Space Flight Systems Directorate
Activities Report
October 25-31, 2009

ADVANCED FLIGHT PROJECTS OFFICE

ISS Research Program

CIR Operations continue on the ISS. The Fluids and Combustion Facility’s (FCF) Combustion Integrated Rack (CIR) continued ISS operations on October 24 and 25, 2009. Five successful science data points (droplet burns) were performed and the data transferred to Glenn Research Center’s (GRC) Telescience Support Center. The CIR was resupplied by the recent HTV-1 logistics flight and installed by the ISS crew. Limited operational time has been provided over the past month due to commissioning of new ISS racks launched on STS-128. The FCF team is working to get more operational time to support CIR operations in the future. Contact: MAH/Robert Corban, (216) 433-6642.

Girl Scouts participate in “NASA Engineer for a Day” event. Working together, NASA Glenn and the Girl Scouts of North East Ohio (GSNEO) conducted a highly successful educational event in NASA Glenn’s main cafeteria on Sunday afternoon, October 25, 2009. An afternoon of engineering challenges was held for girls of ages 11-17 with a general goal of inspiring their interest in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM). About forty Girl Scouts and ten adults participated, where the number was lower than planned because of illness. Through 15 activity stations, the girls designed, built, and tested model rockets, gliders, space suits, roller coasters, and more. The activities were staffed by eight NASA personnel and roughly 30 female engineering and science students from Case Western Reserve University (CWRU), recruited by REC intern Amber Abbott who is herself a CWRU engineering student. The additional NASA volunteers included Joan Emmett (ASRC/MAH), Nancy R. Hall (MAH), Dawn Jenkins (Analex/MB), Julie Kleinhenz (RPP), Dennis Stocker (REC), Afroz Zaman (RHA), and REC intern Lin Wang. If you would like to help with future events, such as the Space Station Science Day that will be held on March 27, 2009 please contact Dennis Stocker who coordinates NASA Glenn’s partnership with GSNEO. Contact: MAH/Nancy R. Hall, (216) 433-5643.

Human Research Program

IVGEN holds successful SAR-II. On October 27, 2009, the Intravenous Water Generation (IVGEN) project held its System Acceptance Review (SAR)-II. The executive board approved shipping the IVGEN flight hardware to Kennedy Space Center (KSC) for payload integration. Contact: MAH/DeVon Griffin, (216) 433-8109.

Advanced Capabilities Project Office

Fission Surface Power System (FSPS) - Technology Demonstration Unit (TDU) Test System Final Design Review Conducted. The Fission Surface Power (FSP) project held a Final Design Review (FDR) for the Technology Demonstration Unit (TDU) on October 20-22, 2009 at GRC. The TDU is a full-scale FSP integrated system test with a non-nuclear reactor simulator that is scheduled to begin in 2011. An FDR is a research hardware review similar to a flight hardware CDR in that it focuses on readiness to commit to fabrication. The TDU FDR included an independent review panel to provide feedback on the TDU system design. The review panel included members from GRC, MSFC, JSC, Idaho National Lab, Oak Ridge National Lab, and Sandia National Lab. Contacts: MAC/Don Palac, (216) 433-7094, and RPT/Lee Mason, (216) 977-7106.

Energy Storage - Teledyne Energy Systems, Inc. has joined the NASA Fuel Cell Working Group, a group that facilitates knowledge transfer between technology integrators. Other members include Lockheed Martin Space Systems, Boeing, Battelle and ATK Space Systems. Three of these members are also members of the Ohio Fuel Cell Coalition, whose board received a presentation describing the Energy Storage Project as well as fuel cell lab tours during a recent visit to GRC. These collaborations simultaneously help to leverage industrial capabilities and infuse technology into the broader community. Contact: MAC/Carolyn Mercer, (216) 433-3411.

Propulsion & Cryogenics Advanced Development (PCAD) - GRC Heated Tube Facility Liquid Methane Critical Heat Flux Testing Initiated. Heated Tube Facility liquid methane critical heat flux testing began on Thursday, October 22, 2009 after significant safety modifications and recertification of the facility for methane over the past 2 years. Testing was performed at pressures from 650 to 950 psig at various flow rates. Test section liquid methane temperatures up to 2000 degrees Rankine were achieved. Code R principle investigators are currently reviewing initial test data and planning for the next test series to be conducted late the week of October 26, 2009. The purpose of this risk-reduction activity along with other FY10-12 testing is to develop and demonstrate the databases and knowledge required to successfully design and construct, with high confidence, a regeneratively cooled LOX/CH4 rocket engine with high combustion efficiency, sufficient design margins, and stable combustion. Contact: MAC/Todd Peterson, (216) 433-5350, RPP/Jon VanNoord, (216) 433-5310, and FTH/John Schubert, (216) 433-2605.

