2009 ESMD Space Grant Faculty Project

1. 2009 ESMD Space Grant Faculty Project

2. Objectives • Train and develop the highly skilled scientific, engineering and technical workforce of the future needed to implement space exploration missions: • In support of the ESMD Space Grant Student Project • Support NASA’s Educational Framework • Outcome 1: Contribute to the development of the STEM workforce

3. NASA Centers

4. ESMD Project Areas Propulsion Spacecraft Guidance, navigation, and control; Thermal; Electrical; Avionics; Power systems; High-speed reentry; Interoperability/Commonality; Advanced spacecraft materials; Crew/Vehicle health monitoring; Life-support systems; Command/Communication software; Modeling and simulation Methods that utilize materials found on the Moon and Mars; On-orbit propellant storage; Methods for soft-landing Lunar & Planetary Surface Systems Ground Operations Precision landing software; In-situ resource utilization; Navigation systems; Extended surface operations; Robotics; Environmental sensors and analysis; Radiation protection; Life-support systems; Electrical power and efficient power management systems Pre-launch; Launch; Mission operations; Command, control, and communications; Landing and recovery operations

5. Faculty Assignments • Dr. Alak Bandyopadhyay, Alabama A&M University (MSFC) • Dr. James Conrad, Univ. of North Carolina - Charlotte (JSC) • Dr. William M. Cross, South Dakota School of Mines and Technology (MSFC) • Dr. Jiang Guo, California State University Los Angeles (JPL) • Dr. Ghanashyam Joshi, Southern University and A&M College (ARC) Project Implementation Gloria Murphy, ESMD SG Faculty Project Manager (KSC)

6. Senior Design Projects for ESMD Allow students the practical design experience of developing technologies and systems for space exploration under the advice, guidance, and mentorship of university faculty, and NASA engineers and scientists. The projects are aligned with a clear vision for exploration and serve to stretch one’s imagination for developing revolutionary technologies needed to explore our solar system and beyond.

7. ESMD Faculty Fellowship Projects • Dr. Bandyopadhyay – Simulation of Propellant Loading using Generalized Fluid System Simulation Program • Dr. Conrad – Reusable Avionics • Dr. Cross - Mineral Separation Technology for Lunar Regolith Simulant Production • Dr. Guo - Mission Assurance Management Environment • Dr. Joshi - Prognostics of Complex Systems

8. Purpose of ESMD Faculty Project (I) • KSC Understand NASA scientists’ concern about senior projects and address them in this project. • Bridge the gap between NASA and students • NASA scientists knows students’ limitation, • But they do not have time • Students need to know NASA areas • But they do not have advisors • Make students ready for ESMD • Train and Enable students to work for NASA’s ESMD senior projects. • Verify and confirm all the project requirements and research approach • Using system engineering approach

9. Purpose of ESMD Faculty Project (II) NASA scientists’ concern on senior projects Difficult to communicate due to less background Less onsite or face to face communication Less advisors’ supervising Out of control Schedule Quality Solutions: Faculty training Senior design courses

10. Simulation of Propellant Loading using Generalized Fluid System Simulation Program (Bandyopadhyay) of Propellant Loading using GFSSPDr. Al Alabama A & M University • Optimization of the Propellant Loading Simulation for Efficient Ground Operations by using Parametric Study. • To Evaluate the Optimal Time line for Pre-chill, Slow fill, Fast fill, Topping and Replenishment. • Reduction of Computational Time substantially. • Implementation of Modified Solution Algorithm into GFSSP to aid the Optimization Method.

11. Reusable Avionics (Conrad) • One concept for future space flights is to construct building blocks for a wide variety of avionics systems. • Once a unit has served its original purpose, it can be removed from the original vehicle and reused in a similar or dissimilarfunction, dependingon the function blocks the unit contains. • This project will be tovalidate the concept.

12. Mineral Separation Technology for Lunar Regolith Simulant Production (Cross) • Simulant development • Duplicate moon to a sufficient degree and to the extent practical • Cost is high ($40,000/ton) • No single site on Earth has mineral composition fitting known lunar composition • Many unknown properties • In situ resource utilization • Lunar materials sources for long term base • Performance of beneficiation operations

13. To increase the efficiency in MAM’s work performance this project aims at: • Providing an environment to support MAM’s work • Devise solutions to help JPL meet the mission assurance management needs: • Identify risks and increase probability of mission success via proper mitigation • Help ensure that flight hardware and software systems safe, reliable, robust and error free • Ensures development and integration have the necessary traceability and verifiability to requirements Mission Assurance Management Environment (Guo)

14. Prognostics of Complex Systems (Joshi) Prognostics cover very early detection of incipient faults and progression to eventual system or component failure states. Must provide low false positives and no false negatives. PHM serves the Operation and Sustainment stage of Systems Engineering. NASA AMES Research Projects and Resources: Prognostics Center of Excellence , Technical Lead Dr. Kai Goebel. More information: http://prognostics.nasa.gov Senior Design Project Ideas Composite materials (or corrosion) prognostics testing and modeling project. Possible application to the rocket shell casing. Battery prognostics testing and modeling project. Possible application to lunar/mars rover batteries.

15. Conclusions • Bridges the gap between academia and the NASA vision and mission. Students connect to real world space-related work. • Exposes students to new and novel approaches to space exploration that better prepare them for future space-related careers. • Creates greater awareness of current NASA research to new faculty who have never been previously associated with or exposed to the NASA vision and mission. • Motivates incorporation of Systems Engineering curriculum to enrich the experience and increase the knowledge base of participants.