Space Flight Systems Directorate
Activities Report
January 25 - Feb. 5, 2009

ADVANCED FLIGHT PROJECTS OFFICE

ISS Research Program
InSPACE Operations Began on ISS with Installation of Hardware into the Microgravity Science Glovebox (MSG):  The Investigating the Structure of Paramagnetic Aggregates from Colloidal Emulsions-2 (InSPACE-2) flight hardware was successfully installed in the Microgravity Science Glovebox (MSG) on January 27, 2009, by ISS Increment 18 Commander, Mike Fincke.  Following installation of the hardware, Mike performed the first of seven additional science runs scheduled for InSPACE-2.  On Friday, January 30, 2009, Increment 18 flight engineer, Sandy Magnus, performed three additional runs on the InSPACE hardware.  All operation runs were performed with near real-time video down-linked to the InSPACE-2 team in the Telescience Support Center (TSC) in Bldg 333.  The research associate for the InSPACE-2 principal investigator, Paula Vasquez (U of Delaware), tied in remotely.

The objective of the InSPACE-2 experiment is to continue the InSPACE-1 studies to determine the lowest energy configurations of the three dimensional structures of a magnetorheological (MR) fluid in a pulsed magnetic field.  MR fluids are a class of smart materials capable of changing visco-elastic properties.  These objectives improve limb and dextrous motion in robotic components and human-robotic interfaces for EVA suits.
Contact:  MAH/Nancy Hall, (216) 433-5643

InSPACE-3 CDR Kickoff Meeting Held on February 3, 2009.  A Critical Design Review (CDR) kickoff meeting was held on February 3, 2009, for the Investigating the Structure of Paramagnetic Aggregates from Colloidal Elipsoids-3 (InSPACE-3) flight experiment.  Project Manager, MAH/Nancy Hall, presented an overview of the experiment and hardware, along with the design, safety, and verification approaches.  Project Scientist, RET/Bob Green, presented an overview of the science, and Engineering Lead, Chuck Bunnell (ZIN), presented the new fluid sample vial assembly design.

The CDR kickoff presentation was well received by the engineering panel.  A number of design issues were brought up including a suggestion for using an alternate method of sealing the fluid sample vials.  The engineering review panel is in the process of preparing a report and a list of Requests for Action (RFAs).

The objective of the InSPACE-3 experiment is to continue InSPACE-1 and InSPACE-2 studies to determine the lowest energy configurations of the three-dimensional structures of a magnetorheological (MR) fluid in a pulsed magnetic field.  In particular, InSPACE-3 will investigate 3-D structures formed by non-spherical super-paramagnetic colloidal particles in these pulsed magnetic fields.  InSPACE-3 will utilize the InSPACE-1 experiment hardware presently on ISS, and consist of new fluid samples and a new vial assembly design that allows two simultaneous orthogonal views of 3-D structure formation.
Contact:  MAH/Nancy Hall, (216) 433-5643

NASA Employees are Contributing Authors to Frontiers of Propulsion Science.
MAH/Nancy R. Hall was one of several NASA employees who co-authored a chapter in the book Frontiers of Propulsion Science edited by RPP/Marc Millis and Eric W. Davis from the Institute for Advance Studies at Austin, Texas.  Nancy co-authored and contributed to Chapter 19, “Investigating Sonoluminescence as a Means of Energy Harvesting,” along with co-authors RHS/John Wrbanek, RHS/Gustave Fralick, and RHI/Susan Wrbanek.  Nancy was the Project Scientist for a NASA Research Announcement grant that focused on single-bubble sonoluminescence in the Fluid Physics and Transport Branch and discussed some of that research in the chapter.  She also reviewed another chapter in the book.  Frontiers of Propulsion Science covers NASA's Breakthrough Propulsion Physics Project from 1996-2002 as well as other related works to provide starting material for readers on numerous visionary topics.  The book was published in 2009 by the American Institute for Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) as Volume 227 in the Progress in Astronautics and Aeronautics book series. 
Contact:  MAH/Nancy Hall, (216) 433-5643

The Microgravity Acceleration Measurement System (MAMS) team at Glenn Research Center (GRC) supported the analysis of the excessive vibration that occurred during the reboost of the International Space Station (ISS) using the Service Module on January 14, 2009.
MAMS collected acceleration data in support of the reboost of the ISS on January 14, 2009, and was requested to analyze the acceleration data and provide plots to the Johnson Space Center (JSC) Structures and Dynamics group in the weeks following the event.  The JSC Structures and Dynamics group would like to understand the January 14, 2009, reboost event before the next reboost.  MAMS collected the acceleration data from the reboost event and forwarded the data to the Space Station Structures and Dynamics group at JSC.  JSC uses the MAMS acceleration data to confirm their ISS structure models based on ISS center of gravity and structural dynamics. 
Contact:  MAH/Robert Hawersaat, (216) 433-8157

