Thermal Cycling of Thin and Thick Ply Composites
An experimental study was conducted to determine the effects of ply thickness in composite laminates on thermally induced cracking and changes in the coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE)....
Development, Testing and Modeling of Ceramic Composites for Lunar Applications
The procedure referred to as thermal liquefaction allows production of Intermediate Ceramic Composites (ICC) from lunar simulants with various admixtures. For their use as structural materials...
Spacecraft Wall Design for Orbital Debris Impact
This paper describes a method for obtaining the optimal rise angle of corrugated bumpers for the design of space structures in the event of an on-orbit impact. The procedure determines...
Distributional Information for Ejection Fragments
Due to lack of experience of building structures on the lunar surface and the variability that will exist in the loading as well as the structural resistance, it is suggested that initial...
Erectable Truss Hardware for Large Space Structures
The KATLOK connector is a truss structure connector that was designed to be compatible with manual assembly by an astronaut in an extra-vehicular activity (EVA) suit, telerobotic assembly...
Construction Operations on the OUTPOST Platform in Orbit
GLOBAL OUTPOST, Inc., with significant NASA assistance, proposes to place an External Tank (ET) of the space shuttle in orbit for commercial purposes. The OUTPOST Platform is designed...
Space Station Microgravity Analysis and Assessment
The space station will be a platform for microgravity research. For superior microgravity science, the experiment locations must experience very little acceleration in the quasi-steady...
Methods to Mitigate Thermally Induced Distortion
The purpose of this paper is to show the magnitude of bending on the Space Station Freedom Navigation Base as induced by thermal expansion and contraction over the operating range -45...
Global Environmental Change: Geoengineering Technology
The `overview effect,' looking at the entire Planet Earth from space, has communicated the reality of the limited extent of our environment and its apparent fragility. Space continues...
Update of the Implications of Recent Space Resource Discovery
Immense resources have been discovered in the space near Earth during the last decade. Last August, 1992, one of the resource objects was discovered to contain a key ingredient that might...
Resource Recovery Facilities for Earth Approaching Comets
Mankind's next large resource location may be off the planet. The facilities required for mining and material processing offer interesting concepts for the development of mankind's first...
Remote Sensing of AstrofuelTM
A direct, high-resolution measurement from lunar orbit of the location of high concentrations of 3He in the lunar regolith is needed for the initiation...
The Challenge of Mining He-3 on the Lunar Surface: How All the Parts Fit Together
After the initial confirmation of the existence of He-3 on the lunar surface in 1985, there has been a flurry of activity both in the U.S. and abroad to find the best method of garnering...
Helium-3 on the Moon: Model Assumptions and Abundances
Solar-wind particles are present in the outer few 100 angstroms of each soil particle of the Moon. Of particular interest, are the volatiles hydrogen (40-100 ppm) and helium (5-45 ppm)....
In-situ Extraction of Lunar Soil Volatiles
Techniques for their recovery and utilization of the potentially valuable solar-wind elements embedded in the lunar regolith have been proposed. In order to acquire quantities of 3He...
A Summary of the NEPSTP Nuclear Safety Program
The Nuclear Electric Propulsion Space Test Program (NEPSTP) is sponsored by the Ballistic Missile Defense Organization (BMDO) to demonstrate and evaluate the Russian-built TOPAZ II nuclear...
A Discussion of Nuclear Propulsion in Space Travel
Nuclear thermal propulsion (NTP) is gaining popularity as a safe alternative to conventional propulsion. Such alternatives are desirable to meet the goals of lunar colonization and manned...
A Space Station of Mars
While we are putting stations on the moon and in orbit in this fast changing world of growing scientific knowledge we must look past the step we are currently on to the steps beyond. The...
Construction of a Lunar Base
The United States' space program has the capabilities to build a lunar base, but must build an infrastructure which allows the easy transportation of the construction materials. Once this...
Reduction, Reuse, and Recycling on a Future Lunar Base
The paper addresses the waste management problems on Earth as they relate to a future lunar base and suggests measures to prevent these problems from occurring in the base. Offensive action...
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