Skip to main content

Space Technology for the New Century (1998) / Chapter Skim
Currently Skimming:

3 Key Technologies
Pages 12-23

The Chapter Skim interface presents what we've algorithmically identified as the most significant single chunk of text within every page in the chapter.
Select key terms on the right to highlight them within pages of the chapter.


From page 12...
... Rather, it is a snapshot of six key technology areas that at this moment appear to hold great promise of yielding large future benefits for small investments today. Regular surveys of technology needs for future space activities, as well as of promising new space technologies, will be necessary to update this list.
Read the entire page →
From page 13...
... companies regain a larger share of the growing international space launch market. Process improvements and innovative applications of existing technologies can help to reduce launch costs, but major reductions in the costs of expendable launch vehicles will require dramatic reductions in engine and structure costs.
Read the entire page →
From page 14...
... However, there are still barriers to high data-rate communications over extremely long distances. The broad key technology areas for NASA investment are listed below: · high-precision spatial acquisition and tracking systems (maintaining the extreme pointing precision required for long-distance communication may require highly stable structures and high-precision mirrors)
Read the entire page →
From page 15...
... New technologies to meet these requirements may include highly damped structural members, passive and active vibration control, precise thermal control and low thermal expansion materials, "smart" (active) structural elements, and distributed vehicles that can perform precision free-flying.
Read the entire page →
From page 16...
... . Key Areas for NASA-Funded Research The broad key technology areas for NASA investment in R&T on precisely controlled space structures are listed below.
Read the entire page →
From page 17...
... MEMS technologies could also be integrated to create entire miniature spacecraft, which could be deployed in large numbers to function as a sparse-array, synthetic-aperture radar or to take distributed measurements of Martian surface temperatures or the atmosphere of Titan. The combination of redundancy, flexibility, and potential low cost to launch distributed systems (because no connecting structures are required)
Read the entire page →
From page 18...
... , comparatively low production rates, and controlling distributed formations of small satellites SPACE NUCLEAR POWER SYSTEMS Description Almost all space activities require a supply of conditioned electrical energy. Near-Earth spacecraft generally use arrays of photovoltaic solar cells linked with chemical storage batteries to provide power.
Read the entire page →
From page 19...
... Unless NASA supports R&T on advanced nuclear power for space, the required technologies will probably not be available for future space missions (see Box 3-1~. It is important to note that low level R&T alone will not be sufficient to enable space nuclear power systems major investments will eventually be needed to develop advanced space nuclear power sources.
Read the entire page →
From page 20...
... that can store energy and release it quickly for high power, and power management schemes that can reduce output power requirements LOW-COST, RADIATION-RESISTANT MEMORIES AND ELECTRONICS Description The Earth's atmosphere and magnetic field protect electronics on the Earth's surface from the harsh radiation environment in space. Various types of radiation in the space environment, including trapped radiation, solar particle events, and galactic cosmic rays, can damage sensitive electronics, disrupt signals, cause single-event phenomena, and degrade microelectronic devices.
Read the entire page →
From page 21...
... The broad key technology areas for NASA investment in low-cost radiationresistant memories and electronics R&T are listed below. Emphasis should be on exploratory research that could have large payoffs in the post-2005 time frame: · improving logic and storage elements to improve recovery from singleevent upsets · logic and storage elements with higher linear energy transfer (LET)
Read the entire page →
From page 22...
... NASA should develop this technology both to support its own missions and to lower the barriers to the future commercial use of space resources. Key Areas for NASA-Funded Research The broad key technology areas for NASA investment the extraction and utilization of extraterrestrial resources are listed below: · robotic systems, teleoperation, and autonomous failure detection and repair systems for mining, moving, and preparing planetary materials for processing (current NASA-supported R&T toward extracting useful products
Read the entire page →
From page 23...
... 1995. Space Nuclear Power: Key to Outer Solar System Exploration.
Read the entire page →

Key Terms

  • space nuclear
  • future space
  • space structures
  • power sources
  • key technology

  • broad key
  • nasa investment
  • solar power
  • nasa involvement
  • thermal control

  • precisely controlled
  • advanced space
  • controlled space
  • extraterrestrial resources
  • launch costs

  • planetary exploration
  • space missions
  • miniature spacecraft
  • exploration missions
  • space environment

  • power requirements
  • power management
  • planetary materials
  • storage elements
  • geometrical configurations

  • mission planners
  • radiation environment
  • eventually developed
  • allen belts
  • launch vehicles


    • This material may be derived from roughly machine-read images, and so is provided only to facilitate research.
    More information on Chapter Skim is available.