Literature Review

Flight Performance of the HASI Servo Accelerometer (Date: 11/10)

http://www.mrc.uidaho.edu/entryws/presentations/Papers/Zarnecki_HASI_ACC.pdf

Zarnecki, J.C., et al. In Flight Performance of the HASE Servo Accelerometer and
Implications for Results at Titan. In ESA SP-544: Planetary Probe Atmospheric Entry and
Descent Trajectory and Science
In this paper the authors presented some of the techniques used to test and characterize
the performance of servo accelerometers (ACC) used in the Huygens Atmospheric
Sturcture Instrument (HASI) and the role they play in atmospheric reconstruction in the
Huygens mission.
The vertical acceleration profile of the descent is constructed with measurements
primarily from a one-axis, highly sensitive accelerometer mounted as close as possible to
the Huygens probes center of mass. The temperature of the accelerometer is monitor to
compensate for measurement error cause by variation in temperature.
During the entry and descent, the Huygens probe could be subject to acceleration ranging
from a few tenths of ug to 20 g. Two different amplifiers, each with two different gain
setting (a total of four modes of operation) are employed to process the signal output by
the accelerometer. Flight Checkouts (FCO) are performed approximately once every 6
months to study the accelerometers offset in a nominally zero g environment and the
devices noise performance.
The authors concluded that the Huygens HASI-ACC Servo accelerometer is one of the
most sensitive and stable accelerometers used in the history of NASA missions. It is
accurate enough that error in acceleration measurement is not longer a major contributor
to the uncertainty of the derived atmosphere.

A lot of information presented in this paper is very useful because accelerometry is the
most important aspect of the project. Our accelerometers are not likely to be as sensitive
as the ones used in the Huygens probe, but we learned more about how accelerometers
are used in atmospheric reconstruction and how the performance of the accelerometers
are tested and evaluated.

Space Station solar cells (Date: 11/7)

http://spaceflightnow.com/ops/stage4a/001124preview/index3.html
This site discusses the solar array segment of the International Space Station. The
solar array segment has three parts: the two photovoltaic solar wings; an integrated
electronics assembly housing batteries and other critical gear; and a truss section called
the "long space" that includes thermal control equipment. This link will focus on the
solar wings.
Each solar wing is made up of two solar cell panels that convert sunlight to
electricity. The panels are rolled up at launch and housed in rectangular "blanket boxes"
measuring 15 feet by 20 inches. When fully extended, the 15-foot-wide blanket will each
stretch 110 feet. From the tip of one two-blanket wing to the tip of the other is about 240
feet. The blankets include 32,400 solar cells. The two solar array wings generate about 19
kilowatts of power above and beyond what is required to charge the batteries in the
electronics assembly and to operate the array's other internal systems. Power generated
by the P6 solar arrays is sent to a direct current switching unit in the P6 integrated
electronics assembly. The switching unit directs power to the station and to 12 batteries
during orbital daylight. Direct current converter units step the voltage down from the 160
volts generated by the arrays to the 120 volts needed by station systems.
This site was useful because our senior design team is considering using solar
cells for additional power. Our group will be addressing issues such as how to step down
voltage from the solar cells to the power supplies and how to attach and store the solar
cells. NASAs successful use of the solar cells helps us to decide the best way to attach
solar cells. It also helps us to decide if solar cells are really needed for our flight.

Re-Entry Vehicles (Date: 11/6)

http://www.bookrags.com/sciences/astronomy/re-entry-vehicles-spsc-03.html
A re-entry vehicle is a spacecraft vessel that is designed to travel through Earth's
atmosphere. It is built to survive intense heating during high-velocity flight through the
atmosphere and to protect the crew and/or instruments until it reaches the surface. All reentry vehicles use the same basic design concept: a blunt shape protected by a heat shield.
The increased air resistance of this blunt shape absorbs much of the vehicle's kinetic
energy as it enters the atmosphere. Extensive testing in arc jet heated wind tunnels
showed that the most effective thermal protection method for single re-entry vehicles was
ablation. An ablative heat shield is made of a resinous composite material that slowly
vaporizes during descent, allowing heat to dissipate along with the ashes. Ablative heat
shields were used on all early NASA missions.

Parachute deployment Systems (11/12)

http://www.info-central.org/recovery_deploybag.shtml
This site describes parachute deployment systems and other aspects of deploying a
parachute. Although the site is meant primarily for rockets it has useful information that
pertains to our project. Included areas are recovery design, ejection systems, ejection
charges, black powder use, electronic matches, chute protection, and deployment bags.

Typical closure ejection well

Typical ejection charge & flashbulb

The described recovery design is a mortar ejection system that is triggered by an electric
ignition device. The site details how the system works and lists common devices used to
ignite the ejection charge. The site also has links that describe how to build an ejection
charge mechanism, the proper use of black powder and how much to use, the common
marketed electronic matches, and how to protect the chute from the explosive ejection.
Also there is a helpful link to a parachute design site.
This site serves as a good introduction to a mortar driven ejection system. Because our
team is considering a mortar design to eject our parachute, it is imperative we learn as
much as possible about the system. Also there was much to learn about the use of black
powder as a power source and the methods given to determine the amount of powder
needed could be very useful. The description of a parachute bag to protect the parachute,
and the information on electronic triggers were very helpful. Overall, this site is a good
place to start when researching deployment systems.