Development Flight Instrumentation

The Upper Stage Developmental Flight Instrumentation (DFI) is a stand-alone subsystem that collects data for engineering analysis of the performance of Ares I. DFI is a Glenn-led, in-house effort. DFI hardware mounted in the Instrument Unit will include Data Acquisition Units, a Battery Module Unit, a Telemetry System, cable harnesses (power and data) and sensors of various types. 

The primary purpose of the Development Flight Instrumentation is to acquire data in early flights and use it to verify the performance of the vehicle, based on modeled data that was previously gathered. The project team plans to collect and analyze this data for the first five flights of Ares I.

Sensors

Glenn’s sensor development work is composed of two component tasks: Sensor Data Qualification System (SDQS) and Smart Leak Detection Sensors (SLDS). 

The SDQS team is developing advanced algorithms (software) to qualify the validity of key data measured by sensors embedded in various Upper Stage systems. This sensor data validation uses a variety of analytical methods (e.g., analytical redundancy models, Bayesian belief networks, and statistical limit filters) to ensure that the health management and control systems use data that accurately reflect the state of the Upper Stage systems. The sensor data qualification software developed by the Glenn team will be incorporated into flight software, which will be used to monitor the health of the Upper Stage while in flight.

Significant miniaturization of leak sensor technology from  legacy Space Station systems (right) to CLV implementation  (left)

“Lick  and stick” miniaturized smart leak detection  system

Glenn’s SLDS team is developing a miniature, electronic, hydrogen leak detection sensor that will be used to monitor the concentration of flammable hydrogen gas in the Upper Stage’s closed compartments. At present, there is no other means of measuring hydrogen gas concentration levels while the Upper Stage is in flight. The Glenn-developed electronic hydrogen sensor will fly as part of the Development Flight Instrumentation on the first few test flights of the Upper Stage.

Contact at NASA Glenn Research Center
Lead, Upper Stage, Avionics: Paul Senick
Space Flight Systems Directorate / Launch Systems Project Office
216-977-7024