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Researchand Technology Annual Report of the Marshall Space Flight Center

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Researchand Technology Annual Report of the Marshall Space Flight Center Researchand Technology Annual Report of the Marshall Space Flight Center NASA TM- 108501 National Aeronautics and Space Administration George C. Marshall Space Flight Center Marshall Space Flight Center, Alabama 35812 November 9, 1998 _1l i Introduction obert Goddard once said, "It is difficult to say what is impossible, for the dream of yesterday is the hope of today and the reality of tomorrow." The Marshall Space Flight Center has a legacy of extraordinary scientific advancements that make the impossible a reality. With its unique blend of technical and visionary talents, Marshall continues to be a moving force behind many scientific breakthroughs. As we posture ourselves to meet the challenges and changes that lie ahead, we are committed to sharing our knowledge and further expanding the scope of space-born technologies to enhance the quality of life on Earth. We are essentially creating the future--one in which space explora- tion and our country's prosperity are closely linked. Our mission is clear: To create a better world for our children and our children's children. With limitless vision and a staunch refusal to become complacent we will accomplish this goal. Marshall's boundless contributions will propel us toward making our hopes a reality. A.G. Stephenson Director Marshall Space Flight Center Acknowledgments The point of contact and coordinator at MSFC for this report is H.C. Stinson, Technology Transfer Office, (CO30/256-544-7239). Members of the editorial committee are William Taylor, director of the Science and Engineering Directorate; Axel Roth, director of Program Development; and Ronald Koczor, associate director for Science and Technology, Space Sciences Laboratory. Detailed editorial support and production assistance were provided by Scientific and Commercial Systems Corporation. The research and technology work at MSFC is a cooperative effort; however, due to space restrictions, it is impossible to list all those involved in the projects described in this report. To assist the reader, the MSFC contact, office code, telephone number, and e-mail address are included at the beginning of each article. The sponsoring organization and university and industry involvement are given at the end of each article. An abbreviations and acro- nyms list, an alphabetical index of contacts, and an index of key words are presented at the end of this report. Ii Table of Contents Creating the Future o,, Introduction to Report VIII Technology Development Programs Introduction William Taylor 1 Space Propulsion and Fluid Management Cryogenic Fluid Management for the Aerospace Industry Technology Program Leon J. Hastings 2 Injector Technology for Orbital Maneuvering System Engine Upgrade Huu P. Trinh 3 Magnetically Actuated Propellant Orientation Jim Martin 4 Multipurpose Hydrogen Test-Bed Thermal Control Subsystem Testing Leon J. Hastings 6 Shooting Star Solar Thermal Propulsion System Stephen Tucker 9 Spray-Bar Zero Gravity Cryogenic Vent System Test Leon J. Hastings 11 Propulsive Small Expendable Deployer System Judy Ballance 13 Structures and Dynamics Development of Elliptic Orbit Rendezvous Analytical and Operational Techniques Carrie D. Olsen 15 Elastic-Plastic Proof Test Philosophy for Metallic Structures Charles L. Denniston 17 Life Prediction of Composite Structures Based on Progressive Damage Analysis Dr. James B. Min 18 Combining Loads From Random and Sine Excitation Using Monte Carlo Techniques Dr. Andrew M. Brown 20 Multidisciplinary Thermal-Fluid Design Optimization Tool Ten-See Wang 21 Unshrouded Impellar Technology Development Roberto Garcia 23 Solar Thermal Upper Stage/Shooting Star Experiment Scott A. Hill 25 Interdisciplinary Testing of Inflatable Structures for the Shooting Star Experiment R. Gregory Schunk 26 John O. Lassiter Robert C. Engberg Dr. Michael L. Tinker Jeffrey R. Kegley lit On-Orbit Controller Tuning for Robust Pointing Control Dr. Mark Whorton 28 i Microgravity Vibration Control and Civil Applications Dr. Mark Whorton 29 Automated Rendezvous and Capture Technology Description Richard Dabney 31 = Infrared Fiber-Optic Thermographic Sensor for High- Temperature Applications Don Bryan 32 = Materials and Processes = Laser Induced Impulse on Debris Materials Jason A. Vaughn 34 Development of Environmentally Compatible Solid Film Lubricants Phillip Hall 35 2 Effect of Bearing Cleaning on Long-Term Bearing Life Tim Jett 36 =_ Comparison of Computed Tomography Data to Actual Physical Density Data for Composite Materials Dr. Ron Beshears 37 Computed Tomography System Upgrade Provides Improved Imaging Capability Dr. Ron Beshears 38 Friction Stir Welding Process Development Jeff Ding 39 Automated