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This report selectively summarizes NASA Glenn Research Center’s research and technology accomplishments for fiscal year 2005. It comprises 126 short articles submitted by the staff scientists and engineers. The report is organized into three major sections: Programs and Projects, Research and Technology, and Engineering and Technical Services. A table of contents and author index have been developed to assist readers in finding articles of special interest. This report is not intended to be a comprehensive summary of all the research and technology work done over the past fiscal year. Most of the work is reported in Glenn-published technical reports, journal articles, and presentations prepared by Glenn staff and contractors. In addition, university grants have enabled faculty members and graduate students to engage in sponsored research that is reported at technical meetings or in journal articles. For each article in this report, a Glenn contact person has been identified, and where possible, a reference document is listed so that additional information can be easily obtained. The diversity of topics attests to the breadth of research and technology being pursued and to the skill mix of the staff that makes it possible. For more information, visit Glenn's Web site. For publicly available reports, visit the Glenn Technical Reports Server.
About the photographs:
Top left: At this year’s Desert Research and Technology Studies (Desert RATS) field outing in Meteor Crater, Arizona, Glenn researchers provided integrated communications and data systems for two space-suited subjects as well as interaction with NASA Johnson Space Center’s Science Crew Operations and Utility Testbed (SCOUT) rover.
Top right: This 4- by 6-m offset-parabolic inflatable membrane reflector developed by Glenn and SRS Technologies produced a gain of about 48 dB at 8.4 GHz at Glenn’s near-field antenna range. This corresponds to about 51 percent efficiency when compared with an ideal antenna, and 67 percent efficiency when the effect of the feed horn is considered. The goal is to develop large antennas for deep-space (Moon and Mars) applications that have very low mass, lower cost, and improved deployment reliability while maintaining very accurate surface tolerances during long missions.
Center left: Closeup of a state-of-the-art active clearance control test rig showing internal components. The new rig, which was fabricated and installed at Glenn, employs a fast-acting mechanical actuation system designed to improve on existing clearance-control methods in the high-pressure turbine section of a modern jet engine.
Bottom left: Researchers preparing to conduct an impact test on a space shuttle external tank panel in Glenn’s Ballistic Impact Laboratory. As a result of Glenn’s testing, the design of the space shuttle orbiter windows was changed, the external tank was cleared as safe to fly, and a previously unavailable physics-based impact analysis capability was established for the space shuttle program.
Bottom right: A Glenn researcher examines a reaction control system thruster for cracking in the relief radius. Because hot combustion gases might leak through such cracks and damage the space shuttle orbiter, in-depth analyses and mechanical tests were conducted to determine the cause of the cracking. Results supported the conclusion that hydrogen embrittlement, not stress corrosion or hot-salt cracking, was the likely cause.
Trade names or manufacturers' names are used in this report for identification only. This usage does not constitute an official endorsement, either expressed or implied, by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
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Last updated: October 17, 2006
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