Propulsion & Cryogenics Advanced Development (PCAD) - University of Rome Hosted at GRC on October 26-27, 2009 (PCAD co-sponsor). GRC (Codes MAC, RPP, DTO) hosted at 2-day visit by Dr. Marcello Onofri, Director of CRAS (Center of Aerospace Research, University of Rome) and Dr. Carlo Buongiorno, University of Rome on Monday, October 26 and Tuesday, October 27, 2009 to discuss potential areas of cooperation in liquid oxygen/liquid methane (LOx/LCH4) propulsion systems research. Current LOX/LCH4 investigation briefings were given by various GRC task leads and by the University of Rome professors. The foreign agreement process and ground rules were reviewed (timelines, export control, no exchange of funds, etc.). Many potential areas of cooperation were identified and will be outlined by both parties as the foreign agreement is formulated over the next several months. The purpose of this potential foreign agreement is to beneficially supplement the ongoing PCAD LOX/LCH4 project and University of Rome LOX/LCH4 research content by capitalizing on the respective strengths of each party. Contacts: MAC/Mark Klem, (216) 977-7473, and RPP/Mike Meyer, (216) 977-7492, and DTO/Bill Taylor, (216) 433-6568.

Science Project Office

In-Space Propulsion Technology Project Office ISPT members attend “Reusable Space Systems” lecture. Members of the ISPT office attended the OAI Distinguished Lecture on Reusable Space Systems by Mr. Jess Sponable, at OAI, on Thursday, Oct. 22nd. Mr. Sponable has a background in reusable launch systems (program manager for the DC-X) and advanced upper stages, including his current work on the FAST (Fast Access Spacecraft Testbed) solar array, the High Delta-Vee (HiDVE) solar thermal rocket, and Front-end Robotic Enabling Near-term Demonstration (FREND). MAS, RPP, and ISPT personnel are continuing communications with DARPA and the FAST team in regards to a possible interest in using the NEXT ion system on a DARPA FAST demonstrator mission opportunity. ISPT is working to inform the ISPT Program Executive of this opportunity as it evolves. Contact: MAS/David Anderson, (216) 433-8709.

ISPT technologists participate in evaluation of members for EDL FOM team. On October 26, 2009, John Dankanich and Dave Anderson represented the ISPT program as key technologists in helping to evaluate several key Figures of Merit (FOMs) for the Agency’s Entry, Descent, and Landing – Systems Analysis (EDL-SA) study. The EDL FOM team will use the mission applicability information from the program technologists to ascertain the applicability of Exploration geared EDL development being looked at under Phase 1 of the study activity to other missions using Figures of Merit (FOMs). This data will be used to perform the EDL technology FOM assessment and thus is critical to the success of the assessment activity. Contact: MAS/David Anderson, (216) 433-8709.

SPACE OPERATIONS PROJECT OFFICE

Space Communications & Navigation Technology Project (SCaN) (Project Manager - Konstantinos S. Martzaklis, Acting): • A number of GRC representatives attended the JPL annual SCaN Technology Review held on 10/28-29 at JPL (Gus Martzaklis, Jim Stegeman, Gene Fujikawa and John Sankovic). JPL reviewed its FY09 accomplishments and presented plans for FY10. Mr. Fujikawa served on the Review Board. Contact: DPC/Gus Martzaklis, (216) 433-8966 • 2009 Phase I Antenna Technology Subtopic (O1.02) Reviews Complete: The review of the 2009 Phase I Small Business Innovation Research (SBIRs) received under the Space Operations Mission Directorate (SOMD) Space Communications and Navigation program were completed. A total of 30 proposals were received covering topics such as phased array antennas, large aperture deployable antennas, reconfigurable antennas, beam forming technology, and electromagnetic modeling approaches for antenna design. The reviews were performed by colleagues from NASA GRC, JSC, GSFC, and JPL. The proposals were ranked and recommendations for award were provided to the SBIR Program Office at NASA Ames Research Center. This work was done in support of SOMD’s 2009 Phase I SBIR Program. Contact: RHA/Dr. Félix A. Miranda, (216) 433-6589.