Space Station Requirements Research Articles

Tribo-Corrosion and Corrosion Behaviour of Titanium Alloys with and Without DLC Films Immersed in Synthetic Urine

Nowadays, potable water is becoming scarcer, and chemicals components present in wastewater increase corrosion of devices and decrease its lifespan, especially from bearings used in water recovery system. The bearings are subjected to severe corrosion due to harsh environmental conditions from urine composition. 60NiTi alloy which was developed to attend International space station requirements as a resistant material to recycle wastewater to potable water, together DLC film as a solid lubricant, could be new protective material to avoid tribo-corrosion and corrosion from devices under hostile environment. In this work, we compared the tribocorrosion resistance of 60NiTi, also named as NiTi60T and thermally treated, and Ti–6Al–4V alloys with and without diamond-like carbon (DLC) film. The NiTi60T is a promising candidate to be used for the centrifuge bearings to expand their lifespan when in contact with synthetic urine. The DLC film presented high levels of wear resistance, metallic adhesion, and corrosion protection for both tested alloys.

Liquid helium servicing from the space station

The current concept of liquid helium resupply from the space station is discussed with regard to user and space station requirements, as well as requirements of the liquid helium servicing facility itself. A number of trade-offs which will affect both the hardware and the operation of the facility are presented. A total of 12 potential users have been identified. The users are divided into two groups: large volume users which are serviced every one to two years and small volume users which are serviced every few months. Both groups have a very strong impact on the definition of the liquid helium servicing facility. The facility components will be based on results of the Superfluid Helium On Orbit Transfer flight demonstration being conducted by NASA. Currently, the space station design includes a customer servicing bay which provides electrical power, thermal and contamination control, and connections for control and data handling systems. Restrictions on venting and vibrational disturbances on the space station may preclude servicing during quiescent periods when accelerations are minimal.

Nutrition and Metabolism in Spaceflight

The United States Space Station being planned for the 1990s will accommodate six or more crew members on 90-d flights in low earth orbit. Adequate nutrition will be essential for maintaining crew health, effectiveness and morale. Although much is known from prior space experience about in-flight metabolism, nutrition and associated food technology, important gaps in knowledge exist that need additional research, development and analysis to meet Space Station requirements. This paper is a synopsis of a report prepared by the Life Sciences Research Office (LSRO), FASEB, from a study of the nutritional and metabolic aspects of spaceflight. It reviews available data on the metabolic responses to spaceflight including extravehicular activity, physiological responses to microgravity that influence metabolism and energy needs, in-flight nutritional experience, space menus, food packaging, in-flight food service methodology, water supply and disposal of food wastes. The LSRO ad hoc Working Group identified critical gaps in knowledge and suggested corresponding research approaches for acquiring essential new data. The 38 research suggestions detailed in the report address in-flight metabolic needs, nutrient requirements, food systems and nutritional countermeasures.

Computer-Assisted Engineering Data Base

General capabilities of data base management technology are described. Information requirements posed by the space station life cycle are discussed, and it is asserted that data base management technology supporting engineering/manufacturing in a heterogeneous hardware/data base management system environment should be applied to meeting these requirements. Today’s commercial systems do not satisfy all of these requirements. The features of an R&D data base management system being developed to investigate data base management in the engineering/manufacturing environment are discussed. Features of this system represent only a partial solution to space station requirements. Areas where this system should be extended to meet full space station information management requirements are discussed.

Space Station Data Management: A System Evolving From Changing Requirements and a Dynamic Technology Base

Certain aspects of the space station data system set it apart from any other spacecraft data system ever developed: serviceable and repairable to a degree never before possible; operational lifetime spans generations of technology; dynamically extendible to accommodate evolutionary growth; unprecedented levels of complexity will occur early in the life cycle; unprecedented levels of data storage and onboard processing capacity will be required early in the life cycle. These factors, as well as others that are known, top-level space station requirements, form the basis from which derived data management system requirements (again top-level) are assembled. From these requirements, the architectural properties that need emphasis in the architectural selection process are identified. Additionally, other issues that may influence the architecture are identified and an architectural baseline is established. From this base, an example of controlled growth helps to identify other technology issues, so that the architectural discussion ends with a summary of technology issues that result from the requirements and the need for tools and techniques to support controlled growth. The architecture discussion is followed by a discussion of generic technology areas as well as related technology areas and the challenges to initial space station development. Technology areas that offer promise of enhanced capabilities in the future are also identified. This paper is not a comprehensive assessment of data management system technology, nor is it advocating a particular approach. Its purpose is to illuminate design and technology areas for further discussion and formal investigation.

Space Station Requirements and Utilization

Covers advancements in spacecraft and tactical and strategic missile systems, including subsystem design and application, mission design and analysis, materials and structures, developments in space sciences, space processing and manufacturing, space operations, and applications of space technologies to other fields.