Measurement of Weld Shrinkage Recovery Kirby Lawless 41 High-Strength Aluminum Casting Alloy for Automotive Applications Jonathan A. Lee 42 Weld Filler Wire Developrnent for Aluminum Lithium 2195 Alloy Carolyn Russell 43 Vacuum Plasma Spray Forming of Propulsion Components Frank Zimmerman 44 Material Robustness Testing and Nondestructive Evaluation Methodology Assessment for Liquid Rocket Engine Composite Nozzles--Phase 1 Results Dr. Raymond G. Clinton 45 Tooling Foam for Structural Composite Applications Brett H. Smith 47 Space Environmental Effects on Transparent Polymer Lenses for Inflatable and Rigid Space Structures David Edwards 49 Hot Pressing Yttrium, Copper, and Barium Oxides to Form Bulk-Shaped YBa2Cu3OT_ × Ceramic Superconductors Tony Robertson 50 Pressure Controlled Atomization Process for Permanent Magnet Fabrication Tony Robertson 51 iv :i Ill: Avionics and Optics Video Guidance Sensor--Flight Proven Ricky Howard 54 Signal Conditioning Electronics for Discrete Capacitive Level Sensor Introduction Randal S. McNichoi 56 Kenneth L. Swords Dennis A. Smith Determining the Fractal Dimension of an Image Using Wavelet Analysis Kenneth Herren 58 Composite Fresnel Lens for Solar Concentration and Alignment Vinson B. Huegele 62 Rapid Prototyping of Diffractive Optics by Excimer Laser Micromachining Dr. Helen J. Cole 63 Phase Correction in a Semiconductor Amplifier Array Using Fiber Optics Kenneth Herren 65 Solar X-Ray Imager X-Ray Detector Calibration J. Kevin Russell 67 Lightweight Nickel Alloy Mirrors for the Next Generation Space Telescope John W. Redmon 68 Space-Borne Solar Vector Magnetograph Optical Design Ron Eng 70 Solar X-Ray Imager Alignment and Focus Dr. Martin E. Smithers 72 J. Kevin Russell Modeling Optical Pulse Propagation Using Parallel Processing Andrew S. Keys 74 Electrical Impedance Spectrometer Development and Analysis Brandon S. Dewberry 76 Diffractive Optics by Direct Write Electron Beam Lithography Brent L. Beabout 77 Replicated X-Ray Optics Development William D. Jones 8O Space and Microgravity Science Research Programs Introduction Gregory S. Wilson 83 A Laboratory Study of the Interaction of Charged Particles With Electron Beams and Ultraviolet Radiation Dr. James E Spann 84 A New Ultra-High Resolution Near-Field Microscope for Observation of Protein Crystal Growth William K. Witherow 85 V BATSE Observations of Accreting Pulsars Dr. Robert B. Wilson 87 Characteristics of Thermal Ions in the Topside Auroral Zone as Observed by TOPAZ3/STICS Victoria Coffey 89 Coronal Heating Dr. Ronald L. Moore 91 Solar Flares and Coronal Mass Ejections Dr. Ronald L. Moore 93 Gradient Forming With Magnetic Fluids Dr. Fred W. Leslie 95 Incorporation of Metal Nanoparticles Into Aerogels for Catalysis Applications Dr. David D. Smith 97 Large-Scale Organization of Active Region Magnetic Fields Dr. Mona J. Hagyard 99 := Mechanics of Granular Materials Under Very Low Effective Stresses Dr. Nicholas C. Costes 100 Modeling of Viscous Fluid Flow Dr. Edwin C. Ethridge 103 The Solar Wind in the Inner Heliosphere Dr. Steven T. Suess 105 Time-Resolved Fluorescence in Crystallizing Protein Solutions Dr. David D. Smith 107 Superconductor Interactions with Gravity Ron Koczor 109 Space SystemConcept Studies Introduction Axel Roth 113 Beamed Energy Research Program for Propulsion and Planetary Defense Dr. Jonathan Campbell !14 Electrodynamic Tether Reboost of the International Space Station Les Johnson 115 Improving the Safety of Space Tethers Charles Rupp 117 Space Tether Transportation System Les Johnson I19 TechnologyTransfer Introduction Sally Little 121 Marshall Center a Partner in High-Tech Business Incubator Benita Hayes 122 NASA Computer Imaging Technology Looks Into a Broad Range of Commercial Uses Lisa Hediger 123 NASA "Smart Bolts" Likely to Revolutionize Some Industries Helen Stinson 124 Space Code Solves Industries' Identity Crisis Bob Lessels 125 Small Vibrations in Space Lead to Earthshaking Technology Dr. Mark Whorton 126 vi !:I ]li] NASA Technology Conserves Power and Generates a Successful New Business William H. Nabors 127 Hair Cleans Up Hairy Oil Spill Problem Dr. Elizabeth Rodgers 128 NASA Sheds New Light on Cancer Helen Stinson 129 NASA-Designed Knee Brace Turns Rehabilitation Into a Moving Experience Steve Jones 130 NASNs Enlightening View on Veins Dr. Elizabeth Rodgers 131 NASA Funnels Technology to Develop Tornado Warning System Helen Stinson 132 NASA Technology Helps Zap Mosquitoes Before They Zap You Steve Jones 133 NASA, USBI Technology Make A Triple Play Vernotto McMillan 134 NASA Spinoff Helps Golfers Get More Spin on the Ball Fred Schratnm 134 NASA Deep-Space Communications Technology Now Used at NASCAR Race Tracks Bob Lessels 135 Abbreviations and Acronyms 137 Index of Contacts 139 Index of Key Words 143 vii I ...... i" i g_;_- _ _ _- [ ng t:he fut:ore L X ! ili! ×W ! 1 . ...... f i
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