graduated in Of course, we are most interested in June with a mechanical engineering the data collected for the technologies degree, and our younger daughter is a we are testing — data that will pave the rising junior working toward a bachelor’s way for the future of Mars exploration degree in mathematics. as we pursue sample return and human exploration missions. Decades from now, I hope to see common use of these tech- Editor’s Note: TDM Bridge Builders nologies on a multitude of entry missions are team members at various NASA in space, and the extension of these centers and partner organizations who supersonic decelerators to the next are helping bridge the gap, bringing realm of capabilities. one of our cutting-edge technologies to flight readiness. Got a suggestion for Tan-Wang, second from left, and her family — from left, daughters Kelly and Marisa and husband a team member worthy of a place in the Jeff — make time for sightseeing at Waimea Canyon in Kauai, Hawaii, following the first, full-scale limelight? Email Rick Smith. LDSD flight test in summer 2014. (Images courtesy of Grace Tan-Wang) 5 Solar Electric Propulsion: Giving the Future a Push

Engineers at NASA’s Glenn Research Center recently tested a Hall thruster, above left, part of an innovative Solar Electric Propulsion system that uses 10 times less propellant than conventional chemical rockets. Using a Glenn vacuum chamber to simulate the space environment, team members from the Jet Propulsion Laboratory joined Glenn engineers — including, above right, Glenn engineers Luis Pinero, left; Marcelo Gonzalez, right; and Rohit Shastry — to successfully test a new, higher-powered Hall thruster redesign that offers greater efficiency and longer life. Hall thrusters trap electrons in a magnetic field, ionizing the onboard propellant. The magnetic field also generates an electric field which accelerates the charged ions, creating a plasma exhaust plume that can push a spacecraft forward. The SEP project, one of NASA’s newest Technology Demonstration Missions, could propel the first-ever mission to redirect an asteroid in the 2020s, and could ferry large, regular cargo payloads to Mars to support future human missions there. (Images: NASA/GRC)

NASA Day on the Hill: Sharing Our Success Stories

Technology Demonstration Missions projects were a major part of the NASA story in April during annual “NASA Day on the Hill” activities, held this year in the Rayburn House Office Building in Washington. TDM projects showcasing hardware at the event included the Deep Space Atomic Clock project, the Composites for Engineering Upper Stage project, the Green Propellant Infusion Mission project, the Laser Communications Relay Demonstration project and the Solar Electric Propulsion project. TDM personnel on hand to share project information with members of Congress, their staffers and other stakeholders included, clockwise from lower left, Todd Ely, at right, principal investigator for the DSAC project at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory; Amber Jacobson, a project support specialist at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center; and Steve Moon, at center, a principal engineer at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center. (Top left and bottom images: MSFC/Steve Moon; top right image: NASA/Joel Kowsky) 6 Q&A: Meet TDM Program Manager Larry Gagliano…continued from p. 1

Most recently, he worked on the Orion What are TDM’s strengths? What the case with innovation, and whether Program, led by NASA’s Johnson Space makes it valuable to programs every project is fully successful or not, Center, and since 2010 he had been dep- such as the Space Launch System, we’re dramatically enhancing NASA’s uty project manager for Orion’s Launch the nation’s new heavy-lift launch knowledge and capabilities — and that of Abort System. Then he got the TDM call. vehicle? our various project partners as well. We What this program does best is make progress even when we run into What are your goals and expectations allow NASA’s largest flagship pro- obstacles or roadblocks. for the TDM Program? grams — SLS, the Orion crew module, We’re firmly in the business of developing the International Space Station — to You mentioned our partners. How valu- robust, cost-effective new technologies operate without worrying internally able is partnership to TDM’s success? to serve NASA’s mission in coming years. about developing all those secondary It’s the goal of the Level 2 program office or supplementary technologies they’ll Partnership truly is the way of the future. at Marshall to help all our TDM projects need down the road. That can be a hin- You just have to look at the parties around the country achieve success. The drance to overall progress. At the same involved in getting the LDSD test vehicle Space Technology Mission Directorate time, every large program knows it must to its June flight test to see that in action! at NASA Headquarters, led by STMD evolve, infusing new technologies that Associate Administrator Steve Jurczyk, will provide better, more cost-effective Everyone struggles with budget lim- is responsible for setting strategies and solutions. itations these days, and technology building our business portfolio. They look research and development can be partic- to us to execute those strategies and TDM provides a conduit for those new ularly hard-hit when balanced against the ensure the projects reach each milestone technologies, developing and maturing near-term budget needs of large flagship and achieve each incremental goal on innovative solutions, reducing risk by programs. Having multiple stakeholders the path to flight testing and technology ground-testing and flight-testing them involved — not just various NASA field infusion. before they’re plugged into those top- centers but military partners, indus- level vehicles and missions. We can go try, academia and other government We’ve got so many exciting things hap- off and do this work and then go to those agencies — allows us to share funding pening right now. We currently provide programs and say, “Here’s something we burdens and deliver more effective tech- program oversight for seven TDM proj- think you can use.” nology infusion plans. Plus, partnerships ects: the Deep Space Atomic Clock; are just good for everyone involved, cre- eCryo; the Green Propellant Infusion Look at Mars, for example. Right now ating new avenues of collaboration and Mission; the Laser Communications we’re limited in the amount of payload building a network of talent and expertise Relay Demonstration project; the Low- mass we can safely land on the surface. we can call on for future programs and Density Supersonic Decelerator, which But the new solutions offered by the missions. just completed its second flight test in LDSD project could double or triple the Hawaii; the Solar Electric Propulsion amount of payload we can land there in How would you sum up your project; and our newest, the Composites the future. We pursue that so the teams philosophy of leadership? for Exploration Upper Stage project [for working on SLS and Orion — the vehi- One word: empowerment. We have which a new TDM Web page is under cles that will make the journey to Mars great people here, a unique and talented construction; stay tuned! — Ed.]. possible — can stay focused on the big community. Everybody has a job to do, picture. That’s the benefit. When we get and the TDM team does theirs very well. Our job, working with the project man- these technologies flight-ready, they’ll Mine is to make sure they’ve got every- agers and principal investigators at their enhance those big programs, open up thing they need — resources, facilities, respective NASA field centers or industry new doors for them and dramatically equipment — to be successful. facilities, is to provide overall project improve what we can do on future mis- assessment. Are they on schedule? Are sions to Mars and other solar system I try to keep an eye on the horizon so they doing the things they need to do to destinations. I’ll know what’s coming, so I can share reach that next milestone? information with the team or shield them What are the primary challenges the from distractions, enabling them to stay program faces? focused on the work. And I’m their cham- pion. I want them to stay excited and The big challenge is successfully exe- passionate about their work, and most cuting each project. These are very National Aeronautics and Space Administration of all, I want them to know what they’re high-risk, high-reward projects — as doing is important — because it is. George C. Marshall Space Flight Center they should be. Everything we’re doing Huntsville, AL 35812 www.nasa.gov/marshall is very new. Many of these things have never been done before. That presents www.nasa.gov new challenges because we find our- selves inventing as we go. But that’s

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