OAST technology for the future. Volume 3: Critical technologies, themes 5-8. NASA In-Space Technology Experiments Workshop

摘要

NASA's Office of Aeronautics and Space Technology (OAST) conducted a workshop on the In-Space Technology Experiments Program (IN-STEP). The purpose was to identify and prioritize space technologies which are critical for future national space programs and which require validation in the space environment. A secondary objective was to review the current NASA (In-Reach) and Industry/University (Out-Reach) experiments. Finally, the aerospace community was requested to review and comment on the proposed plans for the continuation of the In-Space Technology Experiments Program. In particular, the review included the proposed process for focusing the next experiment selection on specific, critical technologies and the process for implementing the hardware development and integration on the Space Shuttle vehicle. The product of the workshop was a prioritized listing of the critical space technology needs in each of eight technology disciplines. These listings were the cumulative recommendations of nearly 400 participants, which included researchers, technologists, and managers from aerospace industries, universities, and government organizations. The identification and prioritization of the critical space technology needs were initiated by assigning NASA chairpersons (theme leaders) to the eight major technology disciplines or themes requiring consideration. These themes were as follows: space structures; space environmental effects; power systems and thermal management; fluid management and propulsion systems; automation and robotics; sensors and information systems; in-space systems; and humans in space. Volume 3 contains the theme introduction given by the chairperson, the critical technology presentations for each theme element, and the summary listings of critical space technology needs for each theme. This volume contains the documentation for the following four themes: automation and robotics, sensors and information systems, in-space systems, and humans in space.