Advanced Capabilities Project Office
ETDP - Propulsion and Cryogenics Advanced Development (PCAD) - Lander Ascent Main Engine (AME) Technology Development Contract Altitude Engine Critical Design Review.  A Critical Design Review (CDR) for the altitude configuration AME was held at Aerojet facilities in Sacramento on January 28-29, 2009, to present the final design and analyses for the Aerojet ablative 5,500-lbf workhorse liquid oxygen/liquid methane (LOX/LCH4) engine.  Components reviewed included the injector assembly, the altitude chamber and ablative liner design, and the chamber/nozzle interface.  NASA will attach a Shuttle OME nozzle extension to the chamber built at Aerojet for testing at the White Sands Test Facility test stand 401 in the fall.  Several issues have previously been identified for the altitude engine, including concerns about exceeding the inter-laminar shear capability of the ablative liner for long duration tests and an internal leak in the first injector manifold.  NASA personnel conducted an engineering review board for each of these issues in December and January to review the possible recovery paths recommended by Aerojet, and the selected recovery paths and impact on schedule were also discussed at the CDR.  Sea level testing is now scheduled to begin in late May 2009.  While this will still meet the milestone of sea level test completion by the end of June, the injector manufacturing issues have removed all slack from the schedule.  The CDR was supported by a wide range of organizations from within NASA GRC as well as personnel from Marshall Space Flight Center, Johnson Space Center, White Sands Test Facility and Edwards Air Force Base. The purpose of this risk-reduction activity is to demonstrate and validate performance levels for a Lunar Lander liquid oxygen/liquid methane ascent engine and to address high priority risks for LOX/LCH4 AME (reliable ignition, fast start).
 Contactss:  MAC/Todd Peterson, (216) 433-5350 and RPP/Diane Linne, (216) 977-7512

ETDP - Cryogenic Fluid Management (CFM) Project - Presented technologies that supported both Altair and Ares V to the Technology Prioritization Process (TPP) Panel Discussions held on January 30, 2009.  Altair had provided seed money in 2008 to determine the feasibility of propellant scavenging, and as a result has baselined the process in their design.  Funding from Altair was discontinued with the intent that ETDP would continue the work to bring the process to a TRL 5-6 by the Preliminary Design Review (PDR).  CFM presented the follow-on work required.  The TPP Panel reprioritized propellant scavenging, and it is expected to be funded in FY11 and be included in the PPBE11 cycle.  CFM also presented required work for Ares V.  CFM seeks to address three main aspects that must be successful to mitigate risk for Ares V:  1) High performance Multi-Layer Insulation (MLI) at extremely large scale, 2) Heat rejection in low-g at extremely large scale (Thermodynamic vent system (TVS), and 3) Large scale/low-g fluid/thermodynamics for mixing/pressure control.  The TPP Panel did not reprioritize this task, however, they asked for more information, and it will likely be included in PPBE11. Contact:  MAC/Susan Motil, (216) 433-8589

ETDP - Energy Storage Project - Reviewed the Lunar Surface Systems (LSS) studies on energy storage and power generation at JSC on February 3.   ATK, Hamilton-Sundstrand, and Battelle presented results of studies awarded under the LSS Broad Area Announcement for innovative methods of energy storage and power generation on the lunar surface.  Concepts for utilizing solid oxide fuel cells, power beaming, and thermal wadis were presented.  The purpose of the review was to provide technical feedback to the contractors prior to the final presentations on February 25 at the Department of Commerce, Washington, DC.
Contact:  MAC/Carolyn Mercer, (216) 433-3411

Science Project Office
In-Space Propulsion Technology Project Office - Patent Office Examiner Interview Conducted.  The claims contained in NASA patent application "Magnetic Circuit for Hall Effect Plasma Accelerator" by Manzella, et al. were discussed with an examiner and supervisor from the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) at their office in Washington, D.C.  The examiner agreed that, with proposed amendment, the claims of this invention would overcome the prior art of record and be rendered allowable.  These amended claims will be submitted in response to the current USPTO Final Office Action no later than February 12, 2009.  This invention was made to enable reduced-cost electric propulsion systems for deep space robotic space exploration in support of the Science Mission Directorate’s In-Space Propulsion Technology Project.
Contacts:  DEP/David Manzella, (216) 977-7432), MAS/Eric J. Pencil (216) 977-7463

SPACE OPERATIONS PROJECT OFFICE

Communications Navigation and Networking re-Configurable Testbed (CoNNeCT)
( Project Manager - Konstantinos Martzaklis):

• The CoNNeCT Team is continuing to develop Concept of Operations (CONOPS) scenarios through dedicated workshops.  These scenarios are key in understanding information flow to and from the ground and payload and will provide insight into requirements decomposition and traceability from Level I requirements down to lower, ‘box’ level specifications.  These scenarios are key to completing the project’s requirements decomposition and traceability needs in preparation for PDR.
• The project has also been working closely with performing organizations to close on its workforce gaps.  Workforce issues, primarily at GRC and to a certain extent at other Centers, continue to challenge the project’s ability to accomplish its work especially in preparation for its upcoming Preliminary Design Review (PDR) in April.  Workforce challenges include filling existing gaps, shoring up skill mix issues with existing staff and addressing new requirements and underplanning since institutional workforce validation back in the fall of 2008.  If these critical staffing needs aren’t met, the project’s schedule and readiness for PDR will be negatively impacted.  The Project Manager and Chief Engineer have been working this issue and the PM briefed the Center Management Council on January 26 as to its urgency.
• The System Requirements Review (SRR) for the Harris Software Defined Radio (SDR) was held on January 29 via WebEx at GRC.  Subsystem requirements for the radio were presented including platform/hardware requirements as well as requirements associated with the radio Operating Environment (OE) and its waveforms.  Harris presented its plans on how requirements would be addressed.  The Harris radio is one of three SDR’s planned to be flown on the CoNNeCT Payload.
• The project gave Authority to Proceed (ATP) to the vendor for procurement of the payload antenna pointing system (APS).  The APS is an integrated system to be delivered to GRC and will point a high gain Ka-band dish antenna along with a medium gain S-Band antenna to the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System for two-way connectivity between the payload and the ground.  Contract award is expected the week of February 2, 2009.
• Payload Integration JSC Meetings:  The project Payload Integration Lead visited JSC and held a number of meetings associated with integration of the payload with ISS and the Japanese Exploration Agency (JAXA) H-II launch vehicle.  The CoNNeCT-ISS Payload Integration Agreement (PIA) final draft has been agreed to and has been submitted for final review and signature.  This will establish the agreement for formal integration of the payload with ISS and JAXA.
• Members of the project Systems Engineering (SE) team and Engineering’s Systems Engineering organization hosted a demonstration of IBM’s Rhapsody requirements modeling tool.  The tool is being investigated to assist in modeling and validating project requirements and decomposition.  It interfaces with DOORS- the project’s requirements database tool.  Rhapsody would facilitate proper requirements decomposition is accomplished through a disciplined approach allowing requirements flow-down, validation and traceability.
• CoNNeCT has received commitment from the GSFC EXPRESS Logistics Carrier (ELC) personnel to share their source code for the ELC simulator.  D. Varga will act as the point of contact with Lily Bashar and Oscar Gonzalez at GSFC to receive the software and documentation.  GSFC is sending this software with the stipulation that they will not be able to provide any support at this time since they haven’t been given any funding to support the activity.  This support, along with the software and documentation, is listed in the Payload Integration Agreement between International Space Station and CoNNeCT.

Contact:  Denise Varga/DPS, (216) 433-5190

• Wind River personnel were at GRC on January 28 and 29, to install their Lab Diagnostics tool and conduct training of the GRC CoNNeCT software team.  Though expensive, the CoNNeCT payload avionic software team feels this tool will significantly increase the efficiency of developing and testing flight software.  The tool allows testing and debugging of code on its native platform without modifying source code or executables to include debug statements.  The tool license server was installed on the CoNNeCT software server in Building 142 and will be used in the CoNNeCT software development lab in Building 333.  Contact:  Denise Varga/DPS, (216) 433-5190

Space Communications and Navigation (SCaN) Systems Engineering Core Team (SECT)(Project Manager – Kul B. Bhasin)

• Completed drafts of the Network Control (Section 4.5) and Testing, Training, Modeling, and Simulation (Section 4.8.6) sections of the SCaN System Requirements Document
• Participated in a Systems Engineering training course entitled “Tracking and Communications Infrastructure Systems Engineering” at JPL.

Space Networks Ground Segment Sustainment (SGSS)
(Project Manager – Kul B. Bhasin)

• Provided the architecture diagram set for review to the SCaN TDRS Replenishment SGSS project

Upcoming Significant Events:

• Space Communications and Navigation (SCaN) Program Management Review (PMR):  February 5, 2009
• STS-119/15A Launch NET 2/19/09